It was a difficult year, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. That was the theme at Tourism Moose Jaw’s annual general meeting, held virtually on Monday. 

In the financial report, Tourism Moose Jaw posted a small surplus of about $8,000. However, executive director Jacki L’Heureax Mason pointed out it took some tightening of the purse strings in order to stay out of the red. 

“We were poised for a difficult year, but thanks to some good conservative budgeting and the use of grants, and again the flexibility of some wonderful staff who took the time to do some really good things in their own life and be able to come back here when we opened again in July,” she said. 

L’Heureax Mason said that Tourism Moose Jaw partnered with the Moose Jaw Downtown Association, which proved to be very helpful during the pandemic. 

“Many rallied to support each other, even though they were down and out, and our ability to work together I think has been very appreciated by the business owners because, truthfully, Moose Jaw did not get hit quite as hard as some other places did,” L’Heureax Mason said. 

Some of the events highlighted during the AGM included the downtown picnic area that is planned to open up again this year and the true crimes tours. 

L’Heureax Mason said the true crime tours were a massive hit as nearly every tour was sold out. 

“So that was something we were really excited about and it gave us a little boost of income that we were not necessarily anticipating once the pandemic had kicked in,” she said. 

Overall, however, she feels that, as we begin to come out of the pandemic, there is a sense of optimism. 

“I know we certainly have high hopes that the best things are yet to come,” L’Heureax Mason said.  

“I think we've got some real positive lights shining and I've been saying for a few months that will hopefully expect a bit of a slingshot economy where people been held back for the last 15 months, they're going to come out of the gates, ready to spend all their money right here in Moose Jaw.”