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The Calgary Stampede, which bills itself as '''The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth''', is a large, Non-profit Festival , Exhibition , and Rodeo held in Calgary , Alberta for 10 days in the second week of every July. It is one of Canada 's largest annual events, and the world's largest outdoor rodeo. It features an internationally recognized rodeo competition, a Midway , '''stage shows, concerts,''' Agricultural competitions, Chuckwagon races, First Nations exhibitions, and Pancake breakfasts around the city, among other attractions. In 2006 , record-breaking attendance at the 10-day rodeo and exhibition totalled 1,262,518. The Stampede Parade which occurs on opening day, is one of the festival's oldest and largest traditions. It is led by the Calgary Stampede Showband and follows a 4.5 km route in downtown Calgary. Attendance at the parade is usually about 350,000. The parade is also televised and has a viewing audience of over 2 million. During Stampede Week, the city is flooded with tourists who join locals in the spirited atmosphere by dressing in Western Attire . A large number of businesses decorate their stores and offices in western style.

The Calgary Stampede takes place at the Stampede Grounds, which are located on the southeast fringe of downtown Calgary in the Beltline District . The park is easily accessed via Calgary Transit 's light rail system, the C-Train . Permanent structures at the site include the Pengrowth Saddledome (hockey arena), the Round-Up Centre (a convention and exhibition facility), the Stampede Casino, the Grandstand/racetrack , the agriculture building, and a number of smaller buildings. A major expansion and upgrading of the grounds is currently underway. It will likely include a new hotel, a new casino, a new "main street" retail and market area, a new agriculture building, underground parking, and an extensive re-landscaping of the outdoor areas.


HISTORY



General Overview


The Calgary Exhibition was first held in 1886 soon after the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in the city. The Calgary Stampede (a separate event) was inaugurated in 1912 by Guy Weadick , an American trick roper. Weadick wanted to put on a world-class rodeo event and Wild West show that would bring the best cowboys from across the continent. The first Stampede was the richest rodeo competition in North America with prize money totalling $20,000. It drew more than 100,000 spectators. In 1923 , the Stampede was combined with the Calgary Exhibition and the event has taken place every year since.

The Midway is run by North American Midway Entertainment, who also operate the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto.


Historical Timeline


The early years as separate events Early Stampede history :
  • 1884 Agricultural Society formed

  • 1886 First Calgary Exhibition held

  • 1889 Stampede Park was purchased from the Government of Canada

  • 1908 Dominion Exhibition held (Canada was then known as a Dominion of the United Kingdom )

  • 1912 Guy Weadick arrived in Calgary. He envisaged a Wild West Extravaganza, arranged financing from the "Big 4" (Lane, McLean, Burns and Cross) for $100,000 and in September 1912, the first Calgary Stampede was held - it was a success

  • 1922 Calgary Industrial Exhibition held

  • 1923 The Stampede hosted the first competitive Chuckwagon Races

  • 1925 The American Silent Film , titled The Calgary Stampede was released throughout North America. It was a Western about love, murder, and the rodeo. It included substantial footage of the actual rodeo competition at the Calgary Stampede. It helped make the Stampede known throughout North America ''The Calgary Stampede'' silent film .


History of the combined Calgary Exhibition and Stampede Stampede history :
  • 1923 The Calgary Exhibition joined with the '''Stampede''' to become the '''Calgary Exhibition and Stampede'''. From this point on, the term '''Stampede''' refers to the entire combined organization and related events.

  • 1953 Guy Weadick dies

  • 1964 The Young Canadians Of The Calgary Stampede came into being

  • 1967-1968 The Stampede stretches from 6 to 10 days; its current length.

  • 1968 Additional land purchased to allow for Stampede Park expansion

  • 1971 The Calgary Stampede Showband is formed

  • 1976 Stampede attendance surpasses one million for the first time

  • 1982 Prize money for the rodeo is raised to $500,000

  • 1997 Completion of the $8.2 million permanent infield structure complete with 23 deluxe box suites and increased rodeo prize money announced

  • 2000 Attendance was 1,218,851; which was the highest so far for the Stampede

  • 2004 The rodeo prize goes from $500,000 to $1,000,000 to keep the Stampede on par with other major rodeos such as the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo.

