No I am not one to enjoy crowds in the heart of the city but family traditions come to mind when thinking of this annual celebration. My grandparents being pioneers in Alberta always had a special spot and were included in the parade. They took us to the grande stand festivities on occasion where we watched my cousin Pam dance with the Young Canadians. My favorite part of Stampede is to check out the animals in the barns. My mom told me that when I was little I used to sleep in the straw of the cattle liner while my dad showed angus for the family farm. Now as my cousin's son Patrick leads the Highlander Band with his bag pipes for the first time in the parade my heart swells with pride knowing that Granddad and ancestors before him, including Alexander McBride who served as Mayor of Calgary when you could walk your cow down main street,would be proud of the family legacy that continues to celebrate the city of Calgary and the great province of Alberta that we know and love.
