聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 There are some basic truths about small towns in Saskatchewan, that only those of us fortunate enough to live in one ever really understand. For example, in a small town, schedules and priorities tend to shift dramatically as the seasons spin by. There is very little danger of being 'unnoticed' as you go about your daily business.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 And, as this past weekend clearly demonstrated, a small town like Windthorst really knows how to throw a Birthday Party!
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 On Saturday, July 15th Windthorst invited one and all to come and enjoy their 'Canada 150' celebration. The invitation was answered with tremendous enthusiasm as a large number of people from Windthorst and area, as well as several other communities, and other provinces came to take part in the celebrations.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Now, to be fair, while Canada's 150th Birthday was the focus of the celebrations (and the reason for the significant amount of red & white that could be seen throughout the day) many had other equally compelling reasons for attending this party.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 There were, for example, the large number of folks who gathered to enjoy great food and even better fellowship at both the Pancake Breakfast and the Beef-on-a-Bun Supper that took place that day.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Others were excited to witness the colorful parade (including the children that were seen staggering away with their bags of candy after the event was over). Frankly, one of the best things about a parade like this is the fact that the people gathered to watch have the opportunity to become far more than just spectators. Just listening to the happy greetings and the lighthearted 'ribbing' that took place as the floats passed by...one had the sense that this was how the whole idea of 'interactive' must have gotten started.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Those who are enchanted by the rich diversity flavors the history of a place like Windthorst were able to spend some time going through the exhibits on display at the local museum. As Merle Dayman points out, many took the opportunity to do just that:
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e had a really good day. The museum opened up around 12pm, right after the parade. We were selling ice cream, (and letting people have free cake, cookies or freezies to go with it). And of course, people were able to tour through the museum. I was there from 12pm-2pm. Then Raye Hassler聽 brought more ice cream, and was there from 2pm until around 4pm. So, we had a really good turn-out and a very busy day.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 During the afternoon, a long line of excited children attested to the artistic talent of the face-painters at work beside the rink. There were some pretty gleeful kids giving the Bouncy Castle and Windthorst's playground a good 'work-out' as well. Older 'kids' were free to relax in the Beer Gardens and/or watch the Men's Baseball Double-Header happening on the wonderfully rejuvenated Windthorst Ball Diamond. As well, any horse-lovers in the crowd were sure to enjoy the 4-H Horse Show that was taking place.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A spectacular fireworks display provided a great opportunity for folks to come out and enjoy the lovely evening and served as a fitting end to the day's celebrations.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Throughout the day, there were most certainly several occasions for family and friends to get together and catch up on each others' lives. However, there were people who had come specifically to take part in one particular reunion. Members of the Class of 1966 were in town to take part in their 鈥�50 + 1 Reunion鈥�. Some of these folks had traveled from places like Calgary, AB or Brandon, MB, in order to get together with old friends that they hadn't seen for far too long. The get-together made for a lot of opportunities to 鈥渞emember when鈥�...and talk about 鈥渘ow鈥�.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Clearly, there were several 'reasons' why folks came out to Windthorst this past weekend.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Yet truthfully, the real reason why so many people came out to Windthorst's Canada 150 Celebration was summed up by Donna Domes (nee: Biesenthal) who rode down from Moosomin for the event:
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 heard there was a party here today!鈥�
