Come Oct. 2, participants are expected to run, jog or walk down designated routes in Battleford for the second ever Operun race. The race organizers, Historic Battleford Lions Club, say all proceeds will go towards the restoration of the Battleford Opera House.
The Opera House, which occupies the third floor of the Town Hall building built in 1912, was a host a variety of community events, but many residents don't even know it exists.
That's because, in 1965, the building was damaged by fire and while administrative offices on the ground floor were restored and reopened, the fire-ravaged Opera House has remained closed and mostly forgotten. In recent years, community organizations such as Historic Battleford Lions have taken on the challenge of restoring this piece of Battleford history.
Last year's Operun participants received souvenir T-shirts with art specifically designed for the Opera House restoration project. This year, Suzanne Reid, the organizer of the Operun, approached artist Holly Hildebrand to contribute a unique design.
In keeping with Operun's mission statement to promote the Battlefords' past and future, Hildebrand's work often mixes the old with the new.
The finalized T-shirt design, which features a retro pair of high-top sneakers inlayed with brick, is a blend of these contrasting concepts, says Hildebrand.
"Using the brick of the existing (Town Hall) building as the base is, I hope, a good marriage of the old and new," she says. "I wanted something contemporary to contrast with the notion of the old facility. I also wanted an image that would appeal to (younger generations)."
The Operun gets underway at 9 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 2 in front of Town Hall. People interested in getting the special edition T-shirt, participating in the race, volunteering or sponsoring a runner can check out the official site at theoperun.com.
