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By John Lagimodiere
Of Eagle Feather News
The Olympic torch that has lit many athletes’ dreams across Canada has helped spark the renaissance of the Wanuskewin Heritage Park.
After sitting empty and without a heartbeat other than jackhammers for two years, the newly renovated Wanuskewin was host to 600 students, dignitaries, athletes, security and two torches as the Olympic torch passed through on its way to Vancouver to open the Games in February.
Dana Soonias, CEO of Wanuskewin was all smiles. He has just led the Park through the final stages of a long shutdown and renovation and he was pleased to put the new site through its paces.
“It is a beautiful feeling to have this kind of event again. The place has a beat of its own today,” he said. “We were expecting lots of kids, but not this many. The day has gone really well. The staff is feeling the excitement too.
“We are back. What a great way to open the Park.”
Children ran and screamed throughout the building, again bringing life to a place that was once so important to the Aboriginal community and the City of Saskatoon but was almost ruined. With the clean-up over and the $5.6 million in bills paid by the federal government, Wanuskewin opened her arms to the children again who were wild in anticipation of the star of the day, the Olympic Flame.
Eagle Feather News
is a division of
ACS Aboriginal
Consulting Services
JANUARY, 2010
Volume 13, Number 1