Today@Dal

The Dal community shares condolences on the passing of Capt. Jennifer Casey (BA’07), who served as public affairs officer with the Canadian Snowbirds and lost her life this past weekend when her jet tragically crashed in British Columbia.

Jennifer graduated from Dalhousie with a BA in Comparative Religion in 2007, after which she remained close to campus to pursue studies in Journalism at the University of King’s College. She left school to work with News 95.7 Radio in town before returning to King’s for her final workshop and graduation in 2011. Capt. Casey joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 2014, becoming the Snowbirds’ public affairs officer in November 2018. She died in a Tutor jet crash just minutes after takeoff in Kamloops, B.C.

"On behalf of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, I would like to offer my sincere and heartfelt condolences to Captain Jenn Casey's family, friends, Snowbird aerobatic team members, the Royal Canadian Air Force, and to her fellow alumni of Dalhousie University and the University of King's College,” says Frank Harvey, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. “This terrible tragedy unfolded as the Snowbirds were performing across the country to honor the contributions of first responders, medical staff and other Canadians contributing to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Dalhousie family shares in the heartbreak and grief in the midst of this painful loss."

President Deep Saini also shared his condolences: “It is heartbreaking to learn about the death of Captain Casey, Dalhousie and King’s College graduate, in the Snowbirds crash in Kamloops, BC. Our sincerest condolences to her family and to the RCAF Snowbirds.”

President Bill Lahey of the University of King’s College shared a memorial to Capt. Casey, with remembrances from some of her colleagues, friends and journalism faculty. It can be read here.

Campus flags are currently lowered in her honour.