The Echo went on to say: “On arrival at the specially prepared grounds on the north side of the river, after the procession had wended over the glistening steel structure, Mr. Taylor and his party were escorted to the Old-Timers’ Cabin, where they penned their names in the official register which goes into the Board of Trade archives and which was signed by a large number of people throughout the day. The spacious cabin was under the supervision of Messrs. Tod Richards and Charlie Seymour, and the walls were profusely decorated with a galaxy of pictures of the early days in the district.

            “Athabasca had its baptism of out-of-doors motion pictures, and the free shows given throughout the day were greatly enjoyed by big throngs, a presentation of the National Film Board of Canada, with D. Bouvier and assistant of the staff in charge of operations which brought forth many plaudits.

            “There were eight teams entered in the tug-of-war … and this competition, under the supervision of Rev. Fr. Galbraith, provided some of the greatest thrills and excitement of the day….In the first draw Parson [defeated] Lynk, Wright took Smallwood, Doroshenko got the nod over Aloisio and Breckenridge had an edge on Sadownik. In the second chapter Doroshenko and Parson victimized Breckenridge and Wright respectively, and in the finals, Doroshenko of Division 7 was victorious over Parson.”  The winning team received a certificate giving them honorary ownership of the bridge and was composed of Nick Doroshenko (division 7 captain), Mike Rypien, Bruno Rypien, Wally Rypien, Alois Byrtus, Anton Byrtus, Mike These, Nolan Watson and Alec Byrtus.

            The Athabasca Squadron #230 Royal Canadian Air Cadets underwent their annual inspection by Group Captain R. J. Lane of R.C.A.F. headquarters, NWAC, Edmonton which was followed by a drill with F/L H. V. Bayliss in command. Music was performed throughout by the R.C.A.F. band. B. W. Bellamy was master of ceremonies for the day and introduced the speakers of the day – Hon. Gordon E. Taylor, Mayor R. E. Hall, Reeve A. Aloisio, MLA Gordon Lee, Group Captain R. Lane of R.C.AF., Chief Bridge Engineer L. G. Grimble, assistant engineer L. H. McManus, bridge foreman Gordon Harps, district engineer Don Ritchie and Gordon Morris of the Department of Economic Affairs for Alberta. Reverends Gordon B. East, Archdeacon Humphreys and Fr, Galbraith offered blessings.

            Following the speeches, the Hon. Gordon E. Taylor declared the bridge officially open. He and Jean Baptiste from Calling Lake proceeded to the northern end of the bridge where they cut through a birch log with a cross-cut saw while a troop of Cub Scouts and the Air Cadets stood guard. “The ceremony being completed, the assemblage burst forth in “He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.”

“A brand new set of standard implements were used for the horse shoe chucking contest, of gilt and silver design, with the Hon. G. E. Taylor tossing the first shoe, and Mayor Hall in charge of operations.”

            There was a banquet at the Community Centre in the evening where a birthday toast to Queen Elizabeth II was given by Mayor Hall. The head table was introduced and “special mention being made in respect to the particularly valuable services rendered by announcer D. B. Hunter at the “mike” throughout the day. Mr. Bellamy made presentations to Nick Doroshenko, whose crew took top slot in the tug-of-war and to Hon. G. E. Taylor, the latter being in the form of a 7 x 5 inch photo of the new bridge … the M. C. referred briefly but feelingly to the late H. G. Weldon and Barney Ryan, who had campaigned valiantly for the bridge years ago.”

Entertainment was provided during the evening by local performers “Mrs. N. Richel and Mrs. R. Montgomery contributed vocal duets, with J. U. Noel rendering vocal solos, Mrs. J. Appleby at the piano on all occasions. Two youthful Hendy misses did a turn with song and dance that went over big, with their father manipulating the accordion, the latter, Tom Hendy, combining with “Lefty” Gibbons with an accordion duet … Music for the dance which followed, in which hundreds participated, was furnished by the R.C.A.F. Comandairs Dance orchestra ... Mother nature furnished the climax with an impromptu display of pyrotechnics late in the evening as a meteorite swept the sky, said to have streaked into the earth’s atmosphere, sprayed particles and plunged to the earth’s surface in the Edmonton area.”

            An article written in the Edmonton Journal by Jack Deakin titled $470,000 Athabasca Bridge Opened At Festive Ceremony suggested that between 6,000 and 7,000 persons attended the bridge opening. He expanded further on Jean Baptiste Gambler: “Among the oldest of the pioneers who sat around a hut provided for them at the bridge site was Jean Baptiste, at 95 years the oldest member of the Cree band of the Calling Lake district. It was 80 years ago that Jean Baptiste first saw the wide frame expanse of the Athabasca river. Then a young [man] he explored the many mysteries of the historic river. Today he is bent with age, the sharpness of his aging eyes faded. He is unable to speak anything but Cree, but through an interpreter still is able to recall the early history of Athabasca.  Jean Baptiste was accompanied by a number of fellow members of the Calling Lake band, the men, women and children brought to Athabasca for the celebration by James McIntosh, a 65-year-old pioneer who came to the Athabasca district in [1918]… For hours during the hot afternoon 95-year-old Jean Baptiste sat in front of his teepee and welcomed hundreds of visitors to the celebration. He was the most photographed person at the celebration as large crowds encircled him prior to the log-cutting ceremony.”