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Emily Brydon day in Fernie By Rebecca EdwardsFree Press Staff

Emily Brydon chose a word from her British-born

mother’s vocabulary to describe how it felt to lead a parade in her honour through her hometown: “Gobsmacked.”

“It was unbelievable, it was overwhelming. I never thought anything like that would happen to me or for me. It was a pretty amaz-ing experience,” she told The Free Press afterwards.

“I think the community showed its true colours, it was an honour beyond words. Everyone has something special to give. The fact I was honoured for something I love to do is pretty amazing.”

Fernie’s Emily Brydon Day celebrations began at 4:30 p.m. last Wednesday when two pipers – includ-ing Fernie Alpine Ski Team member Glen Nowicki – started the parade from the College of the Rockies.

Mounties Cpl. Andy Veltmeyer and Cst. Kevin Johnston marched in full red serge and were fol-lowed by children bearing the flags of Canada and British Columbia.

Cheers and applause began as Fernie Fire Dept’s restored 1928 Studebaker fire truck turned the cor-ner onto Second Avenue, with Emily and her mom Rosemary waving from

the back, Mayor Cindy Corrigan seated in front and Fire Fighter Dave Kurschenska driving.

Behind walked dozens of kids who have been helped by the Emily Brydon Youth Foundation, which Brydon later told the crowd she founded after realizing she wanted to produce more from her sport than results. The charity has helped hundreds of children in the Elk Valley to pursue sports, arts and other activities.

The parade made its way to the community centre along streets filled on both sides with waving support-ers. The Brydons shouted out to those they knew and took special effort to wave to the children in the crowd.

At Overwaitea the fire truck slowed down for a crowd of cow bell-wield-ing supporters, including Annie Cox and Julie Laird

who were wearing t-shirts with a photo of Emily as a child, and the words ‘Go Emily!’

Cox said the group is Emily’s fan club, who attended every Lake Louise World Cup race since she was 18, finally seeing her reach the podium last December with second and third place finishes.

At the community centre Emily was piped into the hall, and received a series of honours and tributes.

Hallie MacLachlan – a FAST ski racer who has Olympic aspirations of her own – spoke on behalf of kids who benefited from the Emily Brydon Youth Foundation; former FAST coach Jon Blair called Emily “a true inspiration” for the ski racers who followed her and technical delegate Dr Rod Geddis paid trib-ute to Emily’s late father Bob and mom Rosemary

for allowing her to grow up with the opportunities – and the height genes – to become a great ski racer.

Max Gartner, program director of the Canadian Ski Team, paid tribute to Emily’s accomplishments – three Olympics, a World Cup gold and one of the most decorated Canadian females in ski history – and also her inspiration and good humour. Lake Louise World Cup organizer Bruce Hamstead said the volun-teers – nicknamed the sled dogs – will miss Emily.

As reported in last week’s Free Press, two trails have been renamed to hon-our Emily – Fernie Alpine Resort’s Spruce run, which is used by FAST each week-end, will now be Emily’s Run. The trail that runs along the river between the bridges in Fernie will be named the Emily Brydon Trail.

Emily also received the freedom of the City of Fernie from Mayor Cindy Corrigan, the key to the City and her photo will be placed on the wall of fame at City Hall.

The final speech of theevening came from Emily, who said she never thought about ski racing as a career choice.

“I did it because I lovedit, I didn’t see a future in it; I didn’t think I could be a big shot ski racer and trav-el and go to Olympics – I just did it because I loved it. The opportunities and doors opened for me.”

She added: “I neverstopped believing andpeople around me never ever told me I couldn’t do something. I didn’t know that was an option.”

Thanking the organiz-ers, she said: “I am hum-bled beyond belief, I am so proud to be a Fernieite right now.”

Emily Brydon (in black) waves to cheering supporters in Fernie from the top of the vintage Studebaker fire truck with her mother Rosemary, Mayor Cindy Corrigan (seated) and Fire fighter Dave Kurschenska. Photo by R. Edwards

Emily’s fan club wave their cow bells as if in the World Cup stands at Lake Louise. Photo by R. Edwards