The key is to go after the sponsors.
Which is exactly what I said. Go on.....boycott GM products.
"Stop broadcasting the Calgary Stampede" - Humane Society of Canada
Fri, 2009-07-10 23:33
#52
Fri, 2009-07-10 23:44
#53
As soon as my Cadillac is done, I won't buy any more.
Even God must be angry with Calgarians, dropping the price of oil like she has has done the past few weeks.
Sat, 2009-07-11 00:18
#54
Let's invite Sarah to lead the protests against the Calgary animal abusers
Sarah Brown declines to eat veal at G8
Prime minister's wife has long-standing objections to what is a popular delicacy in Italy
But the prime minister's wife has long-standing objections to the meat, which is regarded as cruel by many British animal lovers because of the conditions in which calves are reared.
On both occasions when veal was offered, Brown turned it down, Downing Street sources said.
However, she has eaten some unusual Italian specialities during the visit, including green pea ice cream, which she said was "delicious".
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jul/10/sarah-brown-refuses-veal
Sat, 2009-07-11 00:20
#55
[url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2009/07/09/animal-steer-dies-calg... animal dies at Calgary Stampede[/url]
This comment seems pretty apt to me:
"To lose an animal regardless of the circumstances is always difficult for the Stampede and all the rodeo participants."I'm not a PETA type by any means, but I am pretty tired of the old bromides the folks associated with the Stampede rodeo trot out about their affection for the livestock everytime an animal gets injured. Anyone who has seen a rodeo cowboy clothesline a calf with a lasso or wrench a steer's neck around can see that it's a pretty brutal activity. The Stampede tries to sugarcoat that fact with its rhetoric, which is just as obnoxious as all of the animal rights folks screaming about the cruelty of it all as they munch on their hamburgers.
It's a pretty primal sport. People need to understand that when deciding whether to take in the Stampede rodeo. They don't need to be patronized by some guy with a twang in his voice who tells them, every two minutes, about the special bond between the cowboys and their animals.
Sat, 2009-07-11 08:43
#56
Special bond? Cue the banjos 
Sat, 2009-07-11 12:46
#57
But you do realize that riding bronco's and bulls are more likely to cause injury to the rider than the animal, don't you?
You're right, but I think that's completely irrelevant here. Men and women who choose to participate in this form of "entertainment" are doing exactly that -- CHOOSING to put themselves in danger and risk their lives to get some cheers from the crowd. What we're talking about here is senseless torture of an animal, against it's will.
If I were to label myself, which I don't usually like to do, I'd be a pescetarian. I eat fish, so I could hardly call myself a vegetarian, but I consciously cut out most meat from my diet, and am deeply concerned about issues of food security and animal welfare. That said, I am usually the first to begrudge celebrities that fashionably support PETA, because of it's deeply misogynist and racist campaigns, and the way they jump on trendy bandwagons: Say maybe focusing on something traditional like the seal hunt when the real issues are factory farming, etc.
But I think the Calgary Stampede IS an issue that animal rights groups need to get behind, despite it's element of tradition. I'm as sentimental as it gets when it comes to upholding traditions, but not one where animals are dying and the standards for their well-being are shoddy at best. I'm not sure that not broadcasting the stampede is the right way to approach this -- because it is a tradition possibly worth upholding, however I think it's time to review the conditions and eliminate some of the events that are primitive in their treatment of animals.
Sat, 2009-07-11 12:57
#58
Boom Boom
Broadcasting the Stampede just encourages the 'yee haw!' crowd. It's 'in your face' insulting to everyone else.
Sat, 2009-07-11 17:23
#59
Calgary, the dead animal capital of Canada.
This has become a national disgrace, and shame on the CBC for getting involved in the Stampede.
4th animal dies at Stampede
Death sparks protest
Animal rights activists from Calgary held a protest Saturday, saying the death highlights how the Stampede is a "cruel spectacle of animal abuse."
The Calgary Animal Rights Meetup Group staged a demonstration outside the Stampede grounds at the Victoria Park C-Train station.
In a written statement, the group said the death toll at this year's Stampede is evidence that all rodeo events need to go.
The group said it would continue to stage protests in order to let the world know "what an embarrassment this spectacle is to our city."
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2009/07/11/calgary-stampede-fourt...
Sat, 2009-07-11 17:45
#60
Excellent, thanks NorthReport. Apparently the anti-animal Calgary "Humane" Society isn't the only show in town. They should be ashamed of themselves.
