Corporate Calgary cuts Stampede spending

CALGARY — This time last year David Howard was getting ready to host a number of high-profile corporate parties as part of Calgary's Stampede, but that's not the case this time around. “Basically, it's gone from where last year we were producing two events a day to where we're out of the game completely,” said Howard, president of the Event Group. His company is one of many feeling the bite of low oil prices as energy companies cut back spending on this year's Stampede, which kicks off Friday. Howard said companies are opting to host their own events with lower budgets, which he's helping them with, but the big events are scarce this year.