The Moose Jaw Cemetery contains the oldest gravesites in town, so Tourism Moose Jaw wants to tell the stories of some of those deceased residents who helped build the community.
Historic tours of the oldest cemetery in the community have kicked off for the second consecutive season. From now until the end of September, one-hour treks are being offered on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. When October arrives, the tours will take place on Saturdays and Sundays.
Anyone interested in taking a trek of the cemetery is encouraged to register online at www.tourismmoosejaw.com. You can also call the tourism office at 306-693-8097 or visit the office to have staff help you register. Tours cost $7.50 and a maximum of 10 people can be taken at one time.
The outing starts at the main gates of the cemetery, located at 1000 Caribou Street East.
The tours are being offered at those times since there is not much shade on the tour to protect from the heat, explained Jacki L’Heureux-Mason, executive director of Tourism Moose Jaw. This will also allow tourists to enjoy the solitude of the cemetery while avoiding heat stroke.
The treks will be kept in a small area of the cemetery, so those with mobility issues can still participate.
Tourism Moose Jaw is planning to offer two different tours of the cemetery, with the first scheduled to run from now until the end of July and the second to commence in August.
L’Heureux-Mason offered a teaser of some of the stories tourists can expect to hear.
One story will focus on a Chinese man from the early 1900s who was considered one of Moose Jaw’s greatest entrepreneurs. Another story will look at Tasinaskawin Brule, the wife of Chief Black Bull, who is the only Indigenous person buried in the cemetery.
L’Heureux-Mason was excited by the fact that, of the five tours the organization offers — such as the trolley tours, ghost tours and cemetery treks — visitors will hear so many different stories that at least 85 per cent of the information will be different.
Organizers had hoped to access the cemetery chapel tours this year, but work to improve its safety was required first. L’Heureux-Mason expects to have access to the building next year so it can be included in the tours.
Tourism Moose Jaw took over the cemetery outings after Heritage Moose Jaw shut down, L’Heureux-Mason explained. One member of that organization, Brian Bell, approached her and asked if Tourism would be interested in offering the treks.
“He took me on a tour and I’ll just say we had big shoes to fill,” she said. “His passion and enthusiasm for this was incredible.
“I took the responsibly of this very seriously.”
The tour is “very good” and is not meant to be spooky, added L’Heureux-Mason. Instead, it is meant to honour those residents who helped lay the foundation for the City of Moose Jaw.
