Get in your truck and get to Weyburn – the oil show is on this week!
By Brian Zinchuk
Well, this is the big week. The Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Show kicks off Wednesday morning, but several events are actually taking place on Tuesday.
Oil show board chair Dan Cugnet said, “Whether you know anything about the Energy sector or not, or ever been to the Sask Oil Show before or not, we invite everyone to come to Weyburn June 4th, 5th and 6th. We encourage everyone to come and see the latest in technology, equipment and industry best practices and I promise you will have a fun time doing it.
“We hope to see you there.”
Premier Scott Moe and a good chunk of his caucus is coming, too. He posted this on Monday:
You might into NDP Leader Carla Beck on the grounds on Thursday.
The golf tournament for exhibitors is underway in the morning. In the afternoon, a new event, Outlaw Buckers and Oil Kings Bronc Match Riding, is taking place. Tickets are available at the gate for the riding event. Doors open at 2 and riding begins at 4 p.m. You might even hear some music by Dan Cugnet in the next-door tailgate party reserved for sponsors.
Organizer Robert Schmidt said, “We’re excited to bring these bucking horses to town, and and showcase the world’s best bronc riders alongside the world’s best people, the workers in our oil and gas industry.”
That evening is the steak or lobster supper. Note that tickets for this and the subsequent meals have been sold out.
Following an opening chain cutting ceremony at Crescent Point Place, the show opens on Wednesday at 10 a.m. If you can’t make it at that time, tune into 980 CJME radio to hear Evan Bray and Brian Zinchuk bring on guests representing the industry, including the two oil persons of the year, Del Mondor and Ryan Birnie. Darcy McCormick and Katrina Zinchuk from Jerry Mainil Ltd. will talk on air about workforce issues in the oilpatch.
At noon is the awards luncheon in the exhibit hall and 2024 Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Recognition awards. This includes the Hall of Fame and SE Saskatchewan Legends.
The trade show closes at 5:30 but Saskatchewan Oil Person of the Year and Southeast Saskatchewan Oil Person of the Year will be honored at 7:30 following the prime rib dinner at 6:30 p.m.
Comedian Kelly Taylor takes the stage at 8:30 p.m.
On Thursday morning at 7:30 a.m. will be the Safety Stand Down Breakfast, with speaker Tyler Smith, one of the survivors of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash, speaking at 8.
The show opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 3 p.m. At noon, former Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be the keynote speaker.
Editor’s note: Pipeline Online editor Brian Zinchuk will be running around like a fat man chasing a fried shrimp kabob throughout the show. Grab the guy with the camera and say hello, or his two kids helping out. One’s looking for an electrician apprenticeship in 2025. You might even run into Quick Dick McDick! But all this pursuit of shrimp, steak and prime rib means there won’t be a lot of time to post stories this week, so watch for plenty of coverage of the event over the next few weeks.