Calgary Stampede may have be over for another year, but its benefits are only just beginning to show in the local startup ecosystem.

Described by Jyoti Gondek, mayor of the city of Calgary, as "a year-round district which not only hosts the greatest outdoor show on earth, but also serves as a cultural and economic venue 365 days a year”, YYC’s tourism industry brings in an estimated 7.7 million visitors each year, contributing $2bn to Calgary’s economy along the way.

While last year’s Calgary Stampede is projected to generate $500 million in tourism for Alberta (source: CityNews), it is by no means the city’s only attraction for entrepreneurs and prospective businessowners.

Annually, Stampede Park hosts more than 1,200 events across sectors including business, tourism, sporting, hospitality and community, welcoming upwards of four million guests along the way and generating millions of dollars in uncalculated economic value.

For example, The Global Petroleum Show (hosted by Stampede Park every two years), generates an estimated $11bn in oil and gas related sales within the global marketplace (source: Calgary Stampede).

Likewise, almost one million people attend Calgary Flames home games annually, alongside an additional 2,600,000 visitors who attend the venue for trade shows and other events.

These events create thousands of jobs across Calgary - including more than 2,500 volunteer roles from Stampede itself - contributing more than $540m to the Alberta economy.

A ‘Strong Comeback’ for Calgary’s Tourism Industry

According to the Calgary Beltline website, Stampede Park brings in more visitors outside of Stampede (between August and June) than during its widely-anticipated July events.

With a focus on creating long-term growth for Alberta's tourism economy, at the end of last month (30 June), Daniel Vandal, minister for PrairiesCan, announced a federal investment of more than $10.1m to support a full-scale Stampede in the hopes of fostering a “strong comeback” for Alberta’s tourism industry in “providing quality jobs across the country, showcasing stunning landscapes and offering exciting experiences” (source: Newswire).

PrairiesCan is also providing $1,832,500 through the Tourism Relief Fund to support four tourism projects in southern Alberta, with its efforts totaling at $11.98m.

This investment is set to create or maintain more than 1,600 jobs, bringing in upwards of 1.130,000 domestic and international visitors to Alberta in coming years.

On the topic Cindy Ady, CEO of Tourism Calgary, said: "We're grateful for funding that recognizes the importance of the tourism industry and helps as we build back from the impacts of the pandemic. 

“It will be an immense help as we grow tourism-related experiences and create an amazing digital library of photos and videos to showcase Calgary and all it has to offer.”

Cindy also hailed the funding as an opportunity to “elevate and expand Chinook Blast - a new anchor festival for the city” which managed to earn $3.3m in local impact for Calgary during its inaugural year 2021, during the coronavirus pandemic.

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