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Calgary Stampede endures cold weather in 1999

For 10 days in July, mild-mannered Calgarians don skin-tight wranglers, big shiny belts and even bigger Stetsons and go into "Stampede mode." Not much work gets done as cowboys, Indian princesses, ferris wheels and pancake breakfasts take hold of the city. From its humble beginnings in 1912 to the ongoing controversy over chuckwagon races, the Calgary Exhibition & Stampede continues to be Canada's annual salute to the good old days of the Wild West.

Toques and parkas, not cowboy hats and western shirts, are more suitable for this year's Stampede. As shown in the CBC Television clip, unseasonably cold weather -- with temperatures hovering around zero -- has cowboys and cowgirls walking past the ice cream stands and straight for the coffee bar. Some have travelled thousands of miles to enjoy "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth" and they're not going to let bad weather ruin the spirit of the Wild West. 
• In 1967, the Stampede grew from six to nine days. The following year it became a 10-day event.

• In 1976, attendance to the Stampede passed the one million mark. The attendance for 2002 was 1,164,933.

Medium: Television
Program: Calgary Newshour
Broadcast Date: July 15, 1999
Reporter: Joanne Faryon
Duration: 1:44

Last updated: March 5, 2012

Page consulted on May 23, 2013

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