New format is interesting

Members of the Moose Jaw Shrine Club, in breaking with tradition, are offering local residents an opportunity to become involved in a new event next year.
The long-time sponsors of the Shrine Circus in Moose Jaw have decided to allow the circus to bypass the city next year and will instead, offer a more interactive program of family entertainment.
Shrine officials say the new format will feature regional singers, magicians, jugglers and clowns and will showcase more of the programs supported by fundraising efforts of the Shriners.
Years ago when travelling circuses came to the city, shows were sold out and children, and adults too, were excited by the various acrobatic acts, the clowns, the lions and tigers, the elephants and horses. The circus then was the only opportunity for local families to see such spectacles.
Times have changed and circus content, while still exciting, is no longer the only entertainment venue available. Television, the Internet and year-round theme parks have taken away the exclusive allure of a travelling circus, meaning a decline in audience numbers.
And animal rights activists loudly demonstrated and protested and waged vigourous campaigns against the use of animals in such shows, causing their cancellation at some of the larger centres and thus reducing programs to one ring from three.
Another factor in the local decision is an issue facing many volunteer organizations - lack of volunteers with the time commitment required to successfully promote and organize the circus event.
The big top tent production will be missed next year, but with the creativity of the Moose Jaw Shriners, local families can still look forward to some entertaining programs, and can still count on the Shriners to help with many worthy community charities.