You're invited to celebrate the Grand Opening of The Shops at Buffalo Run on June 7th! Following the completion of construction, this retail destination has already welcomed over 30 tenants, transforming it into a vibrant hub for shopping, dining, professional services, banking, and personal needs. The grand opening event will officially mark a new chapter in Taza’s development and pay tribute to the elders, artists and community leaders who have been instrumental in the development of The Shops at Buffalo Run.

The “Blossom & Bloom” theme of the event is inspired by the crocus, which has significant meaning for Tsuut’ina Nation. Spotting the first crocus of the year in the prairies marks the end of winter and the changing seasons. Tsuut'ina band member Hal Eagletail shares, “The crocus is the first plant of spring. It comes up first and tells all of the other plants to go ahead and start growing. It is time for a new life cycle.” According to Eagletail, the crocus is also thought to provide a boost to the spirit, signifying new growth and change.

Gather your loved ones for an afternoon filled with entertainment and festivities, including traditional drumming and dancing, live music, tug-of-war, retailers & shops, prizes, and more! This is an event you won't want to miss.

EVENT DETAILS

ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

• Traditional Drumming & Dancing featuring Buffalo Track Youth Drum Group, Powwow Dancers & Tsuut’ina Princesses
• Tug of War Competition – Tosguna Police vs Tsuut’ina Nation Fire & Rescue Service
• Complimentary cupcakes and swag for the first 250 guests
• Face painting
• Explore local tenants
• Contribute to a collaborative art mural
• Enter to win amazing prizes - find details below

The grand opening promises to be a lively celebration, filled with special attractions to captivate guests. The first 250 visitors will receive cupcakes and exclusive swag bags as a warm welcome. The event will feature captivating performances of traditional drumming and dancing by the Buffalo Track Youth Drum Group, Powwow dancers, and you’ll also get to enjoy the introduction of the Tsuut’ina Princesses, creating an experience that will be fun to watch, learn and participate in. Attendees can enjoy extra activities like face painting and a collaborative art mural, ensuring entertainment for all ages. Guests can also explore the booth areas with retailers, project partners, and businesses - where you can offering a chance to support these organizations and win fantastic prizes.

Chief Roy Whitney of Tsuut’ina Nation shares, "For nearly five decades, attracting business to the Tsuut'ina Nation has been a top priority for our community. Our longstanding dream of developing a world-class project on our Nations lands has now become a reality. The grand opening of The Shops at Buffalo Run marks the successful completion of the initial phase of this endeavor, filling Tsuut'ina with immense pride."

REMARKS FROM SPECIAL SPEAKERS

The event will host some special speakers who will share their remarks on the development and completion of The Shops at Buffalo Run, and what it means for Taza, Tsuut’ina Nation and the wider Calgary community. The lineup of speakers includes:

Chief Roy Whitney, Tsuut’ina Nation

Since re-election, Chief Whitney has moved forward to diversify the economy of the Tsuut’ina Nation and taken steps to preserve and continue the identity, culture, traditions, and language. He has renewed his efforts to develop a better working relationship between the Tsuut’ina Nation and the federal, provincial and municipal governments. Read more.

James Robertson, President of Taza Development Corp

​​James Robertson is a highly accomplished and experienced leader in community development. Currently serving as the President of Taza Development Corp., a partnership between Tsuut'ina Nation and Canderel. With his extensive experience in both the private and public sectors, James is positioned as a formidable force in the field of community development, capable of transforming communities and delivering long-term social and economic prosperity. Read more.

Todd Poulsen, President of Elan Construction

He’s a veteran of the construction industry in his own right, having started as a labourer in 1980. Eager to help the family business, Todd studied Civil Engineering Technology at SAIT, and joined Elan Construction full-time in 1990. Ten years later, he became an Elan shareholder and now runs the day-to-day operations with Trevor Poulsen. Todd is also a great believer in building up the community and does this through actively supporting a variety of not-for-profit organizations. Elan Construction was the general contractor for the vertical construction for the Shops at Buffalo Run. With a proven track record for successful retail construction projects behind their name, Elan was poised as a true collaborative partner in their completion of the project. Read more.

Jamie Clark, Systemic Architecture

Jamie graduated both from McGill University and the University of Cambridge.  His education both in architecture and in criminology focused him on the design of urban environments.  He believes that architectural design can be used as a tool to shape social development. His area of expertise lies in commercial, office and mixed-use projects.  Jamie has established productive working relationships with several different approving authorities in western Canada and believes that dealing respectfully and honestly with government bodies is the best way to advance projects. Read more.

ENTER TO WIN AMAZING PRIZES

Event attendees will have the exclusive chance to win the following prizes:

• Two gift baskets valued at $150 each from SYSTEMIC-AI.
• Grey Eagle Resort & Casino Package: one-night stay at the hotel, two concert tickets, and two buffet passes to the casino buffet.
• Five $100 gift cards from Read Jones Christoffersen.
• Six-month membership to the 7 Chiefs Sportplex & Chief Jim Starlight Centre.
• Three swag bags from Primary Engineering featuring a Nike golf shirt, coffee mug, water bottle, Taylor Made golf balls and a FlexFit ball cap.
• 20 Yeti cups from Elan Construction.
• Four VIP Passes to Nashville North during Stampede from STUDIO tla.
• Two yearly memberships to Costco.

PLANNING YOUR ATTENDANCE

Please see below a map of the venue. The Shops at Buffalo Run is easily accessible via Tsuut’ina Trail, a portion of the newly completed ring road. Free parking is available onsite.

We hope to see you at our Blossom & Bloom Spring Celebration at Buffalo Run to share this exciting milestone with our community! Follow us on social media and join our online community for future development updates and community events.

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