Sat, 2009-07-11 18:15
#61
What's wrong with the Calgary Humane Society?
They are so ashamed to be fronting for this animal slaughter they are afraid to even answer the door.
Rodeo fans are split on the tragic death of a steer that was injured during a wrestling event and had to be euthanized.
First time rodeo-watcher Lisa Spelling said she didn't see how it happened but she heard about it.
"I know that I probably shouldn't have been here watching the show, but I still think it's tragic that the poor little thing had to die for the sake of entertainment," said Spelling, of Winnipeg.
FEELS GUILTY
"I don't like that part of rodeo. I'm here to check it out. I feel a little guilty because I'm kinda supporting it."
Francis Courtney agreed, saying he actually stepped out when steer wrestling was on.
"I'm a dude but, the little animals they put out there to be roped in just looked so defenceless ... I think this is the last time I'm going to pay money to watch rodeo."
On a stretcher like an injured athlete, the steer was carried out of the arena Thursday, after it was taken to the ground by steer wrestler Joey Bell Jr., of Athens, Texas.
/http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/alberta/2009/07/11/10097856-sun.html
Sat, 2009-07-11 18:30
#62
I've always opposed all such events (including horse racing, if you want to open another sarcastic thread on that).
I too would like to see Heywood's opinions of horse racing, considering the monsterous taxpayer subsidies for this rich man's activity in Alberta. I'm sure our resident fiscal conservative is in complete disagreement with the PC government of this province about this collossul waste of taxpayer dollars, right?
Not to mention the subsidies that the Calgary stampede receives.
Sat, 2009-07-11 18:43
#63
"The Alberta SPCA and the Calgary Humane Society are on par with us at every performance of the rodeo and the chuck wagons races and they are there to observe and if they see something wrong they let us know," said Stampede Spokesman, Doug Fraser.
http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090629/CGY_calf_roping_...
Sat, 2009-07-11 18:50
#64
Why we oppose the Stampede rodeo and chucks
Animal deaths could be prevented by ending death trap extravaganza
Published July 9, 2009 by Fast Forward Weekly reader in Letters
In the over 15 years of actively protesting the Calgary Stampede's rodeo and chuckwagon racing we have come to see the tide change in our favour, running counter to the claims and pronouncements of both the Stampede board, and the local media.
Perhaps the most telling proof of this came a couple years ago when, in response to the Cloverdale Rodeo decision to ban certain events from their rodeo, both myself and a member of the Calgary Stampede were invited to discuss this on BC Talk Radio as it applied to the Calgary spectacle. The Stampede, of course, refused to engage in any dialogue with our side, so it was left to be where I would discuss our position and then the Stampede would give their perspective. During the course of their dialogue it was admitted that every year there are animal deaths that occur at the Stampede - a far cry from their official position... the deaths that do take place are far and few and the result of tragic accidents.
Given that these deaths occur on a regular basis during chuckwagon races, it is clear that these are no longer "accidents," but a regular consequence of such a spectacle and thus completely avoidable, by bringing an end to this death trap extravaganza. Obviously they cannot prevent these deaths from occurring or they would have, so the only way to do so is to stop running these "races" entirely.
As far as the rodeo events go, there are some that have the appearance of being more barbaric, such as the calf roping, but the truth is that every event carries its own level of brutality, along with injuries and death.
At one point, there was much public outcry over the jerk-down of the calves during the roping event, so the Stampede decreed that such an action could result in penalties being assessed, etc. The end result was the censoring of said acts and others, so as to keep the public in the dark over what was going on, save for those in the grandstand. And still animal deaths and injuries continued to occur, unabated.
Interestingly, I wound up being contacted by people within the industry, some of them genuinely interested in trying to clean up their own sport, while others were doing so to inform me about the goings-ons taking place on their rival camps... rodeo people telling me the behind-the-scene stories about chucks and chucks people ratting out the rodeo enclave. And then of course, I had spoken to some people in the ranching community, who expressed their own opposition to the exploitative and abusive ways of the rodeo, citing such actions as being a show of great disrespect towards these beasts that are, admittedly being raised by them for consumption. For many of these ranchers it is a demeaning and callous disregard for these individuals' lives, a rather base lack of sensitivity towards them.
