Quebec 400 honore aujourd'hui au Stampede

Parlez-vous Yahoo? Apparently Regis Labeaume, the mayor of Quebec City, does. So, too, does Josee Vernier, the federal minister of Canadian Heritage and about 20 soldiers based in Valcartier, Que

They’ll all be visiting the Calgary Stampede later this week. And officials with the Stampede hope thousands of others will make the trip down to the grounds on Friday as they host a special day in honour of Quebec City’s 400th anniversary.

“The entire park will be dressed up in celebration,” said Marise Auffray, a spokeswoman for the Calgary Stampede. As part of the festivities, Friday will showcase Quebec culture, food and entertainment.

The plan, which comes on the heels of a Calgary contingent attending Quebec Winter Carnival, was welcomed Wednesday by Stampedegoers visiting the Quebec 400 location in Weadickville.
“We love it,” said Tazmin Lakhdhir, who had her two daughters with her. “Maybe we’ll come back on Friday.” Lakhdhir said it’s something different for Stampede this year.

If she and her family members are among the first 40,000 visitors wearing a cowboy hat to the park on Friday, they could receive a souvenir commemorating Quebec’s 400th anniversary.
Snow treats will be served near the Enbridge Stage at 10 a.m., and there will be special Quebec-inspired treats such as maple fudge, poutine and beef tourtiere.

There will also be French-Canadian entertainment: acrobats, stiltwalkers and even comedians.
And, if that wasn’t enough, the Calgary Stampede will hand out about tens of thousands of flags with Parlez-vous Yahoo and the Quebec 400 logo during the afternoon rodeo and evening Grandstand shows.

Source, Calgary Herald 11 juillet 2008