Moose Jaw -
The Friendly City is going to get a substantial financial boost to its 2010 Olympic torch relay celebrations, thanks to $45,000 in provincial funding.
"The Government of Saskatchewan will be supporting Saskatchewan's celebrations," said Moose Jaw North MLA Warren Michelson during a press conference at city hall on Wednesday.
"I'm confident Moose Jaw will extend a great welcome for the Olympic flame," the Saskatchewan Party MLA said.
A total of $405,000 is being distributed among nine communities to help plan and stage events to mark the Olympic flame's arrival, leading up to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.
Although the torch will pass through 38 Saskatchewan communities and places of special interest, it will only stop in nine that have been designated as celebration communities by the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee, including Moose Jaw on Jan. 10, 2009.
Jasmine Jackman, the city's recreation supervisor and Moose Jaw torch run committee chairwoman, said the local $45,000 infusion will allow Moose Jaw to move ahead on some event ideas.
"We're trying to keep everything local," she said during the press conference. Some of the ideas for the daylong event include dancing, music, choirs and pancakes. "But nothing is set in stone yet."
Mayor Dale McBain said the money provided by the province will help Moose Jaw get into Olympic mode, not only for the torch relay leading up to the international Games in February, but the provincial Games as well.
"I was just thinking, 2010 is not only the torch run for us, but the Saskatchewan Winter Games."
Whatever the committee decides to do in celebration of the Olympics, Jackman said municipal activities locally will occur outside.
"It is an outdoor event and we're not going indoors," she said.
Saskatchewan communities holding torch celebrations include La Ronge (Nov. 7, 2009), Yorkton and Regina (Jan. 9, 2010), Moose Jaw and Swift Current (Jan. 10, 2010), Saskatoon and Prince Albert (Jan. 11, 2010), as well as (North Battleford and Lloydminster (Jan. 12, 2010).
Each celebration community will receive a $45,000 grant to help cover the cost of its own unique celebration and activities around the Olympic torch relay. The funding is part of the arts, culture and heritage sector development plan which is testing innovative and creative approaches to cultural development.
Carter Haydu can be reached at 691-1265.
