Parade participation

Times Reporter 

 

The discussion of whether or not town council should participate in the Calgary Stampede Parade was brought up at the Feb. 19 council meeting. Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Dwight Stanford said that every year he would call and write to the Calgary Stampede about entering a town float in the parade, but it took a number of years before he was finally told yes. The town participated for three to four years and then stopped. 

“Then it was decided by the last council not to do it, so we haven’t done it for a few years. Some of the pros and cons, there’s maybe some benefits, lots of people see the float going by. It’s a challenge doing it, you have got to be right in there at five in the morning and you can’t be late,” said Stanford. 

For the town float and trailer there was about $50,000 spent in total. Stanford said that Calgary requires the float be updated every few years, so there are now two different packages that the town owns to make the float look different. 

At one time, Stanford said, the town took the float to eight or 10 different parades. Gradually it petered off and recently the town has only participated in a couple of parades these last few years. 

“I guess the biggest challenge is staffing it and for council to volunteer to go down there to do it,” said Stanford. 

“I think it shows really good community support, supporting local parades and so forth. Also I think it’s an economic development option, we receive quite a bit of publicity over us attending,” said Councillor Brad Walls. 

Walls said he walked the Calgary Stampede route for three years and Strathmore has always been well received. He is prepared to commit to be a part and make that trip again this council term as well. 

Councillor Pat Fule said he would rather see the money used to upgrade the float going towards something else in the community, planting more trees or things like that. He knows it not possible, but wishes there was a way to know what the financial spinoff would be from participating in parades.

Stanford said he has always found it to be a good thing to attend some of the local parades. 

“Rockyford was really key to me and we deal with them lots, they all shop here and everything else and to go out there council may want to decide to go to one or two or three of those,” said Stanford. 

“It makes entirely no sense to me at all, I can see zero economic benefits coming out of this and rather probably a few thousand dollars in expenses,” said Councillor Rocky Blokland.

“I am a full supporter in staying local and by that I mean communities like Langdon, Rockyford, Carseland, Beisker, Standard. All the residents of these communities, they shop in Strathmore, what are we doing in the City of Calgary? I have no idea, I am firmly against this, I will not even participate in it, I stay out of Calgary during the Calgary Stampede.” 

Blokland did further state, though, that he would volunteer to attend any and all local parades. 

Mayor Michael Ell wondered what benefit there is to having already spent the money, but then have the float tucked away in the public works garage. He does know there will be some additional costs, like changing the logo, but thinks the benefits could outweigh the costs. 

“Regarding awareness, if our float is in the Calgary Stampede and it is viewed around the world we’re not going to measure if that person in Europe decided to move to Strathmore, we’re not going to be able to measure that,” said Ell. 

“You cannot measure how effective Coca Cola is regards to their coke machine in the Family Centre or wherever it may be, but Coca Cola still puts their machine there with their logo on it, because there is a benefit.” 

Ell is not so sure that council has to be on the float and suggested that maybe the Youth Club of Strathmore would be willing to volunteer and support the town at some of the parades. Councillor Denise Peterson also brought up a suggestion that maybe the Strathmore and District Agricultural Society may be interested in partnering with the town, and may be willing to help with a Running With the Bulls themed float.  

A motion was made to further investigate the Calgary Stampede and other parades, looking at future collaborations and bring costs forward on participating in the events.