Rebecca Lawrence; Moose Jaw Times-Herald

Saskatchewan’s Winter Games went off with a bang at the opening ceremony held at Moose Jaw’s Civic Centre on Sunday.

More than one thousand people turned out to watch the kick-off for the games plus the competing athletes. Each district walked into the arena to the games’ theme music, Fight for a Dream, which was specially composed by Jared Robinson.

Entertainment was provided by a variety of acts from Moose Jaw including Tripmeter, Keyanna Burgher and her band, Scott Benson, Philly 5 and the Doris Sitter Dance Group.

The cauldron was lit outside the civic centre at the end of the concert after a small torch passing ceremony inside. The torch was carried by Ralph Bergland, Michael Stefanovic, Paige Hager, Sadie Schaeffer and Peter Mark.

Aboriginal elder Betty McKenna offered a prayer during the ceremony.

The athletes were also inspired by Olympian Fiona Smith-Bell, who won silver in women’s hockey at the 1998 Nagano Olympics. “My first steps of my journey to competing in the Olympics started over 20 years ago in the Saskatchewan Winter Games,” she told the athletes.

“I know all of you have been training for months in preparation for this day. The day is here but the journey is not over,” she said.