The Rich History of the Calgary Exhibition
& Stampede
Since the arrival
of the railway in 1883, ranchers and farmers have played
a large role in the local western economy. Because summer
is quiet for them, early July became the perfect time to
hold an event, which would both entertain and create new
business ventures for Calgary and the West. Back in 1912,
an entrepreneurial cowboy named Guy Weadick decided he wanted
to develop a Wild West Cowboy Show similar to ones he had
seen produced in the United States. He arranged financing
from the "Big 4" (Lane, McLean, Burns and Cross)
to the tune of $100,000 and in September 1912, the first
Calgary Stampede was held - a roaring success.
Landmark
Stampede Dates:
1884- Agricultural Society formed
1886- First Calgary Exhibition held
1889- Stampede Park was purchased from
the Dominion Government
1908- Dominion Exhibition held
1912- Guy Weadick arrived, envisaged a
Wild West Extravaganza, arranged financing from the "Big
4" (Lane, McLean, Burns and Cross) to the tune of $100,000
and in September 1912, the first Calgary Stampede was held
- a roaring success
 1922- Calgary Industrial Exhibition held
1923- The Calgary Exhibition joined with
the Stampede to become the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede
1923- The Stampede hosted the first  competitive
Chuckwagon Races
1953- Guy
Weadick was laid to rest at High River Cemetery
1964- The "Young Canadians of the
Calgary Stampede" came into being
1967- The Stampede stretches from 6 to
9 days
1968- The Stampede becomes a 10 day event
after legislative changes to the "Lord's Day Act"
1968- Additional land purchased to allow
for Stampede Park expansion
 1976- Stampede attendance surpasses one
million for the first time
1982- The "Half-Million Dollar Rodeo"
introduced
1997- Completion of the $8.2 million permanent
infield structure complete with 23 deluxe box suites and
increased
rodeo prize money announced
1998- 75th Anniversary of Chuckwagon Racing
at the Calgary Stampede
2000- We have beat our all time attendance
record. For the year 2000 our attendance was 1,218,851!
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