(KennethCheung/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Kenneth Cheung

summertime staples

Parade of Champions kicks off 2024 Northwest Territorial Days

Aug 14, 2024 | 11:43 AM

Music, laughter, dancing, and the crowd’s cheers filled the air on Tuesday night, echoing through the streets of North Battleford. The vibrant atmosphere drew thousands of community members together to celebrate the Battlefords Agricultural Society’s 2024 Northwest Territorial Days Parade of Champions.

“It’s a good opportunity for our local businesses to show what they have locally by having their trucks and floats in the parade,” said Jocelyn Ritchie, Battlefords Agricultural Society General Manager.

This year’s parade theme is diverse cultures. Ritchie said they wanted to embrace everybody, show that we can all live and work together, focus on equality, and celebrate the diversity of cultures.

The Red Pheasant Cree Nation won the parade competition, the president’s choice award, with its rich cultural parade floats.

“We enjoy showcasing our art, culture, and sports. Our community has a lot going on throughout the year, and we’re proud to be part of Northwest Territorial Day,” said Sabrina Baptiste, a Red Pheasant Cree Nation community member.

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The Red Pheasant Cree Nation won the president’s choice award this year with its rich cultural floats.(KennethCheung/battlefordsNOW Staff)

The parade started at 7 p.m. at the Access Communications Centre (Civic Centre) and continued into the evening until 8:20 p.m. It included horseback riding, live music, fire trucks, Indigenous cultural dances, candy, and classic cars. Families from across the community came out to enjoy the festivities.

“There are so many different cultures and ideas here. It’s beautiful that people can be themselves and show who they are in this parade,” Brain Prystupa who attended the parade, said.

Prystupa also recommends that people from all over the provinces join in and discover what the City of North Battleford offers.

live music performance in the parade lineup.(Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW staff)

People aim for the perfect spot to view the parade and line-up each year as early as 5 p.m.

It began with the RCMP siren and ran down 19th Avenue, turned on 100 Street to 13th Avenue, and headed back along 104th Street.

The Parade of Champions began the annual Northwest Territorial Days Exhibition on Wednesday, Aug. 14, at the Battlefords Exhibition Park.

Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill hands out candies during the parade.(Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW Staff)

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Kenneth.cheung@pattisonmedia.com