Disappointment follows cancellation of Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede

On Tuesday night, the Stampede board of directors voted to officially cancel July’s 132^nd edition of the summer festival due to COVID-19 concerns.

This came after recommendations from Alberta’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw that gatherings of over 15 people would be banned through the summer.

Last week, both the Calgary Stampede and K-Days in Edmonton elected to cancel their respective events which put the writing on the wall for the local Stampede.

“Over the course of the last few weeks, we’ve wondered if it would come to this,” said MacArthur. “So, I think that last night’s meeting was ultimately having to say those words.”

All aspects of the 2020 Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede have been outright cancelled including the parade, rodeo, and night show concerts.

It also marks the first cancellation of the summer festival since World War II.

“At a time like this when everything seems so doom and gloom, that would have been a beacon of light or something of hope for people to go to,” said Mayor Ted Clugston

This decision comes after months of planning from the Stampede board who were less than 90 days away from the start of the 2020 event.

“It is a pretty severe blow financially,” said MacArthur. “I will give full credit to those that came before us that were cautious with spending and that sort of thing. So, we do have a bit of reserve thanks to their prudent management in the past.”

Some financial support from the province is also helping to ease the blow of the Stampede’s cancellation, while MacArthur said they’re accessing the federal Emergency Wage Subsidy to keep as many staff employed as possible.

The economic impacts of the cancellation will no doubt hit local businesses as well, who are set to lose roughly $5 million in yearly economic spinoff.

“It’s just a devastating year back-to-back-to-back, all the things that are happening,” said Clugston. “We count on it massively with people from Saskatchewan coming here and [from] all over Alberta.”

Tourism Medicine Hat has cited the Medicine Hat Exibition & Stampede as the single biggest draw for out-of-town tourists every year.

In a statement to CHAT News, executive director Jace Anderson said it’s a bit hit to the local tourism industry.

“It was sad to hear confirmation that the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede wouldn’t run this summer,” said Anderson. “The requirements of social distancing and what that will do to consumer confidence in general are incredibly hard on the tourism sector, devastating really, which is very hard on our entire community. The negative economic impact is real – but right now I can’t help but think of the people this impacts. These decisions are hard, and no less when it’s a passion project like the Stampede is. And, the history only makes it that much harder.”

As for the Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce, they say help is on the way for local businesses taken aback by the news.

“We are working really hard with a team from the City of people on planning the economic recovery and what that’s going to look like,” said past-president Sarah MacKenzie.

The 2020 Stampede was to have taken place between July 22-25 and was expected to have brought over 40,000 people through the gates.

Although there won’t be a Stampede this year in Medicine Hat, Clugston is hoping the ‘Stampede spirit’ will extend through a unique summer in the city.

“For some people this is the biggest event of the year for them, this is what they look forward to,” said Clugston. “It’s a wonderful family event that we can go to. You can buy material things, but you talk about spending your money on experiences and memories, and those are the things that last.”

MacArthur confirmed they are still in conversations with business partners about what aspects of the 2020 Stampede could return next year, including this year’s night shows in Train, Hunter Brothers, and Johnny Reid.

Planning will now shift to 2021 for organizers, with MacArthur confident that they’ll be able to return with a roar next summer.

“Keep your eye on us,” said MacArthur. “I know that things will be quiet for 2020, but I think everybody is going to be ready and willing to have a great celebration in 2021. So, we’re going to work hard to make it a great celebration for next year.”

by Scott Roblin

Disappointment follows cancellation of Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede

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