Several contests, sweepstakes, a community barbecue and a production of the "Diamond Cavalcade" are just some of the things planned this year for the Weyburn Credit Union's 60th anniversary celebrations.

Members of the Credit Union kicked off the 60th anniversary celebrations with a reception at McKenna Hall on Friday. Roughly 80 assembled guests and staff were told the long list of events and contests scheduled for 2004.

The actual anniversary date for the Credit Union is Dec. 14, 1944, and there will be a small celebration on Dec. 14, 2004. However, Weyburn will be building up to the anniversary with events throughout 2004.

"Weyburn Credit Union is really, really pleased with how we worked and built in this community," said CEO Al Messer. "Our roots run really deep.

"It's a pretty full year, but I've got 75 awesome people I work with. When everybody does a little here and a little bit there, things just seem to go pretty nice."

The Credit Union has already been collecting recipes for a 60th anniversary cookbook. Mel Hoffman, Diamond celebration chairman, said they were hoping to receive 600 recipes by the Feb. 29 deadline but have somewhere in the neighbourhood of 900. It should be published later this year.

Among the larger contests in 2004 will be an art contest, where the winning entries will potentially be featured in the 2005 special limited edition anniversary calendar.

The contest is open to all Weyburn area artists. The theme of the artwork is up to the artist, but the medium is to be two-dimensional and may be done in watercolour, oil or charcoal.

Art contest chair Lloyd Lesy said they will receive the art work entries from May 11 to May 25 at 5 p.m.

"We will then choose 26 finalists whose work will be displayed at the CU office from June 1 to 19," said Lesy, adding that the top favourites, as chosen by the public, will go in the calendar.

He explained that the artists are free to paint what they want, but they should visualize something that they want to see in a calendar. "It should be in landscape orientation with the measurements of 12 inches wide and nine inches in height," said Lesy.

Those interested should pick up entry forms at the Weyburn Credit Union or go to their website.

Later in the year, there will also be a photography contest, held in much the same way as the artwork contest. Photographers can enter their work in two categories for cash prizes by Sept. 7; the photos will be on display at the Credit Union and will be judged upon by the public.

The Credit Union is also sponsoring a children's colouring contest for Weyburn and area. Children are to colour in a black and white version of a painting done by Richard Widdifield for the 50th anniversary.

The deadline is May 31. All schools and libraries have received the picture and contest rules, and they are also available at the Credit Union.

Winners of the colouring contest will be announced at the Community Appreciation barbecue on Wednesday, June 30.

The 2004 barbecue will be much the same as the one held last June, as the Credit Union again hopes to block off Coteau Avenue and put on a street carnival and barbecue.

In late October and early November, there will be a performance of the "Diamond Cavalcade," a large-scale musical and stage production about the history of Weyburn and the Credit Union itself.

This will be much the same as the Golden Cavalcade, performed in 1994, said Messer.

"We're going to take the same core show and we'll work with that," he said. "There might be the odd song changed around, the odd scene changed around, and then we'll add 10 years of history to that."

Souvenirs like pens and casual wear will also be available this year, and the Credit Union will be putting on sweepstakes and a puzzle promo.