by Gail Rawlinson, Operations Director Braeside Community Centre
In the summer of 1978, my mom bravely boarded a train in Montreal with my sister, brother and me, ages seven, five, and one, to embark on the long journey out west. My dad was already here as he had arrived one month earlier to find a home for our family of five. We arrived on July 1 to start our new life in Calgary, staying with family, who lived in Braeside, for the first few weeks. Just a week after arriving, my dad took my sister and me to experience our very first Calgary Stampede parade.
Over the next ten days, our family soaked in every bit of Stampede magic. My parents took us to various Stampede festivities: we attended pancake breakfasts, explored the Stampede grounds, and spent countless hours on the kids’ rides. We munched on corndogs along the midway, wandered through Weadickville, and proudly dressed up in our western wear and cowboy hats.
That first Stampede sparked something special in each of us. It was the beginning of a lifelong love of all things Stampede—a tradition and passion that has stayed with us ever since.
Whether it’s your first Stampede or your 80th, you’re invited to the BCA Stampede Barbecue!
Join us on July 5 from 12:00 to 3:00 pm for an afternoon of fun, food, and festivities:
• Live music by Pork Salad Annie
• Line dancing
• Bouncy castle and face painting for the kids
• Beer garden for the grown-ups
• And of course — beef or pork on a bun with your choice of coleslaw or macaroni salad, plus baked beans
Don’t miss this classic Stampede celebration — we can’t wait to see you there!
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