Avenue Calgary June 19

CITY| LIFE| STYLE| CALGARY

JUNE 2019 | $4.95 AVENUECALGARY.COM

ALL IN

FOR STAMPEDE GET READY, OR GET OUT OF THE WAY: THE GREATEST OUTDOOR SHOW ON EARTH IS COMING!

rooifttioonp eEd

at calgarystampede.com

The Stampede SuperPass is valid for gate admission to the Calgary Stampede from July 4-14, 2019 during public access hours.

Let’s just say there’s room to grow in Riverstone ~ START LIVING THE LIFE YOU WANT, TODAY Townhomes now selling in Calgary’s best keep secret, Cranston’s Riverstone. Become neighbours with the natural beauty of the Bow River and the established schools and amenities of Cranston.

Enjoy an elevated community, at a price that fits your budget.

VISIT A SHOWHOME TODAY

ExperienceRiverstone.ca

Community by

a fresh concept in dining and grocery just follow your stomach

get ready to be inspired. our dedicated team of skilled chefs and food experts have created a truly unique food concept in mount royal. it’s part modern eatery, part gourmet food to-go and part grocery store. if you love food, you’re going to love it here.

now open at mount royal 906 16th avenue sw. open 7am to 10pm every day.

underground parking available.

LIVE INSPIRED Your best life begins with a home that inspires you.

SOTHEBYSREALTY.CA

CONDOS »

« CONDOS

$3,750,000

SINGLE FAMILY HOMES »

$8,500,000

$1,137,000

$3,875,000

1120, 135 26th Avenue SW, Calgary, AB

#301 600 Princeton Way SW, Calgary, AB

209 Pinnacle Ridge Place, Calgary, AB

70 Posthill Drive SW, Calgary, AB

BED: 3 BATH: 4 3,175 SQ.FT. Walking distance to shops, restaurant & parks, this luxurious waterfront 3 bedroom is located in the sought after community of Mission. Breathtaking views of the river & mountains.

BED: 2 BATH: 2 1,723 SQ.FT. MLS C4241574 Welcome to this stunning 1723 sq ft. condo located in the perstigious Princeton Grand.

BED: 5 BATH: 6/2 10,197 SQ.FT. MLS C4216431 Luxurious Tuscan inspired estate home built by Knightsbridge and overlooking the beautiful Rocky Mountains.

Indoor pool, professional theatre and sport court!

BED: 6 BATH: 6 5,737 SQ.FT. MLS C4239458 RARE FIND - Situated on 1 forested acre in Calgary’s West end is this exquisite custom 6 bedroom, 5 car garage home in Posthill.

Anne Clarke-Davidson

Heather Waddell

Vivienne Huisman

Jacqueline Thorogood Barb Richardson

403.803.5578

$3,680,000

403.471.0467

$2,675,000

403.689.8722

403.909.8766 403.613.8737

$2,197,000

$2,495,000

4424 Britannia Drive SW

32 Baycrest Place SW, Calgary, AB

32 Reflection Cove, Elbow Valley, AB

1333 Montreal Avenue SW, Calgary, AB

BED: 4 BATH: 5 3,826 SQ.FT. Located on a huge lot, this gorgeous 5 bdrm home offers high quality & meticulous finishes THROUGHOUT. Private backyard and outstanding CITY VIEWS.

BED: 6 BATH: 4/1 4,398 SQ.FT. MLS C4238346 Luxurious custom built family home, gracious and open floor plan, backing onto green space and steps from the Glenmore Reservoir.

BED: 4 BATH: 5/1 3,742 SQ.FT. MLS C4241960 McKinley Burkhart designed masterpiece reflects a sophisticated & casual lifestyle with Lakefront living. High quality finishing, contemporary pavilion style layout.

BED: 3 BATH: 2/1 2,458 SQ.FT. MLS C4237581 SOPHISTICATED, CONTEMPORARY Mount Royal home located on one of the the finest streets in Mount Royal.

Anne Clarke-Davidson

Nancy Calvin Kym Barton

Lisa Tomalin-Reeves Jacqueline Thorogood

403.803.5578

$1,675,350

403.519.6146 403.369.1185

$1,349,000

403.650.4353 403.909.8766

Heather Waddell

403.471.0467

$895,850

$1,089,750

2818 Linden Drive SW, Calgary, AB

1007 Dorchester Avenue SW, Calgary, AB

6431 Laurentian Way SW, Calgary, AB

1947 9 Avenue NW Calgary, AB

BED:3 BATH: 3 2,156 SQ.FT. MLS C4233544 Artfully curated rare full brick bungalow in the heart of Lakeview Village on huge 96'x137' park like lot.

BED: 4 BATH: 2 1,223 SQ.FT. MLS C4241216 Mount Royal Gem! Whether you renovate or build your dream home, this charming character home situated on a 60'x125' corner lot is sure to impress.

BED:4 BATH: 3.5 2,709 SQ.FT. MLS C4242481 Gorgeous outdoor living spaces with sunny west back yard perfect for entertaining w/ seating areas, gas fire pit & a putting green to practice your golf game.

BED:2 BATH: 3 1,625 SQ.FT. MLS C4237448 Surrounded by nature & views of downtown you will love this recently updated 2 storey home in Briar Hill.

Renata Reid

Vivienne Huisman

Renata Reid

403.630.3991

403.689.8722

403.630.3991 « SINGLE FAMILY HOMES

Renata Reid

403.630.3991

« SOLD »

SO L D

$722,000

$459,500

$675,000

132 Edgemont Estates Drive NW

89 Somme Boulevard SW, Calgary, AB

443 31 Avenue NW, Calgary, AB

1627 45 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB

BED: 2 BATH: 3/1 , 1,802 SQ.FT. MLS C4234184 This stunning bright private end unit townhome offers over 2400+ sq.ft. and backs onto a spectacular reserve. 10 minute drive to UofC and 15 min to downtown. No condo fees.

BED: 3 BATH: 3/1 1,983 SQ.FT. MLS C4241216 Most desirable boulevard in Garrison Woods! Rare updated inner city townhome with authentic brick exterior and third floor master suite.

BED: 3 BATH: 2 , 1,508 SQ.FT. MLS C4233300 Now is the time to buy! This renovated character home is move in ready. Located on quiet SOUTH facing treed 50ft x120 lot in sought after community of Mount Pleasant.

BED:6 BATH: 5 3,314 SQ.FT. An architectural masterpiece in the heart of Altadore SOLD in less two weeks. Call today for consultation

Anne Clarke-Davidson

Vivienne Huisman

Anne Clarke-Davidson

CALGARY 403.254.5315

CANMORE 1.855.254.5315

403.803.5578

VANCOUVER 604.632.3300

VICTORIA 250.380.3933

403.689.8722

SUN PEAKS 250.578.7773

KELOWNA 1.877.530.3933

TORONTO 416.960.9995

Canadian Owned and Operated. E.&O.E.: This information is from sources which we deem reliable, but must be verified by prospective Purchasers and may be subject to change or withdrawal.

403.803.5578

MONTREAL 514.933.4777

Renata Reid

403.630.3991

SOTHEBYSREALTY.CA

This just in: Flights to Austin, Texas.

Photo credit: Visit Austin

Photo credit: Geoff Duncan

Now flying non-stop from Calgary to Austin, Texas.

In Austin, find yourself immersed in its world-class entertainment districts where you’ll enjoy trendy shops, eat in southern-inspired restaurants and discover renowned museums you could spend the entire day in.

When the sun finally sets, be sure to make your way down to the entertainment districts’ Sixth Street, where you’ll experience the city’s true local charm filled with live music and authentic eats. All this and more when you visit the live music capital of the world.

Book today at westjet.com or call your travel agent.

Seasonal start and end dates apply.

Summer Every Summer Has a Story...

Local. Unique. Convenient.

FOOD & DRINK

FAS H ION

Britannia Wine Merchants

Ginger Laurier

Suzette Bistro Britannia Starbucks

H OUS E & H OME

Sunterra Market

Britannia Kitchen & Home

Village Ice Cream

B OOKS PERS ONAL & PROFESSIONAL SERVIC ES

Owl’s Nest Bookstore | Owlets

Britannia Dermedics Britannia Hair Company & Esthetics Britannia Pharmacy Chinook Optical Britannia Medical Clinic The Ritual Fitness Studio

E L B OW D R I V E & 4 9 AV E N U E SW O P E N 7 DAYS A W E E K

BRITANNIAPLAZA.COM

ROUGE June 23

Pink Garden Party Avenue is hosting the city’s most glamourous outdoor affair in the gardens of Rouge. This won’t be your standard garden party — there won’t be a burnt bratwurst or pink flamingo in sight! We hope you’ll join us for an afternoon of fine dining in the sunshine.

Guests are encouraged to wear pink or white. Partial proceeds will be donated to the Alberta Cancer Foundation.

AvenueCalgary.com/ dinnerseries

PRESENTING SPONSOR

STR ATEGIC

GOLD SPONSOR

SILVER SPONSOR

SILVER SPONSOR

VISIT ONE OF OUR PLAYGROUNDS FOR A FEW BUCKS Sundre plays host to rodeo events that will leave you on the edge of your seat. If bucking isn’t your thing, we also have skateparks, swimming pools and trail systems to get your heart racing.

Why not have an adventure in Sundre today?

Check out all the action at the 40th anniversary of the Sundre Pro Rodeo happening June 21 - 23!

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Tf

exploresundre.com #ExploreSundre

Luxury Lakefront Living BUILD YOUR LAKEFRONT MASTERPIECE AT MCKINLEY BEACH

ONLY 12 EXCLUSIVE LOTS AVAILABLE

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VISIT OUR SHOW HOME AT 3428 WATER BIRCH CIRCLE MCKINLEYBEACH.CA | 250-980-5555

This is not an offering for sale. Such an offering can only be made with a disclosure statement. E. & O.E.

This just in: Flights to Portland, Oregon.

Now flying non-stop daily from Calgary to Portland, Oregon.

In Portland, there’s so much to do and see. The best way to explore this bustling city is the way locals do it... by bicycle. During the day, enjoy touring everything from hikes through Forest Park to the street art all around the city. At night, venture on to Portland’s lively music scenes that date back to the 1940’s. There’s something for everyone in this friendly city and we look forward to taking you there soon.

Book today at westjet.com or call your travel agent.

Schedule subject to change.

604 988 1407 weareif.com

client docket

Hy’s HYS-18-032

item size

Avenue Calgary Ad 7.875" x 4.8125"

insertion date artwork due

Jun 2019 26 Apr 2019

CYAN

MAGENTA

YELLOW

BLACK

W A N T ED S E L L E R S OR B U Y E R S

BRIANNA 403.681.6294 @bri_coghlan

TANYA 403.863.7434 @tanyaeklund

REWARD :

AMY 403.630.2653 @amyregamble

KATIE 403.650.4537 @katieoconnorrealtor

Realtors who understand the importance of marketing your home in the digital world

HALL OF FAME

SUMMER 2019.

Come Feel The Rush STANDARDBREDS. INDIAN RELAY. THOROUGHBREDS. CHUCKWAGONS.

Information and tickets

centurydowns.com

F E AT U R E S

contents JUNE 2019

DEPARTMENTS

O N T H E CO VE R

We've got boots on the ground — the boots on our cover all belong to RedPoint staff, their families and friends.

PHOTOGRAPH BY Jared Sych

18 EDITOR’S NOTE 20 CONTRIBUTORS 66 WORK OF ART

24

Detours A look at Smithbilt’s limitededition hat to celebrate 100 years in the business (basically the Champagne of cowboy hats). Plus, a word with the first honoree to be named First Nations Princess at the Stampede, some surprising (and not-so-surprising) numbers about the Stampede’s midway foods, a peek at the Stampede’s poster archive and more.

28

Best Stampede Events A rundown of what to see and where to be seen at Stampede 2019, from the big bombastic shows, to the hidden gems.

By Colin Gallant

56

Decor The rural home of Ragnar Lyndon Saether brings together his Scandinavian heritage and his rodeo roots.

38

The Future of Stampede Over the past century, the Stampede has established itself as the city’s premier festival and international calling card by figuring out how to become all things to all people. But what’s in store for the century to come?

62

Get The Look Home accessories inspired by the ranching life.

By Taylor Lambert

34

44

Why the official name change for what was formerly known as the Stampede’s Indian Village is more than just a matter of words.

Elevated spaces across the city where you can enjoy al fresco drinking and dining.

Elbow River Camp

By Stephanie Joe 14

avenueJUNE.19

Rooftop Patio Roundup

By Al Harvey

52

Mountains Guest ranches are ideal if you want an urban escape with a taste of the cowboy life. Along with horseback riding and other unique Western experiences these eight ranches near Calgary are all have incredible mountain settings.

64

The List Ingrid Schulz, owner of the Western boutique Cody & Sioux, on her favourite Stampede and Western things.

the most delicious destination in the Canadian Rockies

Reservation: 1.800.661.1586 www.posthotel.com

AvenueCalgary.com

15

avenue Vital Lines Interactive Outdoor Installation Sabine Lecorre-Moore · Patricia Lortie -----

a point on the horizon Emerging Artist Showcase

RedPoint Media & Marketing Solutions 100, 1900 11 St. S.E. Calgary, Alberta T2G 3G2 Phone: 403-240-9055 Toll Free: 1-877-963-9333 x0 Fax: 403-240-9059 info@redpointmedia.ca AvenueCalgary.com Facebook: Avenue Magazine — Calgary Twitter: @AvenueMagazine Instagram: @AvenueMagazine

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Opening Reception June 15 | 2 - 4 pm

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FAMILY LAW

It’s your life.

