Dave McLean and Jamie MacDonald, both from Miramichi, were technicians who worked on the CF-101 Voodoos when the planes were stationed at CFB Chatham for more than 20 years. They decided to try organizing a reunion of their colleagues, affectionately known as "Medicine Men."

McLean said they created a Facebook page and started reaching out to some of their fellow technicians. Before long, what seemed like an impossibility became a reality. McLean noted that the military community is quite active, and it didn't take long for word of the event to spread. Eventually, 43 people registered for the event from as far away as Vancouver.

McLean said they tried to pick a weekend that wouldn't conflict with other Miramichi events (like the Irish Festival or the Striper Cup), so they settled on the last weekend in May. They booked 20 rooms at the Rodd, which were soon spoken for, and planned a meet-and-greet on Friday night, followed by events on Saturday—including a tour of the airport and an afternoon on the Max Aitken. Unfortunately, the latter was canceled due to weather.

The thirty attendees did not let the wet weather spoil their fun, and organized an impromptu céilí at O'Donaghue's Pub—the pub owned by MacDonald and where McLean famously slung beers for more than 12 years.

McLean wanted to thank the City of Miramichi, which contributed toward the event.

The Voodoo History

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) began operating the CF-101 Voodoo in 1961 as part of Canada's contribution to North American air defense under NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command).

The Voodoo was a twin-engine, all-weather interceptor aircraft developed by McDonnell Douglas for the United States and Canada. It was primarily used during the Cold War era to defend North American airspace against potential Soviet bomber threats. Its main role was long-range interception, as it was equipped with radar and missile systems to detect and intercept hostile aircraft at great distances.

The aircraft was stationed in Bagotville, Comox, CFB Cole Lake, and CFB Chatham. It was phased out of Canadian service by 1984, replaced by more modern fighters like the CF-18 Hornet—marking the end of military aircraft stationed in Chatham. CFB Chatham officially closed in 2014.

The CF-101 Voodoo is remembered as a significant part of Canada's Cold War defense history. Its stationing at bases like CFB Chatham was vital in maintaining the country's air security during a tense period of global geopolitics.