What is looking to be a full line-up for the 50th annual Labour Day Parade is coming up short on volunteers. The annual Monday morning event, which is on Sept. 3 this year, is known for its impressive display of floats. Run by the Cochrane and Area Events Society (CAES), the parade kicks off the rodeo finale day during one of the busiest weekends Cochrane will see throughout the year. “We are really in desperate need of volunteers ... we only seven of the 80 we need,” said CAES president Marina Chabbert, who is encouraging anyone with a couple of hours to spare that morning to sign up through the CAES Facebook page or the website cochraneevents.ca. “The bulk of it is to man the barricades ... in the end, safety is paramount.” With a CP rail crossing to contend with, the volunteers ensure a safety-first approach is maintained. The parade marshal this year is Spray Lake Sawmills – one of Cochrane’s largest employers, who is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. The band of the Royal Logistics Corps. is the honoured military band leading the way this year, a 40-member unit hailing from Deepcut Surrey, England, to take part in the festivities. Alterations have also been made to the parade route, with the form-up area now being in the parking lot area in front of SportChek and Mark’s Work Wearhouse due to ongoing development at the former Burnco site down Griffin Road (home of the future Greystone mixed-use development). Chabbert said this will reduce the lengthy route, while still incorporating all the major streets in town - a welcomed change. The event is also starting at 10 a.m. (rather than 10:30 a.m.) in order to give people more time to make their way down to the Lions Rodeo for the finale. More pre-parade entertainment has been booked this year – including a comedian/juggler, Chinook line dancers and Batman, with more to be announced. So far, 50 floats are signed up - with more anticipated to come aboard. Non-profits are free to sign up and businesses pay $100. Spectators are encouraged to set their camping chairs up early along the route to reserve a good seat. Last year, some 70 floats paraded their way through Cochrane - some complete with horses in rodeo regalia, cultural dancers and the always favourite Shriners mini cars buzzing about. Candy and trinkets are tossed to kids in the street - even dog treats for the patient pups sitting through the event.
