The Canadian International Air Show has come under fire for allegedly causing psychological distress to Palestinians living in Canada, Western Standard reported Sunday.
Advocates claimed that F-35 fighter jets participating in the Toronto event triggered traumatic memories for families affected by the Gaza conflict. "This is not merely a show for people; it is a deep trauma for the families of Palestinians whose homes were destroyed by Israeli bombings in Gaza," Turkish-Canadian journalist Nur Dogan posted on X, as quoted by Western Standard. "That's cruelty, not entertainment."
The air show in downtown Toronto!
This is not merely a show for people; it is a deep trauma for the families of Palestinians whose homes were destroyed by Israeli bombings in Gaza.
That's cruelty, not entertainment. pic.twitter.com/6pSiBy2Q7i
— Nur Dogan (@nurdogandiyorki) August 31, 2025
"Fck the Air Show, and fck the City of Toronto's callousness & cruelty in hosting this annual event," another social media user wrote, according to the outlet.
Dogan, who contributes to The Maple publication, faced swift pushback from commenters who defended the longstanding Toronto tradition. "The Air Show is awesome," photojournalist Beth Baisch responded on the platform, Western Standard reported. "I am grateful to live in a country where a skillful acrobatic display like this is a source of entertainment, not terror."
"The audacity to come to [Canada] and think your preferences supersede everyone else's," former Member of Parliament Kevin Vuong wrote, according to Western Standard. "If anyone has an issue with the air show, which has been a Toronto tradition since 1949, then leave for the long weekend or the 12-3 p.m. show, or go elsewhere."
I was literally born under the constant threat of bombings by Iraqi planes in Ahvaz during the Iran-Iraq war.
One of my fondest early childhood memories is my parents taking me to see the air show when we first immigrated to Canada.
My advice: either fit in or leave 🇨🇦 https://t.co/v8rocDmZUp
— Goldie Ghamari | گلسا قمری (@gghamari) September 1, 2025
"I was literally born under the constant threat of bombings by Iraqi planes in Ahvaz during the Iran-Iraq war," former Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament Goldie Ghamari posted, as reported by Western Standard. "One of my fondest early childhood memories is my parents taking me to see the air show when we first immigrated to Canada. My advice: either fit in or leave."
Large crowds gathered along Toronto's waterfront to watch the aerial performances on August 30 and 31, with the event scheduled to end on September 1. The display included the F-35 fighter jet alongside a P-51 Mustang and Canada's Snowbirds aerobatic team, among other aircraft. The Toronto Air Show has previously faced similar accusations of causing psychological harm, with advocacy organization World Beyond War claiming the F-35 displays constitute "blatant advertising for militarism, war, and violence."
"This inescapable noise is a frightening reminder of violence to the thousands of Toronto residents who have fled warzones," the group stated, according to Western Standard. "The air show inflicts needless anxiety to survivors of war who are living and working in Toronto, now a captive and often unwilling audience. The suffering of so many for the fleeting thrill of a few is a cruel and needless sacrifice in the name of amusement."