Protect it.

Years of knowledge and experience are at the heart of our successful practice in family law. From divorce and separation, prenuptial agreements to child and spousal support, you can be confident knowing you’re in good hands.

Published 12 times a year by RedPoint Media & Marketing Solutions. Copyright (2019) by RedPoint Media & Marketing Solutions. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher.

Canadian Publications Mail Agreement No. 40030911.

We acknowledge the traditional territories and the value of the traditional and current oral practices of the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Tsuut'ina and Stoney Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

Visit us at McLeod-Law.com

16

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Publisher Joyce Byrne, jbyrne@redpointmedia.ca Editor-in-Chief Käthe Lemon, klemon@redpointmedia.ca Executive Editor Jennifer Hamilton, jhamilton@redpointmedia.ca Senior Art Director Venessa Brewer, vbrewer@redpointmedia.ca Executive Editor, Digital Content Jaelyn Molyneux, jmolyneux@redpointmedia.ca Senior Editor Shelley Arnusch Associate Art Director Sarah McMenemy Assistant Editors, Digital Content Alyssa Quirico, Alana Willerton Editorial Assistant Colin Gallant Staff Photographer Jared Sych Production Designer Austin Jansen Contributing Editor Andrew Guilbert Editorial Intern Stephanie Joe Fact Checkers Hadeel Abdel-Nabi, Matthew Coyte, Jennifer Friesen Contributors Jennifer Friesen, Al Harvey, Taylor Lambert, Citlali Loza, Miko Maciaszek, Colleen Seto, Katherine Ylitalo Land Acknowledgement Advisors Elder Edmee Comstock, Elder Reg Crowshoe, Elder Rose Crowshoe Print Advertising Coordinator Erin Starchuk, production@redpointmedia.ca Sales Assistant Robin Cook, rcook@redpointmedia.ca Director, National Sales Lindy Neustaedter Account Executives Elsa Amorim, Liz Baynes, Janelle Brown, Melissa Brown, Jocelyn Erhardt, Deise MacDougall, Anita McGillis, Chelsey Swankhuizen Production Manager Mike Matovich Digital Advertising Specialist Katherine Jacob Pickering (on leave) Digital Advertising Coordinator Silvana Franco Audience Development/Reader Services Manager Rob Kelly Printing Transcontinental LGM Distribution City Print Distribution Inc.

Avenue is a proud member of the Alberta Magazine Publishers Association and Magazines Canada, abiding by the standards of the Canadian Society of Magazine Editors.

Paid circulation is audited by BPA Worldwide.

REDPOINT MEDIA GROUP INC. President & CEO Pete Graves, pgraves@redpointmedia.ca Operations Manager Terilyn Lyons, tlyons@redpointmedia.ca Business Development Strategist Anita McGillis, amcgillis@redpointmedia.ca Client Relations Manager Natalie Morrison, nmorrison@redpointmedia.ca Events & Marketing Coordinator Rebecca McDonald, rmcdonald@redpointmedia.ca Controller Cheryl Clark, cclark@redpointmedia.ca Accountant Marienell Lumbres, mlumbres@redpointmedia.ca Office Manager Anna Russo, arusso@redpointmedia.ca

NEXT ISSUE

July

2019

With age came wisdom

and the understanding

that one should focus on what’s valuable

and worry not about one’s wealth

HIGH STEAKS From great steak houses to great cuts, find out what you need to know about one of Alberta’s prime resources.

MAXIMUM SUMMER Get the most out of summer by putting the most into it. We give our top tips on what to do to make the most of the shortest season.

THE E IS FOR EQUAL Find out how eBikes can save your relationship — or at least make biking with your partner or family members

Photograph by Jared Sych

more fun.

Go Far. Together.

Partner with us by visiting cumberlandprivatewealth.com or call 1 403 705 1200 Cumberland Private Wealth Management Inc. | Calgary | Toronto | Kingston

AvenueCalgary.com

17

EDITOR’S NOTE

Calgary’s Stampede

T

G E T AV E NU E O N YO U R TA B L E T! To get the tablet edition, go to avenuecalgary.com/tabletedition

Käthe Lemon Editor-in-Chief klemon@redpointmedia.ca

The Stampede is not the only organization trying to foster a better relationship with Indigenous people. While our steps may still be small, I hope they are taking us slowly toward reconciliation.

In this issue we also introduce our own small step that we hope is in the right direction. You may notice that our masthead (the area of the magazine where we list who created the issue and where you can find us) now includes a land acknowledgement. The magazine is our way of meeting with our readers and we felt that adding an acknowledgement, much like you have probably heard at the beginning of many public meetings and performances to honour the land, those who came before us and all of those who now call Calgary home, was vital.

Creating this land acknowledgement and including it in our publication was a lengthy process of questioning our motives and commitments and

learning from Elders. I met with and learned from Elders Reg and Rose Crowshoe of the Piikani First Nation as well as Edmee Comstock who is Metis.

I also learned from events hosted by the Calgary Board of Education and Calgary Arts Development Authority.

As editors and storytellers dedicated to sharing ideas from and about Calgary, the Avenue team is deeply committed to the power of words.

So, while this land acknowledgement is small and perhaps looks insignificant, we believe it is not, in part because the best words signal intention and spur us to action. So, to that point: We acknowledge the traditional territories and the value of the traditional and current oral practices of the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Tsuut'ina and Stoney Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

THE ROOFTOP AT MODERN COMING SUMMER 2019 TO STEPHEN AVENUE

MODERN STEAK WWW.MODERNSTEAK.CA

18

avenueJUNE.19

Photograph by Jared Sych; hair and makeup by Citlali Loza

he extent to which Calgary is synonymous with the Calgary Stampede can’t be overstated. The 10-day festival is our most significant international calling card, and it supports and fosters business and business relationships — and not only in the tourist industry. The Stampede generates a huge volume of charitable donations, both directly and indirectly, through fundraising events and raffles. And it has a considerable inner-city footprint, with prime real estate in the Beltline and Ramsay.

For all of these reasons and more, Calgarians have to work to maintain the health of this civic brand in the super long term — not just for the coming decades, but for the coming generations.

So we decided to dedicate this whole issue (okay, almost the whole issue) to stories about Stampede and Western culture.

One of the major changes has been an evolution in the complex relationship between Stampede and First Nations participants and attendees. This year, for the first time, the area dedicated to First Nations displays, teepees and craft booths will be called by a name of their own choosing and which reflects on the shared history of the Indigenous people of this area, rather than the history of their relationship to settlers. If you have not been to it before, be sure to visit the Elbow River Camp and think about the resilience of this evolving relationship.

This is date night.

Currie is uniquely situated to provide a connection to the hustle of downtown and the amenities of Marda Loop, without sacrificing space and beauty.

Just a seven minute drive from the downtown core, Currie offers inner city living with parks, playgrounds, green space, beautiful streetscapes, and a range of housing opportunities from a variety of award-winning builders.

ROUGE Restaurant

Original | Inglewood

Learn more about Calgary’s most exciting inner city community at

currielife.ca

Celebrate Stampede with us! rougecalgary.com AvenueCalgary.com

19

ON THE WEB Nanton Grain Elevator.

CONTRIBUTORS AL HARVEY

Al Harvey works as a writer in Calgary and enjoys hiking and skiing in the Rockies with his wife and young family.

He has written extensively about Western Canada, Alaska and sporting equipment. When he’s not hustling for his next writing gig, he can be found travelling with his family in Europe and North America.

STEPHANIE JOE

ROAD TRIPPING Plan your summer quick trips to southern Alberta’s small towns.

AvenueCalgary.com/Roadtrips

/avenuecalgary @avenuemagazine @avenuemagazine

Subscribe to our weekly Food, Style and Weekender newsletters to get the latest restaurant and store openings, advice on what to eat and where to shop, and our picks for the best things to do in Calgary.

sign up

AVENUECALGARY.COM /NEWSLETTERS

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Stephanie Joe is a Yukon-born Indigenous journalist who now calls Treaty 7 home. She has a diploma in journalism from SAIT and was nominated for valedictorian of her graduating class. Joe started out in newspaper writing, and admits she is more comfortable writing academic papers than magazine articles, however, her recent internship at Avenue has converted her into a lifelong feature writer.

When she isn’t chasing the next Indigenous story, Joe can be found annoying her 13-year-old son, or watching the Blue Jays with her husband, which is proof she still believes in miracles.

MIKO MACIASZEK

Miko Maciaszek is a Canadian freelance illustrator specializing in editorial and conceptual art. Maciaszek studied visual art at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ont., and received his BA in illustration in 2012. He has since worked with a wide range of clients in publishing and commercial arts including The Globe and Mail, Reader’s Digest and The New York Times. Maciaszek is currently in Poland pursuing a masters in fine art.

JAELYN MOLYNEUX

Jaelyn Molyneux is the executive editor of digital content for RedPoint Media & Marketing Solutions, and has worked for Avenue Calgary for more than 10 years. When she’s not creating content plans, digging into analytics and surfing social media to see what her fellow Calgarians are up to, she’s eating her way through all the baked goods in the city, running along the RiverWalk (to counteract those baked goods) and trying to hit her goal of reading 50 books in 2019.

SAVOUR SUMMER on one of Calgary’s largest patios

200 8 AVENUE SW ¥ 403.770.2313 ¥ THEGUILDRESTAURANT.COM AvenueCalgary.com

21

OUR SECOND STORY BALCONY IS A FIRST CLASS VIEW OF STEPHEN AVE

1 FRENCH ROSÉ

An ‘Infield’ Experience Above the Crowds We offer a different kind of patio, with a focus on our food that is anything but ‘midway’. Crisp cocktails, an award-winning chef, and a fresh new experience are available at Murrieta’s West Coast Bar & Grill for your stampede event. Book now for a timeless tradition ‘in the west’ where Calgary chooses to dine off the grounds.

IN ALBERTA

ALSO AVAILABLE IN 1.5L OR 375ML BOTTLES

200 – 808 1st Street SW | 403.269.7707 | murrietas.ca |

Innovative orthodontic solutions and treatments designed especially for each and every patient’s unique smile.

To Find a Retailer Visit:

Banker's Hall 403 253 2702 Calgary Northeast 403 248 2772 22

avenueJUNE.19

LIQUORCONNECT.COM/+778270 In Partnership With

Anatomy of the Centennial Hat

S •

DETOURS

mithbilt Hats celebrates 100 years of hat making in 2019. To commemorate the occasion, the iconic Calgary company has crafted a centennial hat — the most expensive hat it has ever created. Only 100 will be made and the limited-edition luxury hat retails for $2,200. Here’s what makes it so special. —Colin Gallant The hat’s black-cherry felt (a special-edition colour) is made from a mix of beaver and mink sourced from Tennessee.

•

The hand-stitched sharkskin band was crafted by a beltmaker in Nanton.

•

The silverfill Smithbilt logo hatpin, custom-made by Olson Silver Company in High River, features a black oxide background inlaid with two small sapphires.

What you can’t see in these photos is the final shaping: Smithbilt custom shapes each hat to its wearer to match both head circumference and facial features. There is also a yet-tobe-added satin lining in a choice of teal, navy or silver, with a graphic print of the Smithbilt logo and a bucking horse.

•

The hat comes with a logo-

•

This commemorative belt

stamped horsehair brush

buckle, also made by Olson

for cleaning and care.

Silver Company in celebration of Smithbilt’s centennial, is available for separate

Photograph by Jared Sych

purchase for $200.

•

The inside band of the hat is

•

Each hat comes inside a

made with goatskin from New

burled walnut box. The retainer

York and is imprinted with the

inside the box helps the hat

owner’s name and the hat’s

keep its shape.

number out of 100, in the style of limited-edition artwork.

AvenueCalgary.com

23

DETOURS

DANCE IN THE LOOP!

Wanted: Posters

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avenueJUNE.19

CONNECT WITH US

unning through the Plus-15 connector from the BMO Centre to the Stampede grounds, the Parade of Posters is a display of nearly every poster the Stampede has produced since its inception in 1912. But as you peruse the colourful prints, you’ll notice three black signs with the word “wanted” printed in white type where the 1922, 1926 and 1930 posters should be. These placeholders recall old Western “wanted” posters by offering a $1,000 reward to the person who brings the missing subjects to the authorities.

“The majority of our historical collection comes from the community realizing or feeling that they have something valuable and then bringing it to our archives, asking us if we want to preserve it,” says Christine Leppard, historical specialist with the Calgary Stampede. “We get a lot of [posters] from the 1950s on, but fewer and fewer from the early period are around. If we do see any available for purchase or where collectors come to us, we jump on them.”

The process extends beyond posters to other aspects of the collection. In 2017, the Stampede acquired a cowboy hat that had belonged to Clem Gardner, a famous cowboy with a long history at the Stampede, after someone drew the historical department's attention to an auction where it was for sale.

“Primarily we’re looking for items that help us tell Stampede history,” says Leppard. “But the history of Calgary, the history of the West, the history of our local identity, it’s all sort of tied together.”

—Andrew Guilbert If you have one of the missing posters, or another item the Stampede might be interested in, email archive@calgarystampede.com.

