ASSINIBOIA — The thread of community experiences forms the tapestry created in small towns like Assiniboia. Memorable moments are sewn together through a mosaic of stories of dedication and resilience and celebrations that mirror the significance of these journeys.
The collective spirit of community was celebrated in milestone anniversaries in Assiniboia in 2024.
Public affirmations of residents’, business or community venue’s worth, history and contributions to the community were celebrated all year.
These events fostered a sense of community and the camaraderie in reliving the history of these places and spaces, sharing the past and creating new memories. Celebrating these milestone events together validates the achievements while engaging in a sense of continuity and recognition.
Many of these milestone anniversary stories were included in the Assiniboia Times and SASKTODAY.ca
Kicking off 2024 celebrations in Assiniboia was the event that marked the 50th anniversary of Palliser Regional Library which took place in December of 2023. This important piece of Assiniboia’s community culture has seen a number of different locations but celebrated 20 years in their current space at the Prince of Wales Cultural Centre at the 50th anniversary event.
Fourty years and counting: Assiniboia Community Choir legacy of sharing music and memories. Life without music would B flat. Assiniboia Community Choir was looking sharp at a spring concert, May 5, which recognized four decades for this musical group in Assiniboia. The group began in 1984 when a group who sang at church decided to enlist other members to create a community choir and the music has been flowing ever since.
Spring in Assiniboia also included a centennial celebration. E. Bourassa and Sons, with several locations in southern Saskatchewan, including one in Assiniboia, was proud to mark a centennial of business, that began in 1924. To honour the 100th anniversary, E. Bourassa & Sons launched a $100,000 community development fund, which benefited several groups and organizations, including the Golden South Child Care Centre, now under construction.
Three decades of family business was marked when the Karst family held a special celebration at Integra Tire. Brother duo, Darrin and Tracy Karst, began working for their parents at the local Petro Canada service station and repair shop in Assiniboia in 1984. In their teens, the young men learned all the facets of a service station, under Dad, Alvin’s, watchful eye. The Karst brothers were taught not only to fix and repair things, including tires but also how to become the businessmen they are today.
The Assiniboia Museum celebrated its golden anniversary in late August of 2024. Thanks to the dedication and commitment of volunteers, this historical venue continues to attract repeat and new visitors. History is brought to life at this important part of the community culture.
While not directly an Assiniboia event, it certainly encompasses a good cross-section of Assiniboia residents. St. Victor Biker Boogie celebrated four and a half decades in the summer of 2024 and has stood the test of time. While life and the world have changed a lot since 1979, the opportunity to gather each year for this event remains steadfast.
The longevity of this annual summer event has also provided over $450,000 to community charities, STARS, youth camps, breast cancer, cystic fibrosis and the regional park where it is held.
2024 also marked 65 years for Assiniboia’s Rotary Club.
The significance of celebrating special events, such as milestone anniversaries in a community, is fostering social connection. Bringing residents together helps create community camaraderie, appreciation of the history of the anniversary being celebrating and helping invest in the future of both the celebrant and the community itself.
