Exciting news for those who follow the “cowboy way” was announced at the 13th Annual 100 Mile House Cowboy Concert on Feb. 9.
Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA, Donna Barnett, attended the evening show and presented a proclamation to concert organizer, and president of the BC Cowboy Heritage Society, Mark McMillan.
McMillan says he had approached the MLA in early January, saying the City of Kamloops declares Cowboy Heritage Week leading up to, and including the annual Kamloops Cowboy Festival, and that Washington State also declares a Cowboy Heritage Week for one of their Gatherings, so would it be possible for B.C. to do the same?
Barnett said she thought the idea was good, and that she would run it past the Minister. Three weeks later she phoned with the news, quite proud of the fact, saying “See government can do things quickly”.
The official proclamation uses wording such as; “ … the ranching industry and cowboy heritage continue to play an important role in the economic, social, and cultural life in BC…. …BC has been home to a ranching industry for more than two centuries”, and, “… it is believed that all residents of British Columbia would wish to observe March 3 to 10, 2013, as a week that acknowledges the important role of the ranching industry and our cowboy heritage to the success of our province”.
The document is signed by Shirley Bond, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, and Lieutenant Governor of B.C. Judy Guichon.
When asked what this means to the BC Cowboy Heritage Society, McMillan answered, “This couldn’t be any closer to our mandate, which is to promote and preserve cowboy heritage in the province of B.C. This is very exciting news for us, and we hope it becomes an annual proclamation leading up to the Kamloops Cowboy Festival every March.”
The Kamloops Cowboy Festival runs March 7 – 10, at the Calvary Temple in Kamloops.
Go to: www.bcchs.com for more information.
