BORDEN — The 100th Radisson Fair had a great weekend. Friday night there was a musical event with Hummingbird Crossing playing followed by fireworks. More than 1,200 exhibits were set up Thursday evening and Friday morning and were on display until Sunday afternoon. The slo-pitch tournament had 20 entries and concluded Sunday evening.
Saturday morning the parade took place with many entries. It took over an hour to complete the circuit around Radisson and end back at the fair grounds. In the afternoon there was gymkhana, balloon fun and bouncy castles for the children, tractor show and shine and reptile exhibit both days. A music jamboree featured Boston Maxwell, Petriew Duo, Ukrainian Connection and Hiway 31 playing outdoors on Saturday. Sunday entertainment was by Celtic Country, AJ Gagne & Friends, Shadows and the Ukrainian Connection.
Richard Widdifield, Radisson’s artist in residence, had spent more than two years painting a large mural entitled Radisson Memories, depicting scenes from more than a century of Radisson history.
There was a kids’ mini tractor pull Saturday, followed by a roast beef supper and an Old Time Saturday Night on Main Street with the shops all staying open late. There was a drive-in movie by the skating rink and the Radisson Fire Department hosted a dance inside the arena.
Sunday there was a pancake breakfast, light horse show and vintage tractor pull. Beeper the Clown entertained the kids and four large 100th anniversary cakes were cut and passed around in the afternoon. Displays in the curling rink featured Wayne Lerch with his collection of arrowheads and Martha Lessing’s display of photos and write-ups of the fair over the 100 years. The seniors’ club had an ice cream booth and sold raffle tickets and Phyliss had her popcorn machine in action.
Radisson Fair parade was led by flag bearers Dianne and Earl Kieper on horseback followed by the RCMP. The mayor, some councillors, MP Kelly Block and MLA Randy Weeks also rode in decorated vehicles. There were bike riders and a baton twirler walking. Businesses, local service groups and individuals entered a wide range of floats and vintage vehicles and machines.
A six-horse team of Belgians pulled the Nutrien wagon and a team of Belgians pulled the TNT Centre wagon.
Also participating was the RM of Great Bend and Borden and Radisson fire departments.
Borden Museum had another Adventure at the Museum Aug. 6, with Carrie Harkness talking about Foster’s Store. The store had been built in 1905 by Bibbon Clark and son, then sold in 1907 to Smith and McQuarrie. They also provided space for the post office in the back of the store and it remained there until 1947. The one phone in the village was during Smith and McQuarrie’s time and supplied long distance services until 1914, when rural phone companies were formed.
In 1943, the store was sold to Ted Foster and Frank Fuller, but Fuller left Borden in 1946 and it became Foster’s Store, with Ted, his wife Winnie and son Stan operating it. After Stan’s parents passed away, Stan ran the store until 2016 and then Carrie Harkness purchased the store, changing the name to Troupador Shoppe.
Carrie has found many interesting articles in the store – lab coats from McQuarrie’s time, 20 to 30 record books dating back many years and much more. Many of the items from the store were donated to the Borden Museum and Carrie has the shelves and floor space in her store filled with many articles – antique, vintage and up-to-date – with most for sale.
At the Borden Farmers Market the winners of the 50/50 draws for the last two Fridays were John Ridgewell on July 29 and Karen Barkman on Aug. 5. The market will run until Oct. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Borden Community Centre and you can always get your lunch there – hot dogs and pie with or without ice cream.
