From the left, Iris Deheusch, Sam Mazer and Eleni Prontzos enjoy themselves while selecting hats at Jones Boys Saddlery and Western Wear.
B.C. family ‘arrested’ to kick off Westerner Days
By Stacy O'Brien - Red Deer Advocate
Published: July 16, 2008 6:45 AM
Bryan Solar wondered if he’d been going a little over the speed limit when an RCMP officer came up to his car on Tuesday in the Tim Hortons parking lot in Gasoline Alley.
“(My wife) Ging was worried when she saw the police and she thought I was in trouble, but this is good trouble to be in. Thank you very much,” Solar said.
Westerner Park CEO John Harms and the Red Deer RCMP were part of a posse who apprehended the Whiterock, B.C., family to be part of Westerner Days.
The yearly arrest a guest program — going for the past 21 years — takes a family with out-of-province plates off the highway and offers them some Red Deer hospitality during Westerner Days.
The Solar family — including dad Bryan, mom Ging, daughter Iris, and her friends Eleni Prontzos and Sam Mazer — were heading back to B.C. after spending a few days in Edmonton, when they were pulled over.
Solar, who is a long-distance truck driver, said he passes through Red Deer on a regular basis and always likes stopping here.
“I’ve had nothing but good experiences with Red Deer,” he said.
Iris,14, said she is looking forward to going on the rides.
But Eleni had other ideas.
“I’m excited for the cowboys,” she said. “We were promised some cowboys.”
As part of the tourism promotion, the Solar family will stay for two nights at the Red Deer Lodge for free, get suited up by Jones Boys Saddlery and Western Wear, have their hair done at Tangles Hair Studio at the Red Deer Lodge and have dinner at Earls Restaurant, said Michael Donlevy, vice-president of the Westerner Park board.
Today, they’ll join Donlevy in the parade, which starts at 9:30 a.m, go to a VIP lunch and have the run of the midway.
Mayor Morris Flewwelling gave the family a history book on Red Deer, stuffed animals for the girls, maps, tote bags and other items.
He said this is a chance to show a family the city’s hospitality.
Contact Stacy O’Brien at sobrien@reddeeradvocate.com.
