Swift Current
BY MATTHEW LIEBENBERG —
mliebenberg@prairiepost.com
Work has started to make sure the celebrations of Swift Current’s centennial as a city in 2014 will be remembered for a long time. The City has established an eight-member Centennial Committee to take the lead in the planning of festivities that will mark the historic event. Swift Current officially received city status on Jan. 15, 1914 after a population census the previous year confirmed there were more than 5,000 residents. The formal introduction of the Centennial Committee members took place during an announcement at the Swift Current Museum Jan. 16. Mayor Jerrod Schafer said the committee will oversee all aspects of the centennial. “It will be a historic time of celebration in our city,
showcasing the achievements of the last century and what makes Swift Current such a wonderful place to call home,” he mentioned. The committee will canvas individuals and
organizations for ideas and partnerships. It will also be responsible for the planning, promotion and execution of various events. “The committee will engage residents, from
youths to seniors, in order to create a meaningful experience for all in Swift Current,” Schafer said. The two co-chairs of the committee are Dave Spencer and Pat Friesen.
Swift Current and Leader In Motion with contest
CONTRIBUTED The communities of Swift Current and Leader
are two of the six finalists communities in Saskatchewan for the In Motion Community Pledge Challenge to win $10,000. By Dec. 30, Swift Current had 459 pledges from
residents to be more physically active which put Swift Current in second place out of 23 communities in the province. Unity was in first place with 637 pledges. “A panel of judges chose the top six finalist communities based on the number of pledges they collected as well as the strength and creativity of their entries,” explained Val Choo-Foo, Swift Current’s In Motion Community Facilitator. The other four communities that will be competing against for the prize of $10 000 are Craven, Elbow, James Smith Cree Nation, and Unity. The winning community will be chosen through an on-line public vote that will take place until Jan. 29. Everyone can vote once a day by going to
www.jumpin.ca and clicking on Vote. “The prize money of $10,000 will go towards expanding the after school youth fitness program called Fit for Fun so that every student in Swift Current would have the opportunity to participate in this free program,” said Choo-Foo on behalf of Swift Current. “So Swift Current what are we waiting for? Let’s get voting, our kids are counting on us.”
Spencer recently retired after a career of 38 years in the education system. During that time, he was a teacher and administrator. He has served in various capacities in the community, including the Kiwanis. Friesen is Innovation Credit Union’s executive vice-president of marketing. She is the current president of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce. Her involvement in community activities includes being on the Saskatchewan Centennial Committee for Swift Current and serving on the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame committee. “While each person’s story about his or her
relationship with Swift Current is unique, this centennial year will be an opportunity for current residents of the city and the southwest and those who would return home in 2014 to reflect on their experiences and memories,” Spencer said. He introduced the members of the committee and their tasks. Herb Butz, who has been living in Swift Current since 1957, will be responsible for community liaison.Well known to many families over the years as the owner of Herb’s Barber Shop, he has been actively involved in many service clubs as well as in minor hockey and with the Swift Current Indians baseball team.
Elden Moberg will be the communications
co-ordinator. He is the chief operations officer at Stark & Marsh Chartered Accountants. He was previously with the Swift Current Broncos in various capacities, including marketing and public relations, and as assistant general manager. Travis Cuthbert will be the events co-ordinator. He is a financial consultant with Mercator Financial and an active member of the Swift Current Kiwanis Club. He volunteers as coach with high school and college sports teams. Pat Smith will be the senator of the committee. She has played various leadership roles in the community and province over the years, including as school board member and chair of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association, as the MLA for Swift Current and as a cabinet minister. Councillors Gord Budd and George Bowditch will
serve as City representatives on the Centennial Committee. “This is a very talented committee and I want to thank you all for agreeing to take the lead in making this 2014 centennial celebration something that will be remembered for the next 100 years,” Friesen said. The committee’s immediate focus over the next few months will be on three important tasks.
Photos by Matthew Liebenberg
Swift Current Centennial Committee Co-Chair Dave Spencer speaks during the announcement of the committee members at the Swift Current Museum on Jan. 16. Seated behind him are, from left, Swift Current Mayor Jerrod Schafer and Centennial Committee Co-Chair Pat Friesen.
“We’ll be building structure, we’ll be unleashing
creativity and turning ideas into actions,” she said. Their structure work will include developing a unique brand and theme for the celebrations. They will develop communications and marketing strategies, determine budget needs and funding requirements, and create a mechanism to allow ideas to grow and develop. “There will be some budget forthcoming from the City and we expect to hear something about that in the near future,” Spencer said. “I also believe there will be applications for grants, both provincial and federal, for which we may qualify.” Their idea is the committee will plan some
foundational activities for early, mid and late 2014 and then within that they are hoping community businesses and organizations will structure additional events. The committee will look for opportunities to create
events that will honour the past, celebrate the present and look forward to the future. “Our goal is to make this a year long celebration,”
Friesen said. “We want everyone to have fun with this opportunity and we’ll be looking for as many ideas as possible to allow us to do that.” The City is looking at ways to honour Swift
Current’s centennial year into the future. “This may be achieved by some form of permanent
structure as well as types of communications that would record Swift Current’s past 100 years,” Spencer said. “This would be shared with you as plans are formalized.”
PRAIRIE POST - Friday, January 20, 2012 - A3 Swift Current committee planning for 2014 centennial
The members of the Swift Current Centennial Committee after their names were announced at the Swift Current Museum on Jan. 16. From left to right, Herb Butz, Pat Smith, Travis Cuthbert, Co-Chairs Dave Spencer and Pat Friesen, Councillors George Bowditch and Gord Budd, and Elden Moberg.
MEDICINE HAT & AREA’S
19TH ANNUAL EARLY BIRD RV SHOW & SALE AT OUR INDOOR LOCATION
19
FEB 2ND, 3RD, 4TH & 5TH Toll Free 1-866-574-2266
4kms West of Medicine Hat
www.holidayrvcentre.com
• Open Range • Crossroads MFG - Cruiser - Sunset Trail - Zinger
• Keystone MFG - Outback - Alpine - Avalanche
- Slingshot
• Redwood MFG • Heartland MFG - Cyclone
41086245•01/20/12
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41