Retired Raymond CFL player named honorary parade marshal

By Lethbridge Herald on June 22, 2023.

Submitted Photo Lloyd Fairbanks played seven seasons with the Calgary Stampeders during his 17-year career.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

A familiar Raymond sports figure has been announced as this year’s honorary parade marshal for the  annual Rotary Club Canada Day parade.

Former local Canadian Football League player Lloyd Fairbanks was named this year as the honorary parade marshal on July 1.

“Anytime you get an honour, right,  it’s just a really nice thing,” said Fairbanks.

“You know to be recognized by your community and get a little bit of spotlight on you,  I guess people like that a little bit. Sometimes we try to hide from it but you know it’s an honour. Raymond always makes a big deal out of the first of July celebration and the parade is a big part of that.”

Fairbanks’ mother, Mary, was the honorary parade marshal in her 90s.

Fairbanks is looking forward to seeing family and friends and people he hasn’t seen in a long time.

“It’s seems like everybody comes home on the first of July,” said Fairbanks.

“It’s just a family gathering and friends and so it’s always a good day.”

The reasons for Fairbanks being the choice for parade marshal include what he has contributed to the community, his accomplishments in football and giving back.

“I mean he’s a product of a southern Alberta football association,” said Val Boehme, Rotary Club of Raymond’s publicity chair.

“I mean it  wasn’t just  Raymond that developed him, it was all those other teams that he played against all those years and the coaches that were involved there. So we just feel that he stood out this year as one that’s made a big payback to the community.”

After playing 17 seasons in the CFL with Calgary Hamilton and Montreal, Fairbanks retired in 1992 he focused on coaching his kids in sports some time ago  and running AV Brake in Lethbridge with his brother Stuart.

“Well my brother and I (have) a business in Lethbridge,” said Fairbanks.

“We ran that (and) well it’s still going and just live life right. (I) coached my kids in sports and just kind of lived life like everybody else does I guess.”

He coached both of his sons in high school in the late 1990s and was involved for about 10 years with Comets football.

The Fairbanks decided they wanted to settle in Raymond after his playing days were done.

“So when I came back, you get involved,” he said.

“ You’re there with your kids, and your neighbours and if you want to make the community even better, you lend a hand and do your part. I had some expertise in football and you know I had an interest in my kids (and ) their sports activities. So it was good fit for me to be able to do that and to be with the rest of the other kids too.”

During his career, Fairbanks had 11 team nominations for the most outstanding offensive lineman award, nominated for most outstanding Canadian, a seven-time division all-star and a twice All-Canadian, a Stampeder Wall of Fame member and won Calgary’s President’s ring twice.

He will be inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in Hamilton on Sept. 15.

The annual Canada Day Rotary parade starts at 10 a.m. on July 1.