The poster for the 1926 Stampede is one of a few that are currently missing from the archives.

Stampede Midway Food by the Numbers

O

ne of the great pleasures of Stampede is trying (or watching someone else try) the hair-raisingly bizarre concoctions on the midway. Scorpion pizza, prairie oysters, crocodile meat … Just how do they come up with this stuff? The answer, surprisingly, is science. James T. Radke, manager of retail attractions and midway operation for the Stampede, says his team looks at hard data on food and consumer trends to help determine what's offered each year. Here are some figures that shed light on the process. —C.G.

70%

of midway fare falls into the category of “traditional and staple,” including everyday foods like burgers and fries.

5%

of food offerings are categorized as “extreme/crazy.”

68%

of the media coverage about the midway food is generated by extreme/crazy food.

8 10

to years is the approximate lengthof time Stampede has used this model to program the midway food, a time-frame that corresponds roughly with the introduction of the deep-fried Oreo.

500+ food vendor

Create a custom home in Dressage.

Only a couple of lots remain.

4

Building bungalows, villas & two-storeys with truly incredible standard specifications and backed by over 65 years of building experience.

Stampede Midway food photography by Shaun Robinson

applications are received each year.

Stampede staff review the applications before they are sent on to a selection committee.

60

Get what you want.

people make up the Stampede’s Concession & Exhibition Committee,

some of whom consult on applications and judge the booth aesthetics.

2 1

types of food get an application tossed out: food that is offensive or objectively unappetizing. item that didn’t make

the cut in 2018:

a bull penis on a stick.

Visit our collection of show homes: Artesia at Heritage Pointe 403.475.1813 403.980.4879 Coopers Crossing 587.215.9509 The Point in Patterson

Crestmont View 587.215.9509 403.981.2181 Harmony 403.475.1813 Dressage

augustafinehomes.com

AvenueCalgary.com

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DETOURS

of backgrounds for a day of talks at Jack Singer Concert Hall. Last year’s guests

do to

M

eet Astokomii Smith, the Stampede’s first First Nations Princess. The role previously known as “Indian Princess” was renamed last year.

Though the title may have changed, the role itself has remained largely the same — to offer an Indigenous outlook on the rodeo and Stampede and to represent the Treaty 7 nations, the Stampede and the Elbow River Camp. “I enjoy every second of it, but it’s a full-time job,” says Smith, adding that she was told the first couple of months would be slow. “Then I looked at the schedule and saw that I had an event two or three times a week, sometimes twice a day, and I thought, Astokomii Smith. ‘that’s not very slow at all!’”

Women from all over Treaty 7 territory compete for the crown. Contestants go through a rigorous pageant process that showcases their public speaking abilities, traditional dancing skills, Treaty 7 knowledge and even timing on how long it takes to get from their dressing rooms to scheduled events.

In addition to all their obligations, Stampede royalty (which also includes the Stampede Queen and two Stampede Princesses) often get opportunities to travel to other countries to share information about their home country and cultures. This year the First Nations Princess flew to Australia in February to give the land down under a taste of Cowtown hospitality, with Smith outfitted in her full dance regalia during the tour. “I’m showcasing Treaty 7 culture and also giving them a little show of what Elbow River Camp [previously known as the Indian Village] is all about,” says Smith.

Often, the princess is the only First Nations person a nonCanadian will have an interaction with. “They love to ask questions,” says Vanessa Stiffarm, the 2016 Indian Princess, who also went to Australia during her reign. “When we tour, it’s about educating [other countries] about Indigenous culture.”

Besides promoting Indigeneity for the Calgary Stampede, Smith is also an advocate for mental health. Not the type to shy away from hard topics, Smith has no problem talking about her own struggles with anxiety. She wants to show other Indigenous youth that, even if they have mental health issues, they can still accomplish great things. “I want to break down the stigma that [anxiety is] a weakness and that it holds you back from things,” says Smith. “Because it doesn’t.” —Stephanie Joe Look for Astokomii Smith in full regalia at the Elbow River Camp located at Enmax Park, July 5 to 14.

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this month

Avenue Top 40 Under 40 honouree Jeremy Klaszus and others. This year’s event has been extended by two hours for even more learning.

Jack Singer Concert Hall, Arts Commons, tedxyyc.ca Sled Island Music & Arts Festival.

FE S T I VA L YYC BEER WEEK JUNE 3 TO 9 BeerGuysYYC’s annual celebration of beer is back for 2019 in support of more than 40 charities. Upwards of 100 breweries, restaurants and retailers are participating, most of which will offer a special collaborative brew created by a team of local brewmasters. Highlight events include the collaborative beer launch on June 3, an adults-only night at the Calgary Zoo on June 6 and a cask battle on June 7. yycbeerweek.com

MARK E T INGLEWOOD NIGHT MARKET JUNE 7 The first edition of this open-air street market for 2019 will have more than 50 vendors sell-

live entertainment by musicians and dancers

FE S T I VA L SLED ISLAND MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL

or bring a date and dip into the beer gardens

JUNE 19 TO 23

for a pint.

More than 250 bands, along with comedy

10 Ave. and 10 St. S.E.,

shows, art shows and films, will be pre-

inglewoodnightmarket.ca

sented throughout the inner city during

ing handmade goods, vintage treasures and snack-worthy treats. Bring the kids to see

Sled Island. Priding itself on offering at-

FE S T I VA L ROLL OUT

tendees the chance to discover their next

JUNE 14 TO 16

be familiar to all but includes highlights

Calgary’s first roller-skating festival offers

like Cate Le Bon, William Basinski and

a weekend of learning, skating and cel-

guest curator Julien Baker.

ebration. Whether you’re a beginner or a

sledisland.com

favourite act, the festival’s lineup may not

pro, you’ll enjoy classes on conventional passholders will skate the public pathways

FA N C O N V E N T I O N CALGARY HORROR CON

to a secret after-party location following the

JUNE 22 AND 23

festivities on June 16.

Exorcise your inner demons with this two-

Village Square Leisure Centre, 2623 56 St.

day affair of all things ghastly and ghoulish.

N.E., calgaryrollerskate.com

Calgary Horror Con includes a film festival,

skating and roller dancing alike. Weekend

costume contest, dozens of vendors and,

TA LK S TEDXYYC

of course, special guests. This year’s talent

JUNE 15

Teri McMinn (the original Texas Chain Saw

The 10th annual independently organized

Massacre) and others.

TEDxYYC will gather speakers from a variety

Clarion Hotel, 2120 16 Ave. N.E., horror-con.ca

includes Bill Moseley (The Devil’s Rejects),

Astokomii Smith photograph by Jeff Whyte, dreamstime.com; Sled Island photograph by Mike Tan

The First First Nations Princess

included former CTV anchor Barb Higgins,

Openings ALLORA Located in Redwater Rustic Grille’s former space, this new Italian restaurant has a glassenclosed pasta station and a patio overlooking a picturesque neighbourhood pond.

326 Aspen Glen Landing S.W., 403-686-6731, allorarestaurant.com

Close to Down Town

CALGARY

403-228-1066 peter@PeterJost.ca

By Appointment

S’mores pancakes at Monki Inglewood.

MONKI BREAKFASTCLUB & BISTRO

The Goldschmiede Studio

for a short time only ÉÉ..

5% to 35% off from our reg. price on almost every jewellery item in stock

Magic through Creativity, pr

Beltline brunch spot Monki Breakfastclub & Bistro has added a second, larger location in Inglewood. The creative menu at Monki Inglewood includes brisket eggs Benedict, stacks of s’mores pancakes and four varieties of chocolate fondue.

1420 9 Ave. S.E., monkibistro.ca

POPPY BARLEY Edmonton-based Poppy Barley has opened its first Calgary storefront in CF Market Mall.

Shoppers can get measured for a pair of made-to-order leather shoes or boots and browse the in-stock selection of leather footwear, backpacks, purses and other accessories.

CF Market Mall, poppybarley.com

RICK RACK TEXTILES This new garment-focused sewing shop is brought to you by the team behind the needle arts mecca Stash Lounge in Inglewood. Lo-

Photograph by Jared Sych

cated one block east of Stash in the space that was formerly 28 Blankets, Rick Rack stocks fabrics, patterns and extras like zippers and thread. The store also features a large-format printer for creating physical copies of PDF patterns and offers sewing workshops.

1317 9 Ave. S.E., 403-263-8088, rickracktextiles.com AvenueCalgary.com

27

1.

2.

What to See and Where to be Seen at Stampede 2019 3.

N

avigating the Calgary Stampede takes the dexterity of a calf-roper, the stamina of a bull and the speed of a rodeo clown running away from that bull. Accordingly, you should consider going into this year’s festivities with a clear outline of what to see and when to see it. Once that’s out of the way, you can spend as much time as you like riding the Zipper, bingeing on corndogs and howling “ya-hoo!”

THE

Classics

These crowd-pleasers at Stampede Park happen every year for a reason. For an essential Stampede experience, start here and then work your way out to the other categories on this list.

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EVENING SHOW Duration of Stampede, Grandstand Arena Each night of the Stampede, starting at 7:45 p.m., the Evening Show ends the day with a bang. Festivities kick off with the GMC Rangeland Derby chuckwagon races before the Bell Grandstand Show bursts into song, dance and acrobatics. It all ends with the nightly fireworks show — the most explosive Stampede tradition of all.

DOG BOWL SHOWS Duration of Stampede, Stampede Midway Each day of Stampede includes performances by its resident Canine Stars. These good boys and girls show off new tricks every year, proving a certain adage to be false. This event is free with park admission.

MOTOCROSS AT THE MONSTER ENERGY COMPOUND Duration of Stampede, Monster Energy Compound Talk about horsepower — extreme sports lovers can enjoy their own take on rodeo inside the Monster Energy Compound. The freeadmission space showcases numerous daily freestyle motocross and quarter-pipe shows by death-defying competitors.

RODEO EVENTS Duration of Stampede, Grandstand Infield Rodeo events begin at 1:30 p.m. every day of Stampede. The nine main events offer a collective $2 million in prize money to competitors across categories including barrel racing, bareback riding (novice and pro), tie-down roping, steer wrestling, junior steer riding, saddle bronc (novice and pro) and bull riding. Reserve a seat in advance or buy a standingroom ticket for $14 (adult) before 11 a.m. on the day of the event.

SHOWBAND PERFORMANCES AND COMPETITION Competition July 5 to 8, performances throughout Stampede, Stampede Park You can see the Calgary Stampede Showband throughout the park during the 10-day event, but this year offers something extra as well.

The World Association of Marching Show Bands World Championships runs July 5 to 8, showcasing international competitors, including local talent, squaring off against each other.

All photography courtesy of Calgary Stampede; chuckwagon and rodeo photographs by Mike Ridewood; fireworks photograph by Shaun Robinson

There’s no shortage of good times to be had, on and off the grounds this year.

COWBOYS MUSIC FESTIVAL Duration of Stampede, Cowboys The Cowboys Music Festival is defined less by the artists it books than the rowdy experiences it creates. Last year featured rock (Steven Tyler of Aerosmith), country (Kip Moore), EDM (Kygo) and rap (G-Eazy). What these all have in common is a crowd ready to take shots and shake their, erm, hips.

4.

5.

7.

THE GREATEST INDOOR SHOW ON EARTH Duration of Stampede, The Palomino Whether you’re in the mood for live music or hungry for The Palomino’s famous barbecue and infamous garlic fries, you can enter the venue for free most days from Monday to Friday during Stampede (call ahead to avoid disappointment). Live music usually begins at 4 p.m. and will feature genres from across the spectrum of country, punk rock, folk and more. Note that live music programming is free on the main floor only — lower level shows will have a cover charge.

LIVE AT RANCHMAN’S Duration of Stampede, Ranchman's Cookhouse & Dance Hall Ranchman’s remains one of the most enduring Stampede hot spots in the city no matter who’s on the lineup. After all, it has been named the Country Club of the Year by the Canadian Country Music Association Awards for the last three years in a row and a staggering 13 times since the awards began in 1982.

6.

All photography courtesy of Calgary Stampede; motocross photograph by Ben Dartnell; Dog Bowl photograph by Chris Wedman; Coca-Cola stage photograph by Shaun Robinson; Showband photograph by Shane Kuhn; Nashville North photograph by Bill Marsh

1. GMC Rangeland Derby chuckwagon races.

2. Saddle bronc rider.

3. Nightly fireworks.

4. Motocross athlete.

5. Dog Bowl show.

6. Coca-Cola stage.

MORE THAN COUNTRY

8.

7. Calgary Stampede Showband.

8. Drag show at Nashville North.

Music

Whether you’re a little bit country, a little bit rock ’n’ roll, or fall somewhere outside those classifications, it would be hard to spend a single day celebrating Stampede without tripping over some enjoyable live music. Our hit list should get you started.

BADLANDS STAMPEDE MUSIC FESTIVAL Duration of Stampede, Knoxville’s Tavern You'll find a raging party at Knoxville’s. The downtown nightclub will host musicians and DJs in its massive adjacent tent on several nights during Stampede. Although Knoxville’s is off the Stampede grounds, it’s just a few minutes on foot from the 7th Street CTrain station.

COCA-COLA STAGE LIVE SHOWS Duration of Stampede, Stampede Park, adjacent to Weadickville Access to the Coke stage is included in your park admission. The programming pairs global talent with local openers every night during Stampede. Highlights from the recent past include Nelly Furtado, Mother Mother, Broken Social Scene and a whole lot more. If you’re towing a teen around the grounds, take them here.

