Gordon Edgar

Deteriorating concrete and exposed rebar (AI-generated stock photo)

Nigh in Nashville concert at the Mae Wilson Theatre (file photo)

A Pilatus PC-21 training aircraft. 19 of these trainers have been confirmed for purchase by SkyAlyne, with the fleet to be based at 15 Wing (courtesy SkyAlyne)

City Manager Maryse Carmichael places the Mayor's Chain of Office on James Murdock (photo by Shawn Slaght)

It was a special night at the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery (MJMAG) on Saturday, for the institution’s annual gala fundraiser. Thanks to a quirk in scheduling, this year’s event, titled ‘Gala in the Gallery’, was held in the gallery itself, which was highly decorated for the occasion. “Tonight we have Gala in the Gallery, which includes a live auction and silent auction, and we actually have a performance by Iryna Levchenko, who’s doing a performance on the bandura for us,” explained Jennifer McRorie, curator/director at the MJMAG. Originally from Ukraine, Levchenko immigrated to Moose Jaw after Russia’s invasion of her home country. She was a member of the National Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments in Kyiv, and it was group closely associated with the MJMAG which played an outsize role in reuniting Levchenko with her instrument. googletag.cmd.push(function() { if($(document).width()<900) { s = googletag.defineSlot('/50748803/dmj-all-bigbox', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-1648064270259-bbm1'); s.setTargeting('URL', [window.location.pathname]); s.setTargeting('position', [1648064270259]) s.addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().refresh([s], {changeCorrelator: false}); } }); “It’s great to have a local musician offering some music tonight, and we have catering — a big artisanal charcuterie spread — provided by High Regard Catering. And yeah, it’s a night of surrounding yourself with art and maybe purchasing a piece or two to take home,” McRorie added. There were 16 pieces of donated art in the live auction, including art by artists from Moose Jaw, Regina, and across south Saskatchewan. The silent auction also included some art, alongside donations from local businesses. Craig Hemingway from Moose Jaw City Hall was the evening's MC and auctioneer. googletag.cmd.push(function() { if($(document).width()<900) { s = googletag.defineSlot('/50748803/dmj-all-bigbox', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-1648064270259-bbm2'); s.setTargeting('URL', [window.location.pathname]); s.setTargeting('position', [1648064270259]) s.addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().refresh([s], {changeCorrelator: false}); } }); Because Leesa Streifler’s exhibition, The Performance of Being, is traveling, the MJMAG’s Norma Lang Gallery space was able to be used for the event, McRorie explained. There was more room than usual, and guests were able to take in the art still waiting to be packed and moved to the University of Calgary’s Nickle Galleries. googletag.cmd.push(function() { if($(document).width()<900) { s = googletag.defineSlot('/50748803/dmj-all-bigbox', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-1648064270259-bbm3'); s.setTargeting('URL', [window.location.pathname]); s.setTargeting('position', [1648064270259]) s.addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().refresh([s], {changeCorrelator: false}); } }); “It feels really special, and there’s a nice energy in the gallery tonight,” McRorie said. “It was just sort of happenstance that we had to take our fall exhibition down early, because it’s touring Canada and it’s heading to Calgary. And so, we were going to have an empty gallery for a couple of weeks, we thought, lets put the Gala right in the gallery. “We had fun making it sparkly and twinkly and just arranging the space so that people can enjoy themselves. I’m very thankful to the artists who have donated and to the local businesses that have supported us, but also to the many volunteers that have pulled together and helped make this happen tonight — the board, and our staff, of course, but we had a few community volunteers, as well.” googletag.cmd.push(function() { if($(document).width()<900) { s = googletag.defineSlot('/50748803/dmj-all-bigbox', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-1648064270259-bbm4'); s.setTargeting('URL', [window.location.pathname]); s.setTargeting('position', [1648064270259]) s.addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().refresh([s], {changeCorrelator: false}); } });

