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Moose Jaw’s Wakamow Valley’s River Park Campground is now the Lorne Calvert Campground and part of the River Park Walking Trail is the Lorne Calvert Loop.
The announcement to initiate the change was made in November by Premier Scott Moe but the signage wasn’t unveiled until very recently. The provincial government’s Building/Landmark Dedication Policy was established in 2017, providing guidelines for renaming buildings and landmarks provided they did not already have a person’s name attached to them.
“The Government of Saskatchewan is pleased to recognize former Premier Calvert with this campground and trail dedication,” said Laura Ross, Minister of Parks, Culture, and Sport. “The naming of the Lorne Calvert (Campground) and Lorne Calvert Loop was done to honour his decades of service and dedication to the people of Saskatchewan.”
Calvert served as the leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party (NDP) from 2001 to 2009 and was Premier of Saskatchewan from 2001 to 2007. He was a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) representing Moose Jaw South and Moose Jaw Wakamow from 1986 to 1999.
At the announcement, Calvert’s wife Betty said that “Through all the years we’ve lived in Moose Jaw, we’ve spent many hours (in Wakamow Valley) with our children – hiking, picnicking, camping, canoeing, tobogganing on the little hills there, swimming… The kids would swim in the river even when they weren’t supposed to.”
“I am deeply grateful to the Wakamow Valley Authority and the Government of Saskatchewan for attaching my name to the campground and trail loop in the Wakamow Valley,” Calvert said. “This recognition in Wakamow is particularly meaningful for myself and our family.
“Four generations of our family have grown up learning of life and God’s creation within Wakamow Valley. And Betty and I, now with our children and grandchildren, have spent some of the happiest days of our lives camped in parks and campgrounds, including the Wakamow campground. I am very honoured to have these facilities in Wakamow bear my name.”
Calvert noted in November that he would like to see provincial funding restored to Wakamow Valley and hoped Moose Jaw MLAs were working toward that goal.
“Wakamow is excited to be able to honour such a great person that has given back to this community,” said Todd John, General Manager of Wakamow Valley Authority. “Wakamow hopes everyone gets a chance to visit the Lorne Calvert Campground and use the Lorne Calvert Loop walking trail.”
