Alberta- Calgary Stampede

Alberta- Calgary Stampede
February 25, 2010
We saw a lot at the Calgary Stampede. There is a lot going on at this 10-day summer event that around 120,000 people attend each day. I walked allover the Stampede, interviewing folks about their horses and passions. I ate a lot of fried goodness, including fried jelly beans and soft serve chocolate ice cream. They have everything from Greek food to bagels to BBQ. There is live music, rodeo competitions, amusement park rides, a Western art fair with some beautiful work, and of course you can just walk around and admire all of the pretty horses, which I enjoyed doing. I met Paints, Percherons, Clydesdales, Quarter horses, Canadian horses, Curly horses, miniature horses and more.

I was able to see the working cow horse classic, where the horse and rider must do a sort of combination before the cow is brought into play, including lead changes, figure eights and sliding stops. I watched the younger horses, who wore only a hackamore, and interviewed a rider named Rose, whose four-year-old mount was competing for the first time. When the cow is brought out, the horse and rider must control the cow. They are running after the steer, leading it along the fence and to the middle of the arena. Men and women compete in this event, as they do in many events at the Stampede. It will get your heart moving just watching.

One event that I got to meet the very large horses for but didn’t get to see is the Heavy Horse Pull. This year, a horse named Jim pulled over 13,100 pounds!

Darley Newman is the host of the Emmy Award-winning Public Television series Equitrekking®, which takes viewers on horseback riding vacations around the world. Equitrekking is broadcast on PBS stations and on international networks in over 30 countries.

Purchase Equitrekking DVDs, the Equitrekking Travel Adventures on Horseback book and more at ShopDarley.com. Learn about Alberta ranch vacations, travel to the Calgary stampede and book an equestrian vacation at EquitrekkingTravel.com

About Canada

Canada is a vast and beautiful country
just waiting to be explored

Occupying the northern half of the North American continent, Canada's land mass is 9 093 507 km2, making it the second-largest country in the world after Russia. From east to west, Canada encompasses six time zones. In addition to its coastlines on the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Canada has a third sea coast on the Arctic Ocean, giving it the longest coastline of any country.

Because of the northern climate, only 12 percent of the land is suitable for agriculture. Thus, most of the population of 30 million live within a few hundred kilometres of the southern border, where the climate is milder. If you fly over Canada in summer, you will often see more water than land: so many lakes, big and small, too numerous to count.

Canada is divided into seven geographical regions
each with a very different landscape and climate

The Pacific Coast
Bathed by warm, moist Pacific air currents, the British Columbia coast, indented by deep fiords and shielded from Pacific storms by Vancouver Island, has the most moderate climate of Canada's regions. Vancouver Island's west coast receives an exceptional amount of rain, giving it a temperate rain forest climate. Although it does not contain the diversity of species of a tropical rain forest, the island's west coast does have the oldest and tallest trees in Canada: Western Red Cedars 1,300 years old and Douglas firs 90 metres high.
To explore this region of Canada
visit campgrounds of British Columbia's coastline

The Cordillera
From British Columbia to just east of the Alberta border the land is young, with rugged mountains and high plateaus. The spectacular Rocky Mountains and Coastal Mountain range, running north to south, posed major engineering problems for the builders of the transcontinental railways and highways. The highest point in Canada, Mount Logan (5,959 metres), rises amid a huge icefield in the southwest corner of the Yukon, the largest icecap south of the Arctic Circle. The British Columbia interior varies from alpine snowfields to deep valleys where desert-like conditions prevail. For example, Okanagan Valley farmers on the leeward side of the mountains must irrigate their orchards and vineyards.
To explore this region of Canada
visit campgrounds of British Columbia and Alberta

The Prairies
To drive across the Prairies is to see endless fields of wheat ripening under a sky that seems to go on forever. The plains of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are among the richest grain-producing regions in the world. Yet if you drive north from Brooks, Alberta, you descend into the Red Deer River Valley, where water and wind have created strange shapes in the sandstone called "hoodoos." The same forces of erosion have uncovered some of the largest concentrations of dinosaur fossils in the world.
To explore this region of Canada
visit campgrounds of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba

The Canadian Shield
A huge inland sea called Hudson Bay extends into the heart of Canada, and wrapped around this bay is a rocky region called the Canadian Shield. Canada's largest geographical feature, it stretches east to Labrador, south to Kingston on Lake Ontario and northwest as far as the Arctic Ocean. The Shield is considered to be the nucleus of the North American continent. Its gneiss and granite rocks are 3.5 billion years old, three-quarters the age of the Earth. Scraped by the advance and retreat of glaciers, the Shield has only a thin layer of soil that supports a boreal forest of spruce, fir, tamarack and pine.
To explore this region of Canada
visit campgrounds of northern Ontario and Quebec

The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands
Southern Quebec and Ontario, the industrial heartland of Canada, contain Canada's two largest cities, Toronto and Montreal. Fifty percent of Canadians live in this small region where 70 percent of Canada's manufactured goods are produced. The region also has prime agricultural land, for example, the Niagara Peninsula. The large expanses of lakes Erie and Ontario extend the number of frost-free days, permitting the cultivation of grapes, peaches, pears and other fruits. The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence region is sugar maple country. In the autumn, the maple leaves, Canada's national symbol, are ablaze in red, orange and gold, and the sap is collected in spring to make maple syrup and sugar
To explore this region of Canada
visit campgrounds of southern Ontario and Quebec

The Atlantic Provinces-Appalachian Region
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland are the smallest Canadian provinces, and were the first to be settled by Europeans. The Atlantic provinces are an extension of the Appalachians, an ancient mountain range. Much of the region has low, rugged hills and plateaus and a deeply indented coastline. Agriculture flourishes in the fertile valleys, such as the Saint John River Valley in New Brunswick, and the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia. Prince Edward Island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence has a gently rolling landscape with a rich, red soil.
To explore this region of Canada
visit campgrounds of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia,
Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland

The Arctic
North of the tree-line is a land of harsh beauty. During the short summer, when daylight is nearly continuous and a profusion of flowers blooms on the tundra, the temperature can reach 30°C. Yet the winters are long, bitterly cold and dark. The Arctic is no longer an inaccessible frontier. Inuvik, in the Mackenzie Delta, can be reached by road, and every community is served by air. North of the mainland is a maze of islands separated by convoluted straits and sounds, the most famous of which link together to form the fabled Northwest Passage.
To explore this region of Canada
visit the Yukon, Northwest and Nunavut Territories

about alberta

About AlbertaPremier of Alberta - The Honourable Ed Stelmach, Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta
Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation - The Honourable Cindy Ady
Capital of Alberta - Edmonton Population of Alberta - 3 375 800 (Statistics Canada 2006). Over 10% of Canada’s population resides in Alberta.
Area of Alberta - 661 185 sq km (255 303 sq mi); Alberta is the fourth largest province in Canada. Coordinates - between 49 and 60 degrees north latitude and between 110 and 120 degrees west longitude. Width & Length - north to south - 1223 km (764 mi); east to west - 660 km (412 mi). Alberta receives 2 330 hours of sunshine annually, the highest in Canada.
Highest mountain in Alberta - Mt. Columbia 3 747 m (12 294 ft); and the second highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Lowest point in Alberta - where the Salt River enters the Northwest Territories in northeast Alberta 183 m (600 ft). Alberta has two international airports: one in Edmonton and one in Calgary. Alberta has more than 280 golf courses; seven of Canada’s signature courses are located here.Alberta has five of Canada’s 14 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as designated by the United Nations. There are at least 66 regional ski hills in the province as well as 6 major Canadian Rockies ski resorts.
Location The province of Alberta is located in western Canada between the provinces of British Columbia (B.C.) to the west and Saskatchewan to the east. At our northern border is the Northwest Territories. The state of Montana marks our southern border.

Considered one of Canada’s three “Prairie Provinces”—along with Manitoba and Saskatchewan—Alberta differs in that it shares the Canadian Rockies with British Columbia. Our natural border is the imaginary line of the Continental Divide that separates Alberta from B.C.
Geography
Alberta is the fourth largest province in Canada. It is similar in size to Texas, three times the size of Great Britain or equal to the combined areas of France, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands. Land accounts for 97% of the area with the remainder made up of numerous lakes, rivers and streams.
The province has a diversity of natural terrain—parklands, grasslands, primordial badlands, vast tracts of wildlands, boreal forests and plains, ancient glaciers, thousands of lakes and rivers, and the oldest mountain ranges of the “backbone” that runs the length of North and South America.
Its variety of natural areas and ecosystems supports hundreds of species of wildlife, many of which are endangered or protected. Coupled with the intriguing history of Aboriginal cultures and prehistoric dinosaur remains, it is easy to see why the United Nations crowned Alberta with five of Canada’s 13 designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Climate

The province is characterized by low humidity and considerable contrasts between areas and seasons. Average temperatures range from 15C to 23C (60F to 73F) in July and -8C to -25C (18F to -13F) in January. Alberta receives more days of sunshine than any other province in Canada.
Population
Alberta is currently the fastest growing province in Canada. A population of more than three million people lives primarily in our international gateway cities of Calgary and Edmonton. Smaller urban centres include Fort McMurray, Red Deer, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat. Our large rural population reflects our prominent agricultural industry.
Resources/Industry
Alberta's major industries are energy, business and commercial services, transportation and utilities, finance and real estate, retail and wholesale trade, and manufacturing. Over the past decade, the economy has experienced rapid growth in such industries as petrochemicals, forest products, food processing, machinery, electronics and telecommunications, tourism, and business services. Tourism generates over $4 billion in revenues each year.

