Overview

• The Stampede kicked off July 4 with a parade led by Shania Twain and drew about 300,000 spectators on opening day, aiming for nearly 1.5 million visitors over 10 days.
• Organizers report last year’s event hosted a record 1.5 million guests and say it contributes roughly $540 million a year to Alberta’s economy.
• A Mastercard Economic Institute report indicates that last year’s Stampede drove a 158% increase in dining spending and an 18% rise in accommodation spending compared with estimates without the event.
• American competitors and visitors, including barrel racer Anita Ellis, praised the welcoming atmosphere of the Stampede despite recent cross-border political tensions.
• Law enforcement is probing a Canada Day stabbing in LaSalle after charges were laid against a 40-year-old woman, while Winnipeg authorities continue investigations into a late-night Ross Avenue fire and a series of sexual assaults near the Health Sciences Centre.