Airplane enthusiasts are setting up at Calgary International Airport in hopes of seeing some exciting aircraft land at the G7 Leaders Summit in nearby Kananaskis.
Corbin Johnson hopes to catch a glimpse of the plane with U.S. President Donald Trump.
“Air Force 1 is certainly the gold standard, but I think I and everyone else are happy to see all the other planes coming,” Johnson said Saturday.
The site is also one of three designated demonstration areas set up by police in Calgary, the other in Banff.
Prime Minister Mark Carney hosted G7 leaders from the United States, France, Britain, Germany, Japan and Italy, who are expected to arrive on Sunday at Kananaskis, southwestern Calgary. Some leaders from non-member countries, including Ukraine and India, will also participate.
Johnson, a camera around his neck, said he posted all the photos of the plane on Instagram.
“My love for planes, I would say, from here, we stand there. My parents would take me to the plane location and see all the planes that would come across here.”
“This is definitely my number one hobby. It's a full-time job you can do.”
Aircraft discoverer Corbin Johnson was on display at Calgary International Airport on Saturday, June 14, 2025. As world leaders arrive in Calgary for the G7 Leaders Summit in Kananaskis in Alta, plane enthusiasts are opening shops at Calgary Airport, hoping to see some exciting planes. Canada News/Bill Graveland.
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Jaidon Phelps, 20, is an aspiring pilot who works in Westjet. He was in the observation area at 6 a.m. Sunday.
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“It's so cool to be part of what's going on, and to see all the planes from all the countries involved come in, and most importantly, to see if we can get Air Force 1,” he said.
“It's just the essence of it. What you always want to see.”
The aircraft discoverer community tends to share Intel, and some pointed out early Sunday that the Japanese delegation has been subject to Canada. Also discussed the best location to see the plane coming in.
Protesters from several different groups rally in front of Calgary City Hall, another designated protest district in the city, as leaders plan to arrive at hundreds of protesters.
Stand out is a clear anti-Trump bias with signs such as “Yankee Go Home”, “elbow”, and “real Northern Powers and Angry”.
Leanne Mackenzie said she lived in Canada for 20 years before returning to Canada and was plagued by the situation involving the National Guard.
Trump ordered the National Guard and Marines to go to Los Angeles after protesters blocked highways and burned cars after protesters fought against federal immigration law enforcement attacks last week.
California governor opposes deployment and the state has filed a lawsuit to stop them.
“It is speculated that Trump is here in G7, and I'm going to come out today to protest American fascism,” Mackenzie said.
“My understanding is that this kind of protest is making a living. I'm sure he'll look at it in another way because he's the biggest baby on earth, but I'm doing everything I can, and that's the only way I can.”
Self-proclaimed grandmother Lesley Boyer is sitting in a wheelchair with a frustrating Trump sign.
“My two grandfathers are fighting fascists, and I'm very concerned about the (Trump) state 51 comments, and I'm very scared that he might actually try something,” she said.
Although domestic air traffic continues to flow normally, business at Calgary Airport this weekend is far from usual.
Police said they received signs of anticipated protesters, and the demonstrations will be broadcast on TV set up for Kananaskis' leaders.
Chief Vice President of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. David Hall said he just hopes for peace in protests.
“We know that it’s important for people to see and hear their message, so that’s why we built live feed,” he said.
“We police behavior rather than belief. So I just encourage everyone to conduct any demonstrations in a legal, peaceful and safe way over the next few days.”
& Copy 2025 Canadian Press