The Tatawâw Park Indigenous Heritage Centre project steering committee met again last week at the Moose Jaw Public Library (MJPL) to continue refining what is, for some, a decades-long dream for a new, experience-based tourism development at the site of the former Wild Animal Park, just south of downtown. The committee met to further develop their plan using design standards set by Tourism Saskatchewan and to assess the potential of creating a unique tourism experience in the area. The focus of the meeting, facilitated by Dr. Cody Sharpe, president of Non-Profit Governance Solutions, was to build on the strengths and address the weaknesses of the site to ensure that the project will offer both an educational and enjoyable experience for visitors. “We’re excited about the work we’ve done so far, but we’re just getting started. In the new year, we will be doing broader public engagement to gather more input and continue connecting with Indigenous communities that have a historical connection to the Tatawâw Park site. This is crucial as we move forward with refining the proposal and ensuring that the project reflects the interests of all those involved.” googletag.cmd.push(function() { if($(document).width()<900) { s = googletag.defineSlot('/50748803/dmj-all-bigbox', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-1648064270259-bbm1'); s.setTargeting('URL', [window.location.pathname]); s.setTargeting('position', [1648064270259]) s.addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().refresh([s], {changeCorrelator: false}); } }); One strength the group highlighted was the site’s rich history, especially the many successful archaeological digs conducted over the years. “The Tatawâw Park Indigenous Heritage Centre will help tell the positive story of how Métis people contributed to the development of Saskatchewan,” explained Darrell Hawman, president of New Southern Plains Métis Local 160. “It’s a chance to highlight our rich history, and it will provide economic opportunities for Indigenous tourism operators, something we’ve long needed.” googletag.cmd.push(function() { if($(document).width()<900) { s = googletag.defineSlot('/50748803/dmj-all-bigbox', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-1648064270259-bbm2'); s.setTargeting('URL', [window.location.pathname]); s.setTargeting('position', [1648064270259]) s.addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().refresh([s], {changeCorrelator: false}); } }); The committee believes that these excavations could serve as a foundation for hands-on, interactive tourism experiences. The group also discussed the possibility of collaborating with a large university’s archaeology department to strengthen these efforts. “The Tatawâw Park project is exactly the kind of initiative that could make Moose Jaw a top destination,” said Rich Pickering, president of Nature Moose Jaw and board member with the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery. “Before the Wild Animal Park closed, it was drawing between 50,000 and 80,000 visitors each year. This new project has the potential to bring even more people to our city, and it will be a wonderful addition to our tourism offerings.” Mark Gilland, president of the Moose Jaw Canoe & Kayak Club and a member of New Southern Plains Métis Local 160, emphasized the importance of cultural sharing: “This development will create a unique opportunity for everyone in Moose Jaw — both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people — to come together and learn from each other. We want to share authentic cultural experiences of how our ancestors lived on the land around 1850. It’s a way for all of us to celebrate our shared history and connections to this land.” googletag.cmd.push(function() { if($(document).width()<900) { s = googletag.defineSlot('/50748803/dmj-all-bigbox', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-1648064270259-bbm3'); s.setTargeting('URL', [window.location.pathname]); s.setTargeting('position', [1648064270259]) s.addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().refresh([s], {changeCorrelator: false}); } }); The steering committee will continue to gather feedback and refine the proposal as they work towards creating a new tourism experience that highlights the history, culture, and contributions of Indigenous peoples in Saskatchewan. For more information about the Tatawâw Park Indigenous Heritage Centre project, please contact Darrell Hawman by email at nspml160@gmail, or by calling 306-631-6058.

The Burger Cabin in Wakamow Valley will re-open this April under new owners Jamey and Sheri Logan (photos for this article courtesy of Jamey Logan)

Megan Patterson is the new Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the Moose Jaw Wakamow constituency. We caught up with her for a review of 2024, some holiday wishes, and what she’s looking forward to in the New Year.

The proposed location for the new Moose Jaw Solid Waste Facility was rejected by the RM of Moose Jaw in June

Hundreds of teachers struck for days on Thatcher Drive in Moose Jaw