Just as there are 50 ways to leave your lover, there are many ways to enjoy Stampede. Four Calgarians share their Stampeding styles, secrets
Bob Thompson, Vice Chairman, Calgary Stampede Board of Directors; President and CEO, Brownstone Asset Management
My Calgary Stampede is…
A busy one. I’m here on the grounds every day. The opening Friday, I will attend six different functions, from the President’s Breakfast in the morning, to riding in the parade, to receptions and openings, etc. Some would say that’s tiring; I say it’s completely energizing. I call these 10 days “The Juggernaut.”
The Calgary Stampede means…
A full dose of entertainment, good spirits and revelling in the special culture that erupts in Calgary for 10 days. It allows people to don cowboy hats, relax and enjoy the Western values that Stampede works hard to preserve and promote.
During the 10 days, I never miss…
The chuckwagon races. After the races, I go back behind the barns and mingle with the horses and cowboys. It’s a great place to get some cow shit on your brand new boots — it gives you a little taste of the Western flavour there.
Stampede fashion should…
Include a good quality hat, which can run up to $500, depending on the kind of felt used. It’s just essential to any cowboy’s wardrobe. From there, a long-sleeved shirt is a must. You just don’t go to the rodeo as a male in a short-sleeved shirt, no matter the heat. On the jean front, Wrangler jeans are the leading Western jean, not only in Calgary, but all the way down to Texas. That being said, I spend money every year on Western clothing. I ride horses and so I go through cowboy boots with some degree of actual use and not just fashion. I have rows of cowboy boots now. Some are purely for dress, and some are for doing some actual work in. So I can’t resist buying a good pair of boots, at least one a year. The thing I love about Western style is that is has a wide berth. It means a lot of different things to different people. As far as I’m concerned, I never saw a Western clothing shop I haven’t liked — I’ve even bought some boots on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. Western fashion has penetrated Hollywood, and fashion in general, which pleases me because I feel comfortable wearing it.
My favourite Stampede memory...
Has to be in my younger years when I was the chairman of the Rodeo Committee, I ran around the dirt leaping out of the way of bulls. That’s a memory I’ll go to my grave with.
If This is You, Don’t Miss:
The Chuckwagon Races: Truly a gotta-see-it-to-believe-it event, and one that is seen at very few events outside of Western Canada. www.calgarystampede.com/events/chuckwagon-races/
Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame: Learn how to dress Western and find out about the colourful people that make up the history of country music from this 1,300-piece collection of memorabilia currently housed on the Stampede Grounds. cantos.ca
Western Art Auction: Nearly 200 volunteers operate this showcase of artwork on the Stampede Grounds. Add to that music and cooking demonstrations, and you’ve got yourself one heck of a Western lifestyle show. westernshowcase.com
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