Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett attended the evening show of the 15th Annual 100 Mile House Cowboy Concert on Feb. 14 and presented a proclamation to concert organizer and BC Cowboy Heritage Society president Mark McMillan.
The proclamation stated March 8-15 is Cowboy Heritage Week in British Columbia.
The City of Kamloops started proclaiming Cowboy Heritage Week quite a few years back for the week leading up to and including the Kamloops Cowboy Festival. The province followed suit two years ago and it appears this will now be done on an annual basis.
"Recognizing our history and heritage is so important to all, Barnett said. “Understanding how the ranching community has continued to provide a food source while continuing to take care of the land.
“The history of the cowboy and his way of life needs to be told. This is why Cowboy Heritage Week is so important."
McMillan said he was very pleased.
"This couldn't be any closer to our mandate which is to promote and preserve cowboy heritage in the province of B.C."
The document is signed by Justice Minister and Attorney General Shirley Bond and the Lieutenant Governor of B.C. Judith Guichon.
Lieutenant Governor Guichon will also be present at the 19th Annual Kamloops Cowboy Festival on March 13 to officially open the festival's first evening performance. She will also present the plaques to the 2015 BC Cowboy Hall of Fame inductees during this evening show.
The three inductees will be the Louis family (Vernon) as a Family, the
Haughton Ranch (Knutsford) as a Century Ranch, and Lloyd Creek Ranch (Pinantan) as a Century Ranch.
Information on the BC Cowboy Hall of Fame, the Kamloops Cowboy Festival, and/or the BC Cowboy Heritage Society can be found at www.bcchs.com or by phoning toll free 1-888-763-2221.