Town makes connections at Calgary Stampede
By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Senior staff with the Town of Strathmore spent the Calgary Stampede making contacts and networking with attending businesses and dignitaries.
Mayor Pat Fule explained it presented an opportunity for Strathmore staff and council to connect with several MLAs and ministers to discuss several ongoing or upcoming initiatives.
“We met with Minister (Justin) Wright to talk about the potential for a CT scanner here in Strathmore, and we are going to be sending a letter, and we asked if we could have a further meeting,” said Fule. “He also recommended that we talk to Minister LaGrange, so the town is going to be sending a letter to both of those ministers, outlining our plans, our homes, and what could potentially be a very good thing for our town, but also for the region.”
Conversations regarding the potential for a CT scanner in Strathmore have been ongoing since 2024 with Frontier Diagnostics. Currently, residents are directed to either Calgary or Drumheller to receive the service.
Fule added Siksika Nation’s Chief Sam Crowfoot has also weighed in on bringing a CT scanner to Strathmore, as well as raising the topic of a local dialysis clinic.
Also among the town’s activities were conversations with Brett Wilson, who owns local lands east of George Freeman Trail.
“He is hoping to get an Area Structure Plan (ASP) for that land, and he is hoping to have some senior-style living there, and we are hoping for some light commercial as well,” said Fule. “You make these contacts with people so that your administration or the mayor and council can have future meetings … and you can plan to try to get some initiatives at least headed in the right direction.”
Among the projects being actively considered to impact the local region is the Prairie Economic Gateway initiative between the City of Calgary, Rocky View County, and now seeing support for applications by the Town of Strathmore.
Fule explained with the Trans-Canada highway passing right through Strathmore, the idea to set up a column similar to Red Deer’s Gasoline Alley is being “kicked around.”
“You try to help with developers along the Trans Canada, help with landowners, and it could be something that could really bring business to the town, primarily along the Trans-Canada,” he said. “With signage and things, you want to try to direct people if they turn off the Trans-Canada – you would like to direct them into the town to find other things that they might want to try out.”
He joked that despite the inability to have any sort of long conversation, attendance at the Calgary Stampede allowed numerous opportunities to make “first contact” and facilitate further communication beyond the event setting.
With regards to potential opportunities for local post-secondary education, Fule added the town also had an opportunity to meet with leaders at MaKami College, which currently operates in Calgary, to suggest a satellite campus being established in Strathmore.
“It (would be) a chance for our residents and residents from the region, if they want to better themselves, or if they are in an area that they would like to pursue further, we are hoping to meet with them and start talks,” he said. “Our people wouldn’t have to drive to the Marlborough area to take courses – they could possibly do some right here in town and improve their education levels and improve their job prospects.”
Fule emphasized the degree of professionalism exercised by town staff over the course of the Stampede, treating the event expressly as a workplace function.