As a kid I remember my folks doing a day trip to Al Oemimgs game farm to see his cheetah. My kids now live in Ft Sask and when I drive by Ardrossan my brain suggests that the farm was in that area. Am I dreaming or was it in that vicinity?
True story, in 2014 I was driving from Edmonton east on hwy 16 at around 730 in the morning on a June day and near the Brookville hall just east of Ardrossan. I had been at a company function the night before and stayed over and drove back in the am. While driving, I saw a full grown male lion in the ditch. Yes that’s right, male lion, Simba in all his glory. I pulled over, called 911 - that was ann interesting call - and then waited and watched the animal to see where he walked while waiting for 5 RCMP squad cars, lights a blazing, from the Park show up. The lion had gone into a bunch of willows and poplars near a farm site just south of the highway, the RCMP were concerned on what to do if they encountered it. I suggested they call conservation which they then did. At this point it hadn’t reappeared but I told them it was a real thing and to watch the trees about 1/4 mile away. Then it came out and started to head south. In an instant they all ran to their cruisers and drove off towards where the animal was. I stayed on the highway for a few minutes and it appeared that they were monitoring and keeping track of him. At that point I decided to continue my drive. I checked all the media that same day and days after after and it was silent. I called the Park detachment about a week late and asked the receptionist if they safely removed the lion and she asked me what I was talking about. I told her I was the person who had sighted it and called 911. At that point she said she couldn’t disclose what had happened. She didn’t deny it just couldn’t disclose. Always makes me wonder. Anyway, that was a bit of a journey from Al Oeming and Stampede Wrestling. Sorry for the sidetrack.
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