Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Motif finds success at Happy Valley Park

Festival entertainment gives a deeper look into cultural traditions

The Chinese association performs at
Motif on Sunday in Happy Valley Park.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy


Performing traditional dances is a way to share aspects of other cultures.

That is the view of Bo Yu, a member of the Moose Jaw Chinese Association that performed at Motif on Sunday. When speaking about the Chinese square dance, she said it is a representation of the life of people in China.

“From the dance you can tell the horses are galloping in the grass,” said Yu. “Basically it’s about how people feel about our lives.”

The 39th annual festival concluded on Sunday in Happy Valley Park. Featuring 13 cultures this year, the event had entertainment, vendors and food on site over the weekend.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Sharing stories about the Empress of Ireland

Pascale Saint-Amand, project manager with the Site
historique maritime de la Pointe-au-Pere, stands in front of
the Empress of Ireland travelling exhibit at the Moose
Jaw Western Development Museum on Sunday.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy

After colliding with the Storstad coal boat, the Empress of Ireland only took 14 minutes to sink.

Leaving 465 survivors and killing 1,1012, the sinking of the Empress of Ireland on May 29, 1914 at 1:55 a.m. is the biggest maritime disaster in Canadian waters.

Pictures of the ship’s interior and rarely seen video images are among the items included in the travelling Empress of Ireland exhibit. From Friday until Tuesday the exhibit is at the Moose Jaw Western Development Museum (WDM). After that it will head to the Saskatoon WDM for a week.

“We wanted to show the Empress of Ireland in 1914. We wanted to show how it was inside it. You know, the services that were on board,” said Pascale Saint-Amand, project manager with the Site historique maritime de la Pointe-au-Pere who is on hand to answer questions at the exhibit. 

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Motorcyclists gather at show and shine

Cody Banilevic poses with his 1947
Harvey-Davidson Flathead motorcycle
at the Canadian Vintage Motorcycle
Association show and shine at the
Western Development Museum on Sunday.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy

Conversing with older motorcyclists is a highlight for Cody Banilevic.

“I just love being around the vintage motorcycle atmosphere and talking to the older experienced motorcycle enthusiasts,” he said.

Banilevic was one of many motorcycle enthusiasts who came out to the Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Association show and shine at the Western Development Museum on Sunday.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Travelling around the world on a bicycle

Cyclist from South Africa makes a stop in Moose Jaw

Ernest Markwood, originally from South Africa, is 54
years old and is travelling the world on his bicycle.
He is seen here in Moose Jaw on July 12, 2013.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy


It’s been six years and three and a half months, but Ernest Markwood’s world travels aren’t over.

“The only place I haven’t been is Western Europe,” said Markwood while in Moose Jaw on Friday. “I do it to see the world. You have to. On a bicycle you have that choice.”

Scheduled to have left Moose Jaw on Saturday, the 54-year-old began his journey with his bicycle in his hometown of Cape Town, South Africa. He sold all the materials from his business and has since received funding from friends, family and others along the way.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Multiculturalism alive at Motif

First day of annual festival draws large crowd

Emiko Hennenfent of D.K. Sushi House shows off
some of the items on display at the Japanese booth
at Motif in Happy Valley Park on Friday.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy


With sushi cake, rice crackers and displays, the first-time Japanese booth at Motif was ready to go.

“It’s pretty fun. There’s so many different cultures in Moose Jaw,” said Emiko Hennenfent who works at D.K. Sushi House. “We never tried this event before. We want to share our culture with people here.”

The 39^th annual Motif multicultural festival kicked off to sunshine, warm weather and a large crowd at Happy Valley Park on Friday. The festival runs until Sunday and features many booths and entertainment from different cultures in the city.

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To see a Times-Herald slideshow of photos, go here.

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: App-solutely fun at upcoming YaraCentre camp

By Lisa Goudy


Angry Birds are going to squawk out of the iPhone at YaraCentre.

From Aug. 6 to 9 YaraCentre will have an App-solutely Awesome Day Camp for kids ages eight to 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

“It’s different applications from the iPhone,” said Keri Merkel, summer program co-ordinator summer student at YaraCentre. “We’re going to bring the games to real life size.”

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Camp to bring reality TV to YaraCentre

By Lisa Goudy


Reality television shows like FearFactor are coming to life in an upcoming camp.

“We’re going to be doing games and different challenges similar to the hit TV shows like FearFactor, Minute to Win It, and The Amazing Race,” said Keri Merkel, summer program co-ordinator and summer student at YaraCentre. “We’re going to test your physical and mental capabilities so we say, 'leave your fears at home and come take the challenge.'”

The camp will take place from July 29 to Aug. 1, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at YaraCentre. It is for ages eight to 13 and cost is $45 per child.

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