Bart introduced Joel Cowley, CEO of the Calgary Stampede, appointed on Sep. 1, 2001. He oversees 335 full time employees, 1300 part time, 4800 seasonal and 3000 volunteers for the 10 day Stampede and hundreds of other events, The Stampede also has 2 working ranches, totaling 31,000 acres.
Joel spent 15 years with the Houston Livestock show and Rodeo, the last 7 as President and CEO.
He holds an MBA from Michigan State. Also a BSc in Animal Science from Texas A&M and a BSc in Animal Science from Colorado State. He and his wife became Canadian citizens on July 10, this year.
He presented the Stampede’s 20 year Master Plan for the 230 acre site. (Your scribe didn’t capture much detail). Enough said-it was a great presentation, showing locations of new, or replacements facilities, including 2 Marriott Hotels, one of which is now under construction with 400 rooms and 300 residents. A second hotel, with 300 rooms, is planned. A walking trail is envisioned along the Elbow River. The new Greenline will have a station there. The new arena, Scotia Place, will open in one year and be a “cool place” to visit, even without an event. All of this on the original 94 acre site, purchased in 1889 for $234.
Paul G. thanked Joel and presented a Rotary Polio certificate.
