It was only a few years ago in our city a consultant was holding a meeting to talk about recreation and culture in our community.
The idea of a concert in the now Western Financial City Centre Park came up. The facilitator said the idea was good, but the venue was limiting the scope of its possibilities. She said it was important when thinking of new ideas to ‘think big’.
Small events of course have their place, and there are dozens of those in our community.
But when it comes to creating an event which can become something above the norm, something which puts our city on the map, and/or becomes a major tourist draw which fuels our economy in the process, we have to dream bigger.
There are examples of that ‘think bigger’ mentality in our community, none of which are much bigger than the just completed Parkland Outdoor Show and Expo.
The idea of a show which focused in on just the interests of hunting and fishing may have seemed a somewhat risky venture in a community of only 20,000.
But, organizers saw the potential, and they forged ahead, bringing in a range of exhibitors, keeping displays on target to the show’s theme, added a list of speakers drawn from across North America, and mixed in a great banquet program, and a truly successful event was born.
Hunting and fishing remains important to many of the Canadian Prairies, and they have shown their willingness to make Yorkton a destination each April to take in the show.
The decision to launch the Expo a few years ago may have been bold, but the organizers thought big, and it has worked as the event grows in terms of displays and interest each year.
Now that is not to suggest others have not dreamed big here.
Flash back some half century, a time Yorkton was much smaller, and the world much different, and a group of people supported the vision of hosting an international film festival in the community.
The conversation at the time had to have had a surreal element, as people got their heads around the idea of films from around the world coming to a small Saskatchewan city for a festival.
Today, the Yorkton Film Festival, which will be held May 21-24 focuses on Canadian short film, but as the longest running film festival in North America, has a nationally recognized reputation larger than any other annual event in our city.
The Parkland Expo and Film Festival serve as something like bookends in terms of the creation of ‘think big’ events in our city.
One shows a daring idea can take root and be viable for decades. The other shows niches can be found and events focused on those which can have a major draw. Both show our city can take on big ideas, and make them work.
And hopefully the two also work as blueprints for new events as we as a community ‘think bigger’ in terms of what can work here.
