The annual Cochrane Labour Day Parade and Lions Rodeo are taking shape, as organizers and volunteers get ready for a weekend they are confident will not disappoint.
“We have a lot of returning parade entries this year and some new – come and join us and then head down to the 50th annual Lions Labour Day Rodeo afterwards,” said Cochrane and Area Events Society (CAES) president Marina Chabbert; CAES is the organizer of the annual parade.
Beginning at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 5 at the Burnco site on River Avenue, the parade route will be reversed from last year – running as follows: north on River Avenue; west on Griffin Road; north on Centre Avenue; west on Railway Street; north on Fifth Avenue; east on First Street; and south on River Avenue back to the form-up area.
She added that there will be pre-parade walking entertainment along First Street West, Centre Avenue and Railway Street including superheroes such as Batman and Superman and traditional dancing by members of Cochrane’s Filipino community (on Centre Avenue).
This year’s parade marshal select is none other than the Cochrane Lions Club – who are celebrating their 50th annual Lions Labour Day Rodeo, which runs all weekend and wraps up on the Monday afternoon, following the parade.
“We’re getting as many Lions members to participate in the parade as we can – wagons, walkers, the Lionesses and riders,” said club president Darren Begg, adding that the club will have some 50 horses added to the parade.
Boasting a total of more than 70 floats, 140 horses (more than normal) and more than 900 parade participants, people are encouraged to set up their lawn chairs along the parade route in plenty of time to ensure they get a good seat.
The Cochrane Activettes will also be hosting its annual pancake breakfast event sponsored by Cochrane Northstar Ford on Railway Street.
“This is the Activettes’ way of giving back to the community,” said Activette Helen Parnell, adding that community members are welcome to donate spare funds to go toward the Activettes food bank.
Mayor Ivan Brooker is also encouraging Cochranites to beef up donations to the food bank this season with his participation in the Cochrane Activettes One Bag Challenge. The initiative challenges five people to bring in a bag of groceries to the food bank and then challenge five more. Check out the video at facebook.com/TownofCochrane.
This year’s rodeo weekend will kick off tomorrow (Sept. 2) with an admission-free ranch rodeo, followed by a weekend of festivities. For a detailed schedule please refer to the ad on page 32 of this week’s Eagle.
The Cochrane Lions Rodeo will begin on Sept. 3 and run until Sept. 5. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and youth and free for children under 12 years of age.
Begg said the Lions are continuing their Monday tradition of encouraging those attending the rodeo to wear red shirts in honour of the military.
“We wear red shirts on the Monday as our way of honouring the military and thanking them for everything they have done for us.”
The new Cochrane Lions Rodeo Royalty Queen will also be crowned Monday, following a weeklong competition among three applicants vying for the crown to become an ambassador of Cochrane, western heritage and the Cochrane Lions Club.