  • 2005 Attendance sets a new record through ten days at 1,242,928.

  • 2006 The rodeo is no longer sanctioned by the PRCA (Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association), or the CPRA (Canadian Pro Rodeo Association), and has become an invite-only rodeo event to the top competitors from the NFR (National Finals Rodeo), CFR (Canadian Finals Rodeo), and PBR (Professional Bull Riders) - a first in rodeo. Prize money for the six rodeo events is upped to $1.6 million, while the famous chuckwagon races is $1 million.

  • 2006 Attendance records are beat for the third year in a row at 1,262,518.



CONTROVERSY


Animal advocacy groups, including The Calgary Humane Society, have voiced concern over the Stampede and rodeos in general, citing animal cruelty and recreational abuse as reasons for their opposition. The Stampede has always countered that they go to great lengths to protect the safety of animals, and the large majority of years go by with not a single fatality. Defenders of the Stampede argue that both the Stampede and ranchers love and protect their animals, but cannot avoid all accidents. However, as true in all rodeos, animals are driven to perform by devices such as bucking straps, electric prods, and spurs. Which animal advocates argue cause fear and pain to the animals.

Despite being a large-scale sporting event (it is the world's largest outdoor annual rodeo), the Stampede rarely sees serious human casualties and typically loses nearly ten animals per year. After every accident resulting in the death of a human or loss of an animal, the Stampede conducts a review which allegedly results in safety modifications.

In 1986, 12 horses were killed during the Stampede (most were euthanized because of injuries), making that year the worst for loss of stock. As a result, the Calgary Stampede claims that major safety changes were implemented to make collisions less likely. Since then, 25 horses have died as a direct result of this annual event.

Deaths Involving Humans: Stampede accidents
  • 1948: A spectator in an area known as the Stampede infield died when he was struck by an outrider's horse.

  • 1960: Driver Don Chapin, 34, was killed when his wagon overturned at the start of a heat.

  • July 14, 1971: Outrider Rod Glass, 19, was killed when some chuckwagons overturned at the first bend of the racetrack. He was tossed to his death.

  • July 20, 1996: Outrider Eugene Jackson, 24, died of head injuries sustained in a July 11, 1996, accident.

  • July 11, 1999: Driver Bill McEwen, 51, died of severe head injuries suffered in a chuckwagon crash two days before, when a pileup on the track had catapulted him into the air. He was taken off life support before he died. Larry McEwen was quoted as saying that his father died doing what he loved.



Accidents Involving Animals:
  • July 10, 1986: A chuckwagon collision resulted in the deaths of six horses.

  • 1995: Three horses died in rodeo accidents.

  • 1999: One horse died in a chuckwagon accident.

  • 2002: A total of six horses were euthanized after they were injured during chuckwagon races.

  • 2004: A horse was put down after it broke a hind leg in a rodeo event CBC article - Rodeo event story .

  • 2006: Two horses died during Day #1 of the Rangeland Derby (One from a heart attack, the other euthanized owing to injuries from the ensuing pileup) Globe and Mail article

  • 2007: Three horses died in a wreck during Day 9, Heat 7 of the Rangeland Derby. All three horses lost belonged to Gary Gorst, whose wagon team wiped out after being cut off. A second driver - Tyler Helmig - was injured after his wagon crashed into the heap. The race officials put Ray Mitsuing - a veteran driver at the Stampede - at fault for the wreck and assessed him 25 penalty seconds. After further review, the Stampede Board made a controversial ruling that put Kelly Sutherland - the fourth driver in the heat - at fault. Kelly - a multiple winner of the Rangeland Derby - was suspended for the final day. {Link without Title}


The worst animal accident for a single event related to the Stampede was on July 3, 2005 CBC article - Stampede tragedy . Nine horses died after jumping off a bridge and into the ''. December 17, 2005. page B1.


SEE ALSO