The Legend of Kinosoo will soon be front and centre at Cold Lake events.
The City of Cold Lake is in the process of getting a float built to use in city parades such as the Santa Clause and Canada Day parades.
“The float is something we've wanted to do and it finally made the budget. You look at our community…these parades that we've had just keep growing and growing and the community is really getting behind it,” said Mayor Craig Copeland. “I think it's time we got a really neat float and had some fun with it.”
During their July 21 meeting, City Council got a chance to view the initial design of the float. Sitting on an approximate 8.5-foot by 20-foot trailer, the float is going to reflect the spirit of what makes Cold Lake a community. Along the bottom is an array of pictures, including 4 Wing-inspired fighter jets. In addition to a canoe floating through the waves, the main focal point of the float is a giant trout jumping out of the water towards the canoe.
While the initial designs featured a more bass-looking fish, general manager of community services Christine McWillis said they requested the company to change it to a trout to accurately reflect the fish found in the lake.
“The Legend of Kinosoo is a giant fish. Also, from a tourism standpoint, that's why a lot of people come to Cold Lake right now is for the lake trout,” said Copeland. “Cold Lake is known for its lake trout because there are hardly any lakes in Alberta when you can go lake trout fishing.”
The float will have red strands of lights around the canoe, as well as a sign with a customizable message. To avoid getting two separate floats, the design also includes a number of interchangeable features. For Canada Day, there is a removable flagpole with a Canadian flag. To accommodate the Santa Clause parade there is a removable Santa hat to sit on the fish, a fishing rod with a Christmas ornament, a removable support stand for Santa Clause and additional Christmas lights.
“It's about having fun, but stepping it up a bit. We want to do a professional float and market the city,” said Copeland.
He added, “Maybe we will look at, if it's a good enough float, marketing the city from a tourism standpoint. So, go to Edmonton, go to Calgary and promote the city.”
Ideally, Copeland added that he would like to see the float being entered in the Calgary Stampede parade and the K-Days parade in Edmonton. The $50,000 price tag for the float was funded in the city's 2015 capital budget.
The design company behind the City of Cold Lake's new float is F&D Scene Changes Ltd. from Calgary, the same group who designs many of the floats for the Calgary Stampede.
Copeland said he hopes to see the float completed in time to debut at this year's Santa Clause parade.
