Pipestone Flyer
"We're Here for a Good Time (Not a Long Time)", "Raise a Little Hell", "The Boys in the Bright White Sportscar", "Two For the Show", "Pretty Lady" "Good Ol' General Hand Grenade", "Round, Round We Go", "Santa Maria", "Janine." These are just a few of the Trooper hits that, according to writer Ryan Sparks, "have woven their way into the fabric of this country like no other bands have been able to do. Tune into any radio station from Vancouver to St John's and you're bound to encounter one of their dozen hit radio anthems that are still featured in heavy rotation to this day”.
And on Saturday, June 14th, 2014 Trooper will be in Wetaskiwin ‘raising a little hell’ as they perform a concert in the Wetaskiwin Drill Hall during the Chamber of Commerce Summer Festival 2014. Judi Best, Executive Director, Wetaskiwin and Distirct Chamber of Commerce, has acquired grants to minimize cost of the Summer Festival 2014 for locals and visitors. “Admission to the Trooper concert will be $25 for advance tickets and $30 at the door. The concert will begin at 7:30 pm with an opening act and Trooper will take the stage commencing at 9:30 pm.”
Festival has something for everyone
Summer Festival is a 3 day event being planned by the Chamber as Best describes, “To build a community event that will give the community pride”. The Festival begins at noon on Friday, June 13th and runs until Sunday, June 15th.
Main Street Wetaskiwin will be transformed into a carnival type atmosphere. The Wetaskiwin and District Chamber of Commerce has taken the lead role of organizing Summer Festival because as Ms. Best suggests, “it is a means to attract people and businesses from surrounding communities to come and enjoy the festivities and to discover what Wetaskiwin has to offer while showcasing our new Main Street and the businesses located there.” Guests can leisurely stroll along Main Street and enjoy the entertainment and displays offered by the Fire Department, local musicians, painters, photographers, farmers, artisans, restaurants and businesses showcasing their products, services and talents.
Summer Festival 2014 is filled with entertainment with a parade beginning at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 14th, Reynolds Alberta Museum’s History Road, a midway beginning at noon on June 13th, and an entertainment stage on Main Street.
A short drive east on Highway 13 to the Ag Society grounds will be the annual Rawhide Rodeo on Friday - 6:30 pm to 9:45 pm and Saturday and Sunday - 2 pm to 5 pm. Admission is $10.00, students - $5.00, 10 and under – free. There will be a pancake breakfast on Saturday at 8:00 am, $5.00, beer gardens, concession and vendors.
Pioneer of the Year award
Also featured during Summer Festival 2014 will be the Wetaskiwin and District Heritage Museum Pioneer of the Year award that honours an individual who continues to make a significant contribution to the community of Wetaskiwin and surrounding areas.
This year, in celebration of the revitalization of Main Street, the museum has chosen the theme of Civic Pride and will honour and pay tribute to an individual who has contributed to the enhancement and enrichment of the beautiful city and county of Wetaskiwin.
The Pioneer of the Year award ceremony will take place at the Heritage Museum on Main on Friday, June 13, 2014 at 7 pm. The program will include “Main Street Old and New,” a multi-media presentation with highlights of our beautiful city.
For Pioneer Day, which will be held on Saturday June 14, 2014, the Heritage Museum will honour the countless additional volunteers whose undertakings and accomplishments have bettered their communities.
The museum is asking that the public please submit the names of people who have been conducive to the advancement, improvement, and promotion of Wetaskiwin city or county. Submissions will require the nominee’s name, phone number, address, and a description of the volunteer’s proudest achievement[s] within the Wetaskiwin city or county. These Civic Pride Volunteers will be acknowledged and presented with a certificate of appreciation at the recognition presentation, which will take place at 1:30 pm on Saturday, June 14, 2014 at the Heritage Museum on Main. Please be there to cheer on and show your appreciation for the commendable volunteers who exemplify Civic Pride.
As a special addition to the festivities of Pioneer Day, the museum is asking children to submit original artwork showcasing their favourite aspect of the new main street. Prizes will be offered in two categories: grades 1-3 and grades 4-6. The artwork will be on display at the museum from June 13 until June 21, 2014 and will be posted on the museum’s Facebook page.
The Chamber is gearing up for what promises to be a fun and exciting weekend. They are keeping old traditions such as honoring our Pioneers, the Rawhide Rodeo, the parade and of course the midway and adding new attractions like the Trooper concert. Wetaskiwin residents will be treated to an attraction as Trooper suggests - It goes like this: millions of records, a couple dozen hits, a Juno Award (Canada's Grammy) for Band of the Year and ongoing sold-out shows across Canada. Universal Music acknowledges them as "one of Canada's top five selling bands of all time" and the Vancouver Sun has called them "Canadian rock heroes of the first order ... the best performing band in Canada".
Watch future editions of the Pipestone Flyer for more details.