The truth is, no matter if I run down the list of issues we have with each event, be it the doctoring of chuck wagon horse teams with substances that increase their heart rate so as to maximize their speed-at grave risk to heart attacks etc...something that has seen a dramatic increase in recent years, incidentally, to the breaking of limbs and hairline fractures during barrel-racing, or the hyper-extension of bulls' backs as they are sent bucking in pain and fear from having hotshots applied to them at the opening of the chutes, the popularity of this 'sport' has been on the wane for many years now, irrespective of the claims being peddled to the generally unsuspecting public.
We do not stand opposed to an annual party, where the entire city can get into a celebratory mood and let its proverbial hair down, if even for a few of the dog days of summer. We would be more than encouraging of such a party, actively participating in such a morale boost even.
What we cannot do though, and as the increasing numbers of the public would indicate as well, is support an annual event where cruelty towards animals is the norm, where injuries and death are not the accidents they would have us believe, but more an expected-and accepted-form of "collateral damage," a by-product or consequence of exploiting and abusing the lives of these beings, for the sake of some now tarnished lucre. And for that reason we will be out there yet again, peacefully protesting this sham of a spectacle and all the barbarism associated with i
Michael Alvarez-Toye
Calgary Animal Rights Coalition
http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/news-views/letters/why-we-oppose-the-c...
Sat, 2009-07-11 19:42
#65
Bell Canada.
I was thinking of switching my cell phone to another company, but now I will speed up the process.
Sorry i don't know how to copy this properly.
http://www.bucktherodeo.com/stampede.html
Horses continue to pay with their lives in this cruel and dangerous event.
Animals pay a high price at Calgary's annual rodeo exhibition. The Calgary Stampede is a 10-day event that takes place every summer in the Canadian province of Alberta. Many horses have suffered catastrophic injuries-often fatal-in this event.
Breakneck Speed = Broken Necks
The deadliest event in the Stampede are the chuck wagon races, in which teams of four horses pull old-fashioned "pioneer" wagons and race around a track at breakneck speed.
In 2008, a horse was euthanized after a collision in the chuckwagon races.
In 2007, three horses died after two wagons collided. One horse died instantly, and two others suffered devastating injuries and were euthanized.
The year before, one horse suffered a heart attack, tripping several other horses when he collapsed. Another horse sustained a broken leg in the turmoil, and both horses were euthanized. Later, a third horse was euthanized after colliding with the wagon of another team on the track. Several of the other horses involved sustained injuries in the collision.
More than 15 horses have died in the past five years. In July 2005, at least nine horses died after being spooked and falling 33 feet off a city bridge into a river. Some animals tumbled down a steep embankment, while others jumped or fell over the guardrail. Some horses died on impact, others drowned, and one had to be euthanized later. Ranch hands had been herding approximately 200 horses on a six-day, 125-mile journey from the Stampede ranch near Hanna, Alberta, to the exhibition site near downtown Calgary.
Cruelty for a Buck
Animals used in the rodeo circuit suffer horribly. The extensive physical trauma and psychological terror experienced by animals used in rodeo and chuck wagon events is obvious. A casual observer of chuck wagon races can see horses foaming at the mouth and see their eyes rolling back in their heads. In calf-roping, the young animals run in terror after being let out of a chute and often sustain neck and back injuries when the rope yanks them violently to the ground. A flank strap is used in the bucking and bull-riding events, tormenting the horses and bulls and causing them to buck wildly in an effort to rid themselves of the constricting band across their genitals. Such cruelty cannot be justified, especially when the sole purpose of the event is to provide "entertainment."
The Humane Society of Canada (HSC) has called for a boycott of the Stampede. "We're looking for a way to end rodeo violence," says Michael O'Sullivan, executive director of the animal welfare group. "The only way to do that is not to buy an admission ticket, not to use your hard-earned money to buy goods and services from ad agencies and corporate sponsors."
You Can Help
Please write a polite letter to these sponsors of the Calgary Stampede and encourage them to disassociate themselves from this deadly event:
Michael J. Sabia, President, CEO, & Director
Bell Canada
1000 rue de la Gauchetiere Ouest, Ste. 3700
Montréal, QC H3B 4Y7
514-870-8777
514-870-4385 (fax)
Elias S. Arturo, President and Managing Director
General Motors of Canada Limited
1908 Colonel Sam Dr.
Oshawa, ON L1H 8P7
Canada
905-644-5000
905-644-4762 (fax)
https://contactus.gm.ca/english/email_us.aspx
David Ginley, Director
Labatt Brewing Co.
