Frontier Days to celebrate SW Sask’s cowboy ways

By Tim Kalinowski

For Canada’s 150th birthday, this year’s Swift Current Frontier Days celebration plans an epic return to its cowboy past.
“The theme this year is: ‘Canada 150 Celebrate the Cowboy Way,’” explains Swift Current Ag. & Ex. event co-ordinator Lenora Bells. “When Frontier Days started in 1938, it was all about celebrating the cowboys and ranching activities of southwest Saskatchewan. We thought this year, with it being Canada’s 150th, it would be a great way to celebrate, and go back to our western roots and traditions.”
But that doesn’t mean Frontier Days is just for the cowboys, says Bells.
“Rodeo was our starting part, and it continues to be part of our traditions throughout Frontier Days’ history, but we have lots happening for everyone. We have our CCA Rodeo, the midway happening and our Grandstand and family shows. And, of course, we still have the parade, a pancake breakfast and fireworks… We also have 4H taking part in Frontier Days with their steer sale. This is the 100th year for 4H in the province of Saskatchewan, and we want to celebrate that too.”
Instead of just sitting back and having people come out and enjoy the show at the Kinetic Park grounds, Frontier Days is more focused than ever before on bringing the party out to everyone in the community, says Bells.
“The theme for the Frontier Days parade is ‘Canada’s 150th, Celebrate your way.’” We want people just to just go crazy that day with their personal expressions of national pride. The parade is always good, we get great crowds. But this year, we want them to bring it just a little bit more. We want people to kick it up a notch with their Canada Day spirit!”
This year’s honorary parade marshal will be veteran, professional rodeo pick-up man Wade Rempel. Frontier Days will also honour veteran, rodeo clown and entertainer Lee Bellows at the CCA event on June 30. Bellows will be retiring this season after 53 years in rodeo.
Bells says she can think of no better combination than celebrating everything wonderful about Canada and local cowboy culture all rolled up into one amazing package.
“We have our two rodeo days June 29 and June 30, and we have our Cowboy Cabaret on Friday night. We have three great country music acts for our Grandstand performances with Washboard Union on June 28 and Aaron Goodvin and Sawyer Brown on Canada Day. The July 1 show will be followed by our fantastic, Canada 150 fireworks display.”
The fireworks will also make an extra special nod to the Maple Leaf this year.
“We always have music that go along with our fireworks,” Bells explains, “and this year we chose all Canadian music to be the background. It will be a great display, and a wonderful celebration of Canada.”
Bells says you definitely don’t want to miss this year’s Frontier Days.
“This is going to be a great start to your summer holiday, and I would encourage everyone to come on down and have a great time!”