On February 13, 2026, Mountain View School became more than a place of learning. It became a meeting place between past and future.
Students, staff, ranching families, and community members gathered to honour a story that began in the Mountain View region nearly six decades ago and went on to influence the North American beef industry.
The event, led by Principal Curtis Leishman, celebrated Parisien, the first Simmental bull imported to Canada in 1967 by Southern Alberta rancher Travers Smith. What began as a bold and uncertain decision by a small group of ranchers from the Mountain View region would eventually reshape cattle breeding practices across Canada and the United States.
A Vision That Began in the Mountain View Region
In 1967, Travers Smith brought Parisien from France to Southern Alberta at a time when European cattle genetics were largely unfamiliar in North America. The process required extensive testing, quarantine stages, international transport, and significant financial investment.
Smith worked alongside fellow ranchers from the Mountain View region, including members of the Watson, Webster, Lynch, Smith, and Williams families. Together, these local families invested in genetics that many initially questioned.
Their decision proved transformative.
Over his lifetime, Parisien sired more than 15,000 registered calves in the United States and approximately 5,000 in Canada. His influence helped establish Simmental as one of the most significant beef breeds in North America.
Historical footage shown during the event revealed how skepticism gave way to widespread interest as producers saw the results firsthand.
Generations Asking the Questions
One of the most powerful moments of the morning came during the student-led question-and-answer session.
Every student who stood to ask a question was a direct descendant of the original ranching families involved in the importation and promotion of Parisien.
They were not asking about distant history. They were asking about their own family legacy.
Students questioned grandparents and relatives about the lengthy quarantine process, the challenges of introducing a new breed, early artificial insemination programs, and the work required to build credibility in the industry.
In that gym, three generations sat within view of one another.
The legacy was not abstract. It was personal.
A Legacy Returned Home
A highlight of the event was the unveiling of Parisien's mounted head, donated to Mountain View School by Don Jensen, who served as the bull's handler during his promotional years.
After Parisien's death in 1978, the mount was removed from display, later restored, stolen from an exhibition, and eventually returned before making its way back to the community where the story began.
It now has a permanent home in the Mountain View School library.
Standing before students and families, Principal Curtis Leishman explained why bringing it back mattered. The display is not simply a tribute to the past, he said, but a daily reminder of the mindset that shaped this community.
"They didn't sit there and wait for it to stay the same. They chose to act."
He encouraged students to understand that improvement requires initiative. The ranchers researched, collaborated, took risks, and persisted when obstacles appeared. Those same qualities, he told students, are essential whether in agriculture, academics, athletics, or future careers.
Lessons That Extend Beyond Agriculture
Mountain View School's agricultural programming reflects the deep roots of the community. Students work hands-on with cattle, horses, sheep, goats, poultry, and other enterprises, developing leadership, responsibility, and practical problem-solving skills.
Leishman urged students to see Parisien not simply as part of agricultural history, but as a symbol of resilience and growth.
Nearly six decades after Parisien arrived in Southern Alberta, the impact of that decision remains visible in cattle operations across North America.
On February 13, it became visible in something else as well: students recognizing that progress begins when someone chooses to act.