4415 Gateway Blvd. N.W.
Edmonton, AB T6H 5C3
Canada
1-800-268-BEER
http://www.labatt.com/english/lbc_contact/lbc_main.htm
Stephen G. Snyder, President and CEO
TransAlta Corporation
110 12th Ave. S.W.
Calgary, AB T2P 2M1
Canada
403-267-7110
403-267-2590 (fax)
http://www.transalta.com (click on "Contact Us")
Gary Holden, President and CEO
Enmax
141 50th Ave. S.E.
Calgary, AB T2G 4S7
Canada
1-866-993-6629
403-219-2165 (fax)
http://www.enmax.com/Corporation/Contact+Us/default.htm
Sun, 2009-07-12 02:19
#66
I've always opposed all such events (including horse racing, if you want to open another sarcastic thread on that).I too would like to see Heywood's opinions of horse racing, considering the monsterous taxpayer subsidies for this rich man's activity in Alberta. I'm sure our resident fiscal conservative is in complete disagreement with the PC government of this province about this collossul waste of taxpayer dollars, right?
Not to mention the subsidies that the Calgary stampede receives.
I would agree if and only if it were to become legal to bet on cagefighters. But until then we need horseracing...
Sun, 2009-07-12 10:25
#67
Boom Boom
I think Montreal now has ultimate fighting - at least I remember hearing something about it on the news. Cage fighting and ultimate fighting - not to mention barbaric events like the Calgary Stampede - and the crowds they draw - is just another example of the disintegration of civilization (so-called "pro" wrestling is another example of this). We're risking becoming a "yee haw!" society.
Sun, 2009-07-12 11:09
#68
Same goes for those outfitter businesses that cater to the big game trophy hunters for their living. It should be banned along with the stampede, which is one of the primary visible posters of the inhumane suffering for human pleasure. Almost got tossed through a bar room window one time, which would have made it the second or third time of the week for that particular opening in the wall, for suggesting the same in a room full of drunken outfitters. Fortunately, Mom was there to calm things down with my brothers. I was always her favorite.
Sun, 2009-07-12 11:47
#69
Boom Boom
What's with the bar fights? Hardly the venue for a progressive person.
Sun, 2009-07-12 12:07
#70
Here's more information fromt the Tyee: http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/Rights-Justice/2009/07/07/HumaneSocietyR...
And a link to an ad that I believe began all this, which was at first rejected:
Sun, 2009-07-12 12:16
#71
What's with the bar fights? Hardly the venue for a progressive person.
No? Try it sometime. Words or statements tend to create it's own venue.
Sun, 2009-07-12 12:33
#72
Am I going to get my progressive status revoked for hanging out at bars? If so, I'm in trouble.What's with the bar fights? Hardly the venue for a progressive person.No? Try it sometime. Words or statements tend to create it's own venue.
Sun, 2009-07-12 12:36
#73
Am I going to get my progressive status revoked for hanging out at bars? If so, I'm in trouble.
Not if you can supply a photo of yourself get heaved out through the window.
Sun, 2009-07-12 12:45
#74
Am I going to get my progressive status revoked for hanging out at bars? If so, I'm in trouble.Not if you can supply a photo of yourself get heaved out through the window.
That's dependent on if the babble get-together gets out of hand!
Sun, 2009-07-12 12:53
#75
M. Spector
Michael J. Sabia, President, CEO, & Director, Bell Canada
Sabia hasn't been with Bell for a year now.
He's now the CEO of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec.
Sun, 2009-07-12 12:57
#76
Am I going to get my progressive status revoked for hanging out at bars? If so, I'm in trouble.Not if you can supply a photo of yourself get heaved out through the window.
That's dependent on if the babble get-together gets out of hand!
Does the meeting place come accessorized with moose antlers on the wall? And if so, can you take a pic with all of you there? :)
Sun, 2009-07-12 13:34
#77
I do hope Alberta livestock are watching and learning from their Spanish comrades:
[url=http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/07/12/bulls-spain.html][color=blue][u... gore 4 runners in Spain[/u][/color][/url]
Sun, 2009-07-12 14:15
#78
Boom Boom
Am I going to get my progressive status revoked for hanging out at bars? If so, I'm in trouble.
If you go back and read my post it's obvious I was referring to 'bar fights'. Hardly a model of progressive conflict resolution, in my opinion. And, for the record, I've gone to bars in my younger days (I'm 60 in a few months) for a drink or two and to listen to music. I would never dream of getting involved in a fight in a bar - the very notion goes against my pacifist nature.
