Organizers of the upcoming Sundre Pro Rodeo Parade wanted this year to pay tribute to those who have served the country.
There are a number of local retired members of the Canadian Armed Forces as well as the RCMP living in Sundre. While there's a general assumption that they're here, they aren't always acknowledged and they should not be taken for granted, said Moe Fahey, a parade organizer.
So the idea came up for this year's theme to be Salute to Men and Women in Uniform, she said.
This year's parade marshals are Harvey Shevalier and Doug Reid. There are also four deputy marshals — Bill McGhie, Emil Smetaniuk, Marvin Hopkins and Lorne Plemel, who the Round Up is featuring this week.
“It was a surprise,” McGhie said about being invited to be a deputy parade marshal.
A former commander of the Sundre RCMP detachment from 1990-2001, McGhie's career in policing spanned over 31 years. When he retired in 2001, he and his family decided to settle here.
“We're not going anywhere. It's a nice community,” he said, adding the local small town atmosphere is reminiscent of the place where he grew up just outside of Trail, B.C.
“Sundre's a great community,” he said, adding it's “nice to be amongst people you know and faces you recognize.”
The annual pro rodeo has for a long time been a high profile event for the town, drawing out residents and visitors alike to enjoy the show, he said.
“Sundre is real horse country and has been for decades.”
The timing of the rodeo in June is ideal as it takes place just before people start hitting the road for their holidays, he said.
The parade is his favourite part of the annual weekend.
“I think the parade is second to none. You'd have to go to Calgary or Edmonton to find a better one. But for a community this size, they put on a fantastic parade.”
He encourages anyone who has never been out to see the parade to come out for the event.
“It's quite the spectacle. If I wasn't in it, I'd still be going down there to watch the parade (with my grandchildren),” said the former RCMP officer, adding that he looks forward to this year's show.
Smetaniuk, who was stationed at the local RCMP detachment from 1968-72, would no doubt agree.
“They're certainly missing out on something that's beneficial to the community,” he said about anyone who has never seen the parade or rodeo.
“I'm sure they'd enjoy it if they haven't been there before.”
He was the third member to be stationed at the local detachment from the time it opened in 1967.
“At that time, it was a two-man detachment.”
It was an honour to be invited to join the parade as a deputy marshal, he said.
“It's a big event for the town,” he said about the parade and pro rodeo.
“It's a chance to get out and meet your friends and neighbours who you haven't seen for months.”
Living in Sundre since retiring from the RCMP in 1998 — although he's since started his own welding business — Smetaniuk said he has on numerous occasions been among the many spectators who enjoy taking in the parade.
Marvin “Hoppy” Hopkins, a former military police officer in the Canadian Armed Forces and retired RCMP veteran who's very active at the Sundre Legion, also said he was honoured to be invited to join this year's parade.
“(But) if it starts to rain, I might change my mind,” he joked.
Having spent about 22 years with the RCMP, retiring in 1988 after three years at the Sundre detachment, Hopkins had also previously served in Canada's military police. His posts included CFB Shilo, Man., Germany and Wainwright.
The parade and pro rodeo weekend is one of the highlights of the year, he said.
“It's quite an event.”
He and his wife Yvonne, a member of the ladies auxiliary, used to be a part of a square dancing club in Sundre and they would sometimes dance on a flatbed float in the parade — rain or shine.
Anyone who enjoys western hospitality should not miss Sundre's Pro Rodeo, said Yvonne.
“It's certainly something to take part in. And of course it starts early with the pancake breakfast on Saturday morning. It's a very busy weekend,” she said.
Lorne Plemel, who moved to Sundre and retired from the Canadian Armed Forces about two years ago following 37 years, four months and 12 days of service, said he was both humbled and honoured to be invited as a deputy parade marshal.
“I'm looking forward to it,” he said.
“It's a great show the community puts on. My kids like this rodeo better than going to the Calgary Stampede. It's more community oriented.”
His favourite part of the weekend is all the rodeo action from mutton busting to the pro rodeo athletes on the broncos.
The retired major expressed gratitude and appreciation for all the support the uniformed men and women receive from the people of Sundre and surrounding area.
“We really appreciate your words of encouragement and acts of kindness, like when a total stranger bought me lunch after a Remembrance Day ceremony.”
This year's pro rodeo takes place Friday to Sunday June 24-26. The parade takes place Saturday morning. Visit www.sundrerodeo.com for more information.
A follow up feature on Shevalier and Reid will appear in a future issue of the Round Up.
