MOOSE JAW — Hundreds of red fez hat-wearing Shriners will soon be walking the streets of Moose Jaw as the first of two major conferences kicks off in The Friendly City.
“The Dream’s Alive in 2025” is the theme for the Wawa Midwest Shriners Association’s two conferences, with the annual winter business meetings taking place at the Temple Gardens Mineral Spa from Feb. 19 to 22 and the summer session happening from Aug. 20 to 23 throughout the community.
The winter meetings will see roughly 200 executive members from across Western Canada and six northern states focus on improving Shrinedom in their areas, increasing membership, improving clubs’ financial health, bringing harmony to groups and leadership elections.
About 30 Shriners will also attend the Moose Jaw Warriors’ Feb. 22 game against the Calgary Hitmen.
“We’re pretty excited. It’s a big thing for Moose Jaw (and) it’s a big thing for Shrinerdom. We’re very honoured,” said Aaron Ruston, the director general of the host committee. “Moose Jaw is the smallest centre to ever host this event.”
Ruston and his team have spent the past two years organizing the two events. Chuckling, he joked that he wished he had had five years to prepare so they could be more ahead of the game.
“There’s been a lot (of extra work),” he said, adding that the past two years of organizing went by “amazingly quick,” while the next six months will fly by even faster. “It’s been an amazing ride.”
One challenge Ruston encountered was that some venues were unable to confirm prices two years in advance, which made it difficult to determine what conference fee to charge members.
Moreover, with more than 1,000 people — over 600 Shriners and their families — coming, they require tourist activities and transportation. That required extra work in arranging hotels, events, activities, parades, and concerts, as well as making businesses, groups, and organizations aware of the additional people in town.
The Moose Jaw Shrine Club has 67 members, while there are 572 members in Saskatchewan, down from about 1,200 several years ago.
Residents will see many new faces wearing red fez hats during the next week, and in the summer, so Ruston encouraged them to say hello and welcome them to the community.
“It’s going to be a great event, and we’re looking forward to it,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ruston is excited about the summer conference, which will see members and their families visit tourist places like the Tunnels, 15 Wing, the automobile museum southeast of Moose Jaw and the RCMP Museum in Regina.
Moreover, on Aug. 22, they will celebrate Saskatchewan’s 120th birthday and the 100th anniversary of the first Shrine Hospital opening in Canada, while on Aug. 23, they will host a parade for the community.
“Really, (we’ll be) showing the Americans in particular how you party like a Canuck,” said Ruston, noting that residents can attend many of these events to meet a Shriner, see the tiny cars and motorcycles and take photos with them.
“It’s going to be a great, great event. And the community has been stepping up,” he continued, pointing out that city hall is providing $50,000 in in-kind contributions to help with activities.
Ruston’s business, Purposed Financial, plans to give $1,000 to the business that made members feel most welcome and encouraged them to return.
“It is going to be epic … ,” he added. “Summer is just going to be a hub of activity.”
For more information, including the summer schedule, visit msa2025.com or see the MSA’s Facebook page.
