Comments on: The Greatest Medieval Show On Earth

By: nestandsparkle

nestandsparkle — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:50:21 +0000

I have a lot of respect for many of the things that the Stampede organization is doing, and know a lot of their staff through my job. They put on a cultural festival that brings our city to life and they are active in arts, social issues, and events all year. But the ongoing death and injury of animals in the name of sport, entertainment, personal gain and profit (rodeo is a big money sport for the people who compete) is disgusting to me. I really can’t stomach it and it prevents me from being able to support anything about the Stampede, even though there are things that I would like to support. Here’s the latest bad news – 3 animals dead this year: http://www.calgarysun.com/sports/othersports/2009/07/09/10082871.html

Keep up the good work Vancouver Humane Society! There are a pile of independent media outlets and well-read blogs in Calgary that would probably be thrilled to spread your messages and be part of influencing change.

By: Davin Greenwell

Davin Greenwell — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:16:24 +0000

For years I have had an sinking feeling about the Stampede that I could not put into words. You’ve articulated the issues I was only passively aware of very well. Cowboys and cowgirls don’t have to live in the past, but by continuing to practice antiquated and inhumane rodeo enteratainment, the Stampede really paints itself into a corner.

By: lauren

lauren — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:05:29 +0000

Hey there, I happen to work for VHS and I think this is a great post. We’ve had a lot of hate mail come in, but an equal amount of encouraging emails as well.
The reason we stepped in was because as a Humane Society, the Calgary Humane Society has a duty (like all other registered humane societies) to call for a ban on rodeo.
It is sad to see that CHS isn’t doing this, though there are a lot of people in the city who support the ban on calf-roping.