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Calgary Stampede Draws Record Crowds as Safety Investigations Continue

Organizers forecast up to $540 million in annual economic impact from the 10-day event after opening-day crowds topped 300,000.

Calgary Stampede mascot Harry the Horse leads off the  Calgary Stampede parade in Calgary, Friday, July 5, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
A Winnipeg Police Service cruiser.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, centre, samples mini doughnuts as he walks through the Calgary Stampede grounds in Calgary, Alta., Friday, July 4, 2025.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre rides a horse at the Calgary Stampede parade on Friday.

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.