Community Events

There are numerous Community events sponsored by the Municipal District of Opportunity No. 17, below are description of a few of our main events.  For more information on upcoming community events, please view our calendar of Community Events here.

Canada Day Celebration

Canada day is an annual celebration traditionally hosted by Wabasca MD of Opportunity No.17. Canada day is a national holiday celebrating Canada’s birthday on July 1st. In Wabasca, Canada Day is celebrated with a parade, entertainment for children and adults, family picnics, barbeques and fireworks.

A long time ago, Canada belonged to Great Britain. Over time, parts of the country joined together and wanted to form their own government. On July1st, 1867, the British government (under Queen Victoria) approved a plan which allowed Canada to become an independent country with its own government. This new nation, which remained loyal to Britain, was called the Dominion of Canada. At that time the Dominion of Canada only had four provinces (Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick). These days there are 10 provinces and 3 territories.

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day (also known as Poppy Day, Armistice Day or Veterans Day) is a memorial day observed in commonwealth counties to remember the members of their armed forces who have died on duty since World War 1. Remembrance Day is observed on November 11 to recall the official end of World War 1 on that date in 1918, as the major hostilities of World War 1 were formally ended “at the 11 hour of the 11 day of the 11^th month” of 1918 with the German signing of the armistice.

The red remembrance poppy has become a familiar emblem of Remembrance Day due to the poem In Flanders Fields. These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War 1, their brilliant red colour an appropriate symbol for the blood spilt in the war.

In Wabasca, Remembrance Day is observed with a church service @ the St Martin’s Catholic Church; a march to the cenotaph lead by the RCMP and Wabasca cadets; and family members of honoured veterans; raising of flags by RCMP; Bugle taps; memorial traditional Cree song; laying of the wreaths; speeches and open mike; lunch; gift presentations to military and war veterans and /or families, and slide show and entertainment.

New Facility Grand Openings

A “Grand Opening” is a term used when a business, public office, or private association wishes to announce the official opening of a new location. This differs from just opening the doors on the first day, in that a Grand Opening is more of celebration event, not just the first day having the doors open for clients. A grand opening for a new facility is usually celebrated with speeches from local and outside government representatives, special guests; a cutting of the ribbon ceremony; a tour of the new facility followed by a luncheon.

The M.D. of Opportunity No. 17 currently has four new facilities that will celebrate a Grand Opening in the very near future. Wabasca will be celebrating a grand opening for the new Golden Opportunity Clinic as well as the Wabasca Multiplex Community Centre. Calling Lake will be celebrating a grand opening for the new Sports Complex in their community. Red Earth will also be celebrating a grand opening for a new Daycare in the community.