Sun, 2009-07-12 15:06
#79
I'm going back to NL on vacation in a couple of weeks. I'll stop by the local haunts and let you know if anythings changed, besides the window panes.
Sun, 2009-07-12 15:41
#80
What's with the bar fights? Hardly the venue for a progressive person.
It can be. Depends who you're fighting and what you're fighting about...
Sun, 2009-07-12 15:44
#81
Boom Boom
Okayyyyy.... that's it with this thread for me.
Wed, 2009-07-15 09:39
#82
Anyway ... back to the topic.
I don't know much about this program, Animal Voices (http://www.animalvoices.ca/stampede) but it seems to be Toronto-based.
The website makes an excellent point about the history of the Calgary Stampede. Even I made the argument that the stampede (if made far more animal-friendly) should be upheld based on the tradition of it, but maybe this isn't so.
The website says:
The Calgary Stampede was the dream of an American entrepreneur, who saw Calgary as the perfect location for his version of Wild Bill Hickok's Wild West Show, complete with Indians and cowboys, animal tricks and an agricultural fair.
Nothing in it was based on historical precedent, either in the activities that engaged animals - the stunt riding, bronco busting, etc. In fact, the Calgary Stampede, in its longevity, created its own history, and the precedent was that of itself. No one on a ranch treated its animals in the fashion that rodeo did, with the roping and wrestling, the riding of bulls and enraged horses. They still don't, as indicated by ranch men I've spoken to over the years of our protesting the Stampede rodeo.
In fact, for all the opposition we may hold towards all animal industries, there are very strong views within the agricultural community opposing rodeos.
Wed, 2009-07-15 10:18
#83
Same goes for those outfitter businesses that cater to the big game trophy hunters for their living. It should be banned along with the stampede, which is one of the primary visible posters of the inhumane suffering for human pleasure.
Like [url=http://www.adventurenw.com/hunting.shtml] the Inuit who make a living off of such things? [/url]
Wed, 2009-07-15 10:33
#84
As usual, whether it's the war in Afghanistan, or torturing animals in Calgary, it's all about money. The Stampede is big, big business. Have you seen the prices greedy Calgarians charge for accommodation during Stampede week?
And is it true what I've heard about all the BYOB* restaurants that are opening up in Calgary?
[size=10](*) Butcher Your Own Bull.[/size]
Wed, 2009-07-15 10:36
#85
Perhaps they could voice their concerns a little louder, eh!
As usual, whether it's the war in Afghanistan, or torturing animals in Calgary, it's all about money. The Stampede is big, big business. Have you seen the prices greedy Calgarians charge for accommodation during Stampede week?
In fact, for all the opposition we may hold towards all animal industries, there are very strong views within the agricultural community opposing rodeos.
Thu, 2009-07-16 17:45
#86
Same goes for those outfitter businesses that cater to the big game trophy hunters for their living. It should be banned along with the stampede, which is one of the primary visible posters of the inhumane suffering for human pleasure.
Like [url=http://www.adventurenw.com/hunting.shtml] the Inuit who make a living off of such things? [/url]
Yes.
Thu, 2009-07-16 18:07
#87
isn't this whole debate very predictable based on your experiences? personnally, I grew up in an isolated northern alberta town with a family of farmers, lived in Calgary and went to the Stampede (too many drunk retards and metrosexuals in cowboy hats, no thx!), and have a good friend whose family are ranchers. if i was raised in a city, had never experienced a rodeo/ranch, and had no perception on where my food from safeway originates, and what farmers do for a living - then i might have a different view. that's where jumping to conclusions becomes a problem. have a realistic idea of what you know, and talk about that. rodeos happen every weekend all summer, some people where raised with this lifestyle - and still are, and people that handle animals daily have a better idea of what's good for them than someone that has never set foot outside an urban area except for a photo. it's too bad that your only exposure to rodeos is the overblown media. nature vs nuture, a cow with a weak neck died.
Thu, 2009-07-16 18:19
#88
I grew up in an area where subsistence hunting was a way of life for most people. Most either took part in the hunt, or availed themselves of the game when the animal was shared among friends and families. No one that I ever knew who hunted, as I did myself, ever spoke of a fondness or desire to prolong an animals suffering for fun. Rodeos inflict needless fear and suffering upon animals for no other reason but entertainment.