NASHVILLE NORTH Duration of Stampede, Stampede Park Your number-one destination for country music during Stampede, Nashville North hosts multiple shows each day by established and rising stars. Often, Nashville North is your last chance to see emerging talent in a more intimate space before the acts get their major commercial breakthrough.

CORB LUND AND GUESTS July 7, Big Four Alberta country legend (and Avenue July 2018 cover star) Corb Lund will headline a massive show on the first Sunday of Stampede. He’ll be joined by The Sheepdogs, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, The Sadies and Whitney Rose for an all-day affair of music from across the rockcountry spectrum.

THE ROUNDUP MUSICFEST AND OXFORD STOMP July 10 and 12, Shaw Millennium Park Sister events The Roundup MusicFest and Oxford Stomp are outdoor concerts held in support of the Calgary Military Family Resource Centre. A standard ticket grants admission and after-party privileges (at The Wildhorse Saloon) while VIP options include a meal, enhanced viewing areas and other perks. Billy Idol and Blondie will headline The Roundup, while the Oxford Stomp will have Bryan Adams, Amanda Marshall and Odds.

VIRGIN MOBILE STAMPEDE CONCERT SERIES July 12 to 14, Scotiabank Saddledome Perhaps the biggest concerts during all of Stampede, the Virgin Mobile Concert Series has three of the most in-demand names in country music booked for July 12, 13 and 14. The show on the 12th is headlined by the Zac Brown Band. Their blend of traditional roots sounds, top-40 country hooks and unexpected collaborations (a song co-written by Shawn Mendes, a recent on-stage Metallica cover with the help of Dave Grohl) ensures a dynamic show. The following night, Sugarland gets the spotlight. Finally, it all caps off with one of the biggest country stars on the planet, Tim McGraw, who has sold over 50 million records worldwide and needs no introduction.

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1.

Taste West OF THE

Pancake breakfasts take over every nook and cranny of the city during Stampede. Here are just a few special ones to get you started.

2.

THE CULTURE OF

Agriculture The Calgary Stampede’s main educational stream celebrates the Alberta agricultural professionals who help feed our province and the world. Take a break from the Midway to learn a thing or two.

STAMPEDE-LONG AGRICULTURE Duration of Stampede, Stampede Park Drop-in-as-you-please programming at Stampede includes the International Livestock Auctioneer Championships, Blacksmith Showcase, Draft Horse Town, Horse Haven, Nutrien Ag-tivity in the City, UFA Cattle Trail and Stampede Cowboy Up Challenge. Each is a great way for agriculture novices to peek into livestock and farming traditions.

CUTTING HORSE COMPETITION July 4 to 5, Nutrien Western Event Centre On July 4 (Sneak-a-Peek Day) and July 5 you can witness the only Canadian stop on the international cutting-horse competition circuit.

“Cutting” is when a horse and rider separate one cow from the herd, a real-life agricultural practice vital to raising cattle. Competitors are judged on their ability to keep a single cow isolated from the rest.

3.

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WILD WEST STAMPEDE BREAKFAST July 10, Ranchman’s Cookhouse and Dancehall Ranchman’s will host events throughout the duration of Stampede, but new for this year is its Wild West Stampede Breakfast blowout. You can arrive by one-way shuttle service from two downtown locations between 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., then chow down on pancakes, sausages, bacon, hash browns, scrambled eggs and more. Your admission also includes five drink tickets and access to an after-party beginning at noon.

BOOTLEGGIN’ BREAKFAST July 9, Westin Hotel Ballroom; July 11, Calgary Petroleum Club One of the most extravagant Stampede breakfasts in town expands to two days for 2019 due to popular demand. This high-roller event provides each attendee six drink tickets and the red-carpet treatment beginning at 8 a.m. The entertainment will be secret guests (hint: they’re award-winning country acts).

MINIATURE DONKEY SHOWCASE July 5 to 8, Ag Building and Northern Lights Arena Easily one of the cutest events taking place in the park is the Miniature Donkey Showcase. Breeders and their stock will be up-close and personal inside the Ag Building, and demonstrations of skill will be held in the Northern Lights Arena.

VINTAGE TRACTOR PULL July 6 and 7, Nutrien Western Events Centre If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like if The Fast and the Furious franchise got a cowboy makeover, boy, do we have an event for you.

Restored vintage tractors face off in five different weight classes to determine who can heave the most weight. These howdy-do hot rods are all built in 1960 or earlier, requiring serious ingenuity to become elite pullers.

VEGAN PANCAKE BREAKFAST July 6, Bridgeland Riverside Community Association Perhaps the opposite kind of event one might associate with the cattle-ranching-influenced Stampede, Calgary Vegan presents an all-vegan Stampede breakfast with support from Community Natural Foods. The third annual event will have live music and tasty breakfast offerings free of animal products.

4.

All photography (except bottom image) courtesy of Calgary Stampede; blacksmith and horse photographs by Shane Kuhn; Cowboy Up photograph by Chris Bolin

1. Blacksmith Showcase.

2. A horse named George.

3. Cowboy Up Challenge.

4. Vegan pancake breakfast.

1. Stampede Parade through downtown Calgary.

2. Sneek-A-Peek attendees get a taste of the Stampede before everyone else.

3. Serving up pancakes at Cenovus Family Day. 4. The Kids' Zone on BMO Kids' Day.

... AND THEN SOME These events don’t quite fit into any other boxes. The one thing tying them all together is fun!

CALGARY STAMPEDE SIDESADDLE RACE July 5 and 6, Stampede Track This rodeo-adjacent event honours the history and traditions of women’s sidesaddle-riding.

Sidesaddle dates back as far as 1382 and was a revolution in recognizing women as capable riders in their own right rather than merely wagon- or carriage-bound passengers. This race challenges its competitors’ riding abilities as well as their emulation of history through period-appropriate attire.

1.

DAYS TO

Save

An easy way to narrow down which day to attend is to follow the money. The following days offer discounts on park admission.

SNEAK-A-PEEK July 4 As they say, the early bird gets the deep-fried worm. Sneek-a-Peek admission is a flat $9 per person and kids aged six and younger get in for free. If you’re the person who visits the grounds on multiple days throughout Stampede, use this option to cross a few must-dos off your list before the crowds intensify.

2.

G’DDY UP! July 6 to 24, Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art Something of a contrast to Western Bronzes, this group exhibition at Newzones will feature contemporary depictions of western culture and identity through painting, photography and sculpture. Artists featured include Dianne Bos, Cathy Daley, Samantha Walrod and five others.

STAMPEDE ROAD RACE July 7, Glenmore Track Calgary’s ravenous running community hasn’t been forgotten during the 2019 festivities. The Stampede Road Race returns with half-marathon, five-kilometre and 10-km runs, as well as a kids’ marathon competition.

CENOVUS FAMILY DAY July 7 Not only is admission free between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Family Day, but you’ll also be fed a signature pancake breakfast upon arrival.

3.

4.

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STAMPEDE PARADE DAY July 5 If you head directly from the parade to the grounds at Stampede Park (do not pass go, do not collect $200) you can enter for the low, low price of zero dollars. Make sure to arrive by 1:30 p.m. to cash in on this deal.

Pro tip: park your keister as close to a CTrain station as possible for a fast ride directly to the party.

MCDONALD’S COMMUNITY DAY July 9 Community Day, presented by McDonald’s, offers $2 admission from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. plus free admission for seniors (age 65 and older) all day. Seniors may claim free tickets for the rodeo or evening show starting at 11 a.m., and all ages are welcome to enjoy free coffee and doughnuts while supplies last.

BMO KIDS’ DAY July 10 You’re never too young to learn about saving. That’s why this day offers free admission to kids 12 and younger (as well as their adult chaperones) from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and $2 admission for kids 12 and younger thereafter. Free breakfast is served from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in the Grandstand Courtyard and a free variety show is held concurrently on the Grandstand stage.

All photography courtesy of Calgary Stampede; parade and ice cream photographs by Shaun Robinson; pancake breakfast photograph by Mike Ridewood; Kids’ Zone photograph by Shane Kuhn

WESTERN BRONZES July 1 to 13, Webster Galleries & Avenida Framing Alberta artist Don Toney has created over 450 bronze works depicting cowboys, horses and more, including pieces selected in juried competitions by the Stampede. Go see his work exhibited at Webster Galleries & Avenida Framing to beat the heat and learn more about Western culture through art.

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AvenueCalgary.com

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From Indian Village to Elbow River Camp, the changing name of the space for Treaty 7 First Nations at the Calgary Stampede isn’t just about respectful words. It also shows an evolution in the unique and long-term relationship between the Stampede and Indigenous people.

34 avenueJUNE.19

G

uy Weadick shows up at your home asking if you want to be a part of his outdoor rodeo show. You’re skeptical. You’ve been thrown in jail multiple times for leaving your reserve without a pass, even though the reserve you now call home is a fraction of the space that used to be available to you for hunting, fishing and trapping. But you realize Weadick is serious. He wants you to parade through downtown Calgary in the very outfits you’ve been thrown in jail for wearing outside of your reserve. He wants you to dance and sing in your language, which you’ve only been able to do in private or face punishment, all for the benefit of his Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.

Main photograph from Getty Images; historical photograph from the Glenbow Archives, nb-16-401

LEFT In 2016 what was formerly known as the Indian Village moved to its current site at Enmax Park. This year, the area will have a new name, Elbow River Camp, chosen by the teepee owners. The change marks the start of a new era in the evolving relationship between the Stampede and the Indigenous participants.

BELOW First Nations families have been involved in the Stampede from the beginning. At that time, Indigenous people were not legally allowed to wear their cultural garb or practice their culture in public.

The Stampede arranged an exemption from these laws. Depicted in this photo taken in July 1926 at a Stampede event are (left to right) Joe Big Plume (Tsuut’ina), Jonas Rider (Nakoda), David Bearspaw (Nakoda), Stampede impresario Guy Weadick, Joe Calf Child (Siksika) and David White Headed Chief (Siksika).

BY Stephanie Joe

And he and his partners will be the ones to jump through the bureaucratic hoops — the ones to get a short-term pass on the Indian Act, essentially — to make it happen. What would you have done?

“Well, of course [First Nations people] came,” says Violet Meguinis, an intergenerational teepee owner and Calgary Stampede First Nations events committee member. She and her family have owned a teepee at Stampede since Weadick himself came asking the Treaty 7 First Nations people to participate in Stampede. “He had the cowboys on board, but he knew that to make this the experience he wanted, he had to have the Indigenous people involved.”

AvenueCalgary.com

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However, getting the Indigenous people involved was not an easy task. At that time, First Nations communities were strictly governed by the Indian Act, a federal legislation that concerned the interaction between Indigenous people and the Canadian government. The Indian Act stopped First Nations people from practicing their traditional ceremonies and cultural heritages.

Those who didn’t follow the rules faced penalties including hard labour and even jail time.

Such harsh punishments nearly halted Indigenous participation in the Stampede altogether. But Weadick was adamant on having them as a permanent staple of his show.

Weadick romanticized the cowboy lifestyle. “Visit Alberta before the golden opportunities, picturesque riders and Indians are gone,” reads one poster from 1908 when Weadick was trying to rally public interest for his rodeo. He knew he couldn’t have his wild west exhibition without the cowboys and the “Indians.” So, he partnered with prominent local politicians, including Senator James Lougheed and Richard Bedford Bennett, and they lobbied the Canadian government, with much difficulty, to get a temporary exemption to the restrictions of the Indian Act and he won over the First Nations people themselves.

“When you’re suppressed and you have to hide yourself, your identity, all of your ceremonies and your outfits, and if you can come and do it publicly, of course they came,” says Meguinis.

“I choose to look at Calgary Stampede in that light.”

The relationship between the teepee owners and the Calgary Stampede is unparalleled. The first days of Stampede took place at a time when there was very little interaction between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, with First Nations tribes restricted to reserves. But at the Stampede, they were forced to interact.

WHAT’S IN A NAME? The old Indian Village embodied the unlikely relationship between Weadick, the Stampede and the teepee owners and the name was indicative of the language of its time.

The legislation created during that era referred to Indigenous people as Indians: the Indian Act, the Department of Indian Affairs, Indian Agents. Though some of the legislation still uses that language, “Indian” isn’t an accurate label for Indigenous people in Canada and, as such, is being phased out of use by most Canadians. “It’s not our word,” says Meguinis. “It was a word placed on us by the colonialist people. [Christopher Columbus] came across, and got lost, and called us Indians.”

When Indian is used to describe a person who is from India, then it is being used correctly. But when the word is used to describe a person of Indigenous ancestry, it takes on a different meaning and connotation. Then, it’s a term of colonial prejudice and racism toward First Nations people.

Rather than perpetuate the prejudices of the past, Meguinis hopes to use the Stampede as a platform to showcase authentic Indigenous culture. “We’re not just beads and feathers,” she says.

“We have thriving communities. We truly believe in our sovereign right to determine what we want.”

Sovereignty is what drives Indigenous communities — it’s the justice they seek for a life and a land that was taken from them.

The name change is a representation of that sovereignty in action and the decision to rename the Stampede’s Indian Village is one step closer for Indigenous communities to redefine who they are and where they’ve come from through their own lens.

