BONNYVILLE – After a four-year gap, there is no better way to celebrate the return of the Bonnyville Oil and Gas Show (BOAGS) than to join in on the festivities for the event’s opening ceremonies taking place on the evening of June 20.
The public is welcome to attend the opening ceremony, which will include a presentation by Kendall Dilling, president of Pathways Alliance, a performance by The Bearhead Sisters, and a Fun Casino sponsored by Casino Dene.
The opening ceremonies will kick-off two full days of BOAGS exhibits and networking events. The community is encouraged to attend both the opening ceremony and BOAGS to celebrate an industry that has helped bolster the local economy for decades.
“The opening ceremonies is definitely a great opportunity for networking and bringing everyone together. It is open to the public and the community, it is not just for exhibitors,” said Serina Parsons, executive director for the Bonnyville and District Chamber of Commerce.
The doors of the Graham Field House will open at 6:30 p.m., with appetizers, networking and a cash bar to start.
Around 7 p.m. the evening’s program will begin, starting with a blessing from a local elder and a land acknowledgment.
This will be followed by welcoming remarks from local dignitaries and a presentation by Dilling, who will address the proposed carbon capture and underground storage project proposed by Pathways Alliance to be constructed in the region in the near future.
Shortly after 8 p.m., The Bearhead Sisters, a trio from Paul First Nation, will take the stage to perform music from their 2023 Juno Award winning album Unbreakable.
The musical performance will be followed by a dance and a Fun Casino complete with blackjack tables and swag prizes.
“Picture gambling with Monopoly money,” said Parsons. “It’s just fun to go play and there's no actual cash involved.”
Tickets are $40 for the opening ceremonies and can be purchased under the attendee registration form at www.bonnyvilleoilandgasshow.com/attend.
“It’s a fun night to bring everybody in industry together and to say, ‘Here we are, we're back’. The oil and gas industry are picking up in our region and we're just really excited for what the future holds,” Parsons said. “And it's our first time being able to celebrate together since 2019.”
The oil and gas show will get underway the following day, starting at 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. on June 21. It will pick back up again on June 22, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Those interested in attending the BOAGS show can attend for free if they pre-register. Otherwise, it costs $20 at the door for a pass to the two-day show. All proceeds from entry admission will go to STARS Air Ambulance.
RELATED STORY: After a three-year break the Bonnyville Oil and Gas Show returns
