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Rodeo effort shows spirit of community

We hope Mother Nature's ears are burning. Seriously burning. Surely she knows she was talked about at length in Bonnyville over the weekend as she “blessed” the area with downright lousy weather.

We hope Mother Nature's ears are burning.

Seriously burning.

Surely she knows she was talked about at length in Bonnyville over the weekend as she “blessed” the area with downright lousy weather.

While her wrath won't soon be forgotten by the folks who suffered through a cold parade, a cold and rainy soccer tourney and a cold, wet and very muddy Bonnyville Pro Rodeo, the old girl shouldn't be so smug as to think she achieved a total victory.

Yes, she put a significant dent in attendance for the rodeo and parade. She even managed to cancel a triathlon set for Sunday morning. But what she couldn't do was kill the community spirit of Bonnyville.

That was pretty obvious as local folks, volunteers and visitors tried to make lemonade out of the cold lemons hurled our way — along with the late-May snow and rain.

Yes indeed, it was a resilient crowd that showed up to watch a cool rodeo on Friday and the chilled bed races and parade on Saturday. It was an even more resilient crowd that took in the rodeo on Saturday evening with the raindrops and snowflakes falling. Sunday's rained soaked rodeo venue was equally tough on attendance and competitors, but the rodeo volunteers, staffers and cowboys kept the show going in the muck. Their efforts shone through, and were genuinely appreciated by the crowd.

Weather is an unfortunate wild card that affects all community celebrations, particularly on the unpredictable prairies of Alberta. It can greatly affect event attendance and enjoyment, and while it certainly kicked us around on the weekend, it did not overcome the spirit of Bonnyville and district.

Hats off to the volunteers, the fans and our patient visitors for shining through in the muck and the rain. Your efforts make the community stronger.

As for Mother Nature, she owes us big time — but perhaps also should be recognized for bringing out the best in many folks who made sure their community shone through.




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