Rodeo Rex poses with attendees at the President's Stampede Barbecue.
July 13, 2018
Yahoo! UCalgary celebrates western heritage during Stampede 2018
Students, faculty and staff show community spirit during annual festival
Students and staff gathered in the early morning on July 6 to march with UCalgary’s float in the Cal
Riley Brandt, University of Calgary
For 10 days during the 2018 Calgary Stampede, the University of Calgary community celebrated western heritage and community spirit.
President's barbecue fed more than 3,000
It all kicked off with the President’s Stampede Barbecue on July 5. More than 3,000 people attended and enjoyed the lively sounds of country music while enjoying beef on a bun. The barbecue featured the university’s new teaching and learning teepee, and UCalgary’s traditional knowledge keeper in residence, Piikani Elder Reg Crowshoe, provided a traditional blessing. Also in attendance was Stampede Indian Princess Cieran Starlight.
The generosity of attendees was on display at the barbecue. The United Way raffle raised more than $300 (with two prizes donated by the Calgary Stampede), and attendees donated more than 600 non-perishable items and $460 to the SU Campus Food Bank. A number of faculties and business units joined the celebrations, and Stampede breakfasts were held across campus.
UCalgary parade float asks important question
Students and staff members gathered in the early morning on July 6 to march with UCalgary’s float in the Calgary Stampede parade. This year’s parade entry encouraged all participants from the community to ask, "What’s Your Dream?” More than 100 community partners and members of our UCalgary family joined us in our bleacher seating to cheer on the UCalgary float, Rodeo Rex, and the UCalgary Cheer Squad.
The barbecue featured the university’s new teaching and learning teepee.
Stampede events on and off the grounds
Students from the Veterinary Medicine program hosted an interactive booth every day at the Stampede. Thousands of children and adults had a chance to try hands-on activities and demonstrations at the booth.
UCalgary recognized its strong relationship with its neighbours through outreach activities at two local community breakfast events. Guests were entertained with a spinwheel, UCalgary prizes, and Rodeo Rex. More than 1,700 attended the Wood’s Homes Stampede Breakfast on July 8 at the Bowness campus, including Jon Cornish and the Stampede royalty. On the same day, the Triwood Community Association welcomed 1,200 guests, who enjoyed live entertainment, dancing, and wagon rides.
Other Stampede highlights include 800 people who stopped to visit the UCalgary float and chat with university representatives on Stephen Avenue, while more than 500 members of our university family took advantage of the ticket discount to kick up their heels at the Calgary Stampede evening show.
Visit UCalgary’s Stampede 2018 website for more information on all the events, and to check out a collection of UCalgary stampede stories.
