The Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Show is gearing up for a two-day exhibition at the Weyburn fair grounds on Wednesday and Thursday, June 5 and 6, featuring two high-profile keynote speakers, Vivian Krause and Rex Murphy.
There has been a lot of planning over the past two years to get the Oil Show ready to roll, said chairman Del Mondor, who paid tribute to the Oil Show board of directors for the work they’ve done on their various committees.
“I think all 30 board members have done exceptional jobs to make sure their area is ready to go at show time. We’ve only got two days to get it right,” said Mondor, noting the show is the culmination of two full years of planning by each of the committees.
“We want people to come and have a good time,” he added, saying the show is a reflection of the southeast oil industry.
Setup for the Oil Show will finish off on June 4, and many exhibitors will be on hand to take part in the Oil Show golf tournament. There will be a shotgun start at 7:30 a.m. for the morning flight, and after an exhibitors brunch, the afternoon flight will have a shotgun start at 1 p.m.
The meet-and-greet kickoff supper for the Oil Show will be held at the Weyburn Curling Rink in the evening, with a steak-and-lobster dinner and entertainment provided by Focal Point, a music group from Forget.
The Oil Show itself kicks off on Wednesday with the chain-cutting ceremonies at 9:45 a.m., with Mayor Marcel Roy, and exhibits will open at 10 a.m.
Premier Scott Moe and the entire provincial cabinet will be in Weyburn for a cabinet meeting, and the premier will then speak to the Oil Show just prior to the presentation of the Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Recognition Awards at the luncheon.
The Saskatchewan Oilpatch Hall of Fame inductees will be honoured, including Ray Frehlick, president and general manager of Prairie Mud Service; Dean Potter, president and CEO of DPX Inc., and Eldon McIntyre, CEO of Jarrod Oils.
The Southeast Saskatchewan Legends will also be honoured, and they include Jerry Mainil, Caprice Resources/Jerry Mainil Ltd.; Dean Pylypuk, Estevan manager for the ministry of Energy and Resources; and Glen Grimes, president and CEO of Petro Care Electric, Gold West Wire-Line, and Grimes Energy Ltd.
Researcher and blogger Vivian Krause will speak at 2 p.m. She is well-known for her research into the organized efforts by various groups to keep pipelines from being built and keeping the oil industry in Alberta and Saskatchewan landlocked.
In the evening, there will be a prime rib dinner at 7 p.m., followed by a ceremony to recognize the Saskatchewan Oilman of the Year, Lane McKay of Steel Reef Infrastructure Corp., and the Southeast Oilman of the Year, Dennis Day, president of Fast Trucking. These awards will be presented by the Oil Show Board.
The main feature on Thursday will be the industry luncheon at noon at the Curling Rink, and the guest speaker, commentator Rex Murphy.
He is well known for his commentary on The National on CBC-TV, and for his columns in The National Post, as well as being in high demand as a speaker.
