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The David Thompson Cavalcades, were a series of group campouts held yearly from 1957 until 1975 on the first weekend of August, out on the Kootenay Plains. These camping weekends were organized by the Central Alberta Chambers of Commerce as a means to promote their cause, which was a strong desire for a proper highway to be built west of Rocky Mountain House to join the Banff-Jasper highway. The idea for the highway took a firm hold decades earlier when the Trail Blazers made their overland treks from Rocky Mountain House to Nordegg and further west, with excursions beginning in the 1930's. (See the Trail Blazers storyline).

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Art Bott with his son Fred up on the ridge at the Cavalcade campground circa 1965
20th Century, Circa 1965
The Kootenay Plains, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Rolly Pidgeon

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A New Trail is Blazed in the Rockies!!
By Freeda Fleming
Courtesy of the Ad-Viser Shop-O-Scope
July 30, 1975
Red Deer, Alberta

August 2, 3, and 4 this year will see the staging of the final Cavalcade on the Kootenay Plains. The 115 mile David Thompson highway, leading from Rocky Mountain House to the Banff-Jasper junction at Saskatchewan River Crossing is in the final stages of paving and will be officially opened at the Cavalcade.
Eighteen years ago the Central Alberta Chamber of Commerce initiated the first public cavalcade to publicize the need for construction of this route to serve all traffic with an alternate short route to the Coast and Interior B.C. (British Columbia). Not only as a mecca for tourists, but as a fast route for commercial hauling - fruit, fish, lumber, products, hay, oil well supplies, anything moving either direction to and from Central Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C. With the increasing number of tie-ups of railway service, it is becoming ever more urgent to move supplies by fleets of trucks, and completion of stage one of this central route will soon prove its worth, all 12 months of the year. The second step will be the building of the Howse Pass extension in crossing with the Roger's Pass about half way between Golden and Donald Station, a distance of 40 miles instead of the present 108. It will eliminate the long leg of 50 miles S.E. to Lake Louise junction on the Trans-Canada, and another 58 miles over the treacherous Kicking Horse Pass. While this project is low on the priority list of both Provincial and Federal Governments, it is high on the priority of the people of Central Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Editor's note: As of 2010, The Howse Pass has not been developed as an extension of Highway 11 into British Columbia.

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Dave Glover, Eve Glover (nee Bott), Fred Bott, Myrtle and son Keith, Sharon Cole (nee Bott) Art Bott
20th Century, Cica 1965
The Kootenay Plains, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Rolly Pigeon

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Art Bott wearing his tri-corner hat and vest
20th Century, Circa 1974
The Kootenay Plains, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Myrtle Bott
Rocky Museum

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Art Bott backing up his jeep
20th Century, Circa 1974
The Kootenay Plains, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Rocky Museum
Myrtle Bott

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Art Bott and friends entertaining at the Cavalcade campground
20th Century, Circa 1974
The Kootenay Plains, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Myrtle Bott
Rocky Museum

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Time for a baseball game
1 August 1971
The Kootenay Plains, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
von Hollen, Alfred
Rocky Museum

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Kraut Korner (von Hollen's campsite) at the 1971 Cavalcade
31 July 1971
The Kootenay Plains, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
von Hollen, Alfred
Rocky Museum

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A New Trail is Blazed in the Rockies!!
By Freeda Fleming
Courtesy of the Ad-Viser Shop-O-Scope
July 30, 1975
(continued)
After sponsoring the Alberta (contingent) at the Canadian Cavalcade for its initial years, the Central Alberta Chamber turned the task over to the Rocky Mountain House Chamber of Commerce. For 15 years Art Bott has chaired this event, to the vast entertainment and delight of 3000 to 5000 visitors annually. He, with his body of resourceful helpers, has laid on the most versatile programs ever staged at any such mammoth outdoor event. Art disclaims any credit, he says they have tried to keep it simple, more like a family picnic. Many will join me in saying, "Some Family! Some Picnic!" In leafing through the souvenir programs of recent years I see such items as horseshoe tournaments, canoe and raft races, children's field events, fishing contests, Stoney Indian's chicken dance, Interdenominational open air vesper services, baseball games, monster bonfires and sing-songs. The crowds have been serenaded by Salvation Army Bands, Gospel Singers, Cap-de-la Madeleine Boy's Choir, Melody Ramblers, Whirl- a-Way Square Dancers, and a multitude of talented professional and amateur entertainers. The program for one of the giant bonfire sing-songs reminded me of the night several thousand voices serenaded the stars with "There's A Long Long Trail A'Winding", (115 miles of it), "Springtime in the Rockies", (it was August but the flowers were still blooming); "Don't Fence Me In", (on a 200 acre instant campsite); "She'll be Coming Round the Mountain", (she did); "Tumbling Tumbleweed"; "The David Thompson Song" (new words to the tune of "Davy Crocket" supplied by some talented citizens from Red Deer); "When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain"; and finally "Show Me the Way to go Home" (you just follow the cloud of dust ahead of you.)

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Waiting for the first cup of coffee
20th Century, Circa 1970
The Kootenay Plains, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Brierley, Neva
Rocky Museum

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Sing song at night at the Cavalcade, July 31, 1971
31 July 1971
The Kootenay Plains, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
von Hollen, Alfred
Rocky Museum

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Arnold Spoor brings more wood for the fire
20th Century, Circa 1970
The Kootenay Plains, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Brierley, Neva
Rocky Museum

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Tipis (teepees) at the 1971 Cavalcade
1 August 1971
The Kootenay Plains, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
von Hollen, Alfred