They are there to keep everything running smoothly, though a lot of people have no idea what they actually do.

Public Works Week runs May 19th to the 25th, a week to recognize the work that the city does on a daily basis.

Public Works day is to shine a light each year on what the city does, and to educate the community.

With everything from an excavator named 'Ed', to a sand truck named 'Sally', dozens of machines were on display for everyone at the city complex on Wednesday.

Elementary kids line up for the chance to climb into each machine.

Being assisted by workers, kids climbed up into numerous machines, getting a hands on one of a kind experience that most would never otherwise get a chance to see.

3 schools from Holy Trinity and 3 from Prairie South had their students bused in by the city, with many workers present to present exactly what they do and how they do it.

Open to the public, more than 200 students came through, getting a chance to climb into the cab of each piece of machinery, play games designed to teach, and enjoy taco in a bag.

There were booths set up to show different deparments, with games at each station, including a garbage run, a water pipe challenge, and a face painting booth.

Communications Manager for the city of Moose Jaw Craig Hemmingway, said it's a great opportunity to show people what they do, and to educate the public.
"It's great to see such a response from the community to come out to this every year. We want to be able to educate and let people know and give them a sense of where there tax dollars go. The types of things that our crews do, when you turn your taps or flush your toilet, to go play in a park, our public works crews make sure those things are in place."

Public Works Supervisor for Water and Waste Water Staci Dobrescue, said it takes weeks to set up the event, and she feels it's an important opportunity for the community and the kids who attend.
"I believe that it makes them aware of what we're doing to keep our community clean, to do repairs on any of the infrastructure that we have. A lot of our infrastructure is hidden, and you can't see it. So we don't get a lot of chances to educate them on what we do. This gives us that one time of year that we get to take the time, bring the kids in, ask the questions that they want to ask, and give us a chance to answer and actually interact with the community. It's really important for us."

Kyle Lichtenwald, a grade 5 teacher at Sacred Heart school, said it helps to build awareness and lets the kids know the world is bigger than just one classroom.
"The kids get to understand how the city works a little bit better and recognize a place in the community and maybe opportunities for their future to work in the city. Lots of the jobs that go unnoticed a lot of the time that they take for granted."

Beyond just educating, said Hemmingway, "it's about all the things city workers effect from transportation to sanitation, to the parks, road work, all of those things and more, public works entails so much of that. We want to make sure that our public recognizes the fact that our crews do a pile of work every year, and they do a great job, and it's a week to celebrate that."