Brooks Alberta Photographer - Rodeo Parade

Wow, another amazing rodeo parade - and it didn't rain as per tradition! I was on a float getting some pictures of all the fun. I posted an online gallery here - did I see you?
For the second year of the "new route," I think it went quite well. Seems like there are always two seasons here: winter and construction. At least we can mitigate the second one with the different route!
This year's theme was celebrating Canada's 150th birthday, and it was interesting to see the different groups' take on that theme. Overall, it was a colourful, vibrant, and sometimes raucous parade!
This year, after the last float zoomed by, a free bbq lunch was served at Veteran's Park, hosted by Strathmore-Brooks MLA Derek Fildebrandt. He brought a couple of his peers along with him, provincial PC leader Jason Kenney and Calgary-Greenway MLA Prab Gill. ​

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Looked like the politicians had fun meeting with people and enjoying Brooks hospitality.
My personal pick for Hero of the Rodeo Weekend is Naomi Zacharias from Creepy Monkey Graphics. Our area was hit by a huge storm last Thursday, and even the pine tree outside Naomi's shop fell victim to the incredible winds. This did not stop the tenacious lady, she was super busy with last-minute work (including a shirt I had ordered). 

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As the clouds threatened to dump some more rain on us last Friday, Creepy Monkey Graphics was abuzz with people picking up orders and float displays. So when I saw Naomi parked along the parade route, I had to get a photo of her. If you were at the parade, you likely saw some of her handiwork!

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As the parade wound back into the Old Rodeo Grounds and the floats began to get dismantled, I looked around and thought, "what a fine salute to our country." With all the stuff going on right now in the world, it's so refreshing to enjoy a beautiful summer morning. 
Maybe that's what could solve a lot of our problems - just quit arguing and watch a parade; enjoy the atmosphere.

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