A good sportsmanship award was in order for Airdrie's Mayor Peter Brown on Tuesday Nov. 12 at the Legion. After taking a tumble at the Outhouse Races a couple months ago, Brown has shown his resiliency and proved that he indeed is a tough cookie.
Emceeing the event, Dan Kroffat and Jon Cornish were quick to call the rest of the races off when Brown went crashing down. Cornish being an ex-Stampeder knows all too well the seriousness of concussions. But that just seemed like a thing of the past as Brown was in good spirits as he sat next to Cochrane's Mayor Jeff Genung hearing all the great things his peers had to say about him.
Jeff Genung poked fun at Brown - a common occurrence among the pair - before sharing a heartfelt comment about the fellow mayor.
"So Peter, all joking aside its been great to get to know you over the last couple of years, I'm honoured to be able to speak on your behalf today, overwhelmed with how our relationship has grown and I hope it will continue to do so. We're so glad to see you returning to your old self, I think, and that you will be fit enough to race again next year."
MP Blake Richards also got in on the fun saying "Peter I don't know what the heck you were thinking taking on a race against Jeff, I mean this is a guy that wins Ironman Triathlons for crying out loud, what were you thinking." Cutting the comedy Richards went on to say that both Brown and Genung are some of the better mayors around. "Two best mayors, two best leaders, two best people you'll see anywhere and I am glad to call both of them friends."
Finally the man himself spoke about his recognition for the good sportsmanship award saying he came with no expectations and was caught off guard. Brown sincerely thanked the community of Cochrane and the Rotary club.
"I'm overwhelmed a little bit, I've been struggling the last three weeks in particular with this, it lingers, it's unfortunate but it's just what they say is part of the process of getting through this. I do want to thank Mayor Genung, we've had a lot of fun together, regionally we both think a lot alike," said Brown.
He went on to add that he likes the direction Cochrane is headed and mentioned he will be at next year's Outhouse Races just in a full armour of bubble wrap, as per the wishes of his wife.
