Perhaps for lack of other events to discuss so early in a new year, and because we need to know where we’ve been before we figure out where we’re headed, the first week of a new January is always the time for reflection.
In normal circumstances, a one-year gaze to the rear is usually sufficient, but this year puts us at the beginning of a new decade, and therefore there is not one but 10 years to dissect with hindsight.
Remembering the events of a 10-year period is not as easy as it sounds. Memories can be selective, and sporadically tuned to major events, good or bad, with mundane and normal events sometimes being lost in a haze of confused dates and phrases.
The world has changed dramatically in 10 years, certainly with more speed than some of us would prefer. With the alternative of being left behind, that change, if not wholly embraced, has at least been acknowledged.
With thinking cap on, and with assistance from housemate, a list of notable events from the first decade of the 21st century has been compiled — with apologies for the hundreds of other events forgotten.
• The millennium party on Jan. 1 of 2000 started the decade with the community set to party after the Y2K bug failed to shut down the world. Thousands gathered to welcome the decade with wagon rides, entertainment, speeches, free food, games, and the largest fireworks display ever seen in Moose Jaw to that date.
• The city was in an obvious party mood after that — celebrating its centennial in 2003 with another Jan. 1 celebration, and a series of activities throughout the year to honour the pioneers who built the foundation for our community. The visit from Prince Edward in June of that year was the best birthday present any city could have received. The party ended in November with cakes, a birthday dinner and a good feeling about what the next 100 years might hold.
• Again in 2005 we jumped on the party wagon, this time to help the province as it celebrated its own centennial. Another Jan. 1 party brought out the revellers once more as did the September visit of the RCMP musical ride, and a large community party with simultaneous fireworks displays in all the cities in the province — the largest fireworks explosion ever seen to that date in these locations.
• With agriculture being a mainstay of Moose Jaw’s economy, it was with trepidation that the BSE crisis put the Canadian cattle industry in jeopardy with cattle sales stopped at the border. However, a group of Mortlach young people decided to take matters into its own hands to encourage the use of Canadian beef at chain fast food restaurants. The group, Kids for Canadian Beef, drew national attention and its work resulted in rallies to support the beef industry, got politicians involved in working to save the industry, and opened the eyes of adults who saw what the actions of committed young people could accomplish.
• The Moose Jaw Cultural Centre was opened in the past decade and has become a much-loved venue for travelling musicians. Part of its charm is in the fact the attributes of the former Capitol Theatre were salvaged, giving an impetus for fond memories of antics that used to take place, mostly in the balcony of the glorious old theatre.
• On a much sadder note was the fire that started off 2004 and left the corner of River and Main Streets a hunk of frozen rubble, destroying a heritage building and several businesses and damaging other buildings close to the scene. It was a dangerous day for city firefighters but their training kicked in, reiterating the value in a having a professional group of firefighters on the city payroll.
• A checkoff of the decade wouldn’t be complete without reference to the multiplex. It is now under construction and life goes on despite it being one of the most contentious issues in years.
• School district amalgamations, health region consolidations, school closures and closure reprieves, hospital renovation and expansion plans, opening of a downtown casino, expansion of the spa, growth of the Festival of Words, an Order of Canada presentation to Gary Hyland, loss of industries, opening of new businesses, establishment of Enterprise Saskatchewan, sports achievements on many levels, federal, provincial and municipal elections — all of those events were some of the decade’s notable moments — remembered without help of archival searches.
When the new decade is remembered 10 years from now, one of the first memories and reflections should be on another community party — a party to welcome the Olympic Torch Relay to Moose Jaw (Sunday).
Many things can be said about Moose Jaw, but without doubt, no one will dispute that Moose Jaw residents know how to throw a party.
Joyce Walter can be reached at 691-1259
