FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 2, 2016
QUEEN’S PARK – Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett paid tribute in the Ontario Legislature to Fisherville native Capt. Thomas McQueen who was killed in a Royal Canadian Air Force training accident at Cold Lake Air Force Base.
Barrett made his statement Wednesday after the Legislature observed a moment of silence in honour of McQueen. McQueen was a fighter pilot with 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron at CFB 4 Wing Cold Lake. He served with the Canadian military in the Middle East, eastern Europe and flew as an escort for Santa Claus.
Barrett intended on reading a statement from General Jonathan Vance, chief of the defence staff, on Barrett’s passing, but reached the maximum time for statements.
“Every day, members of the Canadian Armed Forces prepare themselves for the responsibility of shielding their fellow citizens from harm,” Vance’s statement said. “That training is both rigorous and demanding. It has to be.”
McQueen died Monday when his CF-18 crashed at the Cold Lake training range.
“Captain Thomas McQueen, 1987 to 2016, will be forever missed. We are so proud of him,” Barrett said in the Legislature.
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For more information, contact MPP Toby Barrett at 519-428-0446 or toby.barrett@pc.ola.org
ONTARIO LEGISLATIVE HANSARD
OFFICIAL HANSARD
Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016
Mr. Toby Barrett: Canada is in mourning following the death of fighter jet pilot Thomas McQueen, 29, in a Royal Canadian Air Force training accident. McQueen’s CF-18 Hornet crashed on the Cold Lake weapons range, which straddles the Alberta and Saskatchewan border.
We do appreciate the Ontario Legislature taking a moment of silence for Captain McQueen from my riding in Haldimand–Norfolk.
Thomas was the eldest of four from a farm just outside Fisherville in Haldimand county. McQueen was home-schooled. While the family was private, they were involved in their close-knit community. Many of the homes on Concession Road 4, where the McQueen family farm is located, have hung their flags at half-mast.
McQueen had the honour of being an escort pilot for Santa Claus during NORAD’s annual holiday Santa cam tracker. “He guided Santa,” Fisherville resident Lyn Rayner told the Toronto Sun. “Everyone in Fisherville was ecstatic. But that’s the type of guy he was. He would do that.”
McQueen was a member of the 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron at CFB 4 Wing Cold Lake and a 10-year RCAF veteran with time served in the Canadian military both in the Middle East and in eastern Europe.
I have a very nice quote from General Jonathan Vance, chief of the defence staff, which time will not permit.
Captain Thomas McQueen, 1987 to 2016, will be forever missed. We are so proud of him.