Armed Forces Day is a week away and local officials are getting ready for the 8th annual event.

22 Wing Honourary Colonel George Burton says the June 13th event at the waterfront features performances from the CF-18 air demonstration team and the Canadian Armed Forces Parachute team, the Skyhawks.

“Lots on the go and this is a very special year,” he says. “This is the 60th anniversary of NORAD and it’s significant because it’s the longest, bilateral operation, deployment in both countries.”

21 Aerospace Control & Warning Squadron Honourary Colonel Harriet Madigan says there will also be static military displays, including a new one this year.

“It’s a cockpit of a CF-18 and the kids are going to get a chance to get up close and personal, right in there and they can be a pilot for a minute or two,” she says.

Honorary Colonel of 51 Aerospace Control and Warning (Operational Training) Squadron Jacques (Jake) Lacourse says the event is all about celebrating and supporting local military members.

“They’re our neighbours, they’re our volunteers, we just want to take the opportunity to recognize them while they’re here in our community, we want to make sure we’re prompting the community to wear red,” he says.

Cadet and military band and choir performances are also lined up.

There will be morning events for students (10:30 am to 2 pm) and a twilight show (6 pm to 8:30 pm) for everyone in the community.

Check out armedforcesday.ca for all the details.