Organizers of the Cochrane Outhouse Races felt a good sportsmanship award was in order for Mayor Peter Brown, after he took a tumble at the Aug. 25 charity event. The award was presented Nov. 12 at the Royal Canadian Legion Cochrane Branch.
Emceeing the annual summer event, Dan Kroffat and Jon Cornish quickly called off the rest of the races when Brown's makeshift outhouse-on-wheels crashed, resulting in a face-first collision into the pavement on First Street. He was taken by ambulance to the Foothills General Hospital in Calgary.
But the unfortunate injury seemed a thing of the past Nov. 12, as Brown was in good spirits as he sat next to Cochrane's Mayor Jeff Genung, hearing all the great things his peers had to say about him.
Genung poked fun at Brown – a common occurrence between the pair – before sharing a heartfelt comment about the fellow mayor.
"So, Peter, all joking aside, it's been great to get to know you over the last couple of years," he said. "I'm honoured to be able to speak on your behalf today, overwhelmed with how our relationship has grown and I hope it will continue to do so. We're so glad to see you returning to your old self, I think, and that you will be fit enough to race again next year."
Banff-Airdrie MP Blake Richards also got in on the fun, asking, "Peter, I don't know what the heck you were thinking, taking on a race against Jeff. I mean, this is a guy that wins Ironman Triathlons, for crying out loud – what were you thinking?"
He went on to give praise to both Brown and Genung.
"Two best mayors, two best leaders, two best people you'll see anywhere, and I am glad to call both of them friends," Richards said.
Finally, Brown took to the mic, saying he came with no expectations and was caught off-guard, before thanking the community of Cochrane and the Rotary Club of Cochrane.
"I'm overwhelmed a little bit, I've been struggling the last three weeks, in particular with [the injury], it lingers, it's unfortunate but it's just what they say is part of the process of getting through this," he said. "I do want to thank Mayor Genung, we've had a lot of fun together, regionally, we both think a lot alike."
He added he likes the direction Cochrane is heading and said he will be at next year's Outhouse Races, only in a full armour of bubble wrap, as per the wishes of his wife.
