Redford to be in Canmore Canada Day parade

Alberta Premier Alison Redford will be part of Canmore’s Canada Day parade and celebrations this Sunday (July 1).

Calgary Stampede spokesperson Doug Fraser said the premier will be part of that organization’s delegation during the parade.

“We are very pleased to say that we are going to be able to have Premier Redford riding in the Stampede delegation in the parade,” Fraser said. “We are very pleased she has chosen to honour us.”

After the parade, which begins at noon, Redford will give a speech at the Stan Rogers Stage in Centennial Park.

PC MLA Ron Casey said he does not recall any other occasion when a premier was part of the community’s Canada Day celebrations.

He said with numerous other events going on throughout the province, including at the legislature in Edmonton, it is an honour for Redford to be here.

“I think it is a huge compliment to us and a compliment to the Stampede that she is taking the time and effort to be a part of the celebrations,” Casey said. “It is part and parcel of that she very much wants to get out and get across the province and meet as many people as she can and this is a good opportunity to do that as well.”

With the 100th anniversary of the Stampede this year the event has been going out into surrounding communities with a White Hat Roundup.

Fraser said the roundup was created to bring the celebration outside the city and has included rodeos in Medicine Hat, High River and the Pincher Creek cowboy gathering.

“Our final White Hat Roundup is going to be July 1 in Canmore,” he said. “Because it was chosen as one of our White Hat Roundup locations we have really thrown some resources towards joining the Canada Day Committee to basically have a fun time on July 1.”

The Stampede will be part of the free pancake breakfast, will have more involvement in the parade than usual, be part of the birthday cake celebrations and give out a 1,000 white hats during the day.

However, Canada Day Committee chair Rob Seeley said more volunteers are still needed to make it a success.

“We need more volunteers for resource recovery and site set up and tear down,” he said.

Those interested can contact Monica Zyla at 403-609-0737 or mczyla@gmail.com