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Weyburn's Centennial began with a "Celebrating the Past" party on January 1st with close to 140 people in attendance.

The festivities were held at the Allie Griffin Auditorium on the lower level of Weyburn Public Library, with refreshments served by the Weyburn Rotary Club, Friends of the Library, and members of the Centennial Committee. Harp music was provided by Sharon Elliott.

Centennial Committee Chair, Isabelle Butters hosted the program, with greetings by Mayor Debra Button and MLA Dustin Duncan. A centennial cake was cut and everyone sang Happy Birthday, played by Kathryn Groshong on the piano.

"Have you ever wondered what Weyburn looked like 100 years ago?" asked Mayor Button. "Did those early leaders imagine the beauty we would have by straddling the Souris River?"
She also wondered if the early leaders of the city had a vision for how beautiful the city's open spaces would be with park land, and setting the city up in such a way that it would grow in an organized fashion, as it's continuing to do today.

"They really did make some momentous decisions and helped make the vibrant community we call Weyburn today," said the mayor.

She noted that her home is an older one, one of the first built in the city, and commented, "We understand that old does not mean useless."

Mayor Button added that in going back over the city's history, "it's not too late to acknowledge" the organizations and groups who helped shape the city over the years, and urged people to listen to the stories of their grandparents about Weyburn's former days.

"I know you've heard me say how proud I am to serve as mayor of this city," she said, and urged the next generations of city residents to also take pride in the growth and success of the city.

MLA Duncan said that Saskatchewan of a century saw phenomenal growth that has rarely ever been matched, even by today's strong rate of growth. He noted that the province had a population of around 91,000 in 1901, and was at over 500,000 a decade later. Weyburn also saw a huge spurt of growth in that time, growing from a small village to a city of 2,000 within that same decade. He pointed out that some of the buildings constructed in the year Weyburn became a city are still standing today, such as the Collegiate and the old City Hall building.

"That same sense of opportunity and optimism I believe still exists today in the City of Weyburn," said the MLA.

"I hope this celebration will not just be reflective, but an opportunity to grow," he added, and this centennial will see "amazing stories told" by those who have lived the history.

Residents who are celebrating a 90th birthday or over, and/or a 60th wedding anniversary or more in 2013 who registered ahead of time were presented with a certificate: there were 21 anniversaries and 42 birthdays recognized.

Those who celebrated anniversaries included the following:

Lois and Roland Olson (60); Joe and Fran Ortman (60); Juliana and J. Edward Sellsted (60); Arnold and Barbara Biberdorf (60); Elwood and Marion Kinchen (60); William and Anna Koszman (60); Vie and Norm Flaten (61); Pete and Vera Anderson (61); Ray and Therese Durant (62); Chuck and Joyce Widdis (62); Greg and Maude Geiger (62); Mildred and Gordon Goodwin (63); Howard and Lauretta Schmidt (63); John and Irene O'Byrne (63); Edgard and Enid May (64); Casper & Elsie Lix (64); Don and Oliveen Goranson (67); Nina and Joe Kaufmann (67); Fred and Kathryn Groshong (68); Leon and Dorothy Beaujot (68); Howard and Engsie Van Dusen (70).

Those celebrating birthdays of 90 years or over include the following:

Clara Bell (90); Velda Coulter (90); Gordon Goodwin (90); Alice Walter (90); Muriel Dann (90); Dorothy Dennis (90); Lloyd Johnston (90); Howard Schmidt (90); Ruby Alexander (91); Delbert Foote (91); Fred Groshong (91); Joanna Ferner (91); Grace Lucas (91); Shirle Lund (91); Phyllis McGugan (91); Elva Turner (91); Chuck Widdis (91); Don Goranson (92); Mary Martin (92); May Wright (92); Violet Hart (92); Nora Bushel (93); Eleanor Clay (93); Elsie Lix (93); Eunice Henheffer (93); Eric Verity (93); Mabel Evert (94); Evelyn Hansen (94); Mable Hubbs (94); Elfrieda Mantay (94); Norma Hopkins (95); Mary Brillinger (96); Dorothy Beaujot (96); Leon Beaujot (96); Caroline McKnight (96); Chris Douglas (96); Babe Bannatyne (98); Hilda Murray (99); Casper Lix (99); Bill Rososki (100); Josephine Johnson (100); and Annie Hrlicka (103).