Stampede Cowboy: Myth Building of Masculinity

Exhbit Currated By Katelyn Liakos

The myth of the Calgary cowboy stands tall in the identity of the city itself. While the image of the cowboy is deeply rooted in American history and folklore—embodying ideals such as rugged individualism and frontier spirit—it has also become central to the cultural ethos of the Canadian Prairies, particularly in Calgary, Alberta.

This connection is due in part to Alberta’s own ranching history and economic development. However, a significant force behind the cowboy's prominence in Calgary’s identity is the Calgary Stampede and its visionary founder, Guy Weadick. An American promoter, Weadick organized the first Stampede in 1912 as a one-time celebration of the pioneer spirit, with backing from local businessmen. Over time, the event evolved into a cornerstone of Calgary’s civic identity. Its stories, images, and characters became embedded in the city’s cultural fabric—and no figure looms larger than the cowboy.

Through popular media and promotional culture, the Calgary Stampede has helped construct and sustain the myth of the Calgary cowboy. By analyzing archival materials produced by the Stampede up until the 1960s, this exhibit reveals how the event became a powerful site of cultural myth-making—where the cowboy identity was continually curated, reshaped, and reimagined to reflect shifting values in Calgary from its inception.