Prince Albert Daily Herald
Photo courtesy of Back to Batoche Back to Batoche organizers hope crowds will return in 2022 when the festival resumes in-person events. Organizers made the event a virtual one this year to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Although they won’t meet in person, Métis people from across Western Canada are still showing their pride at Back to Batoche.
The annual celebration of Métis culture returned virtually on July 22, with events continuing through the weekend until July 25. The celebration is streaming live at www.backtobatochedays.ca.
Métis Nation–Saskatchewan (MN–S) Minister of Culture and Heritage Sherry McLennan said the virtual shows have widened the appeal even more.
Back to Batoche Days online again this year
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Back to Batoche Days online again this year
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Article content The Rangeland Derby won’t go ahead this year. Photo by Al Charest / Postmedia
Kurt Bensmiller called Thursday a “horrible day” for chuckwagon racing.
Another driver who preferred to remain anonymous said: “There will never be chuckwagons run at Stampede again.”
Earlier in the day, the Calgary Stampede formally announced that the annual Rangeland Derby would not happen in 2021. It’s the second year in a row that the most lucrative competition in chuckwagon racing was cancelled.
Officially, the Stampede cited safety concerns as the primary reason for the cancellation. COVID-19 protocols had already forced the cancellation of races in Grande Prairie, Medicine Hat, Bonnyville and Saskatoon, and the Stampede said without those events building up the fitness of the teams prior to the big Calgary event, it was better for the long-term continuation of the sport to cancel.
Article content Mayor Naheed Nenshi Photo by Brendan Miller/Postmedia
Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi made himself available to reporters this morning and gave his reaction to the province’s ambitious reopening plan unveiled on Wednesday.
While Nenshi said he is “very happy” to see a reopening plan, he added that Albertans “have to earn these easing of restrictions.”
Nenshi also said that just because public health restrictions could be lifted in time for Stampede, it doesn’t mean complete business as usual. A lot of the events will look different and there will be extra safety precautions for attendees, volunteers and staff.