5 July 2013
Ottawa, Ontario
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement on the opening of the 2013 Calgary Stampede which is taking place from July 5-14, 2013:
“Today, Calgary celebrates the opening of The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth which showcases the remarkable western pioneer spirit, traditions and values that have contributed so much to making Canada the great nation it is today. This year in particular, the Stampede also celebrates the resilience, strength and pride of those Albertans who are recovering from the devastating floods in the region.
“With more than a million visitors from around the world every year, the Stampede features one of the world’s largest rodeos, concerts, parades, midway, stage shows, agricultural competitions, chuckwagon racing and First Nations exhibitions.
“Our Government is proud to be associated with this premiere tourism event which has become an important driver of Calgary’s economic growth and prosperity, and I look forward to serving pancakes at the Stampede again this year.
“As the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth gets underway, I would like to thank the organizers and the thousands of volunteers who work so hard every year at making the Calgary Stampede the internationally acclaimed success that it is. I would also like to extend a sincere thank you to all those who came together to help with clean-up efforts.”
