History Of The Calgary Stampede

Locally each long weekend in May the City of Surrey hosts the annual Cloverdale Rodeo which attracts a record number of not just fans, but also competitors from various areas both in the US and Canada.

Many are unaware that the very first fair was first held September 1888 – yes 1888 on the Surrey Municipal Hall and grounds but in 1938 it was moved to the Cloverdale Fairgrounds which is the current location.

The rodeo however was first held in 1945 which proved to be extremely popular which was eventually taken over in 1947 and operated by the Lower Fraser Valley Agricultural Association.

It wasn’t until 1962 that it (the fair) eventually was taken over and operated by the Fraser Valley Exhibition Society but in 1994, the fair and rodeo were renamed the Cloverdale Rodeo & Exhibition Association.

In 1996, the 109-year-old annual fall fair was incorporated into the May rodeo weekend.

In 2007, after controversy over the death of a calf, the rodeo announced that it would drop four timed events, thus disqualifying itself from the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) circuit.

From 1917 to 1918 there was no rodeo or fair due to World War 1 and again from 1942 to 1944 because of World War 2 and again from 2020 to 2022 due to COVID-19 restrictions but in 2023 it returned.

While local residents stay close to home some travel to Calgary to take in the Calgary Stampede which dates back to 1912 and known as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.” 

Today it combines professional rodeo, chuckwagon racing, agricultural exhibitions, concerts, Indigenous cultural celebrations, a midway, and one of Canada’s largest parades.

It was Guy Weadick, an American cowboy, trick rider and Wild West performer who had a vision that saw his vision become reality in 1912 when he ventured to Calgary in search of financial backing for what would become today’s rodeo attracting riders and fans from around the globe.

The Stampede actually dates back to 1886, when the Calgary and District Agricultural Society organized an annual agricultural exhibition to promote farming and ranching in southern Alberta but in the early 1900’s Calgary became the centre of Canada’s ranching industry.

His dream was recognized and supported from four wealthy Alberta ranchers and businessmen who became known as “The Big Four”:

• George Lane
• Patrick Burns
• A. E. Cross
• A. J. McLean

The four invested (approximately) $100,000 (about $25,000 each), an enormous amount at the time, allowing Weadick to organize the first Stampede which was held from September 2–7, 1912 at Victoria Park and known today as Calgary’s Stampede Park attracting over 80,000 during the six-day’s considering Calgary’s population was about 45,000–50,000.

The first events at the Stampede included:

• Saddle Bronc Riding
• Bareback Bronc Riding
• Bull Dogging (Steer Wrestling)
• Calf Roping
• Trick Riding
• Trick Roping
• Roman Horse Racing
• Relay Races
• Wild Horse Races
• Stagecoach and Chuckwagon-style demonstrations
• First Nations cultural performances and parades
• Livestock competitions
• The first Stampede Parade

The first parade saw 1,800 members of the Treaty 7 First Nations take part in the opening parade established as Elbow River Camp which is one of the Stampede’s most important traditions.

Some of the earliest world champions included:

Many competitors came from:

• Alberta
• Saskatchewan
• British Columbia
• Montana
• Wyoming
• Texas
• Oklahoma
• Colorado
• Mexico

The Stampede quickly attracted the best cowboys and cowgirls in North America because of its large prize money and in 1912 which is only one reason the first Stampede had its unprecedented purse.

• Total prize money: about $20,000
• Equivalent to many hundreds of thousands of dollars today.
• It was considered one of the richest rodeos in the world at the time.

That large purse attracted the finest riders, ropers and performers from across North America.

In 2026 Calgary Stampede was the 114th Calgary Stampede  noting that there have been 114 editions since 1912  including the following:

• The world’s richest regular-season rodeo
• Rangeland Derby chuckwagon races
• Agricultural shows
• Horse shows
• Indigenous cultural celebrations
• International entertainment
• Food and midway attractions
• More than one million visitors annually in recent years.

The Stampede continues to evolve and depending on who you talk with it’s not without controversy but manages to preserve the original western heritage initially set out to be.

That spirit of courage, horsemanship, and western heritage is what Guy Weadick had in mind when he organized the first Stampede in 1912 and remains one of the events over 110 years later.

Thanks to Wes Shaw for ALL THE PHOTO’S!!!!