The Midwest Shriner’s Association has announced that its local branch, the Moose Jaw Shrine Club, has been awarded the right to host the 2025 Midwest Shriners Association Conference.
Planned across two conference dates, the event is expected to draw hundreds of attendees from across the region and city council has agreed to support the club with up to $50,000 worth of in-kind contributions backed by a letter of support and commitment.
“I would like the community to know that, to secure this bid, Mr. Aaron Ruston… travelled, made presentations… and it was through his enthusiasm and passion that he sold (the idea of hosting in Moose Jaw) to the Shriners,” Mayor Clive Tolley announced.
“This is a big deal for the City of Moose Jaw and I think the whole community should get behind it and do as much as we can to make sure this (event takes place here).”
The upcoming Shriner’s conferences are anticipated to host over 250 individuals in February and another 700 or more attendees in August, which both the club and city council agree will bring new potential business to downtown Moose Jaw.
“Come for four days; stay for four weeks,” announced Aaron Ruston, director general for the Midwest Shriner’s Association during his July 22 city council presentation.
“We have a lot of stuff (to see and do) in this area,” Ruston said. “We need to get that message out.”
In-kind programs and services
City Manager Maryse Carmichael recently met with Ruston to discuss details around the support that will be offered by the city for the 2025 conferences.
The following in-kind program breakdown has resulted from those discussions:
- $10,000: For one free transit service to and from the August event venue and two hotels — stated as either the Grant Hall Hotel or the Temple Gardens Spa — for up to 600 people.
- $10,000: For free half-day parking passes at downtown metered parking spots.
- $10,000: For permits, barricades, and crews to facilitate one parade, car show, or toy run event during the August conference.
- $10,000: For 500 one-time family admission recreation passes for conference attendees. These passes will be applicable to the Yara Centre’s fitness centre and walking track, as well as the Kinsmen Sportsplex and the Phyllis Dewar Outdoor Pool.
- $5,000: For promotion and advertising.
- $5,000: The city will donate souvenirs for the event’s welcome bags including 300 themed coins and 1,000 Notorious Moose lapel pins.
As part of the $5,000 promotional budget, the City of Moose Jaw will promote the conference through its website, app, and social media channels, which includes at least one recorded interview.
The $50,000 figure for in-kind programs is stated as the maximum city contribution and will be included in the 2025 city budget.
The Shriners are described as “a brotherhood of men committed to family, engaged in ongoing personal growth, and dedicated to providing care for children and families in need,” according to its website. The organization runs 22 hospitals worldwide including the Shriners Hospital for Children in Montreal, and 67 patients are currently being supported in Saskatchewan.
“People that would never normally come here will come here (because of the conference), and (many of them are) people of means,” Ruston added.
“The whole Shriners Club believes in this city,” he said. “We have the largest moose in the world, but also the largest hearts in the world.”
For more information about the Shrine Club and its upcoming conference, visit MooseJawShrineClub.WildApricot.org. The club is located at 1767 Main Street North.
