Turning 100 is no small piece of cake, even for a city. That's why Weyburn's centennial year, 2013, will be a year filled with celebration that begins on January 1.
The first of three Centennial Party events will be 'Celebrating the Past' with an afternoon of recognizing those who will celebrate their 90th-plus birthdays or 60th-plus wedding anniversaries during the centennial year.
Centennial Co-ordinator Sharon Elliott said that, according to advance registration numbers, she expects they will have about twelve or fifteen birthdays and about ten anniversaries. She noted that anyone who hasn't yet, should contact her about being included in the event.
"They still have time to contact me and let me know if they want to be recognized, at this event, for being 90 or over in 2013," said Elliott, "or those who have wedding anniversaries of 60 or more."
The honourees will be presented with certificates during the event, which will also include refreshments of wine and cheese, cake and coffee.
Weyburn's Mayor Debra Button and MLA for Weyburn-Big Muddy Dustin Duncan will also be in attendance.
Don and Ollie Goranson were married on November 7, 1946. In the centennial year, they will have been married for 67 years. Don, in fact, just celebrated his 91st birthday last week. The couple is registered to be honoured during the event on January 1.
"I can't believe I'm that old," said Don Goranson. "I wake up in the morning and I think, 'you're ninety years old' and I can't believe it! Where has the time gone? We've been blessed with reasonably good health, with lots of help from doctors and surgeons."
Both Don and Ollie noted that their parents had all passed away by around the age of 70.
The Goransons have two children and four grandchildren. Their son Brian Goranson has a farm near Weyburn and their daughter Donna Kessler lives in Moose Jaw. Both Donna and Brian also plan to attend the celebration.
Goranson said he hopes to share some stories during the event as well.
"I could tell the story of when I was about five years old and we went out east of Halbrite with the horses and cutter," he said. "It was an 18-mile trip, and I remember we were gone about half an hour when my young brother says, 'are we getting there yet, dad?' It took about three and a half hours, I guess."
This story, along with many others expected to be shared, help to shape the collective understanding of how Weyburn became the city it is today.
Everyone is welcome to join the Centennial committee and Weyburn's treasured nonagenarians and diamond couples on Tuesday, January 1 at the Allie Griffin Art Gallery and Auditorium, which is on the lower level of the Weyburn Public Library at 45 Bison Avenue. The library will be closed for the New Year's Day statutory holiday, but the west entrance will be open for access to the event.
The event will take place from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., with the program to begin at 1:30.
After 3:00 p.m. that day, the Mayor and the Centennial committee will be heading over to Crescent Point Place to share some Weyburn 100 cake with the hockey fans attending the Red Wings vs Bruins game, which is a New Year's Day tradition.
'Celebrating the Past' will be one of three events scheduled for the year, with the 'Celebration of the Present' taking place during the Wheat Festival and the 'Celebration of the Future' taking place on New Year's Day of 2014, when children will be honoured along with the future of the city.
Anyone interested in becoming involved with the January 1 party or any other centennial event should contact Sharon Elliott at 842-2013 or via email to [email protected]. Also visit weyburn100.ca for more information about the future events.
