Solid Miners’ Day turnout pleases organizers
Arts/Life
Posted By Corrie DiManno/ Canmore Leader
Posted 1 month ago
Canmorites stood elbow to elbow on Main St. as they watched the 12th annual Miners' Day parade make it's way down to the Canmore Civic Centre.
Two or three classic cars cruised down the drag, the driver and passengers waved to the onlookers, and participants in the parade held signs with their last names painted on them.
A few people's faces donned black makeup, along with traditional hard hats atop their head, they also dressed in old, blue uniforms to emulate the coal miners for who the day was in dedication of.
Co-chair of the Miners' Day committee Gordie Miskow, and his son Jason, both had smiles that stretched across their faces, they were very pleased with the way the day was going. The enthusiastic duo both wore Canmore Eagle jerseys.
"This is the largest crowd we've had in a long time," Gordie said. "We're happy with the way everything is going."
Before Gordie could say anything else, Jason cut in, "It's insane!"
He was referring to the turnout. Gordie looked at Jason, surprised at his exclamation.
"Well, we had 232 people in the parade," Gordie said. "We are thinking there will be 300 people at the picnic later today."
Jason did a quick scan of the crowd gathered, and shook his head.
"I bet there will be more than that," Jason said, "easy!"
Gordie was able to finish his train of thought by saying that there was a lot of interest in what Miners' Day is all about, and he knew this because a lot of people expressed a desire to be involved in the day, in any way they could contribute.
A line of hungry Miners' Day goers zigzagged down the sidewalk in front of the Canmore Civic Centre, they were all waiting for the famous beef on a bun.
One of those was Jim Fitzgerald, a Canmorite who spent 32 years working in the mine, starting at the age of 17.
The mine team member at the tipple, turned captain, then training officer, showed his spirit for the day, by sporting a jacket with the words "Canmore Mining Unit" on the back.
"It's nice to meet up with all the old boys I used to work with," Fitzgerald said. "We were like one big family."
He expanded on the companionship he felt with his fellow miners.
"It didn't matter what background, ethnicity, or race you were," he said. "We were like brothers."
As Fitzgerald stands there, a couple of people walk by, greeting him with a "Hey Jim!" and patting him on the shoulder.
"I feel a sense of appreciation for the work we did," he said. "It's nice."
corrie.dimanno@gmail.com
