We came to photograph the Big Four Building on the Stampede Grounds for an article we’re doing on unique mid-century architecture in Calgary. Can you say zig-zag roof? That’s the focus of the planned piece, which will look at buildings done up in that style or similar in form (wavy roof for example). These were a thing back then and quite ground breaking in many ways, but today look perhaps a bit dated. Still, we think them fabulous! There’s maybe a couple dozen such structures in Cow Town (hey, it’s is Stampede time!) that we’re found so far. But they’re for another story later.
Anyway, arrangements are made with the Stampede Board to come on down officially, at our favourite time of day for photography, around sunset. It’s a always so colourful then. A date is picked, Thursday July 3rd, instructions given and in forty-eight hours hence, we’ll be down there and snapping away for maybe ninety minutes. Easy peasy and a pretty cool thing to do. Then comes the realization…wait, that day would be Sneak-a-peek normally. Had the Stampede not been cancelled for 2020, it’d be Sneak-a-peek! This simple job has taken on a whole new meaning.
Calgary Stampede 2020: Cancelled! – cowboys have the blues. By Chris Doering & Connie Biggart (BIGDoer/Synd)
Yes, for the first time in over a century, the Stampede, the Greatest freaking Show on Earth, will not happen. Thanks Covid! Damn buzz kill. And we’re standing at what would be ground zero on what would have been opening night. It should be crazy busy but instead is quiet, empty and the place all ours. Mind blowing! We’re on location to document the Big Four, but in the end found another subject to cover here, the emptiness and utter sadness of a legendary event that for this year, has been called off. Completely called off! Even the floods of 2013 didn’t stop the show.
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No rides, no concessions, no stetsons, no Cowboys, no people what so ever. It’s as though the world has come to an end and we’ve got a front row seat. Think Omega Man, Stampede Edition.
It’s eerily quiet with the Stampede cancelled.
Over there, the grandstand where the rodeo happens. There’s tens of thousands of seats looking for a bum but no one’s coming. Chuck wagons, nixed. Bull Riding, no. The prizes, gone. So much entertainment that will not happen. So much money brought into the city, lost.
Here in the parking lot, occupied only by the Mighty BIGDoer-mobile, would be dead centre of the midway. Popcorn, cotton candy and winning a stuffed animal for the sweetie. And the rides. Those crazy-ass Tilt-o-Pukeys. Stomach’s in a knot, I’m gunna toss! “Do you want to go faster?” “NO!” said in unison. “I think I heard yes! Hang on!” Aaaahhhhhhh!!!” All that lemonade and pulled pork comes rushing back and tastes nothing like it did on the way down. Oh, and the beer gardens! On a crazy hot day, even a Coors down good.
The Saddledome (dip), where the biggest stars in county come to play during the Stampede, all locked up and empty. No Brooks and Dunn, no Reba McEntire. That cavernous building is silent.
There’s the Western Events Centre. If there’s a vintage tractor show or some kind of horse demonstration at Stampede time, it’s here where you’ll see it happen. Next door, the barns where animals put on display are kept. Come see the cows, horses and other critters that live on the farm…and smell the part. Dodging paddies here. In both buildings this day, it’s a total absence of life.
The Corral, long ago the big event venue at the Stampede now overshadowed by the much larger Dome. They’re looking into replacing both maybe somewhere down the road. In the meantime the Corral hosts stuff that’s more intimate, lower key concerts and shows, where they might fill a couple thousand seats.
In an attached building, during Stampede is a huge market full of swap meet treasures. Looking for a ShamWow? (“you know the Germans always make good stuff!”) – Vince is the MAN! Well, this is the place. Flex Tape? That Dr Ho muscle zapping torture device? A “military grade” TacVisor (Nick Bolton is so dreamy) or the maybe that thing you jam up your nose to wash out boogers? You’ll be in heaven here.
And our subject, the Big Four Building. It’s named after the the group that was the driving force early in the Stampede’s history (early 1910s), Pat Burns, George Lane, AE Cross and Archibald McLean. During Stampede, the building is home to restaurants, bars and a casino. In the old days, they used to have curling rinks in the basement. Maybe they’re still there? The structure dates from 1959. Looking up to the Skyride, the only permanent ride here, it seem’s Westjet is a sponsor. With the airline biz in the toilet due to the pandemic, they must be hurting. If you go to Calgary Airport, they have unneeded planes parked all over the place there.
So at any other time, outside this strange day in 2020, the very place where we’re standing would have been witness to sheer chaos. Throngs of people, an incredible din, so many smells (Mmm, deep fried butter kabobs). It’s Sneak-a-peek, the unofficial kick off to Stampede. Next day it’s the world famous Stampede Parade, followed by a formal opening of the grounds but on this soft opening, you get to say you’re first. On the 2019 Sneak-a-peek they hosted some thirty plus thousand visitors. This day, this year, it was but a handful of us. Team BIGDoer, a few roving security guards, the man in the moon, the fibreglass cowboy (we’ll call him Ty Tuffy Levi Colton Wilder) plus a few people who sneaked in to see what’s going on.
A few came in on bikes, a couple on those Lime scooters (damn, those things can move). All drove down the central boulevard and were soon gone before anyone even noticed. Then came a carload which included a fellow dressed for Nashville North, ready to “Yahoo!” but with no party to be found. Security I guess allowed them a pass. Later near the one and only Stampede Float anyone will see this year we offer up a prop for their photoshoot. Yes we brought a corn dog…don’t ask. Seemed fitting though that Mr Stampede, the very face of the event 2020, should get the honours. He looked every bit the part and put on the brave face, a broad gleaming smile displaying a confidence that in one year hence it’ll all return. Lament CS 2020, but celebrate the one coming. Yes, there will be a Calgary Stampede 2021 and I suspect it’ll get a little crazy. So much pent up demand! Three hundred and sixty five more sleeps to go!
