Mayor’s Leadership Prayer Breakfast sells out

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the 8th annual Mayor’s Leadership Prayer Breakfast that was held earlier on Tuesday morning had sold approximately 250 tickets, selling out the event. All proceeds from this year’s breakfast will go to ADVAS – Airdrie and District Victims Assistance Society. 

“I do want to thank this group. When you're at your worst, and I mean the worst, these people and their volunteers are there. They're the first you see at the door, the first ones walking to the car, the first ones providing support and direction when you need it most,” said Mayor Brown during his speech.

Trauma dog Jake certainly knows how to enjoy breakfast (Photo by Anna Ferensowicz)

Apart from the Mayor, Councillors Heather Spearman and Tina Petrow attended, as well as Deputy Chief Operations, Garth Rabel of the Airdrie Fire Department, and RCMP members. Dignitaries included Consul General Zaldy B. Patron of the Consulate General of the Philippines in Calgary. The keynote speaker for this year’s breakfast was Matt Palsky, the Director of Operations at Bearspaw Christian School. 

Airdrie's City Councillors, Petrow and Spearman, attended the Mayor's Breakfast (Photo by Anna Ferensowicz)

The theme of this year’s Breakfast was, “Plant Seeds of Hope in Airdrie” and Master of Ceremonies, Pastor Nick Williams from Airdrie’s Victory Church underlined that hope is essential, especially in light of the pandemic. 

“How many know we need hope in this season, even more than ever?” He asked the crowd. “Just rest in that hope, that strong firm hope this morning.” 

The crowd was also introduced to Zion Ben a Grade 12 student, who attends the Airdrie Christian Academy. Zion spoke of how COVID-19 impacted his life, but also how hope restored contentment during his school years. He reflected on his upcoming graduation and next steps in life.  

“Our basketball team won the very first league banner for our senior high basketball,” he said. “It's near the end of the year now and we’re all setting out on our own different ways and it's frightening to think about; but at the same time, it's very exciting.” 

Mayor Brown also impressed upon the crowd that even as COVID-19 wanes, there are many in the community that are struggling, and it takes a community to help each other out of the darkness. 

“We have Community Links here today, we have the Airdrie Food Bank, but those organizations can only go so far. They're there when people reach out to them, but not everybody reaches out,” he said. “I think that’s the essence of why we're here today; is to really spread the word that hope is good. Hope is what's needed and hope both will get us over the edge.” 

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