Jeffery Straker
Regina Mandolin Orchestra
Face Painting
Little Gallery on the Prairie
Thanks to all of the vendors who persevered through the 33-degree heat and bright sun to make the event a reality. It was a good thing the Govan catering committee sponsored a large shade and dining tent for all those trying to avoid the heat, provided by Alan Magel.
There were a larger variety of vendors this year than last, with the additions of Last Mountain Honey, Vicky Lindsay’s Home baking, Sherry Stuart Quilts and Weaving, Elk and Emerald Crystals and Gemstones, as well as more craft vendors. Ron Hassman of the Govan Museum had another exciting addition for the young ones who were able to do hands-on participation in the making of traditional Indigenous Bannock. The Govan Library featured a reading to attentive youngsters by well-known Saskatchewan author Kerry Sather of her Bee series of books.
Face painting and balloon twisting, always popular, was led by Grace Adie and friends for the children attending. Another new, appreciated addition this year was the Regina Mandolin Orchestra, Sponsored by the Govan Catering Committee. The six-person orchestra provided soothing background music that was heard over the whole site for the entire day.
Blake and the Ice Cream bike were a definite hit as he made the rounds providing ice-cool refreshments. Mr. Spudds’ Poutinerie Food Truck from Regina put a whole new culinary twist on the day, providing a variety of poutines as well as hamburgers, hotdogs, and cool refreshments. Everyone enjoying his offerings can get more again every Wednesday at the Regina Farmers Market.
Kathy Kautz of p’Arty Time art classes celebrated the grand opening of her “Little Gallery on the Prairie,” showcasing art by her students and herself. An appreciative public filed through to view the display and discuss with the artists the inspiration for their renderings.
As always, many treasures were discovered by the large amount of “Garage Salers” who took the trip around Town to find all the listings posted in the Last Mountain times. Thank you to all who made the timely contact and contributed the $15 to offset the advertising costs of the garage sales. Hopefully, your efforts were rewarded with good attendance.
The crowning event of the day sponsored by the Govan Opti-MS club was the intimate concert performed by Jeffery Straker, winner of the Saskatchewan music awards 2021 and 2022 folk and roots music award. He provided prairie insights into his growing up in Punnichy, Saskatchewan and anecdotes as to how some of the songs came about. His humorous remembrances of travelling to Govan to attend music recitals provided entertainment and humour to the attentive crowd. His audience participation songs and break time mingling with attendees brought a good old hometown feel. His comment regarding “Saskatchewan’s loudest cricket” in the green room provided by the Sew and Sews drew raucous laughter from the audience.
Thank you to Rob and Anna, employees of the Town of Govan, for making sure the Town was able to put its best foot forward. Thanks as well to Mark Wolfe of M&D Last Mountain Enterprises for donating his time and resources to make the playground attractive for the youngsters. To Nancy Parsloe, Kathryn Markus, Ruth King, Gladys Plumridge and Donna Skoropata, of the Govan Opti-MS, thank you for your diligent work, making the concert a success.
-Submitted by Gary Pokol
