From Left: Leslie-Ann Smith, BATC Health Services, Senator Jenny Spyglass, Mayor-Elect Kelli Hawtin and Elder Wayne Semaganis cut the ribbon for the new Senator Jenny Spyglass Outdoor Arena on Dec. 2. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

Spyglass Rink

Ribbon cutting officially opens the Senator Jenny Spyglass Outdoor Arena

Dec 2, 2024 | 1:42 PM

The Senator Jenny Spyglass Outdoor Arena, located just next to the Access Communication Centre, was officially celebrated with a ribbon-cutting Monday morning.

“I’m feeling really excited about it,” said Spyglass.

She explained as a residential school survivor, the now 83-year-old elder never had a chance to experience it herself.

“Now I see it, the kids are going to have fun, I know because my grandchildren… they’re really happy about it.”

The cold changed the plans for the celebration and the decision was made to cut the ribbon first and then move inside for the ceremonial speeches. The first to share thoughts was Elder Wayne Semaganis. He began by giving thanks and spoke about the shared history between himself and the senator.

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“When she was young, our children liked to play together and today that rink symbolizes how all our children will play together,” he said.

“That’s the future that we’re bringing here by opening this facility and putting her name in her honour on such a facility.”

As Mayor-Elect Kelli Hawtin took the microphone, she spoke to Spyglass’s lengthy and notable career: one of firsts. Among serving as councillor and chief on Mosquito Grizzly Bear’s Head Lean Man First Nation (MGBHLM), she also served the first woman to be appointed as a senator to both the Battlefords Area Tribal Chiefs and the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations along with the inaugural woman appointee from her home community.

The new rink bears the name of Senator Jenny Spyglass. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Meanwhile, the project was funded in part by the BATC Community Development Corporation in partnership with the city.

“Senator Jenny as an elder devotes her time and wisdom to the people within Treaty 6 territory, offering guidance to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents of the Battlefords,” Hawtin said.

“She selflessly imparts her cultural knowledge and teachings, collaborating with the City of North Battleford on numerous projects as a cultural advisor.”

As other guest speakers spoke to the elder’s prominence and service to her community, MGBHLM Chief Tanya Stone spoke to her achievements and the importance of the celebration honouring the elder.

Off the whole experience, Spyglass said she was overwhelmed.

“I had tears and I just feel like my people honouring me while I’m still living,” she said, adding that she is still working at the BATC Health Centre as an elder to welcome all the clients.

Spyglass said she did not made a conscience effort to speak about her trauma from her experience at the Thunderchild (St. Henri) Indian Residential School. Her future could have been much different, she said.

“I always encourage (the homeless clients) to be open and bring out what’s bothering them,” she said.

“Bring it out – that’s the only way we’re going to get healed.”

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

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