UNITY - The rain was welcome and the timing, wasn't always perfect. Despite the rain that fell several times throughout the day on June 3, it did not once dampen the energy and enthusiasm of those organizing as well those as taking part in activities for Unity Western Days weekend
The Unity Miners, aided by their sponsor, Compass Minerals, cooked up barbecue burgers, before the parade began, also persevering throughout the significant rain that fell.
Parade Marshalls, Michael Soloski, and Lorne Shead, lined up almost three dozen entries for the parade that included bikes, walkers, floats, vehicles and horses, enduring a consistent downpour of rain at the time. However, the rain stopped just before entries set out on the parade route.
Another heavy shower in the afternoon gave volunteers at the rodeo grounds some additional work trying to make the arena as usable as possible for rodeo contestants.
The 5 p.m. rodeo performance included some champions, a couple of locals, and familiar name of Cooper Clan Bucking horses that were some of the stock that joined Battle River Rodeo animals that were part of the rodeo action.
The clouds and rain threatened another shower before the late afternoon rodeo performance was over, but Mother Nature held off until the arena action was completed before another rainfall came.
The evening wrapped up with the annual UWD cabaret, featuring the music of Danny and the Dusters.
June 4 would kick off with a pancake breakfast served by Unity Baptist Church, with proceeds earmarked for the Prairie Branches Centre. Breakfast was followed by a cowboy church service. The Unity Flying Club had hoped to host a fly-in event, serving refreshments. However, due to low cloud cover from the ongoing weather system the weekend was holding, UFC President, Bob Smith, delivered the refreshments to the hospital for staff to enjoy, as a gesture of appreciation for their work. Rodeo action would take place at 2 p.m.
