At less than 10 weeks before Cranbrook’s largest community festival, Sam Steele Society volunteers are already busily preparing for the Sam Steele Days Parade, Saturday, June 20.

What is it about a parade that gets people excited? Yes, it’s the official opening of an anticipated event, but the parade also pulls people together as a network and as a community; from sponsorship, to organizing volunteers, to participants and the audience. All have the goal of showing their community spirit and each one plays an important role in its success.

To those who only see the final creative exhibition in the hour it takes for the procession to complete the route, it can seem effortless. Harry Porter, Sam Steele Society volunteer for 39 years – 25 directly involved with the parade organizing and line up says, “It’s so simple now after years of tweaking.” There is a science behind the method organizers use to coordinate the vast array of entries. Compared to parades elsewhere, Cranbrook’s downtown route has the easiest dispersal with three ways to go, which helps to avoid congestion. Thanks to Harry, other volunteers like Hugh Hambleton (since 2000), our service clubs; Cranbrook Rotary and Lions Club, and Search & Rescue who help with the barricades, the parade is a safe and enjoyable event for everyone.

Ask Pat Ronald, the Cranbrook Bugle Band’s current chair, who was first involved as a bugler in 1967, and she’ll say that a marching band is one of the favourite symbols of a parade. The Bugle Band, since 1941, has travelled extensively, representing Cranbrook in cities like Montreal, Quebec; Whitehorse, Yukon; Victoria and Salt Lake City, Utah.

“As far as I can remember, we have never missed a Sam Steele Days Parade,” testifies Pat. Like the Kimberley Pipe Band and the Sam Steele Sweetheart Ambassadors, the cheering recognition from local citizens strengthens their sense of being an integral part of our regional culture. For a business, club or organization, participating in the parade is a FUN and economical way to remind the public of your service at only $20/entry.

The Sam Steele Days parade has always been a part of Liz Schatschneider’s life.

She was in the first parade in 1965 as a child, riding on the Caldwell Agencies float. Her parents, Bud and Maxine Caldwell, entered a float for many years, winning numerous ribbons. “Mom and Dad were always involved in the community and raised us to be the same,” said Liz, who eventually volunteered as Parade Chair, retiring in 2014.

“It’s a great way to meet new people and the Sam Steele Society is a fun organization to be a part of,” states Liz. She passed the torch to current Parade Chair, Mike Matejka who, with the help of volunteers, successfully coordinated the largest parade to date last year, as it officially opened the 50th Celebration of Sam Steele Days in 2014.

“I decided to become parade chairperson because I wanted to be more involved with Sam Steele Days. I have volunteered for several years organizing the ball and bocce tournaments with JCI Kootenay and I felt that experience would make me a great asset to the Society. There is so much history with Sam Steele Days, and seeing all the parade entrants lined up on Saturday really shows how much this community cares about the festival,” he said.

History is a big part of Sam Steele Days. The St.Eugene Mission Residential School, now the St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino, has been sponsoring the Sam Steele Days Parade since 2007. Representative Sandra van Steijn says, “Sponsoring Sam Steele Days is key for us because it celebrates an important part of the Kootenay’s history. Community commitment is very important to St. Eugene … we are delighted to be the parade sponsor.”

Staff has been busy preparing the St. Eugene Golf, Resort and Casino float and are looking forward to sharing it with everyone on parade day. As one of many benefits, all major sponsors of Sam Steele Days enter the parade at no charge. The parade is a great way to let the public know about the exciting things taking place at the resort this summer, such as the fun promotions around the 15th Anniversary Celebration of the St. Eugene Golf Course. “We invite everyone to come out and enjoy some time at St Eugene Golf Resort & Casino,” says Sandra.

Each one of the people mentioned here, despite their differing roles, has one common perspective – Community Spirit. Every expression of this spirit is valuable and crucial to the success of the parade and the Sam Steele Days community festival as a whole. It’s easy to consider yourself in one of these roles for any event during the festival; organizer/volunteer, sponsor, participant.

Sam Steele Society office is available to answer any questions (250) 426-4161 or email [email protected].

Of course the role on the largest scale is the audience! All of those involved do it because of you! The Sam Steele Society looks forward to seeing the thousands of happy faces line the streets of downtown Cranbrook. PARADE WATCHING SAFETY TIPS will be posted on http://www.samsteeledays.org/ closer to the event.

Above photo: Left to right; Sam Steele days Volunteer Harry Porter, Past Sam Steele Society Parade Chair Liz Schatschneider, Sam Steele Days Parade Sponsor representing St.Eugene Golf, Resort & Casino Sandra van Steijn, Current Sam Steele Society Parade Chair Mike Matejka and Cranbrook Bugle Band Director Pat Ronald.

Sam Steele Society

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