I had the pleasure of meeting Esther Mitchell, Committee Relations with Downtown Attractions , last

The largest Calgary Stampede committee with over 325 year-round volunteers is the Downtown Attractions Committee (DTA). Their main goal is to make sure that all Stampede visitors have a hand clappin , toe tappin , and belly bustin good time!  Over Stampede these kind folks will feed you, entertain you, and have you dancing in the street (literally).
Downtown attractions cruise bargains include events and activities at Fluor Rope Square , and other locations in the downtown area.  All of their events and activities are coordinated by volunteers and all are FREE!
I had the pleasure of meeting Esther Mitchell, Committee Relations with Downtown Attractions , last year when I went on a tour with her.  We rode the old time rigs , had a chuckwagon breakfast at Fluor Rope Square, and did some square dancing  on Stephen Avenue thankfully I had a really good partner!   It was so much fun and one of the reasons I wanted to become a Stampede volunteer.
In the early 80’s I worked for a company that had a Chuckwagon that raced in the Stampede. They would bring the Chuckwagon downtown to the Westin Hotel and we would cook and serve breakfast off the back of it. We met tourists from all over the world, even the Indian Parade would pass by each day. Then, I decided to get involved and become a volunteer with Downtown Attractions Committee. In 1992 I started volunteering as an Information Rover handing out Stampede information.
Volunteering as an Information Rover, I have branded hundreds of kids, tourists and Calgarians with the Calgary Stampede Logo. The lingo that went along with branding was telling people; “hold still its red hot” (it was only red ink), ask them if they could “smell the hair burning,” and some of the good sports of the male gender we would tell them “it’s a good thing we aren’t going to make you into a steer!   Then together there was always a big “YAHOO!” cruise bargains We would end by saying to them “now you belong to the Calgary Stampede and you have to return every year”! After 10 days of Yahooing, it would take a couple of weeks for my voice to recover.
I can honestly say that Stampede gets in your blood and the fun is infectious, my son has watched all the fun I have had through the years and he decided to become a volunteer with Downtown Attractions Committee in 2009. He is involved in the Square Dance Subcommittee and they have a small part in the show TAILS , which is at the Corral 3 times a day during Stampede. I am looking forward to this show and I am excited about all the people I am going to meet hosting them on a tour of Downtown Attractions while volunteering.
Start your Stampede Day with Downtown Attractions at Flour Rope Square where there are Chuckwagon Breakfasts, all kinds of entertainment, cruise bargains First Nations parade, Clowns, Mascots, contests, a gun fight, Old Time Rig rides and Square Dancers (both Saturdays and Monday thru Friday). Continue the fun and head on down to the Stampede grounds, YAHOO!
If you have any special cruise bargains memories of volunteering at the Calgary Stampede we d love to hear them! The Next Generation Committee is collecting your best memories and moments to include in the #TimeCapsule .  Please email yours to: calgarystampede.ngc@gmail.com .
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