“WE’RE NOT JUST BEADS AND FEATHERS. WE HAVE THRIVING COMMUNITIES. WE TRULY BELIEVE IN OUR SOVEREIGN RIGHT TO DETERMINE WHAT WE WANT.” — Violet Meguinis, Tsuut’ina Nation and Stampede First Nations events committee member

This work by Siksika artist Paul Wolf Collar (1901-1985) shows the signing of Treaty 7 at Blackfoot Crossing in 1877. According to an inscription by Wolf Collar on the back, the figures depicted between the flags are (left to right) Colonel James Macleod, lieutenant-governor of the North-West Territories David Laird, Crowfoot and an unnamed North West Mounted Police sergeant. In front of them are chiefs who have come to sign the treaty. The teepee circle in the lower left is Crowfoot’s camp. Above that is Medicine Shield’s camp. Medicine Shield (the figure in the lower right of the camp circle) was ready to accept the treaty but Crowfoot held him off until he decided. To the right, along the Bow River, are the camps of the Kainai, Piikani, Tsuut'ina and Nakoda. The figures in the top left are the North West Mounted Police with cannons.

36

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Illustration sourced from Alberta On Record via the Glenbow Archives iw-glen-808; Sun Tree Park teepee photograph by Jared Sych

ELBOW RIVER CAMP The new name, Elbow River Camp, was officially unveiled last July, but change had been percolating since 2016.

The old Indian Village was located on the south side of the Stampede grounds along 25th Avenue S.E., but the inconspicuous location caused the teepee owners to feel as if they weren’t really part of Stampede. The area was also prone to flooding. The camp moved to Enmax Park on the east side of the Stampede grounds across the Elbow River in 2016, and the Indigenous participants felt that the new location was even more reason for a new name.

“In the past, the name had been kept to honour the relationship with Calgary Stampede and Guy Weadick,” says Shannon Murray, Indigenous programming manager with the Calgary Stampede. “Many of the teepee owners would say the name ‘Indian Village’ is that connection to our past and our long relationship, but the context is changing.”

In 1912, Indigenous people were less than second-class citizens.

They had no voting rights, couldn’t leave the reserve unless given permission and were banned from practicing their culture. When Weadick was insistent on having them in his event, they attended and they didn’t ask for more.

Today, many First Nations people sit on internal committees of the Stampede and are increasingly vocal and active in the organization. After re-examining the out-of-date name, it was decided unanimously that Indian Village was no longer acceptable.

Elbow River Camp was a natural selection for both the Indigenous participants and their Stampede counterparts, because the name held historical significance for the teepee owners. Before contact with settlers, many of the groups that now make up the Treaty 7 First Nations didn’t speak each other’s language, so they communicated through sign language. “We would communicate the sign for, ‘where are you going?’” says Meguinis. “The person would point to their elbow and we knew right away that was the Elbow River and they were going to Fort Calgary.

“This was our territory and this is where we interacted with each other,” she says. “This is a significant validation that Indigenous people were here long before contact.”

MOVING FORWARD Although it was the teepee owners who initiated the idea of changing the name, Murray says Stampede was receptive and listened to their Indigenous partners. “I keep using the word unique but there’s really not another way to describe the relationship the organization has had with these families from Treaty 7,” says Murray. “I know for the Stampede, this is just the next step in being a good partner and supporting the teepee owners.”

Now that the name has changed to appropriately represent Treaty 7 Nations, the teepee owners can focus on what’s truly important to them — educating others about Indigenous culture. “[The previous name had] always been a little hiccup,” Meguinis says. “But it’s done now and we can move forward and do the things we were doing before — building awareness and relationships, taking down misconceptions and empowering the youth.”

THE FIVE NATIONS OF TREATY 7 Each July, Treaty 7 First Nations gather at Elbow River Camp for the Calgary Stampede. Families set up teepees and camp on the grounds for the whole week, educating, teaching and demonstrating their traditional ways for guests. Here are some facts about each nation.

KAINAI One of three nations in the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Kainai, also called the Blood Tribe, has 12,800 members and occupy approximately 1,424 square kilometres. The Kainai reserve is home to Red Crow Community College, the

In 2012, the Calgary Stampede centennial year, this sculpture was unveiled at the main entrance to commemorate and celebrate the century-long relationship between the First Nations of Treaty 7 and the Stampede. Designed to look like a half teepee, the semi-circlular sculpture depicts historic iconography that represents the Kainai, Piikani, Siksika, Nakoda and Tsuut’ina.

The sculpture sits on the original Indian Village site, Sun Tree Park.

first tribal college in Canada. The Blood Tribe keep their members and others up to date on local news with the magazine, bloodtribe.org/tsinikssini.

NAKODA (STONEY)

SIKSIKA

Nakoda (also known as Stoney)

Siksika is also part of the Blackfoot

reserve is made up of three nations:

Confederacy — its name literally means

Bearspaw Nakoda Nation, Chiniki

“Blackfoot” (sik (black) and ika (foot),

Nakoda Nation and Wesley Nakoda

with an s connector). Historical figures

Nation. Nakoda means “people” or

of the Siksika Nation include Chief

“human.” The name “stoney” was

Crowfoot and Chief Old Sun, who

placed on them by white settlers who

were revered warriors and leaders and

observed how they cooked meals

also key participants in the signing of

over fire-heated rocks, however, the

Treaty 7. The Siksika reserve is home

Nakoda nations are moving away

to Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park,

from this name, because it doesn’t

an interpretive centre about the history

properly represent them.

and rich culture of the Blackfoot nation.

PIIKANI

TSUUT’INA

Piikani is another of the three nations

The Tsuut’ina are noted cattle ranch-

in the Blackfoot Confederacy. Members

ers, making them natural participants

of the Piikani Nation were the first

and competitors at the Calgary Stam-

in Alberta to demand voting rights in

pede. If you still have some rodeoing

provincial elections. They also acquired

left in you after Stampede, Tsuut’ina

a large land mass because of adopting

hosts its annual rodeo and powwow

the rifle and horse in the 1700s. Today,

the last weekend in July on grounds

the nation is 3,600 members strong.

five kms east of Bragg Creek.

AvenueCalgary.com

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LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE OF STAMPEDE

BY Taylor Lambert ILLUSTRATED BY Miko Maciaszek

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The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth is a celebration of Western culture and values wrapped around a midway, a shopping centre, the city’s largest music festival, community pancake breakfasts, corporate schmooze-fests and more. But at Stampede’s heart is nostalgia for a ranching and agricultural past that grows increasingly distant for many Calgarians. How Stampede maintains relevance as the city grows and changes will be pivotal to its future.

T

here is no such thing as the Calgary Stampede. At least, not in any unified, coherent way. It’s truer to say that there are many Stampedes. The Stampede contains multitudes. The cowboys focused on intense competition, the kids with cotton candy on the midway, the noisy young people getting excessively drunk, the guys hawking the latest time-saving kitchen gadgets, the families lined up for free pancakes, the corporate folks in jeans at exclusive boozy breakfasts — all of them are experiencing the phenomenon known as Stampede, regardless of whether or not the events are officially sanctioned or on the actual grounds.

Indeed, part of the Stampede’s power has been its ability to be all things to all people. There have been many evolutions and the sheer scale of the 10-day festival, the non-profit organization that oversees it, and the cottage industry of adjacent events, has exploded since the first iteration in 1912. Because it splashes out of the grounds with parties, concerts, community parades, breakfasts and more, no single person or group defines it or owns it completely.

And yet, it is in some way cohesive because, at its heart, it has remained a celebration of cowboys and horses and agriculture and rodeo — a tribute to “Western” heritage, values and mythology.

Sure, the Stampede is all about community and bringing people together, but you’re strongly encouraged to come together wearing a Stetson and shouting ya-hoo!

However, in a city continuing to diversify and evolve from its stereotypically white, conservative, ranching roots, can the cultural juggernaut that is the Stampede remain relevant without its own process of change?

It’s one thing to be all things to all people in a relatively homogenous town, as Calgary was for much of the 20th century. But with more than a third of Calgarians identifying as not-white, and with people coming from all over the world to make a new life here in a city less and less tethered to ranching and agriculture, the question of the long-term appeal of something like Stampede seems reasonable. What happens when there are not only more people, but more kinds of people, with different backgrounds and perspectives?

Can the same strategy still bring success?

Warren Connell, the chief executive of the Calgary Stampede, who began his career with the organization in 1984, says these questions have been on the radar for some time. “One measure of success that we certainly look at is, when we run these events, does the Stampede visitation actually reflect the identity of Calgary?” he says, then adds, “we certainly do reflect Calgary.”

According to the Stampede’s survey numbers from 2014, 27 per cent of park visitors were visible minorities and 77 per cent of immigrant Calgarians believe the Stampede is relevant.

Connell argues that people of most cultures understand the importance of agriculture, and he points to outreach programs and summer camps aimed at immigrant communities — particularly youth — as one of the ways in which the Stampede makes an effort to bring new Canadians into the fold. It’s a sensible strategy: Jyoti Gondek, city councillor for Ward 3, who says diversity issues in the city are important to her, notes that many newcomers find their way in a new place through what their kids get interested in. The question of inclusion goes deeper than just who attends Stampede, though.

Much of the Stampede is a celebration of Western heritage and a bygone era of ranching and pioneering in the West. But so much depends on perspective. In the case of Stampede — or, indeed, Canada in general — one side’s remembrance of a golden past can be seen by others as willful erasure of painful truths.

“Reconciliation” means different things to different people, but at its core is the notion that Canada’s relationship with Indigenous peoples, both past and present, is pretty awful and needs a fundamental rethink. In many ways, the central myth of the Stampede — the celebration of the up-by-the-bootstraps ranchers who tamed the wild west — neatly aligns with Canada’s benign self-image: kind, friendly white settlers who came here to build communities and share the land with their Indigenous neighbours.

“There’s a Western-settler philosophy that believes, ‘we’re a kind people,’” says Indigenous activist Michelle Robinson, “when the truth is the history is not kind at all.”

When asked about reconciliation, Connell lists his credentials for allyship: he was staff liaison to the Stampede’s First Nations committee for 25 years, and that to his knowledge he is “the only staff liaison to receive an Indigenous name from all five tribes.” He also grew up as an “army brat” near the Tsuut’ina reserve, so “my background goes pretty deep,” he notes. “This subject is actually near and dear to my heart.”

Connell notes that Guy Weadick — the American promoter who sold the idea of the Stampede to Calgary (and other cities) — managed to negotiate an exemption to the restrictive Indian Act to allow First Nations people to leave the reserves and bring their children to the Stampede grounds to participate, and to display some of their cultural practices, which, at the time had been outlawed in public.

The legacy of this early First Nations inclusion, Connell says, can be found not only at the Elbow River Camp (you can read more about the Elbow River Camp starting on page 34), but also in the Stampede’s various outreach and hiring programs.

For Robinson, however, the equality presented by Stampede is a myth that doesn’t reflect the lived experiences of Indigenous AvenueCalgary.com

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people. “You get to showcase your outfits, but you’re still harassed and bullied by the Calgary police, you’re still harassed and bullied by security. So: not one of ‘us.’ We’re still ‘othered’ even within the Calgary Stampede,” she says.

Robinson sees positive potential for the Stampede in the city, but only if the organization gets serious about actively creating inclusion. Given the role of ranching and agriculture in depriving Indigenous people of their territory and well-being, she argues the Stampede both could, and should, be a national voice for reconciliation efforts.

“They don’t see a role for themselves in reconciliation, when the irony is they could be leading the charge and the conversation,” says Robinson.

But Connell stops short of believing the Stampede should use its massive voice and platform to advance reconciliation or educate the public on Canada’s oppression of Indigenous people. “The Stampede’s history is really about successfully moving forward and building an inclusive community and a greater community.

So why would the Stampede go out and focus on the ills of other groups when ... we consider our success to be about facilitating going forward and partnerships and our collective future?” he says.

Likewise, Councillor Gondek warns there could be backlash if such a thing is handled poorly. “I would want it to be part of [Stampede’s] regular operation and their regular strategic planning and their vision, more so than as part of the festival. Because once you make something part of the 10-day exhibition, it becomes commodified,” she says.

One inclusive development in recent years is Pride Day, an event intended to draw the LGBTQ+ community to the Stampede.

It began as Gay Day, an informal gathering organized by a handful of friends, but has since been rebranded as Pride Day and scaled into a major event at Nashville North.

“THE STAMPEDE CAN OFTEN BE SEEN AS A MACHO, SORT OF ROUGH, VERY STRAIGHT, ONE-MINDED KIND OF EVENT, AND WE WANTED TO TRY TO BREAK THAT OPEN A BIT.” —CHARLES MACMICHAEL, PRIDE DAY ORGANIZER

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“The Stampede can often be seen as a macho, sort of rough, very straight, one-minded kind of event, and we wanted to try to break that open a bit,” says Charles Macmichael, the primary organizer. “We started the event as a way to bring folks from the LGBTQ+ community together to sort of get over the hump. It’s the same hump that prevents people in the LGBTQ+ community from really feeling comfortable on team sports.”

