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NORTH BATTLEFORD - Col. Chris Hadfield is at last touching down in the Battlefords.

After more than 18 months of delays and uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rotary Club of the Battlefords is finally holding its 100th anniversary celebrations with Col. Hadfield as the headline attraction for two events.

Rotary has confirmed that the sold-out Out of This World Centennial Celebration Gala with Hadfield will take place on the evening of Oct. 22 at the Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts. Hadfield will also be speaking to students at the North Battleford Comprehensive High School earlier that afternoon.

Event co-chair Warren Williams says Rotary is looking forward to finally staging the celebrations after months of postponements. The events in North Battleford were originally scheduled for April 24, 2020 to coincide with Battlefords Rotary’s 100th anniversary. Then the pandemic hit, and the events were delayed — first to the fall of 2020, and then again to 2021.

Hadfield served as commander of the International Space Station and was the first Canadian to walk in space. The news of his appearance here is bound to create excitement throughout the Battlefords.

But those hoping tickets are available are in for disappointment. The original scheduled gala event sold out in only 10 days, and Williams confirms the gala is still completely sold out.

“It’s 100 per cent sold out still, has been for 18 months,” said Williams.

The events on Oct. 22 have also seen some adjustments due to the new realities of COVID-19 protocols and vaccine requirements.

While the afternoon event at NBCHS will see Hadfield speak live at the school’s gymnasium, Williams confirms that due to the pandemic protocols, NBCHS won’t be allowing students from other schools to attend.

Instead, live-streaming is being set up to allow students from other schools, who were previously invited to watch and participate. Williams says that is just starting to be put together now.

Williams said the high school appearance is really at the heart of what Rotary wanted to do with Hadfield's visit.

“That’s really the crux of what we wanted to do here,” said Williams, “is give something to our kids to instill some excitement and some hopes and dreams.”

Wrapping up the day will be the event at the Dekker Centre with upwards of 350 community and business leaders in attendance.

There are strict protocols in place for the gala event. Masks will be required for everyone in attendance, and proof of vaccination requirements are in effect.

A message Williams wants to send out is that the Rotary Club could not attract Col. Hadfield to the Battlefords alone. He said they had some “fantastic” community partners stepping forward with the three primary partners being Innovation Credit Union, Battlefords Tribal Council and the Battlefords Hotels Association. There are a host of other sponsors as well.