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The Courier News Through the Decades – The Present and the Future

Looking to the next 10 or 20 years, the future of the Royal Canadian Air Force—and life at 4 Wing and CFB Cold Lake—will continue to evolve, just as it always has. New aircraft, technology, and training methods will shape daily life on the base, but the focus will remain the same: the people who serve here and the families and community that support them.

In 2021, The Courier News entered a new chapter, transitioning from a printed newspaper to a fully digital publication. While the format changed, the mission did not. The Courier continues to share the stories that matter most to members and their families at CFB Cold Lake—celebrating achievements, promotions, exercises, community events, and the everyday moments that define life on the base. That commitment will carry forward.

Over the coming years, readers can expect to see coverage of major changes within the RCAF. The arrival of a new generation of fighter aircraft will shape training, infrastructure, and operations, bringing visible changes to 4 Wing and CFB Cold Lake.

At the same time, Canada’s role in continental defence and NORAD will remain central. Arctic sovereignty, airspace protection, and close cooperation with allies are likely to continue as key priorities, ensuring Cold Lake remains an important part of Canada’s national defence picture. Exercises, multinational training, and partnerships with allied air forces will continue to bring an international presence to the Lakeland region.

Through all of this, The Courier News will be there—documenting milestones, capturing change as it happens, and telling the stories behind the headlines. Whether it’s a new aircraft on the flight line, a major exercise, a squadron anniversary, or a personal achievement, the Courier will continue to reflect the life, service, and community of 4 Wing and CFB Cold Lake.

The decades ahead will bring new chapters, just as the past 70 years have. The Courier News has endured for seven decades because of the support and engagement of its readers—whether in print or online—those who serve, those who have served, and the families and community members who call CFB Cold Lake home.

Headlines from The Courier News in the 2020s

May 19, 2021 – The Courier News is now fully digital, featuring a story about a recent exercise at CFB Cold Lake

August 26, 2022 – CFB Cold Lake welcomes Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, where the two leaders discussed defence ideas at the base.

January 10, 2023 – The Canadian government announces that the RCAF will receive 88 F-35A fighters, marking the future replacement of the CF-18 Hornet fleet.

May 24, 2024 – CFB Cold Lake hosts an open house to celebrate 100 years of the RCAF.

May 28, 2024 – 4 Wing and CFB Cold Lake receive the Freedom of the City in Cold Lake, as part of the celebration of the base’s 70th anniversary.
July 24, 2024 – The Courier covers the most recent Cold Lake Air Show, which faced wildfire smoke over two days while still welcoming large numbers of guests and performers.