Successful Stampede rides into the sunset
Say goodbye to sugar-speckled mini doughnuts and widebrimmed Western hats as the dust settles on the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth for another year.
Calgary Stampede officials and guests are calling this year a great — and sunny — success after a rainsoaked Stampede last summer.
“Stampede 2017, in my mind, is one of the best we’ve ever had,” said Stampede president David Sibbald, who described the annual event as an “iconic symbol of volunteerism, community spirit and Western values.”
This year’s crowds are likely to hit the five-year average of about 1.2-million people, but are unlikely to surpass the centennial record of more than 1.4-million people set in 2012.
The beginning of the 10-day celebration began with the muchanticipated parade in which the Treaty 7 First Nation chiefs were chosen as parade marshals. Later in the week, Indigenous relay racing made its Stampede debut.
Calgary Stampede CEO Warren Connell called the event “highly successful.”
“I think the cheering was as loud as the chuckwagon racing that occurred on the same night. We’re very proud to try these new opportunities,” he said.
This year the Stampede also introduced a variety of deals and discounts, including $1.50 admission on the park’s Canada Day and free admission until noon on Cenovus Family Day, to help people enjoy the event despite the economic downturn.
It was also the first year the 10-day, all-access Superpass was offered, and 25,000 people took advantage of it.
All of this helped bring in almost 1.1-million visitors before the final day’s tally.
One of those attendees was Gerry Guseal.
“This ain’t my first rodeo,” joked Guseal, 55, who’s been attending the Stampede for more than 40 years and keeps coming back for the atmosphere, fun and — of course — mini-doughnuts.
“My favourite part is the Grand stand Show and the rodeo, and even looking at some of the livestock,” said Guseal. He also enjoyed seeing his 20-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son enjoying the midway — especially the water gun game to win a stuffed gorilla.
This year was also bittersweet for chuckwagon fans as driver Kelly Sutherland completed his final lap Sunday after an incredible 50-year career, while Winston Bruce, the rodeo’s former manager and arena director, died July 10 at age 79.
The Grandstand crowd cheered the chuckwagon drivers through nine heats for all but one night, when the races were stopped due to strong wind and rain.
One horse was euthanized after being injured last Sunday, but no other accidents were reported at the races.
Flash forward to Saturday evening when seven unlucky midway riders dangled mid-air on the Mach 3 ride. No one was hurt.
Even Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made an appearance after previously saying he wouldn’t make it to Calgary’s biggest show.
“This is something for people to come together as families to celebrate history, past, youth — a whole range of stories that make Canada great,” Trudeau said. “Being at Stampede is an opportunity to celebrate the best of western hospitality.”
He wasn’t the only one to visit the urban city turned western oasis.
Fifty-five thousand hotel rooms were booked as Stampede welcomed people from across the world.
More than 2,300 volunteers, 300 full-time staff, 1,200 part-time staff and 3,500 Stampede employees made this year’s edition of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth possible.
Connell said this year was truly about connecting with the community and celebrating both the past and the future.