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Originally Posted by vanisleflamesfan
This is not true.
However, it is fitting that most people think this since the 'history' of the Stampede is actual a 'revisionist' history. Guy Weadick, long-time 'Wild-West Show' promoter, wanted to have an event in this area that would rival other major yearly 'Wild-West' type of events at the time including events in Wyoming and the (at the time) very famous rodeo in Los Angeles of all places. Weadick wanted a celebration of a way of life that he saw as dying; that way of life being an open range style cattle ranching culture. Now the important thing to consider here is that this area of Southern Alberta never really had an open range style cattle ranching culture in the sense of what 'open range' meant at that time (before you flame my face off for suggesting this, it is again, important to understand that 'open-range' ranching meant something very different at that time from what it means today - this area NEVER had THAT type of 'Wild West'.
Weadick was projecting his uninformed vision of a 'Wild-West' onto an area that had never existed in that way in reality.
But more importantly, Weadick was doing this because he wanted to make money.
Fortunately for him, the idea of the Stampede took off in this area and helped to cement the popularity of 'rodeo' events.
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What are you talking about? Fom the Stampedes own website..
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Guy Weadick produced the first “Frontier Days and Cowboy Championship Contest” soon to be known as the Calgary Stampede.
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There is no debate about it...the first stampede was most certainly based around the rodeo and adjoining carnival that Guy Weadick started. Yes it was to make money...what event isnt based on that and what does it have to do with anything? No idea what "open range cattle culture" has to do with it either.