It's hard to miss the giant drilling rig that's currently set up on the exhibition grounds here in Weyburn, or the pumpjack next to Crescent Point Place. These spectacles of industry are examples of what can be seen at the Saskatchewan Oil and Gas show, a world-class event that has not been held since 2019.
All of Weyburn is already busy in anticipation of this year's event, which goes this Wednesday, June 1st, and Thursday, June 2nd., and Oil Show board member and event organizer, Trevor Pandachuk, has been working on setting up for more than two weeks.
"It's been going relatively smoothly," he said. "There's a lot of work to get the grounds ready, for the City to grade up and then roll it, and then we've got to get it surveyed, and then the lines painted. It just doesn't happen overnight. It takes like a week to get the grounds ready before they can start putting anything on it. And you got to thank the City for that. They do so much here, it's unbelievable. This show runs on volunteers."
He said it's not just the City of Weyburn showing so much support, but also any business he asks for something they need, he usually gets it.
"I go approach anybody that I need something from, and it's generally never a problem. If they've got it, I can have it. So you can't say enough about the community," noted Pandachuk, adding that Jerry Mainil Ltd. has also supplied him with a crew and equipment.
Even for the trade show indoors, to fill some empty spaces, the three local car dealerships have supplied trucks and equipment to showcase.
Pandachuk said the board has been working with the event contractors, E.I.S, for much longer than two weeks.
"At least six months before the show, organizing things, and getting a good plan," he explained. "We keep going to E.I.S., because this is the fourth or fifth show that they've done and so they know what they're doing, so it's kind of nice. They do a good job, which is why we keep getting them back. Like they know what they're doing and why train someone? They hire local people, too, it's a lot of the same local people every show that they get to hire, so you know they have the experience already too."
Something you don't see at every oil show, however, is the drilling rig brought in and set up by Panther Drilling.
"They had a rig sitting around and we've been in discussion with them and they agreed that they could move it in, and it's not a cheap thing to move," Pandachuk commented. "I don't know what the cost was to move it, but still, that's a big commitment on their behalf to get the rig in here. And I think it will be a huge draw for the show. It's impressive, and it looks awesome."
"The people who come in, the exhibitors, they've all seen drilling rigs, but maybe the general public of Weyburn hasn't actually seen one, and so it's nice to have here, right? It kind of showcases the start of a well."
All the work it takes to prepare for this huge event wouldn't be possible without help from the local organizations involved, like the Weyburn Agricultural Society, who have also been helping out above and beyond, according to Pandachuk.
The Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Show, every year, however, does contribute to the community in ways that benefit everyone. In addition to paving the small parking lot across from Crescent Point Place, this year the Oil Show Board also purchased a lift for the stage at the Curling Rink, the stage they also donated during a previous year's event.
"That's part of our mandate. We do things that help us, but also improves the community at the same time," he explained. "So we purchased this and we'll donate it to the Ag Society to go on the stage. They can use it for different events. It was just something that needed to happen."
Vendors will be flooding the trade show floor all day Tuesday, and everything will be set up and ready in time for the show open at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
Register or find out more HERE.
Fri, Apr 19, 4:00 PM
Full-time, Agriculture, Skilled Trades
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