KAMSACK — The town of Kamsack came alive on July 1 with a vibrant Canada Day celebration that featured a parade down Third Street, food stands, a beer garden, a slow-pitch game, the annual Mud Bog, and a DJ show. However, due to rainy weather, the highly anticipated fireworks show was postponed until Aug. 2, when Sask Express is set to perform "Frequency Quest."
The festivities kicked off after the parade with a flag-raising ceremony where Mayor Nancy Brunt delivered a speech saying, “We are at a moment in our history when it is truly time to focus on repairing the relationships between immigrant Canadians who have settled here over centuries and the First Nations people who have walked these lands since time immemorial,” Brunt stated. She acknowledged the significance of Treaty 4 territory and the traditional lands of the Saulteaux and Métis people. In honour of the 150th anniversary of the treaty, Mayor Brunt presented a plaque to Chief George Cote of the Cote First Nation.
Chief George Cote responded with gratitude and a call for continued collaboration. “I'd like to thank Mayor Nancy for inviting us to raise the flag commemorating Treaty 4 territory. It’s 150 years since our treaties were signed. We live in a great country, a free country, with resources we can share to make our communities healthy,” Chief Cote said. He expressed appreciation for the plaque and highlighted Mayor Brunt's and her council's efforts in rebuilding relationships over the past seven years.
Cory Caddotte, Cultural Coordinator for Cote First Nation, led his drum group in a flag song, celebrating Canada’s birthday and the treaty's anniversary. “We’re honoured to be here today and participate in the parade this morning. It's beautiful to see all the smiling faces,” Caddotte remarked.
The annual Mud Bog event, hosted by the Kamsack Mudslingers, was a highlight despite the rainy weather. Kelcey Rauckman, the event announcer, shared his enthusiasm in an interview with the Kamsack Times. “We've been doing this for eight years consecutively. Our organizations have evolved, but we still have the same local guys almost every year. Despite the weather, it's pretty good for a mud bog. The wetter, the better,” Rauckman said.
The celebrations concluded with a lively DJ show, bringing a perfect end to a day filled with unity, sports, and music. Unfortunately, the fireworks were rescheduled for a show on Aug. 2, with Sask Express's performance of “Frequency Quest” adding to the excitement.
