Strathmore represented at 123 Rose Parade

Times Reporter

 

Thousands of people lined the streets for the 123rd annual Rose Parade, commonly referred to as the Rose Bowl Parade, in Pasadena, California. The event is aired internationally and, according to statistics, approximately 700,000 people line the five and a half mile parade route.  

One Strathmore resident has now had the opportunity to participate in the parade twice. 

Jamee DeWit rode with the Calgary Stampede Showriders youth musical team for four years, and in 2003 they were invited to ride in the Rose Parade. Three years ago DeWit successfully applied for the directors coach position with the Showriders. 

“I was a rider with them at that time. This is my second time getting to go, now I get to take my team,” said DeWit.

“It is very exciting because it is a totally different opportunity now because I was a rider before, so you know you go as a rider. Now I’m the coach and it’s all the behind the scenes work for this tour and taking your team down there and organizing that. It’s a totally different outlook, but very exciting.” 

Both the Calgary Stampede Showriders and the Show band went to participate in the parade.

The parade usually takes place New Year’s Day. Due to a policy that dictates the celebrations and games will never take place on a Sunday, everything happened on Monday, Jan. 2. 

The theme this year was ‘Just Imagine’ and featured 44 petal covered floats, and 16 bands from the United States and other countries and more than 300 horses and riders. 

“Everybody is just thrilled with the opportunity to be able to be part of such a huge, huge thing. It’s quite an honour to be invited,” said DeWit.

The girls had a busy but exciting few days while they were in California. On New Year’s Eve they were in Disneyland, and they also had a chance to take in a Cirque du Soleil performance in Hollywood at the Kodak Theatre. 

The Calgary Stampede will be celebrating its centennial this year and being invited was just the start of many celebrations they will participate in this year.