It takes more than a little water - or even a lot of water -to douse the spirit of a city like Calgary.
On Friday the 101st edition of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, the Calgary Stampede, kicked off with the traditional parade.
Massive floods completely submerged the Calgary Stampede Grounds -along with thousands of homes and businesses - on June 21, but organizers pledged that, come Hell or high water, the show would go on. The phrase "Hell or high water" has become the unofficial motto of the flood recovery efforts across southern Alberta.
It's also been the inspiration for a number of songs. Some, frankly, mean well but aren't that good.
But Nashville-based singer/songwriter Marc Martel's song Hell or High Water, performed with The Young Canadians, has hit the right note. Martel and The Young Canadians will be performing at this year's Stampede.
The heart-felt country tune can be downloaded online for free here: http://cs.calgarystampede.com/music/hell-or-high-water.html. While you're at it, order yourself a snazzy Hell or high water T-shirt to support the Canadian Red Cross Alberta Floods Fund.
As a former Calgarian, I'll be wearing mine with pride.
