Hundreds of families came out to downtown North Battleford for the Northwestern Territorial Days Parade. (Josh Ryan/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Josh Ryan

Street celebration

Territorial Days Parade draws significant crowd

Aug 17, 2021 | 5:43 PM

Smiles were abound from the sights and sounds that Battlefords residents were able to take in Monday evening.

The Northwestern Territorial Days Parade, put on by the Battlefords Agricultural Society, brought out hundreds of families to downtown North Battleford to watch the procession of vehicles making their way west, south, east and north, starting and ending at the Access Communications Centre. While the turnout of entries driving and walking in the parade was reduced from previous years, more than 50 entrants took part in the event’s return.

Many of those in attendance were excited by the turnout on city sidewalks. Audience member Mervin Stone said it’s good to see this many people in the larger community out for an event.

“It’s always a good turn out,” he said. “So, it was good to have [it back].”

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A young woman named Morgan said this was the first time she’d been to the Territorial Days Parade. Having missed out last year, when cancelations were commonplace during the pandemic, she said this was pretty fun.

“It was really good after COVID-19 and everything to get out, because I’m moving to B.C. soon,” she said. “And it was cool seeing everyone out and about.”

(Josh Ryan/battlefordsNOW Staff)

The parade entries varied from classic cars to fancy floats, from demonstrations of Indigenous dance to emergency vehicles leaning into sirens and lights. When asked what their favourite element was, viewers had varied opinions.

“I [especially] enjoyed the older cars,” Morgan said.

“I’d say Dance Connection, they did a great job, with the dance routine!” local resident Trudy Kern said.

There was significant variety in the size of groups, some of which had begun lining up shortly after 5:00 p.m.

Kern said her family wouldn’t have missed it.

“It’s a family tradition, welcome out [to the parade] and go to Dairy Queen after,” she said. “Who’s going to say no to that?”

Some also pointed out how different the atmosphere still feels, especially without candy being handed out because of safety protocols taken by the Ag Society. Kern said that made it that much more meaningful that they were able to still host the event.

However, some are still uneasy when faced with being in closer contact in large crowds, as many elderly residents were seen wearing masks. Kern said it’s been a family conversation heading into this week with the midway coming up on the weekend.

“The girls are bit unsure about the big crowds and stuff, but we’ve been doing more small events, hiking out at Banff, things like that,” she said.

What was clear was everyone is eager to get to a point where pandemic conversation is a thing of the past.

“We’ve got to have a new normal at some point,” Kern said. “Soon would be good.”

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josh.ryan@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports