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The public faces of the world-renowned Calgary
Stampede, Vern Kimball, CEO and
George Brookman, president and chairman
of the board, are wearing their signature cowboy hats
year-round these days.
That’s because the Stampede, once known mainly
for the 10-days that consume the city every July,
has grown into an organization deeply rooted in the
development of the community and Calgary’s youth.
“Although we have a wonderful celebration during
the 10 days, the Stampede is much more,” Kimball
says.
“It really is a celebration of western heritage and
values and a respect for the past, but also a reflection
of what the community can be.”
That reflection begins at an early age, as many
Stampede programs are aimed at youth development.
One that Brookman feels particularly proud of is
the Young Canadians, which is funded by The Calgary
Stampede Foundation. The Young Canadians
program awards scholarships to 150 students to train
year-round in voice, musical theatre, gymnastics and
several disciplines of dance. The students perform
year-round, including a spring show and the Grandstand
Show during the 10-day Stampede.
“It’s a life-changing experience for these kids,”
Brookman says. “When they leave here, they’ve
learned discipline, responsibility and talent. We’ve
been doing this for 40 years, so that’s thousands of
people we’ve helped turn into better citizens.”
That’s only one of the many programs that affect
the lives of Calgarians every year. The Stampede
also supports a variety of other youth programs, student
scholarships, local artists, and hosts world-class
events at Stampede Park year-round, not to mention
promoting western heritage in our city every day.
There are also massive development plans underway
to build a brand new, year-round gathering place on
Stampede Park.
These are just a few things that keep Brookman
and Kimball busy 365 days a year.
“We just want to expand and leverage the power
of the 10 days and our brand to be a year-round good
feeling,” says Kimball, who has been with the Stampede
for 22 years.
Brookman, who celebrated his 30th Stampede
last year, has remained a volunteer with the organization
throughout the years for a variety of reasons.
Working for an organization that reflects qualities of
Calgary
Stampede
Vern Kimball and George Brookman
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the local community is a driving force, he says.“The
Stampede is exactly what Calgarians tend to be —
independent, hard-working, entrepreneurial, welleducated,
industrious, positive and they know how to
have a good time,” he says.
“There’s a real sense of pride that you’re part of
something so big and successful.”
A large part of this success comes from the Stampede’s
core values that put the well-being of the community
first, an initiative Brookman illustrates with
one simple example. Last winter, during an intense
cold spell, the Stampede opened the Grandstand and
invited homeless people to take shelter.
“That was a decision we would have had to debate
10 years ago,” says Brookman, “but today we say
that’s part of our job and we just have to do it.
And although this heightened community awareness
means there’s more to the job than just the 10
days in July, Brookman admits he couldn’t do anything
else.
“The reality is there isn’t a thing we do that’s hard
to handle,” he says.