Madam Speaker, the community of Falkland and the entire rodeo community have lost a champion. One of Canada's longest-running rodeos, the Falkland Stampede, will be missing the voice of Merv Churchill next year.
At the age of 14, Merv was already deep in his passion for rodeos when he organized a barn dance to raise money for new corrals for the rodeo grounds. Merv was a champion bull rider at the 1961 Falkland Stampede, but gave up that short career to become the long-term manager of the stampede. His wife, Dot, was always nearby, as was his family, and he also loved his community.
The Canadian Pro Rodeo Association honoured Merv as Committee Person of the Year in 1982. He was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2013. In fitting fashion, a celebration of his life will be held outdoors at the Falkland Stampede Grounds on December 14. As Merv would say, dress warm. It could be colder than a well digger's, ahem, out there.