Well over a hundred people turned out to Wakamow Valley Saturday for the official opening of the new Wakamow Suspension Bridge. 

The bridge, constructed by 38 Combat Engineer Regiment, connects Wakamow Valley to Connor Park and Kingsway Park and is also the final connection in Saskatchewan's portion of the Trans Canada Trail (TCT), also known as "The Great Trail." 

The TCT was launched in 1992 as part of Canada's 125th, with a goal of linking the entire country by 2017 with over 24,000 kilometres of trail. 

"I love this project," said TCT Foundation co-chair Valeri Pringle, who has spent 17 years with the TCT board. "(The foundation) had to raise $75 million to connect the Trail for Canada 150 and I've co-chaired that, trying to raise money."

The federal government contributes $.50 for every $1 donated to TCT, and Pringle says they have "about $70 million" raised so far.

Pringle said she was impressed by the dedication by our province to finish our portion.

"4 or 5 years ago Saskatchewan was only 36 per cent connected - the worst of all of the provinces," said Pringle. "Then we connected with an amazing group of volunteers who found a new focus and here we are.  Saskatchewan is now the 4th province to be connected (Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Yukon are the others, with Pringle saying New Brunswick is next in "a couple of weeks"). 

Pringle pointed to Saturday's Master of Ceremonies Sinclair Harrison, Chairman of Saskatchewan's TCT committee, as one of the key figures in accomplishing the feat. 

Saturday's event featured a flyby from a member of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds and performance by Black Cloud, a family drum group from Muscowpetung First Nation, which provided the music for Hoop Dancer Terrence Littletent from Kawacatoose Cree Nation, accompanied by his nephew Stevey Obey Jr., from Piapot First Nation.

Moose Jaw Wakamow MLA Greg Lawrence represented the Province of Saskatchewan at the ceremony and said of the  bridge "it's a great addition to Wakamow Valley, it's a great addition to Moose Jaw. It's a beautiful structure and we can't thank the Army Engineers enough for stepping up and making this happen."

"The beauty of this is that it connects the trail system in Moose Jaw and the trail that goes from Connor Park to Wakamow Valley," added City of Moose Jaw Parks and Recreation Director Ted Schaeffer. "It's a great day."

Dozens of citizens showed up to Saturday's event, anxious to try out the suspension bridge for themselves.  Once the dignitaries took the first stroll, others quickly followed. 

"Fantastic," exclaimed Moose Jaw's Jack Smith. 

Limerick's Bill Shurniak was also happy to cross the new bridge.  During the opening ceremonies he was mentioned by name as one of the many donors to the TCT Foundation. 

"It's wonderful and a magnificent addition," said Shurniak, who said he donated to the organiztion because "in my younger days I used to do a lot of hiking and trail walking, so trails are quite dear to my heart."

The Great Trail route in Saskatchewan spans almost 1,700 kilometres from the Alberta to the Manitoba border and encompasses rural and urban municipalities, ferry crossings and a few Saskatchewan provincial parks.

Across the country, The Great Trail is 87% connected and should be 100% complete next year.  

Saskatchewan's Ralph Goodale, the Federal Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness was also in attendance Saturday.  In a media release he said "The Great Trail will unite us from coast to coast to coast as a sustainable national treasure, one that helps to create economic drivers for tourism, and healthier, more active communities. Today's milestone celebration in Saskatchewan is an important step toward the Trail achieving full connection for Canada 150 celebrations in 2017, and a wonderful example of community collaboration."