Warren Michelson
When I stand at the corner of High Street and Main and look around, I appreciate what a unique city we have. Our historic downtown is the core of our vibrant tourism industry. Be it the arts, heritage, nature, or sports, there is something going on for everyone, tourists and locals alike. Moose Jaw has so much to enjoy year-round, but this is especially true during the summer months. The Saskatchewan Festival of Words is a high-profile event in the literary world. It is listed as one of the 40 Best Arts and Cultural Festivals in North America in 2018 by FlightNetwork, North America’s leading travel agency. The Festival of Words brings award-winning authors, and those who love to read or write, from across Canada, for four days of workshops, concerts, film, panel discussions, interviews, music, theatre, and even a slam poetry competition.
Moose Jaw has cultural events for every taste. RuBarb Productions has performances of three different shows going on throughout the summer. Every Wednesday evening all summer long you can enjoy ‘Concert in the Park’ a weekly outdoor concert which is free to the public. This year Crescent Park will be the venue for an outdoor rock ‘n roll arts festival, Band City Fest Arts and Music Festival on August 25th. Besant Park west of Moose Jaw hosts the Sandy Creek Gospel Jamboree from July 20 to 22.
Classic car enthusiasts around Moose Jaw know that I rarely miss a “Show and Shine”. There are several in the area over the season. The 15 Wing Highway to Heroes Air/Concert & Car Show promises to be a spectacular event on July 15. Particularly exciting is that an impressive air display including the Snowbirds will be part of it this year.
Our top-notch local museums connect us to our heritage, and are a lot of fun to visit, with interactive displays, and interesting events. The Western Development Museum, the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery, Sukanen Ship Museum, the Tunnels of Moose Jaw and the Moose Jaw Trolley all illustrate an interesting twist of our history. For nature buffs, Wakamow Valley and Buffalo Pound Provincial Park provides camping, hiking trails, bird watching and water activities that connect us to nature. Wakamow Valley will host a Kid’s Day on July 12th. Buffalo Pound also has a variety of programs offered daily during summer.
Tourism Moose Jaw showcases our unique attractions, events, and provides information to attract people to Moose Jaw. It is a not-for-profit organization representing both tourism-related businesses and those service businesses that recognize the importance of tourism in the community. Tourism benefits all of Moose Jaw as visitors support local businesses, which adds to our economy.
The tourism industry contributes significantly to the entire Saskatchewan economy. In 2017, travel expenditures reached $2.37 billion. More than 67,000 Saskatchewan residents are employed in tourism or tourism-related jobs. Approximately 3,200 tourism organizations and operators offer more than 4,000 products and experiences.
Tourism thrives in Moose Jaw because of the dedicated staff at our attractions and businesses. Many of these venues and events depend on volunteers as well. I know I will enjoy many of our special events this summer, and I would like to thank those individuals who make them happen.
Whether you are a resident in the area, or touring through Moose Jaw, you’re sure to enjoy the uniqueness of events and venues for an active and interesting summer here in Moose Jaw.