Echo Valley Provincial Park celebrates Sask. athletes performing at Olympic Games

Echo Valley Park honors Winter Olympians with podiums, medals, while encouraging people to get outside and be active. Mick Favel has more.

Organizers at Echo Valley Provincial Park have done some redecorating in support of Saskatchewan athletes performing at the 2026 Olympic Games in Milano Cortina.

The park has raised a Team Canada flag at the gates of the park, as well as installed emblems of various sports into their ice skating trail.

For the duration of the winter games, the park is also promoting outdoor actives related to sports and games.

“There is nothing like getting out in that crispy winter air. Going for a snowshoe or skate, trying crokicurling,” said Shelley Maclean, manager of the Echo Valley Provincial Park.

Students and staff from Cornwall Alternative School spent part of the day at the provincial park.

Rob Nixon is a counselor from Cornwall Alternative School. He said a part of the student health program at the school is learning about healthy lifestyles and outdoor activities.

“Skating is a part of who we are as Canadian. Canada is winter six months of the year. That’s what we’d like to do, get outside and experience winter,” he said.

Students at Cornwall Alternative are currently learning about the Olympics and local athletes competing.

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Getting out to the park has allowed students to try activities they normally don’t try.

“I love to be out here. I like the view. I was skating with my friend earlier, it was really nice,” said Johnathan Anderson, a student at Cornwall Alternative School.

The provincial park has also set up an Olympic podium with medals for visitors to use and pose with.

They also have equipment visitors can rent.

“We’re so proud of the athletes just for being there on behalf of our country,” Maclean said.

“[We’re] encouraging guests to come out here. Maybe they will find a spot that they love enough to pursue an amateur or pro career,” she concluded.