News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

By LeRae Haynes

One audience member at the Williams Lake Stampede this year got the surprise of a lifetime. Local resident Veronica Able was paged to the arena by the announcer, escorted to the gate by security, and after walking into the arena, was met by her boyfriend Byrain Larson. Armed with a cordless microphone, he got down on one knee and proposed in front of a full Stampede crowd.

(Photo by Candy Hilton: Nicholas and Amelia Able are pictured here with their mom, Veronica, and her fiancé Byrain Larson, who got engaged in the arena during the Williams Lake Stampede.)

Byrain and Veronica are the first couple to become engaged in the Stampede arena, and Byrain said that he had enthusiastic support and encouragement from the Stampede Association. “It took me two weeks---I went through the Stampede office, the President, the Vice President, Security and the announcer,” he explained. “All the ladies from the administration office came down to hold gates for me and watch when I proposed.”

Veronica said that she and Byrain were at the Stampede with a group of friends and that they all knew about the upcoming proposal---everyone but her. “People in the grandstands burst into applause and congratulations and when we left, people would stop in the streets and wave,” she said. “It was like being a celebrity for a day.”

While Veronica and their friends were at the Street Party, Byrain slipped away to the Stampede Grounds to meet with the announcer and finalize the surprise. When no cordless mic was available, the announcer borrowed one for Byrain from the can-can dancers, who cheerfully passed one off to Byrain after their act.

 “Nobody had ever done this before in the Stampede arena, and all the staff were so great,” Byrain said. “Everybody was excited for me.”

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