The culture around Stampede’s core events of rodeo and agriculture — frequently conservative, religious and hypermasculine — creates a space that can feel threatening to people who are marginalized or targeted in society at large, let alone at a rodeo. “There’s a lot of misconstrued, heteronormative macho behaviour that they might not feel comfortable around,” says Macmichael. “I liken it to if you are in a new city and you turn a corner and are a little bit lost, and you walk down a street where you get that vibe that you might need to stand a little straighter or walk a little faster or puff your chest out a little more to kind of prevent something from possibly happening to you. That’s, I think, what a lot of LGBTQ+ people feel when they go to an event like the Stampede.” Pride Day, with its safety-in-numbers principle, drag performers and cheeky name tags, helps draw in people looking for a safe space.

Though not originally from Calgary, Macmichael is a fan of the Stampede, and speaks highly of his experiences working with the organization in recent years as Pride Day has received its support.

“The Stampede has been very supportive, but also — I think for the right reasons — wants to keep this as a partnership as opposed to a corporate takeover, if you will,” says Macmichael, who describes the relationship as very positive, but also says that there was initially “reasonable amounts of hesitation on both sides.” That said, Pride Day has certainly been a success, and Macmichael would like to see it grow and evolve further.

If Pride Day is one example of how the Stampede can evolve, it’s worth noting that this event began as a grassroots effort, not as an initiative by the Stampede to reach out to the community. But there are some shifts that may need to come from within. As the Stampede ponders the future, it must consider not only demographic changes but also the shift in values and priorities represented by younger generations. Millennials are, in broad terms, more progressive than their elders, and more likely to be concerned about social issues, equality, sustainability, climate change, animal welfare and what’s in their food.

So can the Stampede bend itself around these concerns without alienating its core demographic? “We are mindful of that and have been on a path of inclusion for a great number of years,” Connell says of these shifts. “The Stampede does recognize that it needs to continue to reflect the community’s needs.” More food options have appeared on the midway for those with dietary restrictions or ethical concerns. And the Stampede boasts of its high rating for animal welfare and care. Recycling and waste-diversion programs have been in place for years. For those who are passionate about these issues, more can and should always be done. The question is whether or not public opinion will shift enough for there to be broad pressure on the Stampede to take further steps, and whether it will choose to be proactive or reactive.

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Other cultural shifts may also affect the Stampede in years to come. The idea of rodeo queens and princesses feels increasingly clunky in the #MeToo age. Calgary’s energy-dominated corporate culture is also due for an evolution, with the oil-boom years possibly behind us. What would it mean for the Stampede to lose the adjacent corporate parties and events, or the many tickets purchased by these large companies?

Stampede is a massive year-round presence in Calgary, with an influential board of directors, hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue and arguably the strongest brand in the city. And the annual festival continues to draw enormous crowds — Connell notes that the Stampede had two of its best three years for attendance during the latest economic downturn. The sun is hardly setting on Weadickville.

But even if it doesn’t face imminent threats from cultural and demographic shifts, the Stampede, just like any organization, must take a long view to secure its future. Our leading cultural institutions must all continually strive to be better. Turning a ship the size of Stampede, even a few degrees, takes time.

“Frankly, I don’t think you could erase the Stampede,” Robinson says. She believes the organization is capable of reform — both in terms of what it presents at the annual festival as well as the makeup of its board — but she worries the public pressure needed to force those changes comes with a risk. “Arguably the Stampede board is the most influential board in the city,” she says. “And anybody saying anything negative about it is [committing] political suicide.”

For her part, Gondek hopes for a future role for Stampede as more of an actively engaged participant in city life throughout the year, and she would like to see the organization exercise some of its great power to speak up for civic-minded causes, even by presenting at council. Given the wealth of performing arts that call Stampede Park home — from the Young Canadians and the Grandstand show to the Calgary Arts Academy and, soon, Calgary Opera — she believes the Stampede should lend its considerable voice to support causes it aligns itself with.

“My conversation with Stampede has been: How come you guys never come forward in support of the arts when we’re debating this stuff at council? And they said, ‘Oh. Well, we didn’t know we were supposed to,’” says Gondek. “It’s not whether you’re supposed to, but you should, because you are actively doing something to engage youth and promote the arts in our city, but no one really knows you’re doing it.”

Gondek says she thinks it’s also up to city council to invite that voice in because, as it is, Stampede purposely doesn’t want to be seen as influencing politics. “Stampede has been a standalone entity for so long, and it’s been such a machine in and of itself. It’s time to get them out of that mode of operating on their own and actually make them a part of our city properly,” she says.

Macmichael, who has a good working relationship with the Stampede, is a big believer in the idea that the organization promotes community and plays an important role in the city, both economically and culturally. But he also sees evolution as an imperative. “That’s the balancing act that Stampede is sort of wrestling with: How do they stay true to their history while bringing in more 42

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“WHAT’S IMPORTANT IS THAT THE STAMPEDE DOES CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO ITS COMMUNITY AND REMAIN RELEVANT, AND THAT WILL TAKE A NUMBER OF FORMS BASED ON THE COMMUNITY.” —WARREN CONNELL, CALGARY STAMPEDE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

of the community that represents the whole of Calgary and not just the white, Western cowboy culture — but brings them in a way that allows them to experience and appreciate the history without feeling excluded by it?”

He sees an analogy in the story of another big organization.

“Kodak thought it was a film company, but it was really a memories company,” says Macmichael. Clinging for too long to the sentimentality of its film business and failing to adapt to changing times led it to file for bankruptcy in 2012. Macmichael believes the Stampede still sees itself as centred around the rodeo. “And sure, that’s what they are, in some respects, but I think if they remember that they’re about community and gathering to exchange thoughts and commerce and a good time, they’ll be around forever.”

For Connell, the future is encouraging, and he believes his organization is flexible enough to adapt to the changing times. “I think what’s important is that the Stampede does continue to listen to its community and remain relevant, and that will take a number of forms based on the community,” he says. “So yes, our events at the grandstand may look different when it comes to rodeo or chuckwagons, it may look different in agriculture in what we’re promoting as part of agriculture, or renewable energy.”

But some things will remain the same, he says. The Stampede will still be The Stampede. “I think Calgarians are very proud of what they define as Western heritage and values, and I think that’s important. We don’t define that for them. Everybody has their own version of what that is.”

And that makes it harder than ever to be all things to all people.

But maybe it does make it possible for the Stampede to keep being enough things to enough people to remain durable for years to come.

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AvenueCalgary.com 43 2019-04-25 11:58 AM

From the

Rooftops The ultimate rundown of the city’s best rooftop bars and restaurants.

P

atio days are precious in Calgary, so when the sun is shining it can feel like a win just to score a table — any table — on a bit of sidewalk in front of a restaurant. But bistro chairs and bus fumes do not an epic patio session make. Fortunately, there are plenty of rooftop patios, including buzzy new ones and solid standbys, that can accommodate your desire for a more elevated experience where you can eat and drink in the open air in comfort and style. Here’s a rundown of 28 of our favourite rooftop patios to hit when it’s hot, with bonus suggestions on what to order.

44 avenueJUNE.19

BY Al Harvey PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jared Sych

NEW

National on 8th At this flowery rooftop beer garden, you (and your kids) can play ping pong and cornhole until around 9 p.m. There are 60 beers on tap and Clive burgers on the grill.

360, 225 8 Ave S.W., 403-237-5556, ntnl.ca

Barley Mill Barley Mill’s rooftop overlooks Eau Claire.

In your best Scottish accent, order “a wee dram of Highland Park, mussels and a foot of nachos, please.” If subsequent rounds of Scotch and strawberry mojitos continue for a wee while, walk it off in Prince’s Island Park.

201 Barclay Parade S.W., 403-290-1500, barleymillcalgary.com

NEW

Modern Rooftop Located in the new Modern Steak location on Stephen Avenue, this premium patio is close to the Calgary Tower and 60-storey Telus Sky, both of which light up the night, pulsating in groovy patterns and swirls of colour.

Order the wagyu dumplings with Champagne and prepare for an immersive experience. An elevator makes the patio wheelchair accessible.

100 8 Ave. S.E., 403-244-3600, modernsteak.ca

Down town

oneUP This new rooftop pop-up at the Calgary Marriott Downtown Hotel is an extension of the in-house restaurant One18 Empire, and is set to open in late June, 2019. Focusing on creative cocktails and casual, locally sourced food, this west-facing deck offers views of Stephen Avenue and the Calgary Tower and promises to be a perfect spot for après-work sips and bites.

820 Centre St. S.E., 403-269-0299, one18empire.com

Prego Cucina Italiana One of Calgary’s many stellar traditional Italian joints, Prego has been operating for 25 years.

Order the orangini and the spaghetti pescatore with a Carpenè Malvolti sparkling rosé to sip on while you drink in the view of Prince’s Island Park.

Eau Claire Market, 403-233-7885, pregocalgary.com

Murrieta’s Murrieta’s beef- and seafooddriven menu is best enjoyed from a bar stool on the balcony of the century-old Alberta Hotel building. Pair your bird’s-eye view of Stephen Avenue with a plate of miso-ginger-roasted organic salmon and something crisp and white.

200, 808 1 St. S.W., 403-269-7707, murrietas.ca

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1410 World Bier Haus There’s more than beer here. Bottles of wine are half-price on Thursdays and happy hour runs 3 to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. ’til close, plus all day on Sundays. Poke towers feature ginger-sesame-marinated ahi tuna, mango, edamame, avocado, togarashi, sambal aioli and wonton chips. As for beer, there are more than two dozen on tap, and frozen drinks are always an option during heat waves (or whenever).

1410 17 Ave. S.W., 403-229-1410, 1410bierhaus.ca

Broken City Blue sky and heat? Broken City tweet: “Today’s Partio Forecast: Open!!” Above old Electric Avenue (paddywagon central in the ’90s), this live-music venue makes 95 per cent of its menu from scratch and serves cauliflower wings so wicked they even outsell the chicken ones.

613 11 Ave. S.W., 403-262-9976, brokencity.ca Julio’s Barrio At Julio’s in Kensington, it’s fish tacos with cervezas or margaritas and a view across the river to the condo towers of downtown’s west end. Without that scenery, you’d swear you were in Cancun.

1110 Memorial Dr. N.W., 403-203-3066, juliosbarrio.com

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Inner city City

Kensington Pub Okay, it isn’t really a rooftop, it’s the balcony at Kensington Pub, but it’s worthy of mention because it’s up above the sidewalk and, more importantly, it rocks! Settle in with a shepherd’s pie and a Pimm’s cup.

207 10A St. N.W., 403-270-4505, kensingtonpub.com Michael’s Michael’s is on 10th Avenue S.W., right behind the Calgary Tower, and they have been serving Caesar salads, pizzas and AAA Alberta steaks there since 1981. Its patio on the roof of the adjoining parkade gets rushed at lunch by the downtown office crowd, so make a reservation if you want a spot.

139 10 Ave. S.W.,403-264-6731, michaelspizza.ca

Oak Tree Tavern Take a seat on the deck at Oak Tree for views of downtown and the Bow River and try the signature cornmeal-battered deep-fried pickles with a hot dog and a beer.

124 10 St. N.W., 403-270-3347, oaktreetavern.ca

NEW

One Night Stan’s Formerly Ming, this self-proclaimed "barroom and divery" on 17th Avenue S.W. has a 15-seat second-storey patio.

The unpretentious menu includes the likes of chili-cheese fries and ice cream sundaes, and if that’s not enough, it’s dog-friendly, too.

520 17 Ave. S.W., 403-4524407, onenightstans.ca

Rooftop Bar @ Simmons The view is picture-perfect: gleaming towers, busy bridges and the fast-flowing waters of the Bow. Operated by Charbar, Rooftop Bar is inspired by a Mexican taqueria, with several varieties of sangria by the pitcher.

618 Confluence Way S.E., 403-452-3115, rtbsimmons.ca Starbucks on 4th Your early morning or late-afternoon caramel macchiato will taste even better on this Mission rooftop, with views of 4th Street S.W. On hot days, order your coffee iced and pair with a protein bowl or wrap.

2219 4 St. S.W., 403-229-3008, starbucks.ca

Sunterra Keynote With live bands during Stampede, underground parking and close proximity to the Stampede grounds, Sunterra’s upscale Marketbar rooftop restaurant is an urban oasis. The “fresh, casual fare-to-share” includes ribs, prawns and thin-crust pizza, and the full-service bar serves up drinks.

200 12 Ave. S.E., 403-261-6772, sunterramarket.com Vin Room Mission Vin Room on 4th Street S.W. offers an extensive selection of fine wines by the glass or bottle with a food menu to complement those wines. Impress a date with oysters and Champagne on this comfy, cozy rooftop with pretty views of Mission’s treetops. Vin Room also has a street-level patio that welcomes dogs.

2310 4 St. S.W., 403-457-5522, vinroom.com AvenueCalgary.com

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outer

Inner City city Chop Calgary, Chinook Up top at Chop, the ambience is so chic you easily forget that the view beyond is of the mall's parking lot.

Feast on steak and crab with wine on a summer night as a precursor to a movie (Scotiabank Chinook Theatre is right there in the mall) or as the main event.

CF Chinook Centre, 403-250-2043, chop.ca

Double Zero Every day at Double Zero it’s half-price pizzas and drinks from 2 to 5 p.m. These are airy-crust Neapolitans, made with coldfermented dough. To pair, the boss suggests a bubbly red Italian lambrusco.

CF Chinook Centre, 403-4577677, doublezeropizza.ca Elbow Room At Elbow Drive and 49th Avenue S.W., adjacent to the cluster of boutiques called Britannia Plaza, Elbow Room serves contemporary Canadian cuisine on a planterrimmed, sunlit, second-level deck.

