Latest news with #StampedeParade
Calgary Herald
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Letters: 'Elbows up' sends wrong message
In sports, 'elbows up' is a warning — aggressive, risky and often penalized. For a government to adopt it as a communications strategy is not just tone-deaf, it's offensive. Article content Citizens are not opponents to be boxed out or intimidated. This kind of posturing replaces dialogue with division, and trust with fear. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Our UCP government claims to want to make our communities safe but takes away speed limit enforcement tools from our policing services, turning what should be safe highways into unsafe and dangerous roadways. Article content David Field, Calgary Article content Article content Kudos to Stampede parade Article content Don Braid said it all, in his beautifully articulated column. Article content Congratulations to the Stampede Parade planners . . . what an amazing, creative entry of floats. They certainly covered our diversity as a city and country — inclusiveness, patriotism. Thank you. Article content Yes we have a history with American people, we have upheld our part in a loyal, welcoming, accepting friendship, because this is who we are as Canadians. Article content Article content Violet Lazorko, Calgary Article content Article content What's really behind Carney's winks? Article content On June 30, Prime Minister Mark Carney said — not for the first time — that Canada is 'the most European of non-European countries.' He also said it in May, in France, and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said it in an interview with the BBC. It's obviously a deliberate talking point. Article content What's weird about it is that Carney and Joly offer no explanation. Is he currying favour on his European tours? Article content Next came the article on Carney's winking from Joseph Brean, who said, 'Winking is a high-wire act. If it goes badly, it could go very badly.' Article content I feel Carney is guilty of tomfoolery. He should give an account of his former work with U.K., Royals, Brookfield holdings, and stop acting like he has something up his sleeve with his winking. Article content John Bates, Calgary Article content Article content We need more bike lanes, not fewer Article content Perhaps the discussion to shut down bike lanes is birthed in an attempt to gain votes without any future foresight. I'd love to ride my pedal bike in bike lines all over the place. But what's truly interesting is the growth in e-bikes. People who ride these are growing in number every day. If we have bike lanes, we have a safe place for them, too. Let's find a way to get more people on bikes instead of shutting down bike lanes. Art Vesterdal, Calgary Article content
Calgary Herald
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- 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.'
Calgary Herald
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Calgary Stampede, July 4: Live parade coverage Stampede fuels tourism ambitions
Article content Hundreds of thousands of spectators are expected to line the streets of downtown Calgary for the 2025 Stampede Parade. Article content This year, the parade will be led by country music superstar Shania Twain as marshal. Article content The parade prelude performances begin at 7:45 a.m., and the parade itself kicks off at 9 a.m. Seating fills up quickly, though, so many choose to arrive as early as 5 or 6 a.m. to get the best view. Article content Article content Article content Once the parade is over, make your way to Stampede Park for free admission from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Article content Article content NEED TO KNOW: STAMPEDE 101 Article content Article content It's hard to believe this band has been plying its trade since founders Neil Osborne and Brad Merritt met as high-school students back in 1978 (!). Bubbling up from Vancouver's fertile punk scene, the band developed a singular post-punk sound that relied on straight-ahead riffs and Osborne's catchy-as-hell songwriting. These days, it's easy to forget just how many hits there were: Baby Ran, I Go Blind, One Day in Your Life, Once Gun, Ocean Pearl, Baby Have Some Faith, She-La. So if you want to escape the twang for a night — granted, 1998's Lost and Lazy is not without its rootsy underpinnings — check out these Canadian icons. Article content Article content Article content Saturday, July 5 Article content Westside Recreation Centre, 2000 69th St. S.W.: 9 to 11 a.m. Cavalry FC Regional Field House, 125 Field House Dr. E., Aldersyde: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Article content
Ottawa Citizen
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Five takeaways as Stampeders dominate Blue Bombers, capture inaugural Stampede Bowl
