This year the rodeo will be held at the Cochrane Rodeo Grounds on Saturday, August 13th with the rodeo starting at 1pm. Kids carnival activities will start at 8am. Check out the CPS band Frontline performing at the grounds on Friday night starting at 8pm.
By Matt Beauchamp, Content Contributor
The rodeo season, and the cowboy spirit that goes along with it, is in full swing as we approach the middle of August.
With events like the Airdrie Pro Rodeo and the Calgary Stampede, there are no shortages of rodeos to attend in the Calgary Region.
However, there no rodeo like the Calgary Police Rodeo.
The Calgary Police Rodeo is an amateur competition held annually, featuring contestants from the Police, EMS and Fire community throughout Canada and the United States.
This family oriented event includes a children’s carnival as well as exhibitions and concessions.
A rodeo for two special causes
“Proceeds from these activities go to support two worthy causes,” said Mike Cavilla, President of the Calgary Police Rodeo Association, “Missing Children Society of Canada (MCSC) and the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund (JPMF).”
Cavilla says both charities have tangible goals and uses for the money that the association is pleased to help with.
“In relation to MCSC, “CODESEARCH” is a rapid response program that engages Corporate Canada in partnership with MCSC and law enforcement in the search for missing children.”
“Partner employees download a smartphone application and can be notified in the event a child goes missing. When a child goes missing, MCSC can send out geo-targeted alerts in the area where a child went missing or is expected to be located.”
“Our second charity, the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund (JPMF), creates partnerships which strive to eliminate preventable workplace fatalities and injuries to first responders, including police, fire and EMS,” said Cavilla.
The goal of the Calgary Police Rodeo is to raise both money and awareness for these important projects.
“As a result of the 2015 rodeo, a cheque for $10,000 was presented to the MCSC and a cheque for $3,000 was presented to the JPMF. We are hoping to match this in 2016,” said Cavilla.
Daytime and nighttime fun for the whole family
The Calgary Police Rodeo takes place on Saturday, August 13th, at the Cochrane Rodeo Grounds.
The 34th edition of this annual event features an evening electric barn dance with Nashville recording artist Drew Gregory and 2015 ACMA group of the year, Domino.
How to get involved
In order for this event to be successful, and to maximize the donations they can give to the MCSC and JPMF, they require many volunteers and corporate sponsorship.
“We invite your organization to be a part of our team so that we may provide a full spectrum of rodeo events with quality rodeo stock. In return, we will provide you with prominent exposure in our program, arena, evening dance facility, advertisements, and the Calgary Police Rodeo website,” said Cavilla.
For ticketing information, or more information on the event check out their website.
Have you been to the Calgary Police Rodeo before? Planning to go this year? Share your experiences!
Matt Beauchamp is a Calgary writer and owner of MRB Ink.
Source: Calgary Regional Partnership