'A long time coming': Joni Mitchell honoured in her hometown of Saskatoon

Saskatoon landmarks on both sides of the South Saskatchewan River now pay tribute to music icon and former city resident Joni Mitchell.

The Grammy-winning songstress was honoured in her hometown Sunday with the unveiling of two plaques and the naming of a prominent walkway along the riverside as the Joni Mitchell Promenade.

"This has been a long time coming," said former premier and emcee Lorne Calvert, adding that the location of the promenade is perfect because Mitchell wanted it to be a place that's "accessible to everybody."

Things kicked off at the Broadway Theatre for the first plaque unveiling.

The Broadway is located next door to a long-gone venue, the Louis Riel Coffee House, where Mitchell played her first paid gig and performed the ukulele on Hoot Nights in the early 1960s, according to the biography on her official website. 

City councillor Cynthia Block and local heritage advocate Ken Achs unveiled the plaque. 

Mitchell, 74, was not present but was said to be enjoying a livestream of the event at her home with tea and scones.

Fans went up to the livestream camera to say a quick hello. 

Then the crowd walked or was bussed down the Broadway Bridge to River Landing, where the second plaque is located. 

On the way down, I rant into Dianne Scaddan, who went to school with Mitchell and felt Sunday's events were a fitting tribute to her former schoolmate.

The route walked by Scaddan and others was meant to mirror the same one taken by Mitchell when she lived in the city.

"She actually used to continue on quite often to Riversdale Pool," said Aviva Kohen, director of media at Tourism Saskatoon, of Mitchell's walk through the area during some of her formative years in the city.

"[She said] it had the best jukebox in the city."

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Things moved indoors at the Persephone Theatre while the second plaque remained covered up outside, due to the threat of rain — which never came.

"We'd hoped to be outside. But this is Saskatchewan," joked Calvert.

Inside, a band played Mitchell mainstays such as Both Sides Now.

The Wild Horse Drum Group from North Battleford — where Mitchell's family lived before moving to Saskatoon when she was 9 — performed an honour song for her.

Mayor Charlie Clark talked about Mitchell's song The Circle Game, its "carousel of seasons" and what the song meant to him. 

"It's been 56 times times around the seasons since Joni Mitchell played at the Louis Riel Coffee House," he said. 

And with that, the walkway was pronounced the Joni Mitchell Promenade. 

City councillors unanimously approved the naming of the promenade in April, capping years of efforts by Saskatoon to further honour the singer and one-time city resident.

Below, a brief history:

Joni Mitchell and Saskatoon: A History

7 years ago

Duration 2:13

Joni Mitchell and Saskatoon: A History

You can revisit our live blog of Sunday's tribute below. Don't see it? Click here.