A mural painted by Christy Vince is pictured on the doors at Copper Coulee Casino on Monday

By Charles Lefebvre

Stampede Decor

Businesses get into Stampede spirit

Jul 22, 2019 | 4:50 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede doesn’t officially get underway until Wednesday, but the spirit of the event is already visible around the city.

Several businesses have gone above and beyond, decorating the inside and outside of their stores with props and murals.

The majority of the murals at businesses around the city are painted by Christy Vince, who owners Paintergirl Murals and Decorative Painting.

Vince, an artist for 20 years, says July is her busiest month due to the Stampede.

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“The big contest, the storefront contest every year, is usually what everybody is trying to get in on,” she said, noting she has also painted a mural on the grounds of the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede.

The Stampede’s theme this year is spotlight on agriculture, and Vince says she worked to incorporate the theme into her work and challenge herself.

“This year was Spotlight on (agriculture), so a lot of them, I tried to incorporate a lot of the agriculture aspects, so wheat, farmers, farms animals, stuff like that,” she said.

The HSBC Building: Courtesy Christy Vince

Murals painted for Stampede can be found at Copper Coulee Casino, Scoreboard Pub, multiple South Country Co-op locations, among others. She painted approximately 25 murals this month for Stampede.

She says she’s proud of her work this year.

“It’s pretty fun, and it absolutely gets everybody into the spirit of things, gets them wanting to head out to the rodeo grounds, the Stampede, dress in all of their Western gear, and it’s supposed to make people laugh and smile,” she said.

Courtesy Christy Vince

Store Decorating Contest results

The Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede released the results of their store decorating contest late Monday. They can be viewed below.

-Institutions and Community Services – Age Care Valleyview

-Banks – TD Bank

-Retail Stores – Kal Tire

-Non-Retail/Offices – TIE – Cypress View Veterinary Clinic and Animal Medical Centre South -Bars/Restaurants/Hotels/Fast Food – Royal Canadian Legion – Robertson Memorial Branch #17

-Never Entered before – Pritchard & Company LLP

-Judge’s Choice | Heart of the Stampede – Investors Group