Try the moules-frites in a leekPernod broth with a “paint it black” cocktail.

802 49 Ave. S.W., 403-460-8128, elbowroombritannia.ca Joey Chinook Suffering from shopping fatigue?

Head to the Joey rooftop, an upscale escape where you can indulge in a yellowfin tuna salad with cilantro-ginger sauce paired with a Seven Terraces sauvignon blanc. Note that the roof space is divided, with an adults-only lounge on one side and family dining on the other.

CF Chinook Centre, 403-6926626, joeyrestaurants.com 48

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Limericks Traditional Public House This Scottish-Irish-Canadian-themed public house with an elevated deck boasts beautiful stained-glass, antiques and pints of beers. The wraps are highly recommended and burger buns are (optionally) gluten-free.

7304 Macleod Tr. S.E., 403-252-9190, calgarysbestpubs.com/limericks Sho Sushi High above Macleod Trail, Japanese sushi chefs march fire dragon rolls to your table under the night sky. The drink menu doesn’t stop at sake, with mojitos, Caesars and an extensive wine list. The patio accommodates up to 15 people. Better yet, book the entire upper floor, with room for up to 55.

110, 7212 Macleod Tr. S.E., 403-252-5199, shosushi.ca

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the burbs Join us throughout the year for unique dining experiences at a selection of Avenue’s Best Restaurants.

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Brewsters McKenzie Towne People in the south love this deck for good reason: with TVs, couches, high and low tables and Adirondacks, it’s a laid-back lounge that serves elevated pub grub and house-brewed raspberry, blueberry and peach ales. There’s elevator access for those with mobility issues and children are welcome, as well.

100, 11 McKenzie Towne Ave. S.E., 403-243-2739, brewsters.ca The Tommyfield Gastro Pub You can share romantic nightcaps around the outdoor gas fires at each table here, or mingle indoor/ outdoor-style when the big, glass doors of this southeast Calgary pub slide open. Try a chicken gastro club with sangria under the stars.

920, 19489 Seton Cres. S.E., 403-726-6330, tommyfieldgastropub.com Toad ’N’ Turtle During summer, the Toad chain opens its “Toad on Top” patios. All meats are smoked in-house, daily food and drink specials abound. Kids are welcome at the south location until 8 p.m.

2475 27 Ave. N.E., 403-717-0670; 5155 130 Ave. S.E., 587-387-2635; toadnturtle.ca Windsor Rose Walden This sunny rooftop in Walden serves up fish tacos and something called “potato nachos” — lattice fries topped with ooey-gooey cheese, beef and jalapenos. Add to that a slushy machine, margaritas and bulldogs. Fun! 530, 151 Walden Gate S.E., 403-256-5156, windsorrosepub.ca

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AvenueCalgary.com 51 2019-05-08 11:34 AM

M O U N TA I N S

Rocky Mountain Buffalo Ranch near Golden, B.C.

BY Shelley Arnusch

WESTERN HOSPITALITY Guest ranches in the mountains near Calgary to visit this summer.

F

Centre Peak High Country Adventures at Du Ranch.

52

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Rocky Mountain Buffalo Ranch photograph by Kari Medig/Kootenay Rockies Tourism; Du Ranch photograph courtesy of Centre Peak High Country Adventures; Sierra West photograph by Ginny Donahue; Rocking R Guest Ranch photograph by ImageWorks

or those who want to get away from the Stampede crowds, or to extend the giddy-up feeling even longer, guest ranches offer a little taste of home on the range. Along with horseback riding and other unique experiences, these eight ranch destinations in Alberta, B.C. and Montana all offer stunning mountain settings. Whether you’re a city slicker living out your ranching fantasy or a seasoned cowpoke with your own horses in tow, you can check in, saddle-up and enjoy the view.

BELOW Rocking R Guest Ranch.

trail-riding outings on working horses paired with accommodation in a private house. Centre Peak will also launch a “Pioneer Getaway” this summer, with accommodations in an original homesteader cabin built more than 100 years ago — though the cabin will be equipped with comfy beds, it doesn’t have running water or indoor plumbing, so “adventurous” types only need apply. centrepeakhighcountryadventures.com

Rocking R Guest Ranch

Paul Ranch Montana

STRATHMORE, ALTA.

MONTANA, U.S.A.

65 KM FROM CALGARY

272 KM FROM CALGARY

You can drive to Rocking R Guest Ranch from downtown Calgary in just under an hour, making it an easy escape for city folk looking for rural rest and relaxation with a view of the Rockies. The charming guest cabins are comfortably appointed right down to the complimentary robes and slippers, and in-room spa treatments can be booked on request. Rocking R also accommodates equine guests with its Bale & Breakfast program; horses can be put up either inside the eight-stall barn or in outdoor paddocks and receive daily fresh bedding and alfalfa hay.

LUNDBRECK, ALTA.

Just outside the east entrance to Glacier National Park in Montana, about an hour’s drive from Waterton Lakes National Park, Paul Ranch Montana has a variety of lodgings for those seeking a temporary home on the range. The guest accommodations are a bit quirky, but the ranch is particularly great if you’re travelling with animals — pets are welcome in three of the accommodations (for a fee of $10 per-pet per-night) and there’s also an outdoor dog pen and water and pasture for horses. But the coolest thing about Paul Ranch Montana is that it’s home to a free-roaming herd of seven alpacas (Pistol, Deanno, High Beam, JJ, Reboot, Growler and Backspin), plus a “guard llama” named Tattoo, who protects the more meek-mannered alpacas from predators.

167 KM FROM CALGARY

paulranch.com

rockingrguestranch.com

Sierra West Cabins and Ranch Vacations This working cattle ranch and guest ranch in southwestern Alberta is currently up for sale, so its famous frontier cattle drive ride-along experience won’t be offered this summer. But you can still cowboy up with a variety of trail rides, including the scenic High Country day ride. Accommodations at Sierra West are arranged as a mini frontier town and include bunkhouses and self-catering log cabins — mostly modern builds, with the exception of the Homesteader, which dates back to 1905 and has serious heritage cred. sierrawestcabins.com

Centre Peak High Country Adventures at DU Ranch LUNDBRECK, ALTA. 191 KM FROM CALGARY

Sierra West Cabins and Ranch Vacations.

Situated on the eastern slopes of the Livingstone Mountain range in the southwestern corner of Alberta, DU Ranch is a family-owned working cattle ranch with the third generation of the family running Centre Peak High Country Adventures guest ranch. Now in its eighth year of operation as a guest ranch, Centre Peak’s signature experience is the Ranch Hand Getaway, which offers private

Bull River Guest Ranch WARDNER, B.C. 322 KM FROM CALGARY

This family-owned-and-operated guest ranch southeast of Cranbrook, B.C., is on a 200-acre spread of land adjacent to several thousand acres of Crown land. The ranch dates back to the 1890s, and you can get a feel for what it might have been like back then (while still enjoying all the conveniences of modern times) by staying in the “honeymoon suite,” a completely refurbished 100-year-old cabin. Other accommodations here include seven self-contained log cabins equipped with full kitchens and river-rock fireplaces and a log bunkhouse that sleeps eight upstairs in separate motel-style rooms and 16 more downstairs in nine rooms. There’s no horseback riding at Bull River, but guests can still go riding from a guide outfitter’s camp located approximately an hour’s drive from the ranch. Non-horse activities include guided hiking, fly fishing and wildlife photography excursions, as well as the nearby Fort Steele Heritage Town attraction. bullriverguestranch.com AvenueCalgary.com

53

SilverStar Mountain Resort.

M O U N TA I N S

AN ALP I N E RESORT W I T H FRON TI ER F L AI R SilverStar Mountain Resort in Vernon, B.C., is a well-loved winter-skiing/snowboarding-cumsummer-mountain-biking destination. But it’s also famous for its eye-catching resort village, with buildings painted bright colours and frontier-era design elements.

Three Bars Ranch.

“The village architecture resembles an early 1900s mining town,” says Chantelle Deacon, SilverStar’s ship manager. “It really takes you

House of the Friesians INVERMERE, B.C. 322 KM FROM CALGARY

House of the Friesians is an equestrian facility that raises and trains Friesian horses for the film industry and English dressage. Tucked into the mountains near Panorama, B.C., the ranch and event venue is owned and operated by the Paagman family — matriarch Caio Paagman is something of a Renaissance woman who also does artisan concrete design and holistic life-coaching.

House of the Friesians has two different guest accommodations: “the best cozy barn” and “the best cozy log cabin.” The barn is a nine-bedroom lodge that sleeps up to 24, with four full bathrooms, as well as kitchen facilities and dining tables where everyone can sit down for a meal together, making it a great option for extended families or multi-family groups. The cabin is smaller, with capacity for 13. There’s also a guest hot tub and bonfire pits. hotfriesians.com

Rocky Mountain Buffalo Ranch BLAEBERRY VALLEY, B.C. 339 KM FROM CALGARY

If you’ve always wanted to go where the buffalo roam, head for this scenic ranch in the Blaeberry area just north of Golden, B.C. Guests can get up-close and personal with the resident herd of 54

avenueJUNE.19

North American bison by joining one of ranchowner Leo Downey’s daily scheduled tours. As for accommodations, the ranch has four unique options in varying degrees of rustic-ness, from a self-contained three-bedroom guest house to an off-the-grid cabin by a creek, a timber-frame barn loft and a cabin in the woods that resembles a covered wagon.

back in time.” This design ethos is

leodowney.com/rocky-mountain-buffalo-ranch

rain remains SilverStar’s premier

most apparent in SilverStar’s main pub: originally built in the style of a saloon, the current incarnation The Red Antler still features Western throwbacks such as antler decor and barn-wood walls.

Of course, the mountain terattraction. In the summer, you can

Three Bars Ranch

cowboy up for a horse or pony

CRANBROOK, B.C.

mountain trail ride, though if you

378 KM FROM CALGARY

prefer wheels over hooves, the

Unlike some of the heritage ranch properties on this list, Three Bars Ranch near Cranbrook was designed and built in 1989 as a “modern vacation ranch.” Run by the Beckley family, the 35,000acre ranch property features a 7,500-square-foot main guesthouse (with saloon), 21 log cabins, an indoor heated swimming pool and outdoor hot tub, a two-acre manicured grass courtyard and even a tennis court. The ranch is home to around 120 head of horses, which works out to a horse-to-guest ratio of approximately two-toone. The ranch also encompasses Beckley Reining, a 1,000-acre performance-horse training and riding facility. And for guests who prefer admiring horses to riding them, Three Bars offers equine photography clinics.

downhill bike park has 60-plus

threebarsranch.com

kilometres of trails over 1,600 vertical feet and 60-plus km of cross-country biking trails. For a slower pace, hike the mountaintop trails, or ride the shiny new gondola to the peak and enjoy the views from the top. Lower down on the mountain, grab a map and do the Gnome Roam, a hunt for tiny creatures tucked in the trees.

—Colleen Seto skisilverstar.com

Three Bars photograph by Kari Medig/Kootenay Rockies Tourism; SilverStar photograph courtesy of Monashee Adventure Group

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55

DECOR

BY Käthe Lemon PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jared Sych

Scandi-style Home On the Range A house on a “gentleman’s ranch” takes design inspiration from the Norwegian owner’s roots as a bull rider with serious Stampede cred.

R

agnar Lyndon Saether has one cowboy boot in each of two worlds: he’s a Norwegian investment banker and a former bull rider. Saether’s maternal grandfather, George Lyndon Crawford, was Stampede president from 1972 to 1973 and played host to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip when they visited for the Stampede’s 60th anniversary. “My grandfather was the stereotypical gentleman rancher and I always wanted to be a cowboy,” says Saether, “but I wanted to actually become a cowboy. There were no shortcuts.

It meant being accepted into that unique and special fraternity. Once you’ve rodeoed with somebody, you’re friends forever.”

Saether rode bulls for three years and had just earned enough money for Pro eligibility when he decided to give it up and focus on more financially stable ways to make a living. “I’d proven to myself that I had what it takes,” he says, of his decision to stop bull riding. Plus, his bosses at the bank had been impressed having a real live cowboy as an employee, though less so when he took three weeks off to recover from a broken leg.

However, Saether has kept a hand in the bull-riding world as a co-owner of Wild Hoggs Bucking Bulls, one of the world’s top breeders of rodeo bulls.

Saether lives on 172 acres near Priddis that belonged to Crawford. The design of his home there, finished in 2013, is a distillation of both parts of his background. “The intent was always to have the marriage of the Norwegian and the cowboy,” says Saether of the home. “It’s 80 per cent Western and about 20 per cent Norwegian.”

56

avenueJUNE.19

LEFT Homeowner Ragnar Saether in the front entrance surrounded by Western wear that is both a decor element and functional in-use outerwear.

Designer Elena Del Bucchia layered new and heritage pieces to create a nuanced look that melds the homeowner’s Western and Norwegian backgrounds into a welcoming and airy central space.

AvenueCalgary.com

57

DECOR

The home’s designer, Elena Del Bucchia, notes that the unassuming cedar-clad exterior belies the European sophistication of the interior.

“When you drive up, you wouldn’t necessarily expect to find all of this inside,” she says.

Over the three years of the design, build and decorating of the home, Saether worked very closely with Del Bucchia. “I’m grateful to have worked with Elena, she steered me right. Having her as my shepherd was invaluable,” says Saether. They also worked with architectural draughtsman Gordon Snell on the architecture of the home.

