Airdrie's Parade Committee has selected the Marshal for this year's Santa Claus Parade.

Michael Loughman was chosen as the Parade Marshal for his ongoing advocacy towards mental health issues in Airdrie. Loughman shared his reaction to the announcement. 

"I was pretty shocked. I felt really honoured, almost in disbelief, but it's a really cool feeling. It just shows that everything I've been doing all this time is working. It also proves that my city doesn't really judge me on my past."

Loughman, who has struggled with mental illness and addiction in the past, was recognized with the 2017 Soul of Airdrie Award earlier this year. He also undertook a March for Mental Health, walking over a thousand kilometers from High Level to Airdrie to raise awareness around mental health.

"It's probably been one of the best years of my life," said Loughman with a laugh, "Everything that's happened at times was a little bit overwhelming, it was a little unbelievable."

Loughman hopes his high profile will help bring more awareness to mental health issues, and thinks it shows that the stigma around mental health and addiction is disappearing in Airdrie.

"It's just a regular thing, you know? It's not a big deal. We're not contagious. We're just regular people and we just need help and the more we talk about these things the better it is for everybody, because to me, I believe that silence is a killer."

The Santa Claus Parade will march down Main Street on December 2.

 

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