I am unbelievably thankful for this community. I truly believe that the Cariboo-Chilcotin is the best place in B.C., and I am no more reminded of this than on Stampede weekend.
In the past week, we have seen thousands of people pass through town to take part in this wonderful event. People fully embraced the festivities, from the parade to the pancake breakfasts, to the rodeo events, and it was such a joyful time to be here in Williams Lake.
I’m proud of the way our community came together, from the board of directors to the many incredible volunteers who made Stampede weekend possible — thank you for all of your hard work and dedication.
I also want to extend a special thank you to Bonnie Gavin, for bringing a team of beautiful horses to the parade and having her son Alex, along with Karlie and Grant, drive the team and wagon with me and my family waving to thousands of spectators. What an incredible experience.
And while Stampede is always a time for joy and excitement, it was also an honour to be part of one of this year’s more sombre moments. I had that opportunity to say a few words about two Williams Lake legends who are sadly no longer with us — Willie Crosina and Wilf Smith. These were two amazing men who contributed so much to the Stampede over the years, and I am glad we were able to honour their memory and legacy.
After all the hard work and expert planning that goes into the weekend, it’s hard to believe that we have to wait a full year for the next Stampede — but I already can’t wait.
It was further amazing to attend the Bridge Lake Rodeo as well as Party in the Park with Aaron Pritchett – where it was a pleasure to watch the South Cariboo Citizen of the year announced and to present Donna Barnett with a lifetime achievement award.
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