ANGUS HENDERSON
ahenderson@medicinehatnews.com
After nightmarish weather systems through the early spring and early summer, there’s a sense that people want to move on and find some respite from their worries at this year’s Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede.
At least that’s what Stampede president Harold Exner and Stampede executive director Jim MacArthur were sensing Wednesday, during the opening day of the popular annual event — the city’s biggest, with some 100,000 or so attendees expected over the next three days.
“After the recent crappy weather and the flooding, I think people are ready to party a bit,” Exner told the News in an interview Wednesday.
“Initial ticket sales and wrist band sales are up, and I’ve talked to midway people who were at Yorkton following that community’s recent flooding, and was told there was an excellent turnout there too. People are just ready to celebrate a bit.”
MacArthur said he views it as everybody in the Medicine Hat area having an opportunity to come out and to be a part of the larger community.
“With the things that have gone on over the past couple of months, being with neighbours and going to the Stampede is a great way to share that sense of community,” he added.
Both Exner and MacArthur were positive that the Stampede got off to a good start Wednesday — one of the best in recent years — and suffered very few glitches.
That and the weather rank up there with two of the biggest anxieties on opening day, according to MacArthur.
“Thank goodness we have a great group of volunteers and most of them are self reliant,” he continued. “There are always the twists and turns and the unexpected things that turn up on the first day, and if we can get past those then we’re sailing.”
Another major concern on opening day is technological glitches, as the Stampede depends on computer systems for such things as its ticketing system, and its ATM systems.
An increasingly important aspect of the Stampede is the Country in the City exhibit, which aims at the continued growth of urban and rural ties.
According to MacArthur, it’s not just something that’s only focused on during the Stampede either. It’s becoming a concept that’s being used year-round as an educational component.
One such example was the recent flood relief concert held at the Cypress Centre which raised some $68,000 for the local Red Cross flood relief efforts in the city and throughout Cypress County.
“We know we have to remain relevant to both the urban and rural communities, and we know that we have to continue to work hard to do that,” MacArthur stressed.
The annual event utilizes the volunteer efforts of 400-500 people of all age groups and offer an opportunity for people of vastly different interests to become involved, according to Exner.
“People sometimes have a pre-conceived notion, but we do have something for everyone, from stage entertainment, to casinos, night shows, and rodeos,” he explained.
“Over the past few years I’ve seen a change wherein people are there now for the entertainment too, not just for the sport.”
With an annual revenue base of about $2.5 million for the overall operations of the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede, the Stampede is a crucially important revenue stream. It brings in approximately $1 million of so over the four-day event.
Weather plays a big part in that too, and if Environment Canada’s forecast is accurate, we’ll be seeing mostly warm, sunny weather over the next few days, with a slight chance of some precipitation.

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