Emblems, etc.
New Official Grass Emblem for Alberta
Alberta is celebrating the addition of a new provincial emblem - Rough Fescue grass.
The addition of this new emblem was coordinated by the Prairie Conservation Forum. The Forum consulted a range of Alberta scientists and resource managers to identify five candidate grasses for Albertans to vote on through a mail-in or online ballot. Rough fescue (Festuca scabrella) was the winner selected by Albertans, with the other choices being: blue grama grass, green needle grass, june grass, and western wheat grass.

Provincial Flower -
Wild Rose, rosa acicularis. The wild rose was chosen in the Floral Emblem Act of 1930.



Provincial Flag - Under the Flag Act (passed at the 1968 Session of the Alberta Legislature) a blue flag, with the Coat of Arms of the Province in the centre, was appointed and declared as the Flag of Alberta. This Act was proclaimed by Order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council on June 1, 1968.
Provincial Coat of Arms - On May 30, 1907, a Royal Warrant assigned the Coat of Arms of the Province of Alberta. Topped by a red St. George's Cross on a white background, the Coat of Arms features blue in back of a range of snow covered mountains with green hills, a prairie and a field of wheat in front. On July 30, 1980, the arms had a Crest, Motto and Supporters added by Royal Warrant. The Crest has a Royal Crown on top of a beaver sitting on a helmet with a silver and red wreath.
Motto: FORTIS ET LIBER (Strong and Free) to be borne and used together with Arms of the Province upon seals, shields, banners, flags, or otherwise according to the Laws of Arms.
Supporters: Gold lion (symbol of power) and pronghorn antelope (symbol of natural riches). The compartment (base of the Coat of Arms) is a grassy mount with wild roses.
Alberta Tartan - The colours of the Alberta Tartan represent the green of its forests, the gold of its wheat fields, the blue of its clean skies and sparkling lakes, the pink of its wild rose, and the black of its coal and petroleum.
Provincial Bird - Great Horned Owl, bubo virginianus
Provincial Mammal - Rocky Mountain Big Horned Sheep
Provincial Fish - Bull Trout, salvelinus confluentus
Provincial Tree - Lodgepole Pine, pinus contorta variety latifolia
Provincial Stone - Petrified Wood
Provincial Colours - Blue and Gold (deep yellow)
Bragging Rights

* Canada's largest mountainous national park - Jasper National Park

* Canada's first/oldest national park - Banff National Park

* World's largest shopping and entertainment complex - West Edmonton Mall


* World's first international "Peace Park" - Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park

* World's second largest and Canada's largest national park - Wood Buffalo National Park

* Largest ski area in Canada - Lake Louise

* World's largest Ukrainian Easter Egg (Pysanka) - Vegreville

* Second largest glacier fed lake in the world - Maligne Lake (Jasper National Park)

* One of the world's most photographed lakes - Moraine Lake (Banff National Park)

* North America's largest outdoor music festival - Big Valley Jamboree (Camrose)

* World's largest Tyrannosaurus Rex - Drumheller

* One of the most scenic highways in the world - Icefields Parkway

* Canada's largest public display of live reptiles - Reptile World (Drumheller)

* World's largest herd of free roaming bison - Wood Buffalo National Park

* North America's largest, oldest and best preserved buffalo jump site - Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

* World's largest oil sands development - Suncor/Syncrude Oil Sand Plant (Fort McMurray)

* Only city in Canada found within two provinces - Lloydminster, "Canada's Border City"

* Largest museum in Western Canada - Glenbow Museum (Calgary)

* Bird capital of Canada - McLennan

* North America's largest theatre festival - Fringe Festival (Edmonton)

* Second largest zoo in Canada - Calgary Zoo (Calgary)

* One of the richest dinosaur fossil discoveries in the world - Dinosaur Provincial Park

* Home of Iceland's greatest poet - Stephansson House (Markerville)

* World's largest cable suspended roof "reverse hyperbolic paraboloid" - Pengrowth Saddledome (Calgary)

* North America's first covered speed skating oval - Olympic Oval (Calgary)

* The richest show jumping contest in the world - The Masters at Spruce Meadows (Calgary)

* One of North America's largest collections of antique and classic cars, trucks and planes - Reynolds-Alberta Museum (Wetaskiwin)

* Greatest outdoor show on earth - the Calgary Stampede (Calgary)

* World's first Indoor bungy jump - West Edmonton Mall (Edmonton)

* World's tallest teepee - Medicine Hat

* North America's largest collection of horse drawn vehicles - Remington Carriage Museum

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