Visions of bull riders, cowboy hats, mini donuts, and chuckwagons most often come to mind when people think of the Calgary Stampede. But the Stampede is so more than the world’s richest outdoor rodeo and an excuse to wear jeans to work. It’s also a very successful social enterprise, and thousands of volunteers and employees work year-round to ensure the event lives up to its reputation of being the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Here are a few more interesting facts about the Calgary Stampede:
- – the event will celebrate its centennial year in 2012
- – the Calgary Stampede is a non-profit organization
- – over 1200 year-round employees work for the Stampede
- – the Calgary Stampede Foundation is a charitable organization
- – all revenues are reinvested back into Stampede programs and facilities
- – 3000 additional staff are hired to help out with the 10-day event
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– the Stampede annually generates over $350 million in economic benefit for Albertans
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– over 2000 volunteers sit on the Stampede’s 45 committees
- – together with the Calgary Stampede Foundation, the Calgary Stampede invests over $2 million in 12 youth programs each year
Today marks the first day of the 99th Stampede, so if you’re anywhere near Calgary in the next 10 days you should head down to Stampede Park and experience western hospitality at its finest. And don’t worry about having too many mini donuts…over two million are consumed at each Stampede, so you’ll be in very good company.
Yahoo and happy Stampede!!
To find out more about the Calgary Stampede, check out their website at www.calgarystampede.com and follow their updates on Twitter via @calgarystampede
Ps. If you have a favourite Canadian social enterprise you want to share with us, we would love to hear from you in the comments section