Every once in a while you will be sitting among a group of people in our city and the conversation will turn to what there is to do in our community and invariably someone will laugh with that tone which suggests there is nothing which ever goes on in Yorkton.
That might have been the case at one time, but at this point the situation is one where it's hard to keep up with the recreation opportunities in the city.
There are likely some readers shaking their heads at this but truly one only needs to look at the month of June to appreciate what goes on in our city.
Major events include the Painted Hand Casino Powwow and the Yorkton Dodge CPCA Chuckwagon Classic.
But it is far more than having to take in just one major event per weekend in the city.
This past weekend was an example of just how busy this city is.
Saturday one could have participated in clinics to learn about disk golf and the new course at Patrick Park, which may be the second facility in the province, or you could have learned how to play cricket. In the case of disk golf, the course is a free activity users can enjoy at their leisure.
When you think of leisure activities one often associates it with something that costs money, but in Yorkton there are options that are free to users, ranging from the new disk golf course through to tennis courts.
This weekend you could have also attended a party at Weinmaster Park, live music at two venues in the city, stock car races at Yellowhead Raceway, and there was the option to follow the Western Major Baseball League Cardinals down Highway #10 Sunday as they visited the rival Melville Millionaires for baseball action at the highest level available in the province.
If you sat at home this weekend thinking there was nothing to do in the city you must have very specific interests.
Of course keeping busy has certainly become easier in the city over the last 10-15-20 years.
Consider for a moment the recreation elements added to the city over that time.
The Gloria Hayden Centre and its racquetball/squash courts, introducing sports not before possible in the city.
The aforementioned Yellowhead Raceway, Millstone Raceway for BMX competition, and the annual drag racing held at the Yorkton Airport have given motor sport enthusiasts a varied schedule of events to follow.
The standardbred race season which starts this Friday at Cornerstone Raceway provides a weekly outing for fans of horse racing.
We can't forget the WMBL Cardinals have only been in existence for nine years, and have provided fans with the opportunity to see such talent that two former Cardinals have already played in the major (see story on Anthony Claggett this issue).
The Junior Bulldogs have also brought box lacrosse action to the city for fans in the Prairie Gold (Jr) Lacrosse League, the top level of the game in Saskatchewan.
It comes down to lots to do, whether its enjoying arts at the Godfrey Dean Gallery, Shakespeare in the Park each summer, live theatre productions from our high schools and Free My Muse Theatre, through Yorkton Arts Council concerts to a dozen different sport options whether as a participant, or fan.
So if anyone truly wants to put down the television remote or game controller and go out and do something, there are many options in our city to do just that.
