The deputy mayor of a Norwegian municipality with a sculpture that set off a mighty moose match with a Saskatchewan prairie city is to arrive for a visit later this week.
Part of her mission will be to attend her first hockey game.
鈥淚t鈥檚 cool that my debut is in Canada 鈥� the hockey nation,鈥� Linda Otnes Henriksen, whose flight is to land in Regina on Thursday night, told The Canadian Press.
Henriksen鈥檚 visit has been dubbed an 鈥渋nternational moose summit鈥� by the city of Moose Jaw. But Henriksen of Stor-Elvdal characterizes the trip as a chance to meet the city鈥檚 mayor and residents after weeks of back-and-forth headlines.
After decades of believing a highway attraction named Mac was the biggest moose in the world, Moose Jaw was toppled from top spot when it was revealed Stor-Elvdal had a silvery moose sculpture that was taller by 30 centimetres.
Tourism Moose Jaw almost immediately launched a campaign to reclaim its place by making Mac鈥檚 rack a little taller.
What is it with 馃嚦馃嚧 trying to steal our proud 馃嚚馃嚘 claim to fame of having the largest Moose sculpture in the world. First Stor-Elvdal now this...
鈥� Michael Zatylny (@MichaelZatylny)
That said, Beitost酶len does look beautiful, and just got added to my places to visit list.
Last month, Moosehead Breweries donated $25,000 towards the cause while a GoFundMe campaign has raised about $13,000 of a $50,000 goal.
Henriksen said she decided to send a message to Moose Jaw鈥檚 mayor asking if she could pay a visit. Fraser Tolmie happily agreed.
鈥淲e thought 鈥� why not? We should get together and meet,鈥� she said.
鈥淪ince both moose have really been placed on the map 鈥� a friendship would be good for both of us.鈥�
In a statement posted on the city鈥檚 website, Tolmie welcomes Henriksen and notes the possibility of building economic or tourism partnerships.
Henriksen believes the ongoing moose saga could open the door to a closer relationship.
鈥淲e are trying to do our best in order to make tourists come here,鈥� she said of Stor-Elvldal, home to about 2,500 people, in east-central Norway.
鈥淚 know that Moose Jaw and Mac the Moose and the Canadians are doing the same thing.鈥�
Her municipality is paying her way to Moose Jaw. It鈥檚 her first trip to Canada.
She always imagined her first voyage would be to Vancouver or Toronto, but Henriksen has been reading online and says she is excited to experience a prairie city and to see Mac in person.
鈥淚 know it鈥檚 the friendly city,鈥� she said of Moose Jaw. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very flat there.鈥�
Henriksen鈥檚 almost week-long stay will include a tour of Moose Jaw and its historic tunnels, a visit to a school and a Moose Jaw Warriors Western Hockey League game.
It鈥檚 been very cold in Saskatchewan and daytime highs during her visit are forecast to range between -15 C and -18 C. Overnights are to dip into the -20s.
Henriksen isn鈥檛 worried.
鈥淚鈥檓 from Norway. It鈥檚 like winter here almost all year 鈥� so I鈥檓 not afraid of the temperature.鈥�
Stephanie Taylor, The Canadian Press
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