Alberta International Airshow cancelled and homeless

Sturgeon County’s summer airshow is cancelled and homeless because Villeneuve Airport has pulled back as its host.

The Alberta International Airshow announced on its website this week that it was “on hiatus” for 2025. The non-profit airshow was scheduled to take place at Villeneuve Airport Aug. 23–24, and was last held in 2023.

In an interview, airshow organizer Richard Skermer said Edmonton International Airport (which runs Villeneuve Airport) told his team last December that it did not want to host the airshow this summer and was rethinking whether or not it wanted to have airshows at Villeneuve at all. The team spent the last few months negotiating with the airport, but decided last week to cancel this year’s show when nothing changed.

“We’ve been looking for a new home, but haven’t been able to find one yet,” Skermer said.

“We’re going to have to hold off for this year.”

Skermer said the airshow’s associated conference and career expo was also cancelled. There would be no refunds issued for the airshow as tickets had not yet gone on sale.

In an email, Edmonton International Airport spokesperson Megan Hall said Villeneuve Airport “after careful consideration” had decided to step down as partner with the Alberta International Airshow and not host the event this year. The airport was undergoing renovations (it repaved a runway last year), but those renovations would not prevent it from hosting an airshow.

“As [Villeneuve Airport] continues to evolve as a premier general aviation airport and training facility in the region, we will continue to align with organizations that reflect our commitment to professionalism and operational excellence,” Hall said.

Last year’s airshow was cancelled due to a shortage of performers. Skermer said his team had plenty of acts lined up for this year’s show, including the Snowbirds, but couldn’t find a venue.

Skermer said he and his team were now searching for a new home for the airshow, and hoped to have one in place by August.

“We need to figure out how or where we’re going to go.”