Yahoo—ARBI’s Stampede Breakfast on July 13, 2023, gathered over 350 clients, families, friends, volunteers, and community members for a boot-stomping good time!

ARBI was honoured to have special guests Janet Eremenko, MLA for Calgary-Currie, and Richard Pootmans, Ward 6 Councillor, don their cowboy hats and join in the fun. The dedicated volunteers from the Kinsmen Club of the Stampede City and Cosmopolitan International Club of Calgary eagerly rolled up their sleeves to help prepare and serve a mouth-watering pancake breakfast, including the delicious coffee sponsored by McDonald’s. A mighty big thank you goes out to our dedicated volunteers, including staff from Classic Life Care, who ensured the event went off without a hitch. We also tip our hats to the clients who volunteered with great enthusiasm, greeting guests at our bustling registration desks. A heartfelt thank you goes to our volunteer photographers Mitra and Colleen, who beautifully captured all the joy and excitement of the Stampede Breakfast and special thanks to ATCO for providing the tents that sheltered us from the swings of Calgary’s unpredictable weather!

The corral came alive with the volunteers from PALS (Pet Access League Society) and their therapy dogs, who received no shortage of attention as they roamed the grounds. And let’s not forget the electrifying performance by blues-rockers Big Daddy & the Cool Cats, who had the crowd dancing and toe-tapping along to their soulful music.

But the highlight of the morning belonged to our very own Ted! Ted is a brain injury survivor who joined ARBI 7 months ago, and his journey has been truly remarkable. Ted was the lead singer of a, as he claims, “wildly unsuccessful rock band in Dublin” and worked as a medical science liaison before his accident. He expressed his desire to return to public speaking, and we proudly provided him with the perfect platform to share his story while showcasing his incredible musical talent. Ted’s quick wit and infectious humour have endeared him to us from the start, but his talents go far beyond that. The crowd was treated to his clever and catchy creation, “I Amn’t Even Country,” which made its unforgettable debut at our Stampede Breakfast. Thank you, Ted, for sharing your remarkable journey and inspiring us all with your talent! Our heartfelt appreciation also goes to Laurie from JB Music Therapy for joining Ted on stage and lending her expertise to bring the song to life.

Let’s not forget the lucky winners! Congratulations to the fortunate recipients of the door prizes generously donated by Pomeroy Kananaskis Lodge, Crossroads Market, and Pie Junkie. And a big round of applause to Roger Swierstra, the winner of ARBI’s 50/50 Cash Raffle. Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets and supported ARBI!

ARBI extends our deepest gratitude to the amazing guests, clients, and volunteers who made this year’s Stampede Breakfast unforgettable! It was a true celebration of community spirit and togetherness, and we can’t wait to do it all again next year!