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Month: September 2013

Freetime at the Freehouse

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The NDP Caucus strategy session was coming to an end, and before the last part began, we had some free time for lunch. Where should we go to enjoy this freetime? To the Freehouse, of course! The Freehouse was established by a Saskatchewan consortium that includes several New Democrats, most notably former NDP MP Lorne Nystrom. There are two successful locations in Saskatchewan, the Cathedral Freehouse which opened in 1996 in Regina and the Spadina Freehouse which opened in 2002 in Saskatoon. The consortium tried to expand to Winnipeg, but sadly, the Osborne Village Freehouse didn’t last very long. The Spadina Freehouse is located strategically in the heart of downtown Saskatoon, across from the Delta and adjacent to the Sheraton, guaranteeing an influx of travellers attracted by convenience and the large patio. Despite the inviting bright interior, Steve, Karine and I decided to sit outside – until the sun came…

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Getting refreshed in Saskatoon

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After flying for most of the day, I finally made it to my final destination, the Paris of the Prairies, beautiful Saskatoon. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, my stomach was growling. Thankfully, our Caucus meeting HQ were at the Delta Bessborough Hotel, at the corner of Spadina and 21st Street. And what is right across the street? If you answered the Freehouse, you are right. But that’s not what I am talking about. No, I am talking about the Saskatoon Bus Stop Refresments. A classic red-and-white 1949 Bristol double-decker bus, which served London until 1965, was brought to Saskatoon from Niagara Falls in 1985 by Laurel Beaumont. At first, the food truck served fish and chips at Agriculture fairs across the province. In 1989, the Routemaster was parked and became a Snackmaster. I checked in, dropped my bags in my room and off I was to the…

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