Over the last few years, there have been few individuals in Moose Jaw who have put in more time and effort to improve the downtown area of the community than Alex Carleton.
The owner of the Crushed Can Rec Room and Bar has spent many an hour putting together initiatives and ideas to help grow and improve the city, plans that have led to massive community events and projects that have proven successful for all involved.
On Tuesday night, Carleton was recognized for his hard work with the 2023 Chamber of Commerce Moose Jaw Citizen of the Year Award.
The honour -- presented annually to someone in the community who has made significant contributes to community development and the benefit of others -- was presented during the first intermission of the WHL game between Moose Jaw and Edmonton on Tuesday night at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
“It’s fantastic and it’s a real honour,” Carleton said. “There are a lot of great people in this city who do a lot of fantastic things and volunteer a lot of hours. I’m just proud to be just another one of those people.”
Carleton, a member of Downtown Moose Jaw Association, was a key member of the Shop Local initiative that popped up last year and helped organize the Little Chicago Show and Shine Car Show, which has evolved into a massive event featuring hundreds of cars taking over Main Street each summer.
Putting together and organizing such events is simply part and parcel of improving the community, Carleton said.
“I’ve lived here my whole life and I want to see our city prosper and I want to see people come to our city,” he explained. “The art project downtown, some of the things the Downtown Association is doing like the car show and the wonderful things the Kinsmen do and Tourism Moose Jaw, they’re different things I’m involved in and I’m proud to be a part of and do my part.”
And helping out folks is just part of the deal.
“Part of it is I enjoy helping people, number one,” he said.”I think there’s a responsibility for me to give back as much as I can whether it’s with sports teams or individuals or things like the car show… I enjoy being involved and part of this fantastic community and anything I can do to help I truly enjoy,”
Other nominees for Citizen of the Year included Aaron Ruston, Dianne and Larry Hellings, Jared Mathieson and Tara Lynn Parker.
