Biggest cheer is for Humboldt responders

The Calgary Stampede Parade marched through the downtown Friday morning, with colourful floats, dancers and horses all receiving cheers and shouts of yahoo from the crowds.

But the largest cheer was for one of the last entrants — the first responders from the horrific Humboldt Broncos bus crash.

Thousands of Calgarians rose to their feet to honour many of the first responders who accepted the invitation to march in the parade.

“We have the ability to really show our love for the people of Saskatchewan and Humboldt today and for all of those heroes, those first responders who were out there, and I think that is an amazing thing,” said Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi.

Parade marshal Mark McMorris, an Olympic bronze-medallist snowboarder, said he was soaking in the entire experience.

“It’s such a trip, what snowboarding has done for me and the joy it’s brought me and brought others,” said McMorris

Parade participant and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley noted she saw many people staking out their parade spots Thursday night.

“People just have a positive, great attitude,” she said.

Robin Sully waited for years for a chance to go to the Calgary Stampede and was thrilled to have finally seen the parade. “My grandparents homesteaded out west and they came every year …. I live just outside of Ottawa and this is my very first time,” said Sully. “There are three of us celebrating our 70th birthdays this year and we decided to come to the Stampede to celebrate … Calgary looks fabulous.”