Editor:
Thank you, Canmore, for putting on another great Canada Day parade.
This is the sixth year that I have attended the parade and my family and I enjoy it each year. The floats were wonderful, the crowds jovial and the organization great.
My only complaint is directed to a large number of parents who seem to have forgotten about “doing the right thing”. Specifically, these parents had no consideration for other parade-goers who arrived earlier in the day to stake out a ‘good spot’.
Our family of five (including three kids aged five and under) arrived at the corner of Main Street and eighth Avenue at 11:20 a.m. and found a nice open spot where we could ensure our kids had a good view of the parade with a decent shot of getting some candy. Time passed, with many other prime parade-watching spots being snagged up by other families and groups of friends.
It did not take long for the curbs and blocked off streets to fill. With only 10 minutes to parade time, people were still arriving and there were no ‘front row seats’ left. I would have thought that the latecomers would see the crowds, be disappointed, and take their spot in behind the other parade watchers.
However, what my family experienced shocked and annoyed us. Many parents who just arrived said to their children, “Just say ‘excuse me’ and sit in front of those other children.” By the time the parade began, there were three rows of children, mostly between the ages of seven and 12, blocking our view (and thereby blocking the view of our much smaller children). My children had difficulty seeing the floats and had little hope of getting any candy.
What message are these parents sending to their children? That it is okay to arrive late and bud to the front of the crowd as long as you politely say “Excuse me”? I don’t blame parents for wanting their kids to have the best view possible of the parade, but does this mean they should be inconsiderate to others?
Children learn by watching and mimicking their parents. Is this the message parents want to send to their children? That you can put aside values to get what you want? (There were a few wonderful children who shared Canada flags with my children who were not able to get their own in time. Thank you to the parents of these children.)
I truly hope that the rude, inconsiderate parents are not Canmore parents. I believe that I live in a town where the citizens are community-minded and look out for each other. However, whether you are a Canmorite or a tourist enjoying our lovely town, please, please, be more considerate and be a good role model for your children.
Laura Stepnisky,
Canmore
