Canada's oldest stampede, the Raymond Stampede, celebrates 120 years, July 1, 2022. (Photo: LNN/Raymond Stampede)

By Mario Cabradilla and Cathy Gibson

Canada’s oldest ‘Stampede’ is not in Calgary

Jul 1, 2022 | 9:42 AM

RAYMOND, AB – The Calgary Stampede may be the biggest and the most well-known, but it wasn’t the first ‘Stampede’ in Canada. That title is held by the small town of Raymond, Alberta. The first Raymond Stampede was held in 1902, a full decade before the first Calgary Stampede in 1912.

This year marks the 120^th anniversary for the Raymond Stampede.

The Raymond Stampede holds the title of the First Stampede in Canada. (Photo: LNN/Raymond Stampede)

The spirit of competition was ignited in the town more than a century ago, when Southern Alberta rancher Ray Knight, the town’s namesake, brought local ranchers together to test their skills and determine the best working cowboy.

Raymond Stampede President Robert Heggie explains, “The Raymond Stampede started back in 1902, and that was some ranchers driving some horses into the town of Raymond and wanting to have a contest to see who had the best bronc rider from the different ranches and surrounding areas around.”

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The rodeo originated with bronc riding, and Heggie says early ranchers “didn’t ride with anything other than a saddle bronc and rein to hang on to. That’s what they did back in 1902, that’s how it all started.”

The first Raymond Stampede did not have a rodeo arena. According to Heggie, “They basically snugged the horses up to another horse, blindfolded them and put a guy on him, and that’s how the stampede was born.”

Heggie also explains the origin of the ‘Stampede’ name, “The name ‘Stampede’ came from driving the horses into town, and the owner of the horses, which was Ray Knight, which the town of Raymond was named after, he hollered to the boys and he says ‘boys don’t let them horses get away or we’re gonna have a stampede!’ And that’s where the name ‘Stampede’ originated.”

The Raymond Stampede rodeo has been run by the Chinook Rodeo Association for the past 43 years, but this year, the rodeo has been approved by the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) and the U.S. Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).

That means top world competitors will be competing in major rodeo events at the Raymond Stampede July 1-2, 2022, to qualify for the Canadians Finals Rodeo and the National Finals Rodeo. The Canadian Finals will be held on November 2, 2022 in Red Deer, Alberta, and the National Finals will take place December 1, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The world-class events at the Raymond Stampede include:

• Bareback Steer Wrestling
• Team Roping
• Ladies Breakaway Roping
• Saddle Bronc
• Tie-Down Roping
• Ladies Barrel Racing
• Bull Riding

Additional events include the Kid’s Wild Pony Race, Steer Riding, and the historic Wild Horse Grand Entry.

The Wild Horse Grand Entry is a re-enactment of when the first rancher brought the horses from surrounding ranches into the town of Raymond for the first rodeo. According to Robert Heggie, “You’ve got to see it to describe it.”

The Raymond Stampede begins at 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 1, 2022, with special performances by the Blood Tribe Dance Group and the Mocassin Flat Singers. At 2:00 p.m. on July 1 and 2, the rodeo will kick off with bucking horses and bulls provided by local contractor Duane Kesler’s Championship Rodeo Stock.

You can share in the excitement of the 120^th annual Raymond Stampede this weekend in Raymond, Alberta, which is about 2.5 hours south of Calgary, where they’ll have to wait another 10 years to celebrate the same milestone.

Discover more about the Raymond Stampede.

Read other recent news about Raymond: Town of Raymond council votes against ending century-old alcohol ban.

Read more Lethbridge News Now.