Your Innisfail overpass just got a new name
Morning from Central Alberta — five communities, one correspondent, and all the stories the big papers forgot.
Well now, I'll tell you what, there are stories that just feel like home, and this one sure does. Down the QE2, just a stone's throw south of Red Deer in Innisfail, the overpass connecting Range Road 280 will now be known as the "Bud McCaig Overpass." If you're from around here, that name's got legs like a yearling. Bud McCaig was a legend, a rodeo promoter, auctioneer, and a true pillar of the community. It's not every day a piece of infrastructure gets named after someone who gave so much back, and it's a fitting tribute to a man who helped shape so many lives and events around Central Alberta.
This isn't just about a name on a sign; it's about honouring the kind of folks who built these towns. Bud McCaig wasn't some big-city executive; he was the guy you'd see at the Innisfail rodeo, working the mic, making sure everyone had a good time, and probably raising a few bucks for a local cause while he was at it. These are the stories, the people, that really define our communities, far more than any council priority or provincial bill. He embodied that grit and generosity you find in places like Innisfail, Sylvan Lake, or even right here in Red Deer.
* **Who was Bud McCaig?** A well-known rodeo promoter, auctioneer, and philanthropist from Innisfail. * **What was renamed?** The QE2 highway overpass connecting Range Road 280 in Innisfail. * **Why does it matter?** It's a testament to the community builders who often get overlooked but are the true backbone of places like Innisfail.
For folks driving that stretch of the QE2, especially those heading to the Innisfail Auction Mart or just passing through on their way to a county fair, seeing that name will be a reminder of the kind of character and community spirit that makes Central Alberta what it is. It's a small thing, maybe, but it's a piece of our history, right there in steel and concrete.
Wyatt Brandt, Morning Wire, Red Deer.
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