MOOSE JAW — The Downtown Moose Jaw Association (DMJA) held its annual general meeting at Cask 82 on March 18, with the meeting reflecting on the successes of 2024 and previewing exciting activities in 2025.
“This last year was a really successful year. We did a lot of things that we’re all proud of,” said Alex Carleton, DMJA chairman.
A year in review
The association worked with the Kinsmen Club last year to enhance the downtown walking art tour, which saw artist Carly Jaye Smith paint 38 items, such as benches, garbage cans and other infrastructure, Carleton said. Smith has five items left to paint, which she will do this year.
“It has added colour and something fun for the kids and it’s a real nice touch for the downtown. We are proud we took this on and we’re thankful to the Kinsmen for helping us fund this,” he added.
Craig Hemingway, the city’s director of strategic growth and a board member, highlighted the DMJA’s second annual Snowtorious Family Day in February. He said the event expanded what the association can do in the area, reminded people that Crescent Park is downtown and gave residents something fun — and free — to do.
The wagon rides were the most popular activity, while there were other events like street hockey and hot dog roasts, he continued. While Snowtorious didn’t happen in 2025, the association wants to invite downtown businesses to support future events.
Meanwhile, the association — with support from city hall — installed the Ukrainian sculpture in June and held an official ceremony in September, which was “really exciting,” Hemingway said. The sculpture was made possible after the now-closed St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Church donated $10,000 to the association to do something in the community.
The DMJA commissioned artists Bill and Laurette Keen to create the colourful sunflower sculpture, which “turned out wonderfully” and is “a great piece in Crescent Park,” he continued.
“The downtown was really proud to be given that responsibility by the church and they were incredibly pleased and proud with how it turned out,” Hemingway added.
John Iatridis, owner of The Mad Greek restaurant, highlighted the third annual Greek Night, which raised roughly $36,000 for the association and Tourism Moose Jaw. He noted that the event was plenty of fun and many people had a good time.
This year’s Greek Night, which occurs Saturday, May 10, is almost sold out — about 340 tickets have been sold — while there are roughly five tables left, he added.
Board member Leslie Campbell discussed a downtown beautification project that a resident undertook in August, which included removing weeds and cleaning up garbage, actions that the association greatly appreciated.
Meanwhile, the organization successfully held the third annual Little Chicago Show and Shine, which featured over 500 cars, a packed Main Street, great weather, amazing volunteers and supportive sponsors, she added.
Yvette Moore, owner of the Yvette Moore Gallery and the board treasurer, highlighted the Christmas in October program and the positive feedback that people provided. She noted that the program has been a success because of how historic the downtown area is.
The upcoming year
Carleton highlighted two projects the DMJA is pursuing this year: the Helping Hands cleanup initiative and painting a mural on the Manitoba Expressway concrete wall.
The cleanup project will run for eight weeks starting in May and see groups of people go block to block addressing vandalism, garbage, weeds and other issues; people will be paid $60 for three hours of work. The association plans to acquire volunteers through the John Howard Society, Homebase Moose Jaw and the Chamber of Commerce, although anyone can help.
“I think it’s going to be a win-win in our community,” Carleton said.
With the mural, Smith plans to create a colourful painting to welcome people to Moose Jaw and make that entrance a gateway into the community; the project will start around May.
Carleton added that the DMJA also plans to erect a billboard on Highway 1 to encourage motorists to come downtown.
