Medicine Hat fabricator unveils cauldron one week ahead of Special Olympics Canada Summer Games

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Bluesky
• Share on X
• Copy Link

(Image Credit: Submitted Photo/Aaron Weimer)

GreenFox

Why waiting to replace your windows and doors could cost you more than you think

Jul 22, 2026

What's On

Top five things to do at the Medicine Hat Public Library in August

Aug 01, 2026

POLICE

Brooks RCMP seize suspected cocaine, counterfeit opioids in drug trafficking investigation

Jul 31, 2026

(Image Credit: Submitted Photo/Aaron Weimer)

—

Weimer Welding owner Aaron Weimer said his company was excited to be involved from the beginning of the project.

“We were thrilled to be brought into it from the planning stage. And honestly, as challenging as it is to build something like this, it’s very cool to have your art on display,” Weimer said.

“It’s one of those projects that you can be proud of tagging your name to years and years down the road as well.”

Weimer said the project allowed his company to contribute to an event that will become part of Medicine Hat’s history.

“Anytime we can be a part of the community in this kind of way is fantastic, we love to give back,” Weimer said.

“We committed a lot of time and a lot of input into this, as well as some other companies that have worked with us to get the gas and everything pipes into the cauldron,” he added.

“It’s something that we can be proud of leaving behind and leaving as kind of our legacy for the 2026 games.”

The idea for the design came from early conversations between Weimer and the games committee, which was looking for a structure that was both achievable to build and meaningful to the community.

Weimer said the Saamis Tepee quickly became an inspiration because of its shape and connection to Medicine Hat, providing the right combination of functionality and symbolism.

“I said, ‘Why don’t we look at a teepee?’ I mean, we have the large teepee up in the cliffs there,” Weimer said.

“From my side of it, as a fabricator, my brain goes to, ‘We need something shaped, circular, more pointed,’ we want it to create that ability to house a cauldron, to house a bowl or something to have that sling sit in,” he added.

“I mean, the teepee offers that natural shape as well as giving an ode back to the ’88 Olympics and the large teepee that sits there.”

Weimer said the project took between 80 and 100 hours to complete, with him and his father working together on the fabrication.

The cauldron also has a family connection, as Weimer says his father was part of the steel crew that helped build the original Saamis Tepee after it was moved to Medicine Hat from Calgary in the 1980s.

“We were kind of teasing my dad because he was actually part of the steel crew that built the original teepee back when it came here from Calgary in the 80s,” Weimer said.

The cauldron will take its place on stage at Co-op Place for the opening ceremony on Aug. 11, where it will be lit to officially begin the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games.

Weimer said projects like this are exactly the kind of work his shop enjoys taking on.

“It’s just a cool project to be a part of. I love when our shop can get involved with something that,” Weimer said.

“You can see it, it’s different, it’s artistic, and it really challenges us as fabricators on how we’re gonna get it together and make it look exactly like we want it to look and represent our shop and the community really well.”