Fly, Ride & Drive takes off in Shaunavon

Posted on October 13, 2026 by Ryan Dahlman

Shaunavon Standard

The Town of Shaunavon celebrated and created history with the first-ever Fly, Ride & Drive event.

The three-day celebration brought together local residents and regional visitors to explore rural connectivity and regional innovation – runway, rail and road – while also recognizing an important centennial milestone.

Organized by Shaunavon Economic Development & Innovation alongside a network of community partners, the weekend highlighted the past, present, and future of transit in southwest Saskatchewan.

“We wanted to highlight the value of transportation not just to our social well-being but also to our economic future,” said Mary Scott, Shaunavon Economic Development & Innovation Officer.

Scott also said the event aimed to draw awareness, spark curiosity, and build the skills required to ensure rural Saskatchewan thrives, even as industries face some challenges.

“The transportation industry is currently facing employment gaps specifically in trucking, aviation and rail,” explained Scott.

She added that if these gaps are not addressed now, they are projected to negatively impact trade and export by 2035, according to data compiled by Transport Canada and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

Another focus of the weekend was addressing critical infrastructure and emergency services. The Shaunavon Airport serves a larger Southwest region, including the towns of Climax, Eastend, and Frontier, as well as their surrounding Rural Municipalities.

Scott said that due to innovations in air ambulance planes, many Saskatchewan community airports – including Shaunavon’s – are at risk of losing vital emergency medical services because of changing regulatory standards.

She hoped the event would build both awareness and support to keep these critical health resources running.

“It showed that we have agency in our community to be proactive and create positive change,” Scott said.

The festivities kicked off on Friday, Sept. 18. One of the highlights was the Shaunavon Town Hall Centennial Celebration, marking 100 years since construction began on the local historic landmark. The afternoon featured tours, a 1920s jail cell photo booth, and live mock trial performances.

Friday’s excitement continued with a community barbecue and football game at Shaunavon High School, leading into an evening “Show & Show” on Centre Street. Classic car enthusiasts lined up their rides outside the Plaza Theatre before heading inside for a special 20th-anniversary screening of Disney Pixar’s Cars.

Saturday served as the centerpiece of the weekend, opening with a fundraising pancake breakfast for Rock Solid in the Pioneer Co-op parking lot. The Grand Coteau Centre was also open during the day for its local railroad exhibit as well as its weekly Market at the Museum which took on a special cultural theme of  “Travel the World” that day.

Local youth participated in the Bicycle Loonie Ride & Show, winding through town to raise money for KidSport.

The afternoon saw crowds head to the Shaunavon Airport for the main Transportation Show, where attendees got an up-close look at airplanes, automobiles, and motorcycles.

The weekend also included live aerial demonstrations conducted by the Civil Air Search & Rescue Association (CASARA), as well as educational displays from the Southern Alberta Flight Academy, which demonstrated how high school students can learn to fly and build aircraft.

Meanwhile, the Excellerators Car Club hosted a classic car show on Saturday as well as a barbecue lunch that attracted a large crowd.

Train enthusiasts gathered at Christ the King Hall for a Model Train Show hosted by the Speedy Creek Model Railroad Club and Great Western Railway.

The day concluded at the Legion Hall, with a Transportation Awards supper, and a silent auction. Unfortunately, the cabaret featuring live music from Ken Carson & Group was cancelled due to lack of advance ticket sales, but organizers do hope to have them back in town soon.

Still, overall, the inaugural event turned out to be a success. Visitors traveled from surrounding communities and neighboring provinces to attend.

“It was beautiful to see people of all ages and backgrounds coming together in conversation, walking through town, meeting new people, checking out different cultures at the market, sharing smiles, swapping stories, in tangible spaces and seeing Shaunavon in a whole new way,”

stated Scott.

“Kids were engaged in so many ways; parents tell me they’re still talking about the experience,” she added.

Though spearheaded by Shaunavon Economic Development & Innovation with strong support from the Excellerators Car Club, organizers noted that the large undertaking was not the work of any single group. The weekend activities included the participation of 31 distinct partnerships involving local, regional, provincial, and interprovincial organizations and volunteer groups.

“We are quite fortunate to have had so many incredible businesses, groups, people and guests,” Scott concluded. “All of whom supported this event and ultimately the building of a culture that fosters sustainable growth within the fabric of our community by opening minds up to possibility.”