Impact Edmonton
User Story
By Grant Shepherd
Little did I know that 27 years later, I was going to marry one of the girls who rode at that stable. (I know - I am a fast mover for sure).
1978, The Commonwealth Games: I arrived in Edmonton from New Zealand. Little did I know what a huge impact this city and its people was going to have on my life. The Games were exciting and the city was vibrant. Being a Kiwi away from home, I was having a ball meeting people and having lots of adventures.
Through some of my friends, I ended up staying at a riding stable near Sherwood Park. Being around horses was something I had wanted to do for quite some time, and to be able to do it in Canada was special. Little did I know that 27 years later, I was going to marry one of the girls who rode at that stable. (I know - I am a fast mover for sure).
When I returned to New Zealand I kept in contact with the friends I had made; in fact, I returned for a mate's wedding. After a time I did lose touch. That was until 5 years ago, when I managed to contact 2 of my former friends using the internet. A quick decision followed and I jumped on board a plane and made my way to Edmonton.
Ronald met me at the airport and I stayed with him. The other friend, Kristin, was in Arizona but returned a few days later.
Kristin, myself, and her friend went to lunch, but we decided to call in and see Kristin's father at his office. The first thing I said to him was that I was here to marry his daughter, and that Lynda (her friend) was our witness. Now remember I had not seen any of these guys for 10 years or more. Gets weird now - 2 years later that scenario happened. I married Kristin, Lynda was our witness, and I am now an Edmontonian.
