Stampede pancake breakfast celebrates spirit of CochraneCOFFEE WITH WARREN, with Warren Harbeck |
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Cochrane’s July 9 Grand Central Businesses-sponsored Stampede breakfast in the parking lot behind the ATB drew a record attendance of over 1,100. Left to right, Marty Meador, of Telus, turned batter into gold at the griddle, and Guy Joudrie, of Guy’s Café, kept the beverages coming, while guitarist Jason Cote, with Graham Ross on steel, delighted guests with their Country and Western renditions. For years, July’s Calgary Stampedes have provided Cochrane an always-welcome excuse to celebrate its down-home-on-the-ranch community spirit. This year was no exception, with a half-dozen free pancake breakfasts around town. My wife Mary Anna and I took in this Monday’s pancake breakfast in the parking lot behind ATB Financial along Grand Boulevard. With over 1,100 guests, attendance at this year’s Grand Central Businesses-sponsored event set a 16-year record, according to Ken Morris, of Royal LePage Integrity, one of the sponsors. And I can believe it. The lines and tables were full of great people enjoying great conversations with their friends and neighbours over great goodies hot off the griddle, while tapping their toes to the great Country and Western rhythms of guitarist Jason Cote. Oh, did I say “great”? Indeed! For our friendly foothills town is all about greatness – the kind of greatness that comes from teaming up with our neighbours to make our community such a special place to call home. This pancake breakfast, for instance, was the result of teamwork among seven businesses: Royal LePage Integrity real estate, Telus Phone Experts, M&C Law, Guy’s Café and Bakery, Drs. Ziegenhagel & Associates Family Dentistry, ATB Financial and Two Pharmacy. I’m thinking Two Pharmacy might consider summertime gatherings like this the perfect prescription for a healthy community. Perhaps M&C Law might go so far as to suggest there ought to be a law to globalize such events for the wellbeing of the whole world. And I’ll raise my cup of Guy’s great coffee in a toast to that idea! All in all, then, this was a pretty sweet morning, eh? I mean, weren’t all those syrup-soaked pancakes, sugar-enhanced beverages, great music, and wonderful visits so sweet they could give you a toothache? Well, this thought must have occurred to one of the sponsors, too. Drs. Ziegenhagel & Associates Family Dentistry provided free toothbrushes and toothpaste to all those who came out for this superb Stampede breakfast. How sweet is that?
© 2018 Warren Harbeck |