If you like non-stop action with maybe an hour or two of downtime for rest and refreshments, Riverton is the place to be in early July as the town hosts its Reunion Days celebration.
From July 3 to 5, locals and visitors alike will be treated to healthy doses of history, street and hall dancing, games, fireworks, food and multiple anniversary celebrations. Plus, NHL hockey legend Reggie Leach, better known as the Riverton Rifle, is coming home to help his hometown celebrate.
There are four milestones to celebrate: Riverton is marking its 150th anniversary; the Djorfung Ladies Aid service group is celebrating its 125th anniversary; Riverton Collegiate is celebrating its 65th anniversary; and the Riverton & District Friendship Centre is celebrating its 45th anniversary.
What better way to kick off the festivities than with a barbecue at the friendship centre, a parade, opening remarks with dignitaries and cake, a street dance, a beer garden and fireworks? That all takes place on Friday beginning at 5 p.m.
Saturday’s events start with not one but two pancake breakfasts, followed by the unveiling at 10 a.m. of the Reggie Leach sign on Highway 8. Leach will also open his eponymous museum room at the Riverton Transportation & Heritage Centre at 2 p.m.
The museum room is housed in the former Canadian Pacific Railway station, which showcases Riverton’s history and memorabilia.
Former heritage centre board member and current Djorfung Ladies Aid member Ruth Ann Furgala said the grand opening of the Reggie Leach Museum Room will take place Saturday at 2 p.m. But a few hours before the opening, Leach will be at the heritage centre to chat with the public.
The town celebrated the expansion of the heritage centre in 2024 after receiving grants from the provincial government and other organizations, as well as the naming of the Reggie Leach Museum Room. At that time, there were only a few artifacts in Leach’s room.
“Now, the museum room is full, and the original parts of the train station have artifacts and details along with them,” said Furgala. “This is the first time anybody will get to see it. Reggie is opening the room.”
Djorfung Ladies Aid chair Vickie Johnson said the long-standing community service group is celebrating its 125th anniversary with commemorative signage created by Design Canada. The group will cut a ribbon at the heritage centre on Saturday at 11 a.m.
“The sign contains the history of the Djorfung Ladies Aid, what they’re doing at present and a photo of our group. It will be placed by the pergola uptown that we had installed in 2024,” said Johnson. “Our remarks at the heritage centre will acknowledge that our group is 125 years old. To me, that’s a very special thing. How many groups can say they’ve been alive for 125 years?”
The ladies aid will be selling a commemorative cookbook during the weekend.
“We did a cookbook in 2011 and we decided to do a second edition, plus add more pictures and history to it,” said Johnson. “The recipes will be from past members and family members. It’s pretty cool.”
The Djorfung Ladies Aid, which currently has nine members, was started in 1901. Many of its original members were girls as young as 12 and other women who wanted to make a difference in the community, said Johnson. The group fundraises to support projects that enhance quality of life in the community. New members are welcome to join.
The ladies aid will also co-host Riverton Collegiate’s 65th anniversary celebration on Saturday from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Riverton Hall. The school is holding a fundraising social that night at the curling rink to support a newly created RCI Alumni Award through the Westshore Community Foundation.
If you need a breather on Saturday or Sunday, the town’s walking bridge over the Icelandic River provides a refreshing vista.
Visitors can also learn about the Icelandic pioneers who settled in the area in the late 19th century. Engimyri House, also known as Meadow Mire, will hold open houses on Saturday and Sunday.
Visitors can step back in time to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The two-storey frame home was built in 1900 and is one of the oldest surviving residences in the area. Icelanders who arrived in the New Iceland colony in 1876 built the house, and subsequent generations of the family lived there. The house was named after the residents’ birthplace in northern Iceland. Situated close to the Icelandic River, the home became a hospitality hub for travellers passing through town.
Replenished energy is a must after two days of non-stop enjoyment, which is why Sunday begins with a pancake breakfast hosted by Riverton Daycare, followed by a church service.
At noon, the Riverton Elks will serve fish burgers and coleslaw at the heritage centre. Kids can get airborne in a bouncy house, while adults can check out classic cars such as Mustangs, Chargers, Corvettes, Camaros and convertibles at the Riverton Co-op car show. They might also take home a prize during the Bifrost-Riverton Senior Resource’s Merchandise Bingo at Centennial Park.
For more information about the July 3-5 events, visit Riverton Reunion Days on Facebook.