Sun, 2011-07-10 18:20
#89
[url=http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20110709/rodeo-stampede-horse-death-110... horse put down[/url]
The Calgary Stampede got off to a grim start on Friday when a horse had to be euthanized after breaking its leg during the festival's first night of chuckwagon racing.[...]In the wake of Friday's chuckwagon incident, the Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) has called upon the Calgary Stampede to suspend the races.
"The Stampede's claims to have made the race safer have been proven false," VHS spokesperson Peter Fricker said in a statement issued on Saturday.
"It is totally unacceptable to continue this event when horse after horse is dying just to entertain a crowd."
Six horses were killed during the 2010 Stampede.
Sat, 2011-07-16 13:44
#90
[url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2011/07/16/sp-calgary-stampede.html]Second horse killed by Stampeders[/url]
This is different from bullfighting... how?
Sun, 2011-07-17 03:35
#91
bagkitty
Well, I can think of at least three differences:
1) The outriders don't get to wear the same colourful skin tight pants as the matador does.
2) No one gets to consume the animal afterwards.
3) The object of the exercise is not to kill the horses. Each race doesn't end in death.
Sun, 2011-07-17 08:39
#92
Oh, thanks for that. Next time I'll use Google before making such ignorant comparisons.
Ride 'em, cowboy!
ETA: Ok, I've looked it up, and I found another difference!
4. The Stampede hasn't yet been banned.
Sun, 2011-07-17 11:51
#93
Boom Boom
God, I hate the Stampade. Always have.
Fri, 2012-07-13 14:07
#94
The slaughter for amusement continued Thursday evening:
[url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/three-horses-down-at-calgar... horses killed at Calgary Stampede in chuckwagon event[/url]
... along with the rhetoric from the apologists, before the investigation is even complete:
Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi defended the Stampede Friday morning as he lined up for a pancake breakfast.
"It is obviously an awful tragedy. Many, many hearts are broken. But I'm confident that the Stampede continues to have among the best animal care protocols in the world for this kind of event," he told The Globe and Mail. "And [Stampede] will continue to work with the Calgary Humane Society and the...SPCA on getting better.
"It sounds like this one was a horse that had a fatal incident and unfortunately had it in the middle of the race," Mr. Nenshi said. "There's not much one could ever do to prevent that. We need to make sure the sport is as safe as possible and I'm confident the Stampede is doing that."
And the Calgary so-called "Humane" Society, never eager to jeopardize its funding:
To be clear, the humane society's policy remains that we are opposed to the use of animals in any form of entertainment that puts the animal at risk of suffering stress, pain, injury or death. However, we also recognize that rodeo events and other related forms of entertainment involving the use of animals are legal in Western Canada, and that many view the Stampede in particular as very important, both economically and culturally.
[Emphasis added]
Fri, 2012-07-13 14:35
#95
Boom Boom
Fucking horrible, barbaric. And it will likely continue. 
Fri, 2012-07-13 15:04
#96
autoworker
Fucking horrible, barbaric. And it will likely continue.
...as will the seal hunt.
Fri, 2012-07-13 15:06
#97
A few horse dying each year won't change things - unfortunately there is just too much money involved in the Stampede, one of Canada's icons.
Fri, 2012-07-13 15:07
#98
;;
Fri, 2012-07-13 15:30
#99
I'm amazed that their audience doesn't dwindle when this happens year after year. Admittedly, it's not my idea of fun to begin with, but I think if I were to ever witness horses dying as a result of these races, I'd never return, much less bring children to the event.
Fri, 2012-07-13 15:47
#100
Boom Boom
If chuckwagon races were started up in Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, or Halifax and Quebec City, would there be any outrage? Even if a few horses were killed?
Fri, 2012-07-13 17:04
#101
bagkitty
A few horse dying each year won't change things - unfortunately there is just too much money involved in the Stampede, one of Canada's icons.
It is also instructive to look at their Board of Directors.
And let us not forget the Stampede Board's other accomplishments over the past 4 or 5 years... the complete elimination of the former residential district of Victoria Park (boarding houses and low rise apartment buildings for the most part) to be replaced with.... parking lots for those going to "Stampede Park" (which, coincidentally is already served with two C-Train stations) and the Stampede Casino. The blocking of the redevelopment of an industrial park in south Ramsay (they were going to put in a supermarket [neither Ramsay nor the adjoining district of Inglewood have a full size grocery store]) but the Stampede Board put pressure on City Council... they wanted more land east of the river to "unload livestock".
It is so much fun living in a "world class" city where everyone dances to the tune of this particular Board of Directors.