Calgary Stampede Parade draws hundreds of thousands, as Fort McMurray plays star role

The Calgary Stampede parade reserved a special spot for Fort McMurray on Friday, more than two months after a fierce wildfire forced everyone to flee the northern Alberta city.

Singer-songwriter Jann Arden and country music star Paul Brandt were marshals

The Canadian Press · Posted: Jul 08, 2016 9:10 AM EDT | Last Updated: July 9, 2016

Watch the highlight reel of the 2016 Stampede parade

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If you couldn't make it to the parade, here's what you missed — marching bands, bagpipes, marshals, floats and all.

The Calgary Stampede parade reserved a special spot for Fort McMurray on Friday, more than two months after a fierce wildfire forced everyone to flee the northern Alberta city.

A contingent of first responders and staff from the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo marched directly behind the vintage car carrying the parade marshals, singers Jann Arden and Paul Brandt.

VIDEO | You'll find video highlights above and can w atch the full parade at the bottom of this story
Looking for a full Stampede CBC broadcast/webcast schedule? You'll find it here.

The group carried a banner reading "Thank You Alberta" and wore T-shirts with "We are here. We are strong" printed on them.

Doug Rogers rides a bull named Wild West Willie. Hundreds of thousands of people packed into downtown Calgary Friday for the parade, which kicked off the celebration of western heritage from July 8-17. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)

Wood Buffalo fire Chief Darby Allen said there were some discussions around him being named parade marshal, but he thought it was more important for representatives of the region to march as a group.

"It is wonderful and kind of like coming home again for me," said Allen, who previously worked with the Calgary Fire Department.

"I was in the parade many times with the Calgary Fire Department so it's nice to bring the people down who were involved in ... the emergency for the first few days so they can meet the people and say thank you to them and we can show them some appreciation for what Calgary did for us."

Many of the onlookers packed as many as six-deep along the streets also sported Western duds, like this little girl. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)

More than 250,000 people typically line downtown streets every year for the parade, which kicks off the western festival, and this year seemed no exception.

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi gave the Wood Buffalo crew a pep talk before the parade started.

"It's wonderful to have you in the front of the parade. It's so appropriate. It's so great," he said.

Nenshi said there was a provincewide demonstration of "neighbourliness" in the disaster's aftermath.

The parade reserved a special spot for Fort McMurray, more than two months after a fierce wildfire forced everyone to flee the northern Alberta city. Here, Fort McMurray fire chief Darby Allen applauds as he walks with first responders from Fort McMurray. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)

"When the tragedy happened in Wood Buffalo, we saw how the community comes together, especially in this time when the world seems bent at coming apart at the seams."

Dale Bendfeld, director of emergency management with the municipality, said the city is grateful for how welcoming Albertans were when more than 80,000 Fort McMurray residents were forced to leave.

"They opened up their homes and their hearts to us," said Bendfeld, who grew up in Calgary.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said the Fort McMurray presence was moving.

"They deserve it. They've been through a rough time and I'm pretty sure Calgarians are going to give them an exceptionally warm welcome."

Politicians turned out in droves. Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, shown petting a horse before the start of the parade, said the Fort McMurray tribute was moving. 'They deserve it. They've been through a rough time and I'm pretty sure Calgarians are going to give them an exceptionally warm welcome.' (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press )

Parade marshall praises this year's parade as lifelong highlight

Arden, who estimates she's been to 50 Stampedes in her life, said Friday was a highlight.

She said she wanted to convey her "gratitude and utmost respect" to the Fort McMurray first responders marching behind her.

"We're so, so lucky in this province and in this country to have these kinds of men and women available to us when things go sideways."

Brandt had a similar message.

"They've just done an amazing job helping us through such a tragedy and a difficult time for the folks up in Fort McMurray and we wanted to do everything we could to recognize them and use this platform to say thank you for everything they've done."