
‘Uniquely Canadian': Stampede begins with parade led by country star Shania Twain
Country superstar Shania Twain will saddle up and lead the parade on horseback before performing Saturday at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Stampede runs until July 13.

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Calgary Herald
32 minutes ago
- Calgary Herald
Calgary-based TikTok influencer shares Stampede fashion with global audience
Article content A career as an influencer means Calgary-based TikToker Andie Johnston gets to combine two of her biggest passions: western fashion and her hometown. The Calgary Stampede, naturally, is her time to shine. Article content 'I always wanted to work with fashion my entire life,' Johnston said. 'I also just really love Calgary. I adore this city.' Article content Article content Though not all of her content is specific to Calgary, for the weeks leading up to and during the Stampede, her videos are centered around western fashion – including her impressive collection of cowboy boots. Article content Article content Article content Her unexpected rise to internet fame started with a funny video she posted as a joke with her friends during the COVID-19 pandemic, that ended up going viral. Article content 'It was 'Dressing like Celebrity Scandals,'' Johnston said. The video showed her recreating the outfits of various celebrities who got caught in scandals, from Winona Ryder shoplifting to Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift at the VMAs. Article content Article content Now, with nearly 400,000 followers on TikTok spanning Canada, the US and the UK, she's sharing Calgary's culture with the world. Even outside of Stampede season, her Calgary-based content, like how-to videos on dressing for extreme cold, still does well with her global audience. Article content 'I think a lot of people are fascinated by Canada,' she said. 'People just like to see things that they're not used to – and Calgary is not something a lot of people are used to.' Article content For Johnston, each year's Stampede is a 10-day marathon of entertaining friends, watching the rodeo and taking in live music. Article content


Calgary Herald
an hour ago
- Calgary Herald
Harry the Horse mascot celebrates 40 years with the Calgary Stampede
The Calgary Stampede's most well-known steed, Harry the Horse, is celebrating his 40th anniversary with the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. Article content Harry the Horse debuted as the official mascot of the Stampede on March 14, 1985, at the Rodeo Royal, after replacing Jim Dandy and his horse, Nellie. Article content Article content The original design and sketches of Harry were created by Wendy Issacs, a local artist and wife of the Stampede promotion committee chair at the time, James Issacs. Article content Article content Since his establishment four decades ago, Harry has secured a soft spot in Calgarians' hearts, said Bob Ell, current chair of the Stampede promotion committee. Article content Article content Harry serves at several events, including Stampede breakfasts, the Stampede Parade and several events outside of the 10 days of Stampede. Article content 'If it's a major event that the city or someone is sponsoring, then Harry is there,' Ell said. 'More recently, he's been at the Rotary International Convention and the Stampede Bowl.' Article content Although Harry can't speak — he is a horse, after all — he still delivers the message about the traditional western values associated with the Stampede wherever he makes an appearance. Article content 'He's representing the Stampede in that flavour, and just the desire for people to lean more about what we do in Alberta,' he said. Article content Throughout the course of the year, Harry attends between 60 to 80 events. Article content Article content Ell estimates that hundreds of thousands of Harry the Horse photos are taken every year. Article content Ell said Harry's 40th anniversary has been promoted on social media, alongside a celebration of the milestone at the Stampede Parade on Friday. Article content 'We run into so many people who have fond memories about Harry, and they still have photos of him from when they were kids,' Ell said. Article content Harry's fame and notoriety extends past the Stampede, and has gone international. Article content 'Harry has actually done a lot of work, even globally, by visiting countries like Australia, China and New Zealand,' he said. 'He's performed for around 40 million people, including things like prime ministers, dignitaries and even Muhammad Ali.' Article content Similarly to how Disney has Mickey Mouse, Ell said their mainstay figure is Harry the Horse. Article content 'Harry has become that for the Calgary Stampede, and it's just the way he portrays the hospitality — welcoming and so forth. So many kids have fond memories of Harry.'


Edmonton Journal
2 hours ago
- Edmonton Journal
'Let's go, cowgirls!': Country icon Shania Twain leads Stampede parade
Canadian-born country music superstar Shania Twain said it's an honour to lead the Stampede parade to kick off the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. Article content 'It's been a dream of mine for a very long time,' said Twain, this year's parade marshal who will also perform at the Saddledome on Saturday night. Article content 'I get to take full advantage of the Stampede, enjoy the whole spirit of the Stampede, and this historic event that people come from all over the world to attend.' Article content Article content 'I'm going to be riding a horse in the parade — this makes me very happy,' she said. Article content 'Personally, I am just a very basic, simple rider,' she said. 'I won't be doing any trick riding or barrel racing while I'm here, although that would have been wonderful.' Article content Article content 'I'll have a smile stuck to my face the whole time.' Article content She called being in Calgary for the Stampede 'very special.' Article content 'This is the community that lives my dream every day, being so close to horses,' she said. 'This is something that I admire and envy.' Article content Article content 'Following in the bootsteps of the parade marshals who have gone before you, you will spread fun — I'm sure you will — western spirit, which you have, and plenty of 'Yahoos' for one and all along the road,' said Blair Barkley, chair of the Stampede parade committee. Article content Many of the parade's floats and bands honoured Twain's presence by playing her music — including the Stampede Showband, which started the parade off with a medley of her greatest hits. Article content Calgary police estimate that 330,000 spectators flocked to downtown Calgary to watch the parade, which is the second largest in North America. Article content It featured more than 100 entries, including 35 floats, nine marching bands, representatives of the Treaty 7 First Nations and more than 700 horses. Politicians including Danielle Smith, Pierre Poilievre and Jyoti Gondek smiled and waved at onlookers as they went by — some on horseback and others in wagons.