The Calgary Stampeders cowboy'd up for the inaugural Stampede Bowl. Article content A dominant 37-16 victory over the mighty Winnipeg Blue Bombers is proof of that, as the home side got into the spirit of 'The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth' early with the Thursday decision at McMahon Stadium. Article content Four first-half touchdowns spurred on the Stampeders to the triumph, much to the delight of a strong showing of 22,485 fans in the stands. Article content Article content It was quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. throwing his first TD of the season 43 yards to Clark Barnes on a brilliant long-march opening drive, and the Stamps never looked back from there. Article content Article content After one of two pick-sixes by the Stamps' defence, the QB followed with another TD strike to rookie receiver Damien Alford in the second quarter. Article content The precision and performance by Adams, especially early, helped him finish with 13-of-18 for 222 passing yards. Article content Before halftime came another lengthy drive for the Stamps, punctuated by a two-yard TD bulldoze by running back Dedrick Mills. Article content The second interception return for a score by the defence insured the win in the fourth quarter. Article content And with that, just hours ahead of Friday morning's much-ballyhooed Stampede Parade, the Stamps held their own mini-parade and celebration post-game with the newly minted Stampede Bowl. Article content Article content Article content Ask any fan who's been to McMahon the last few seasons and they will tell you the football just wasn't all that fun. Article content That's changed in a hurry early in 2025. Article content The Stampeders have fielded a product that's got to have supporters not only smiling but believing they might actually have a winner again so soon after a few ugly CFL campaigns. Article content Even if long-term success on the season isn't in the cards for the Red and White, you can't say it hasn't started out with a bang. Article content It's been fun, with this triumph over the Blue Bombers proof they've got something brewing. Especially since it was such a dominant night by the home side at McMahon. Article content The Stamps put together long scoring marches, with a couple of highlight plays offensively — Jalen Philpot's 66-yard catch and run to set up a second-quarter score was the brightest. And two pretty pick-sixes by the defence definitely got the fans on their feet.
Calgary Herald
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Five takeaways as Stampeders dominate Blue Bombers, capture inaugural Stampede Bowl
The Calgary Stampeders cowboy'd up for the inaugural Stampede Bowl. Article content A dominant 37-16 victory over the mighty Winnipeg Blue Bombers is proof of that, as the home side got into the spirit of 'The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth' early with the Thursday decision at McMahon Stadium. Article content Four first-half touchdowns spurred on the Stampeders to the triumph, much to the delight of a strong showing of 22,485 fans in the stands. Article content Article content It was quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. throwing his first TD of the season 43 yards to Clark Barnes on a brilliant long-march opening drive, and the Stamps never looked back from there. Article content Article content After one of two pick-sixes by the Stamps' defence, the QB followed with another TD strike to rookie receiver Damien Alford in the second quarter. Article content The precision and performance by Adams, especially early, helped him finish with 13-of-18 for 222 passing yards. Article content Before halftime came another lengthy drive for the Stamps, punctuated by a two-yard TD bulldoze by running back Dedrick Mills. Article content The second interception return for a score by the defence insured the win in the fourth quarter. Article content And with that, just hours ahead of Friday morning's much-ballyhooed Stampede Parade, the Stamps held their own mini-parade and celebration post-game with the newly minted Stampede Bowl. Article content Article content Article content Ask any fan who's been to McMahon the last few seasons and they will tell you the football just wasn't all that fun. Article content That's changed in a hurry early in 2025. Article content The Stampeders have fielded a product that's got to have supporters not only smiling but believing they might actually have a winner again so soon after a few ugly CFL campaigns. Article content Even if long-term success on the season isn't in the cards for the Red and White, you can't say it hasn't started out with a bang. Article content It's been fun, with this triumph over the Blue Bombers proof they've got something brewing. Especially since it was such a dominant night by the home side at McMahon. Article content The Stamps put together long scoring marches, with a couple of highlight plays offensively — Jalen Philpot's 66-yard catch and run to set up a second-quarter score was the brightest. And two pretty pick-sixes by the defence definitely got the fans on their feet.