Western elements can be seen throughout in the decor choices — the use of skulls and Western wear as decor elements, and also in the wraparound deck, the barn door to the library and the guest suite that shouts Western hospitality. In fact, Saether has many friends and colleagues from around the world who visit for even weeks at a time. “They can come here and play cowboy with me,” says Saether. “It’s a quiet, relaxing space. People love it here.”

The Norwegian elements include the cedar cladding on the exterior, the stained-wood window surrounds and the white walls. Furnishings such as the wishbone chairs in the dining room and the custom bedroom suite in the main 58

avenueJUNE.19

bedroom are either Scandanavian in design or inspiration. Elements of Saether’s extensive art collection are also Norwegian, including the obligatory red Dala horse beside the fireplace in the living room.

The main floor is primarily open-concept, with a central area that incorporates the front-door entrance, kitchen, dining room and living room with a wet bar. It’s an open and welcoming space perfect for entertaining everyone from clients to friends of Saether’s two kids, aged eight and nine, who are with him about half the time.

The library shares a double-sided fireplace with the living room, and is separated from the dining room by a sliding barn door and a row of interior clerestory windows. “It’s a wide-open floor plan, but I still wanted a reading nook. The library is a cozy place,” says Saether.

With a balance between open and cozy, Western and Norwegian, old and new, the home feels layered and welcoming. And although it is a new build, it feels rooted in the past and history of the both the family and the land. “My hope is that my kids and their kids will still be on this land long after I’m gone,” says Saether.

With the timelessness of the home and the beauty of the area, it’s hard to imagine why anyone would want to leave.

TOP LEFT The table in the kitchen makes for a sunny spot to grab a quick bite or do a bit of work. Builtin seating with storage offers added practicality.

TOP Plentiful windows take full advantage of the views. Designer Elena Del

Bucchia chose to stain the surrounds rather than paint — a more Scandanavian style.

ABOVE The cozy library off the dining room shares a double-sided fireplace with the living room.

AvenueCalgary.com

59

DECOR 5 T I PS F OR DOING WEST E RN DECOR According to designer Elena Del Bucchia, the key to a great Westernstyle home is to make it feel authentic rather than kitschy.

1. Go for lifestyle not look. Think about what attracts you to the Western look and how you can meaningfully add elements that are part of your life. For example, if you attend rodeo or Stampede events, keep an eye out for items you can use to create a shadow box. “You can go buy a bunch of cowboy gear but it needs to be authentic to look good,” Del Bucchia says.

2. Start with the finishes. Brass, leather, antique or unfinished wood and locally sourced stone can all help convey a Western feeling without being overwhelming.

3. Think in layers. For Del Bucchia, the success of this home design is the layering of styles and elements.

“Pull out stuff you’re attracted to,” she says. “Think about your own past, where you were born, what your history is.” Here, items from the original Crawford ranch home sit alongside family antiques from Norway, newer art works, Persian rugs and custom furnishings.

4. For art’s sake. Western art doesn’t need to be the stereotypical bronze bucking horse. Images of horses or prairie landscapes in any style can create a strong sense of local connection.

5. Make it a seasonal thing.

Do you really love Western style, but only from about the middle of June to the middle of July? Don’t be afraid to add decor elements just for Stampede season. Pull them out when you start to see bales of hay on street corners and then put them away again when the “ya-hoo!” window paintings have been washed off local storefronts.

TOP Much of the furniture, including the bed, side tables, bench and bureau in the main bedroom suite, was designed

by Elena Del Bucchia and custom made by Manndate to echo the Danish-modern style.

60

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ABOVE Throughout the home cattle skulls are used as decor, but for the guest suite Del Bucchia selected more whimsical wooden deer mounts.

SOURCE DECOR PAGES 56 TO 60

Design by Elena Del Bucchia Design, 403-605-2865, edbdesign.ca Fixtures throughout (unless specifically stated) from Cartwright Lighting & Furniture, 7301 11 St. S.E., 403-270-8508, cartwrightlighting.ca Dining table custom designed by Elena Del Bucchia Design, made by Domicile, 403-262-9780 Alban dining chairs by Nuevo from Manndate Group, 1-866-333-8020, manndate.com Rug from Dasan Interiors, 5836 Burbank Rd. S.E. 403-512-0034, dasaninteriors.com Chandelier from Restoration Hardware, Southcentre, 403-271-2122, restorationhardware.com Sliding barn door custom designed by Elena Del Bucchia Design; hardware from Banbury Lane Design Centre, 1301 10 Ave. S.W., 403-244-0038, banburylane.com Chief Body of the Blood painting by Nicholas de Grandmaison, from Loch Gallery, 314 12 Ave. S.W., 403-209-8542, lochgallery.com Horse painting by Andre Petterson, from Wallace Galleries, 500 5 Ave. S.W., 403-262-8050, wallacegalleries.com Kitchen-nook table from Restoration Hardware Caesarstone quartz countertop in London Grey from Alberta Marble & Tile Co., 2020 Pegasus Rd. N.E., 403-287-0944, albertamarble.com Millwork by Legacy Kitchens, 2980 Sunridge Way N.E., 403-291-6868, legacykitchens.com Custom living-room sofa designed by Elena Del Bucchia Design, supplied by Manndate Group Custom burnt-orange leather chairs supplied by Manndate Group Sheepskin throws on chairs from Costco, multiple locations, costco.ca Coffee table from Montauk Sofa, 617 10 Ave. S.W., 403-265-6777, montauksofa.com Arco floor lamp by Flos from Kit Interior Objects, 725 11 Ave. S.W., 403-508-2533, kitinteriorobjects.com Douglas fir doors and windows from Loewen Window Centre of Calgary, 1108 55 Ave. N.E., 403-569-8282, loewencalgary.com Stuv two-way wood-burning fireplace from Hearth and Home, 5740 1A St. S.W., 403-258-3732, hearthandhomefireplace.com Eldorado stone on fireplace from I-XL Building Products Inc., 4900 102 Ave. S.E., 403-243-6031, ixlbuild.com Skulls sourced through Shelley Repka-Willard from her Okotoks-area farm Custom main-bedroom bed designed by Elena Del Bucchia Design, supplied by Manndate Group Rugs from Dasan interiors Pillows from Kit Interior Objects Longhorn skull from Restoration Hardware Guest bedroom bed frame designed by Elena Del Bucchia Design, supplied by Manndate Group Wood deer heads from Restoration Hardware Side tables from West Elm, 868 16 Ave. S.W., 403-245-1373, westelm.ca

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GET THE LOOK

1.

4.

2.

5.

Cowboy Culture

Decor elements for the Western-modern home.

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62

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1. Horse bookends, $77, from Steeling Home, 1010 17 Ave. S.W., 403-245-0777, steelinghome.ca 2. Nest Studio oil-rubbed bronze pulls, $172 each, from Banbury Lane Design Centre, 1301 10 Ave. S.W., 403-244-0038, banburylane.com 3. Hobbs Occasional Chair, $1,149, from CF Interiors, 38 Heritage Gate S.E., 403-515-0011, cfinteriors.ca

6.

4. Maxim Olde World six-light chandelier, $1,697, from Signature Lighting & Fans, 3500 7 St. S.E., 403-243-4294, signaturelighting.com 5. Cowhide, $350 to $625, from Longview Leather, 514129 128 St. W., Longview, 403-995-9719, longviewleather.com 6. Heartprint Threads blanket, $160 for queen size, from Ninth and Brick,1312B 9 Ave S.E.

Rug and blanket photographs by Jared Sych; pulls photograph courtesy of Nest Studio; chair photograph courtesy of CF Interiors

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63

THE LIST

6

Calgary Stampede Relay Races “This race is one of my

favourite additions to the Stam-

AS TOLD TO Jennifer Friesen

pede. First Nations bring their best teams and they compete, decked out in paint and bright colours. I liken it to the oldest

Ingrid Schulz

7

Smithbilt Hats “Smithbilt is my go-to — not only for

reshaping last year’s slightly bedraggled hat, but sourcing out new, cutting-edge and modern Western looks.”

8

Big Hearted Mavericks Pre-Stampede Party

“This party is kind of the unofficial kick-off event for the Calgary Stampede, bringing out the who’s who of the city’s Western

4

Sidesaddle Race “It’s a

crowd. You see a lot of great

competitive race, but so

Western style.”

elegant. Believe me, riding at breakneck speed with one leg looped over the side of your saddle is not for the faint of heart.”

9

Calgary Stampede Cutting Horse Competition “This is

the sport I compete in. If you’ve never seen a cutting horse in

1

5

is cowboy lingo for the silk

be hooked. It’s a beautiful pound

It’s complicated, but anyone can

scarves traditionally worn by

cake soaked in an Alberta whisky

watch it and be blown away.”

ranch hands. Brown Creek

glaze, and I always send out-of-

Wild Rags are handcrafted

town visitors home with plenty of

in southern Alberta. We carry

Stampede memories like this.”

Brown Creek Wild Rags Neck Scarves “Wild rags

action, you’re missing the ulti-

“Once you taste one, you’ll

mate cowboy poetry in motion.

10

Gravity Espresso & Wine Bar “I count on

Gravity to bring in great musical

them at the shop and have

3

Pre-Rodeo Lunch at

talent during Stampede, usually

Deane House “They have

with an alternative-country kind

them every day throughout the

of swing. It’s within walking dis-

Way Out West Fest

Stampede, and it’s beautiful.

tance of the grounds and has

“The Way Out West Fest

You’re on the banks of the

great atmosphere.”

really incorporated them into our Stampede outfit-styling.”

2

Alberta Whisky Cake

is really an authentic portal to

Bow River, steps away from

the West, and it’s about putting

Fort Calgary and from the site

urbanites in touch with the true

where the First Nations groups

West. It’s a great way to get you

camped during the first Stam-

in the mood for July’s festivities.”

pede.” This year, Deane House

This year, the festival takes place

will be doing its daily Stampede

May 31 to June 2.

lunches as a buffet.

6 4 avenueJUNE.19

Ingrid Schulz photograph by SJ Originals; scarf and cake photographs by Jared Sych; hat photograph by Venessa Brewer

Since she moved to the city 20 years ago, Ingrid Schulz, owner of Inglewood boutique Cody & Sioux and co-organizer and producer of the Way Out West Fest, has attended the Calgary Stampede every single year. “The West is all about wide open spaces, character and grit,” Schulz says. “I think it’s important to protect, sustain and be proud of our Western heritage.”

She opened Cody & Sioux three years ago, offering modernWestern clothing, jewellery and art. Here are Schulz’s 10 favourite Stampede-related things.

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65

WORK OF ART

TITLE: Boer War Memorial, commissioned in 1911, unveiled in 1914.

CURATED BY Katherine Ylitalo

ARTIST: Louis-Philippe Hébert (1850-1917).

MEDIUM: Bronze on granite base.

SIZE: 35-feet high.

LOCATION: Western side of Central Memorial Park, between 12 and 13 Avenues S.W.

Boer War Memorial

E

verything about this bronze sculpture

by Quebec artist Louis-Philippe Hébert suggests an elevated purpose. The horse and rider are one-and-a-half times lifesize, the rider sitting with ease as the horse comes to a standstill on a rise, head lifted, ears forward, focused in the direction of a distant sound. An upward diagonal trajectory is repeated in the horse’s neck, the angle of the rifle, the lift of the rider’s chin and the tilt of the flatbrimmed Stetson.

66

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The South African War Memorial, as it was then called, was unveiled in June 1914 before a crowd of thousands who gathered in Central Memorial Park for the grand ceremony. In later years, the monument became known as the Boer War Memorial.

But the story of the statue really begins in 1909, when a lone man was found on the outskirts of the city, frozen to death. Papers on his body revealed he was a veteran of the South African War, having served in Lord Strathcona’s

Horse, a regiment of Western Canadians who volunteered to defend the Empire in South Africa in 1900.

Calgary veterans collected funds to give their comrade a proper burial. When his family in England learned of their kindness, they repaid the men, who in turn put money toward a memorial. The City of Calgary came through with additional funds and, in 1911, the city’s first major commission of public art was offered to Hébert, then at the peak of his career. It was to be his first and only equestrian statue and he took great care to get the details right.

Lord Strathcona’s Horse was an unusual military regiment of cowboys, ranchers, mounted police, prospectors and frontiersmen who knew how to survive in the foothills and on the open prairie. Hébert accurately modelled the uniform and gear they used, including the western saddle, long boots and spurs, leather ammunition bandolier and signature Stetson hat. Wealthy cattleman Pat Burns, one of the founders of the Stampede, sent one of his ponies to Hebert’s studio in Quebec. Hébert also visited Calgary to watch Alberta working horses in their home environment.

Captain Thomas Henry Johnson modelled for Hébert in Quebec (assigned by the military), while in Calgary the artist had Eneas McCormick of the Riley & McCormick family pose for him in a Boer War uniform. The goal was to honour the character of “a soldier from Alberta,” rather than make a portrait of an individual. To that end, Hébert applied the skills and techniques he had used to make monuments of royalty and statesmen and added the challenge of an equestrian statue, a genre used since Roman times to glorify rulers and military leaders. Inspired by a lone soldier almost forgotten, the artist created a 35-foot-high enduring memorial.

Photograph by Jared Sych

NOTE: Part of the City of Calgary Public Art Collection.

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