Hundreds of Shriners and their families are coming to Moose Jaw for the Midwest Shrine Association Summer Conference August 20 to 23. Their arrival marks the first time the conference has been held in a city this size, which is a cause for excitement for both local Shriners and the community as a whole.
The Midwest Shrine Association includes chapters from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Iowa.
The opportunity to showcase what Moose Jaw has to offer is not one to be missed and according to city manager Maryse Carmichael, the City of Moose Jaw and local Shriners have been hard at work preparing for their arrival.
"We have been working with them to ensure that those 7-8 hundred people are welcome in the city of Moose Jaw," she said, noting the City's heavy involvement in rolling out the red carpet for both visitors and residents.
"When we think Shriners, we often think about their little cars, and so on the Saturday morning (Aug. 23) they will have a parade downtown on Main Street for all of our residents to go and see. So it's not only the Shriners that will be there, but it's open to the public."
The City has approved $50,000 in support for the event, including:
- Free transit passes for attendees,
- Parade permits and staff support,
- Temporary downtown parking passes,
- 500 recreation passes,
- Promotional coverage through city platforms,
- 300 challenge coins and 1,100 commemorative lapel pins.
Once the conference is in full swing, residents and visitors alike will be able to partake in a public market at the Moose Jaw Exhibition Grounds, alongside a large-scale community meet-and-greet on Thursday evening from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. Food trucks and local vendors will be on-site, with Shriners mingling in full regalia.
The parade itself begins Saturday, August 23 at 11:00 a.m. and runs from the Town 'n' Country Mall, down Main Street to Manitoba Street.
You can view the entire conference agenda, and more, is at msa2025.com.
With files from Gordon Edgar.