Town dedicates Strathmore Stampede booth to honour frontline workers

By John Watson Local Journalism initiative Reporter

Over the course of the Strathmore Stampede, the town had dedicated its sponsored booth to the frontline workers and organizations that were instrumental in getting the community through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor Pat Fule said there are many organizations that employ those considered to be frontline workers, and the town wanted to honor as many of them as they could through the weekend-long event.

“We did decide that it would be important to reward or acknowledge the frontline workers, so (we provided) the various events in our booth so that they can be represented there and be honored,” he said.

Fule added, regretfully, the town’s booth did not have the capacity to host all of the local frontline workers, so those who would receive passes were chosen at random. The limitations of the booth are due to fire code safety restrictions.

“We wanted to make sure that we didn’t exclude someone and … people are human, and they might have their feelings hurt if they weren’t selected or their group or business wasn’t selected.

“Doing it randomly, we felt was the most fair way to do it, and it’s still a way to honor the concept of the various people who are on the front lines during the crisis.”

Represented frontline workers were able to watch, experience and enjoy the events of the Strathmore Stampede from the Town of Strathmore’s booth.

Gate admissions were included with sponsorship included on first come bases to staff.

Each of the seven organizations which were selected were contacted with notice of their recognition on July 26.

According to Town of Strathmore Manager of Communications, Marketing and Economic Development, Geoff Person, recognition for the purposes of the Strathmore Stampede is not the only step the town has taken.

“Right through the pandemic, recognizing frontline workers has been something (council) has been doing. Starting last year, very early on in the pandemic, there were banners that were printed and that would be displayed throughout town,” he said.

“We’ve tried to recognize frontline workers on social media … and so by doing things like this, where we’re layering it on, we’re really hoping that we have reached all the frontline workers.”

Person added extra cleaning supplies were made available in the booth to maintain some of the COVID-19 health and sanitation practices emphasized during the pandemic.

Fule added he hopes the public will see the gesture favorably, and represent local politicians’ efforts to support the community, as well as to recognize those who are on the front lines.