When the Calgary Stampede almost didn't happen
From wartime cancellations to 2020's COVID shutdown and the 2013 flood recovery, the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth has faced moments that threatened its existence.
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The Calgary Stampede has been woven into the city's identity for over a century, but there have been several times when the event nearly didn't happen — moments when cancellation or disruption seemed inevitable.
The early years: 1914 to 1922
The Stampede didn't begin as an annual tradition. After the first Stampede in 1912, the outbreak of the First World War, combined with economic pressures and organizational challenges, paused plans to make it a yearly event. It briefly returned in 1919 as the "Victory Stampede," held to celebrate the war's end and honour returning soldiers. It wasn't until 1923, when the Stampede merged with the Calgary Industrial Exhibition, that it became an annual fixture.
The 2013 flood: Damage and recovery
Nearly a century later, the Stampede faced its next major threat. In June 2013, historic flooding devastated Calgary and caused significant damage to Stampede Park. Doubts arose about whether the grounds could recover in time to host a large-scale event that summer.
After extensive recovery efforts involving staff, volunteers, contractors, and community members working against the clock, the grounds were restored and the 2013 Stampede proceeded as planned.
2020: The historic cancellation
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the first cancellation since the Stampede became an annual tradition. As the virus spread globally and public health restrictions prohibited large gatherings, the decision came to suspend the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. It was a historic moment — one that upended a tradition stretching back to 1923.
2021: Returning with limits
The Stampede returned in 2021, but under significant public health measures. One of the most visible changes was the cancellation of the Rangeland Derby chuckwagon races, a staple of the Stampede for years.
Each near-miss has tested the resilience of the institution and the community behind it. Yet each time, the Stampede has found a way to persist — a reflection of its deep roots in Calgary's culture and identity.