Moose Jaw

We only spent a few hours in MJ but it has a good feel.

outside Boston Pizza for pete's sake!

It was/is an important transportation hub with an intersection of the CN and CP railways and apparently used to have a direct link to Chicago.
We opted to do the Al Capone version of the tunnel tours for 50 minutes of 1920s fun. We weren't allowed to take photos because, of course, what goes on in the tunnels stays in the tunnels. Let me just say that a good bit of money had been spent on the interiors and effects, it's not a rinky-dink operation. Wiki: A network of underground tunnels connecting buildings in downtown Moose Jaw was constructed beginning around 1908 as an underground steam system that was abandoned. The tunnels were used to hide Chinese railway workers escaping persecution and entire families lived in the tunnels and worked at above-ground businesses in exchange for food and supplies. The tunnels became a hub of renewed activity in the 1920s for rum-running during Prohibition in the United States. Although no written or photographic proof exists of Al Capone's presence, several firsthand accounts from people in Moose Jaw who claim to have met him have been documented.

The downtown area seems well looked after and people are friendly and helpful. There appears to be a concerted beautification effort and sister B thought we needed a new garden ornament souvenir; as though our garden isn't already packed! But she's right, and you'll find these birds in our courtyard the next time you visit.

On High Street we found McIntyre Hall, named for our friend John's father who grew up in MJ and who sat on the Supreme Court of Canada for 10 years.

There are (I know the "are" is not grammatically correct but would you really say "is" and think it sounded right?) a significant number of murals in the downtown area, mostly historical and mostly well done. Also in MJ, and dear to Canadians is the home base of The Snowbirds as well as a NATO flight training centre. Lots of clear skies in Southern Sask resulted in the creation of RCAF Station Moose Jaw in 1940 and it is still Canada's primary military flight training centre.