After the Association came the Committee…
1978 – Betty Parlee sets the wheels in motion to set up a Stampede committee.
1980 was an eventful year for the Alumni. Although the Queens’ Alumni Association activities benefited the Stampede, the Association was not a formal part of the Stampede volunteer system. Through the efforts of Wynne Chisholm, Betty Wright Parlee and Gillian Newman, a new volunteer committee was established. The Stampede Queens’ Alumni Committee was given status recognizing the group’s ongoing, active contribution to the promotion and development of the Stampede.
The activities of the Association and the Committee were restructured in alignment with Stampede Board policy. The Stomp, Luncheon, Special Needs events and Weadickville were moved under the auspices of the Committee.
1980 saw the Stomp was taken over by the Stampede and became the Stampede volunteer Badge night.
The newly formed Alumni Committee organized and oversaw public participation games in the original Weadickville – an area where the Saddledome now stands. In 1981, these activities were moved across Stampede Park to the newly developed Frontier Town – the present Weadickville.
In 1982, the Alumni had proved The Weadickville concept. The Stampede looked for corporate sponsors and a way to expand the concept - the CFAC Western Battleground was born. The committee was happy to have piloted this activity and assisted CFAC by acting as judges and timers.
1983 saw some committee volunteers, under the direction of Randy Avery, participate in the Grandstand Show driving John Deere tractors in a square dance fashion. Although not an annual engagement, the Committee would make another appearance in the Grandstand Show some years later.
1983 – The Association began supplying buckles for Stampede Royalty.
Additional responsibilities were added to the Committee in 1984. They were Corporate Judging, the co-ordination of a Rodeo Royal performance for school children, the staffing of the information booth for Creative Living, and hosting the volunteers’ Wrangler’s Lounge with the Reception committee.
By 1984, the Committee had grown to 29 members.
In 1985, the committee involvement included: World Wool Congress, Corporate Judging, Pony rides, Wishing Well, Stampede Special, Information Booth, Weadickville, Wrangler’s Lounge and Super Kids.
1986 committee involvement continued to grow including: the Stampede Special, Battleground, Weadickville, Creative Living, Corporate Participation, Parade, Hays Breakfast, Olympic Committee and Special Olympics, Speech and Equestrian Judges, Rope Square, Downtown Attractions and Creative Living.
The Giddy-Up Rodeo (1987) continues to be a success each year. During Rodeo Royal, with support from Prudential Steel and the Rodeo Royal committee, approximately 65 children/youth participate in an interactive rodeo with professional cowboys/cowgirls. Each special needs participant is paired up with a cowboy/girl and spends the morning exploring the various simulated rodeo events in the Corral rodeo arena. Events include horse back riding, roping, barrel racing on stick horses, riding miniature chuck wagons, petting sheep, riding a hand rocked bull and eating lots of hot dogs.
1988 saw the reunion of nearly fifty Alumni from around the world during Stampede at “Homecoming ‘88”. Olympic involvement included volunteers at the International Media Reception.
In 1990, participation in Weadickville changed with the invitation by the Historical Committee to set up a display in the Morris Shortt Log Cabin. Each year thousands of visitors to the Stampede peruse this exhibit which includes offical pictures of past Stampede Royalty, a video, former outfits, saddles, and other memorabilia.
In 1991, the committee was asked to be the official hostesses in the Brand Room for Stampede executive and their special guests.
Early in December of 1994, the committee organized its first Christmas Special, now known as the “Giddy-Up Christmas”. This late morning brunch hosts fifty challenged children to a morning full of Christmas cheer, hayrides, Christmas Carols and a visit from Santa Claus. Like the other Giddy-Up events, the Giddy-Up Christmas has grown and remains a child favorite.
1996 marked fifty years of the Calgary Stampede Queen and Princesses. This anniversary was celebrated during Stampede and was attended by a large contingent of past Royalty from around the globe. In addition, the Queens’ committee created and purchased new crowns to be worn by future trios. The original crowns were on display for all to see outside the Brand Room at Stampede Headquarters.
October 1999 saw the addition of the 1st Annual 4 the Kids Gala, now the Giddy-Up Gala. The intent of this event was to raise funds for selected special needs organizations in the community, as the need for financial assistance was evident to the committee. In its first year, the Gala raised over $17,000.00. This money was given to Variety Park, a barrier free park in South Glenmore Park. With our donation, several pieces of wheelchair accessible playground equipment were purchased for the park. Funds were also distributed to the Giddy-Up Christmas and the Stampede Foundation.
The 2nd Annual Giddy-Up Gala was an even greater success. The Committee raised over $65,000.00. Donations included: PREP – Early Learning (a progressive education program for infants and toddlers of Downs Syndrome, Opening Gaits Therapeutic Riding Society, the Queens’ Alumni Giddy-Up events and the Calgary Stampede Foundation.
In 2001, the Giddy-Up Gala raised over $68,000.00. Donations included: PREP –Early Learning, Opening Gaits Therapeutic Riding Society, Camp Horizon – Camp Light up a Life (a camp for cerebral palsy children), the Queens’ Alumni Giddy-Up events and the Calgary Stampede Foundation.
The 2002 Giddy-Up Gala raised over $105,000.00. Donations included: PREP –Early Learning, Christine Meikle School, Camp Horizon – Camp Light up a Life, the Queens’ Alumni Giddy-Up events and the Calgary Stampede Foundation.
The Association/Committee consists of 100 members living here and abroad as well as 15 Honorary Associates, and over 57 active members.
The Alumni continues to forge new roads, create new partnerships within the Stampede family, build and foster friendships while maintaining a sense of tradition and history. This dynamic, enthusiastic and diverse group of women not only demonstrates their commitment to the Stampede on an on-going basis but also to making a difference in the greater community.