Somewhere at my parents farm in Aldergrove, B.C., buried amid boxes of old photo albums and hockey card collections, I believe there鈥檚 a photo from when I was younger, standing next to Mac the Moose.
Mac wasn鈥檛 very old at that point either; he鈥檇 been completed in 1984. He was already known as a proud part of the community, greeting visitors to the Friendly City at the east end. And I was pretty impressed to have an encounter with this 32-foot-tall structure.
Mac鈥檚 still pretty impressive. He鈥檚 still a lot taller than me. He鈥檚 still one of Moose Jaw鈥檚 most famous landmarks. Welcome to Moose Jaw. Home of the Tunnels of Moose Jaw, the Temple Gardens Mineral Spa, the Canadian Snowbirds, and Mac the Moose.
But some usurpers from the Norwegian municipality of Stor-Elvdal decided their community should be home to the world鈥檚 largest moose, and built a towering moose sculpture of their own. Since it was built with steel, it has an impressive shine that makes it look great, although it doesn鈥檛 resemble a moose like Mac does.
It鈥檚 worth noting that the moose, known as Storelgen, was completed in 2015, and has held the distinction of the world鈥檚 largest moose for the past few years. But the story of Mac鈥檚 status as second-tallest, and the quest for him to regain his world鈥檚 largest distinction, has only been thrust into the spotlight in recent weeks.
I鈥檓 sure Stor-Elvdal is a beautiful community with friendly people who uphold their nation鈥檚 reputation for being jovial and hospitable. I鈥檇 never heard of the municipality before this moose flap, but I鈥檓 sure they鈥檇 never heard of Moose Jaw until the last few years.
(I鈥檓 sure most have never heard of Estevan, either).
I know that Moose Jaw is easier to pronounce than Stor-Elvdal. And I鈥檓 not sure if Stor-Elvdal translates to moose in any way, but if it doesn鈥檛, then they shouldn鈥檛 have taken away a Saskatchewan city鈥檚 claim to having the world鈥檚 biggest moose.
Anyways, the two sides have come together on a compromise. Once Moose Jaw has enough money to give Mac some antler enhancements, it will once again be home to the world鈥檚 biggest moose. And Stor-Elvdal won鈥檛 put up a fight.
But Moose Jaw had to acknowledge that Stor-Elvdal has the prettier moose. I think Moose Jaw won this wager.
Hopefully, this will be a message to other communities out there: don鈥檛 mess with a Prairie community鈥檚 鈥淲orld鈥檚 largest鈥� claim.
Perhaps the best news to come out of this has been the publicity for both communities. There was that Norwegian pop band that wrote a song about the moose flap that was as catchy as a Saskatchewan cold virus in the late winter/early spring months. And then a band in Canada responded with a song named No Way Norway.
The Moosehead brewery in Atlantic Canada joined the fight by donating money for Mac鈥檚 new antlers.
And there have been all sorts of articles about the these two communities locking horns over who had the biggest moose. If you didn鈥檛 know about Stor-Elvdal, you did now.
We鈥檝e even seen a top official from Stor-Elvdal come to Moose Jaw to meet with people in the community, take in a Moose Jaw Warriors hockey game, and, coolest of all, fly in a plane at the Canadian Air Force鈥檚 15 Wing Moose Jaw base.
It鈥檚 been entertaining and proof that we can have fun through the media across international waters.
People who haven鈥檛 heard of these communities before now know that they have really big moose statues. And an ability to laugh at themselves. Apparently more people have been coming to Moose Jaw since this situation erupted earlier this year. I鈥檓 not sure if more people have been posing for photos with Mac the Moose in the last two months, but that鈥檚 because it鈥檚 winter in Saskatchewan, it鈥檚 been incredibly cold outside, and I鈥檇 rather sit in my warm vehicle and stare at a moose sculpture, than stand in front of him and risk frost bite. (And freezing my camera).
Under normal circumstances, I would tell you there are two good uses for moose. The first is photography. They make for some great subject matter for photos.
The other is hunting. I鈥檝e seen some great mounts of moose on walls over the years. And I鈥檝e enjoyed some great moose meat, too.
As for Mac鈥檚 place in the world of statues, it was fitting that the world鈥檚 largest moose was located in a city named Moose Jaw, in a province known for its wildlife and big game hunting opportunities.
And he鈥檒l regain his spot as the world鈥檚 largest moose. He鈥檒l continue to watch over people driving along the Trans Canada Highway.
And young children will get to continue to marvel at this towering sculpture. They鈥檒l get to have their photos taken with him.
And hopefully it will be many years before another community has the bright idea to try to usurp Mac鈥檚 place as the biggest in the world.聽
