Stompede 2016

By Liam Verster

Stompede Cancelled

Grande Prairie Stompede cancelled for 2021

Mar 31, 2021 | 9:15 AM

Organizers of the Grande Prairie Stompede have decided to cancel the 2021 event due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Trevor Denis, President of the Grande Prairie Stompede Association, says they decided to cancel the event in order to reduce the risk of further spreading the novel coronavirus.

“If and when we can put on the event we want it to be safe for our patrons, our competitors, our Board of Directors and volunteers. It’s a big undertaking but with that being said we want to make sure everybody will be safe and in order to put the show on we don’t want to get anybody sick or spread COVID or anything like that,” says Denis.

Denis adds that it’s unlikely that the Alberta Health Services restrictions will be lifted in time to hold the event at the end of May. Even if the restrictions on outdoor events like these were lifted before the show was scheduled to go, it wouldn’t be enough time to get everything in place.

“It’s a big undertaking, it’s many thousand hours of planning, and it takes a lot of financial resources from our sponsors and patrons in order for that show to go on.”

While he does say the decision was made to protect the public’s health, it was not an easy decision to come to.

The Stompede was to go from May 26-30.

Denis does say the Association is planning to hold the Stompede next year.

“We’re looking forward to putting a show on as much as people are looking forward to attending, so we’ll have to look forward to 2022.”

Denis adds the Stompede Association’s Board of Directors have a few ideas for next year’s event, but at this time they aren’t announcing any plans because they may be subject to change in the future.