Once in a while the archives comes across a real treasure in their call for archival material.
And so it was, on a trip to the Battlefords News-Optimist this year. Newspaper articles were found regarding the start of our city and celebrations years later.
North Battleford News
Thursday, May 1, 1913
North Battleford Proclaimed a City
Proclamation Read at Midnight
North Battleford last night celebrated her passing from a town to a city.
"At exactly 12 o'clock midnight, Mayor Walker read the Royal Proclamation creating North Battleford into a city - the fifth city in the province and the first since 1905.
Immediately after the Proclamation had been read the bands played, the whistles tooted, the bells rang and the bonfires blazed, announcing to everyone for miles around the proud fact that North Battleford had passed another milepost and was now the Fifth City in the province of Saskatchewan."
The News
Thursday, Aug. 18, 1938
Twenty-Five Years a City
"When the word went out that North Battleford would celebrate her Silver Jubilee as a City, loyal sons and daughters of North Battleford all over Canada and in many points in the United States began to make preparations to insure the success of the gathering.
Our citizens have always been the most loyal to their home town, no matter how far away they may roam, and they are always proud to be able to say a good word for the city of their adoption. Many of those who have not been here for years are planning to be here to help celebrate and to meet their old friends who have for these many years kept the home fires burning."
Now as we arrive at 2013, 100 years later and as it was in 1913, 1938, 1963, 1988 there is the call to celebrate once again.
The 2013 centennial committees and the archives have staged activities in recognition of our 100th year as a city.
There was a kick-off party at the beginning of this year, a winter carnival in February, a Seniors' Tea Party in March and there will be a Birthday Party in the Park and the Centennial Gala in May 1.
Come July 1, there is a call to come home for the Canada Day - 100th Year Centennial Celebration. There will be a full day of entertainment on stage, food and fun.
The centennial closing ceremonies will take place Dec. 31 with plans for this event ongoing.
Many corporate sponsors and the City of North Battleford have donated funds to assist with hosting of these events and we thank them greatly.
I wish all citizens of North Battleford a great 100th year.
