The aerial view of cars backed up for three miles from her property, down Highway 39 and into Moose Jaw is a sight that the Andersons won’t soon forget.

“It’s just something that you don’t see!” Mel Anderson exclaimed.

That was the scene on August 1, as the Western Canadian Nationals (WCN) car show piled onto the Anderson acreage, a three-day event Anderson describes as an “…absolutely mind-blowing, huge success.”

Roughly 700 classic cars and an estimated 3000 car enthusiasts rolled in from across Saskatchewan, Ontario, B.C., Montana, North and South Dakota to name a few, not only to show off and admire the massive array of classic cars, but also to meet up with a whole community of like-minded people.

“If we had an aura around this place it would have been bright purple, just so positive,” Anderson said. “All I kept hearing was, ‘Oh my goodness, this is amazing!’”

The acreage, owned by Mel and her husband Cal, is also home to the previously hidden gem, Anderson Auto and Memorabilia Collection, which features not only vehicles but countless one-of-a-kind artifacts illustrating the history of Moose Jaw and area.

               Planning for the event started last October, when the Andersons were first approached by the Brandon group who had hosted the WCN in 2025. The group enjoyed the Andersons’ annual car show so much that they felt it would be the perfect location for the next WCN. After two weeks of mulling it over, they agreed and decided to give it a go – under one condition.

“We said, ‘The only way we’ll do it is, (money raised) has to all go to Ronald McDonald House.’ And they were game!” Anderson said.

In the coming months they secured a total of 12 vendors and 65 volunteers, who were not only crucial in helping the event to run smoothly, but also in freeing Anderson up to do what she loves most.

               “I loved the visits. I love to talk, I love to meet people,” she said.

               Anyone who enjoyed the “people hauler,” a wooden wagon pulled by a tractor, would have met co-owner and husband Cal, who pulled folks around from the start of the event right to the very end, stopping so they could hop out to get snacks and enjoy the dazzling sights along the way.

One hundred percent of proceeds from the car show will go to Ronald McDonald House, which holds a very personal meaning for the family. Eighteen years ago, Mel’s nephew was almost killed in an ATV accident, and without Ronald McDonald House her sister, brother-in-law and their children wouldn’t have had anywhere to stay while he was recovering. Then in 2017, the 13-year-old daughter of a long-time employee of Cal’s was diagnosed with Leukemia. The family utilized Ronald McDonald House for 191 days while she was underwent treatment.

                Last year alone, the Andersons raised $52,060 for the charity and Mel, unsure what that amount would even mean to them, contacted Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon to find out.

               “They said ‘Mel, you and Cal now helped ten families for 30 days,’” she said, which is what it’s all about. She feels money should not even be a thought when a loved one falls ill, especially a child.

               “You don’t need that,” Mel said. “You need to worry about your child, not, ‘How am I gonna pay this bill?’”

               The Anderson collection even features a seven-foot tall statue of Ronald McDonald himself, which they found years ago at an antique store in Arizona. Cal had asked if it was for sale and was told ‘no,’ however he couldn’t sleep thinking about it and returned the next day to talk to the owners about a plan that had popped into his head. He wanted to use the statue as their mascot, and once the owners learned that, plus the fact that all proceeds would be going to Ronald McDonald House, they were happy to give up the statue which stands tall at the Andersons’ to this day.

Even celebrity guest Michael Hall, one of stars from the hit Canadian reality show Rust Valley Restorers, was blown away by the Andersons’ collection.

“I’ve never seen anything like it. Their collection is beyond belief,” Hall said.

This was his first time visiting Moose Jaw, and he took some time in between events to immerse himself in Moose Jaw culture, enjoying the tunnels and local dining.

“The city has been amazing; the people super friendly,” Hall said. “I’d like to do a big shout-out to Mel and Cal, Dave Bura from the Western Nationals who helped put on the event, and just a big shout-out and thank you to the people of Moose Jaw for helping put on an amazing event. They made us feel welcome.”

Hall’s co-star Avery Shoaf wasn’t sure what to expect with a smaller city such as Moose Jaw being chosen to host such a massive event, but all his expectations were blown out of the water.

               “We’ve had an incredible year, and this has got to be the icing on top of the cake. I wondered where all the people were going to come from, but I tell you what – one of the largest events we’ve been to this year,” Shoaf said. “There’s some neat, neat stuff (in Moose Jaw). The architecture of this town, for how small it is, it’s absolutely bizarre how good it is!”

               Shoaf personally got a glimpse of the impact that Ronald McDonald House can have, after a childhood friend experienced a life-threatening medical emergency at a party.

               “Off to Ronald McDonald House he went, for probably three to four months,” Shoaf said. “And he came out a diabetic, and he’s been a diabetic ever since – but they saved him.”

Anderson was delighted with how down to earth and kind the celebrity guests were, and said they made sure that fans who couldn’t afford t-shirts were given signed photographs instead.

               “They’re just kind humans. They weren’t out here to make money, they were here for their fans and to support Ronald. They just kept saying, ‘Okay what do you need from us?’ and I just kept saying, ‘Just focus on Ronald.’

Tours of Anderson Auto and Memorabilia Collection can be booked until the end of October, seven days a week. While they can only book groups of ten or more, there is always the option to be added to another group if your falls short of that.

               In spite of the intense heat and all the planning required, not to mention the clean up afterwards, Anderson didn’t hesitate when asked if she would do it all again:

“In a heartbeat.”

By Annie Savage

Moose Jaw Express