This has to be one of the strangest happenings in Calgary’s history.
The grounds are ours again. The day offers up a wonderful sunset and we get our shots. It’s one last look around. Yup, we’re the only ones here. MacLeod is busy with cars, as always, while planes nosily pass overhead. There’s movement so the world has not ended.
Tall condos towers loom over the grounds and glimmer in last rays of light. How in the world could anyone live here peacefully with the Stampede in full swing? Sure, they get a pass this year but any other time, each and every July, the party goes well into the wee hours for a week or more and being quiet is NOT in the cards. Noisy rides and revellers and games and fireworks. Sleep might not come till four or five and you’ll be back awake when it starts all over again well before lunch. And the traffic! The thought bubble of the sleep deprived guy watching the action from their balcony: “Now why did I move here?”
Thanks Covid!
Alone. We’re alone. The place should be alive and we standing there mouth agape, dumbfounded and in silence. There’s something special going on here and we’re spectators…you can bet it’ll never happen again while we’re alive (unless that clone kit I sent away for works). Team BIGDoer are one of the few who got to experience Stampede Sneak-a-peek 2020 and let me tell it was awesome in all its strange magnificence! The date on which our little gig happened made things extraordinary and something likely to never be repeated.
Rambling on again. And now it’s back to working on the book…
They’re saying…
”A great community to get ideas of places to explore in Alberta. For us older people allows us to reminisce and also learn more about Alberta. Very nice/cool pictures too!!” Candace Larsen.
(A long read) After twelve years it's time to put a face to the name and come clean on something. That's rarely-seen Chris in the photo, one half of Team BIGDoer, my best friend for almost thirty years and orchestrator of everything you see here. For his entire adult life, he's battled a deep depression.
Mostly it's manageable, but there are extended bouts where it's crippling and his life comes to a grinding halt. Sometimes there are days or weeks where he's lost. Sleep does not come easy at this time and further aggravates the issue. As he ages, it's worsening and seems intent on destroying him from the inside.
If you see a lack of posts here, or ones poorly worded, confusing or simply off, it's from one of these periods.
Through all this, he remains as kind, thoughtful and loving as ever, but is somewhere else. To the family, it's just Chris and accepted as it should be. The kids and grandkids adore him no less. Until today, however, this has been hidden from the outside world, although closer friends and some readers were probably already suspect of his condition. I hope admitting this does not break the site.
He finds clarity when we're out and doing things, hiking or documenting something historic and it's only THE reason this page and our website exists. It's therapy. Then he's a new and passionate person, but the monster as he calls it always returns. The Beer Parlour Project has brought out a side I've never seen and when out in the field he's never been so on point and confident.
This post is not for sympathy but to inform. Just so you know where he is and here's what you can do to help (a last ditch request)...
If you see a missed comma or oddly worded sentence in a post, please be kind. You'll probably see his uncertainty when he's off and be nice there too. But if you like what you see, even if the write up could be presented better, post your encouragement. Say something and say it loud...it's important and will keep him sharing. Help Chris get better by cheering him on.
Other than some photos that are mine, everything else comes from him. All the tiring research and the writing (he admits he's NOT a writer), are his.
Chris puts every dollar he makes into this "project of a lifetime", and it's supplemented by donations from readers who enjoy the content. If you want to help...
Admittedly he was not thrilled with the idea of posting this but agrees it probably should be said, even if it makes him uneasy. He doesn't like appearing in photos either. He's so shy, thinks he looks goofy and hates his husky eyes. I love them and they're windows into a wonderful, complex and quiet, but tortured soul. It breaks my heart when he's in a bad space.
This image comes thanks to photographer Arturo Pianzola and was captured while exploring the historic Riverview Mental Hospital in Coquitlam BC. Chris thought since he was in the area last year, he'd stop by to visit with a grandfather he never really knew, who spent his last years at the facility and is buried on the grounds.
Thanks for listening and your understanding. Hopefully we'll see you next week. Johanna (Connie).
Journey of Natty Gann (Disney 1985) and the same location in the Crowsnest Pass 2014. We're visiting the Pass over the new year, as we often do, and this time we'll be staying at a house that appears (briefly) in the film. How cool, eh? Chris has decided it's time on this visit to reshoot this and other Natty Gann comparison shots we did from ten years ago. Stay tuned!
This scene was shot in historic downtown Coleman and shows the former Holyk's Grocery. It was built in the early 1900s and the store closed in the '60s. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
From 2015. Rob Pohl and his strange old-style view camera joined us in documenting the Laing House (with permission). Head down to the comments to see an amazing coincidence with something I found inside.
From the Crossley slides, it's an undated view of Towers School, out near Cluny Alberta. It was originally called Swastika School but that's before the word and symbol were ruined by negative connotations. Built 1922. Gone? _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
The same alley in downtown Calgary's west end, in the 1970s & today. You have to look hard to see the connection! The area was quite run down back then and is in stark contrast to all the shiny condo towers seen present day. Calgary Place West, an apartment block, appears in both images although it's barely a sliver in ours. Check the comments for more info.
Photo credit: James Tworow collection. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
Lost highways (2022): a section of old #93 in Southeastern BC. That BIGDoer-mobile is gone now but quite famous and had a following of its own. Old mine roads, cow paths, 4x4ing across fields - no problem and people would recognize us out in remote areas just by this car. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
Who have ever imagined it could happen, the mighty Stamped canceled. What a dumpster fire 2020 has become.
Welcome to a strange world. Dumpster fire is the perfect description. On the plus side, it can only get better. I hope!
Everything’s been cancelled!
I know, what a downer this year has been.
Mr Stampede is so awesome!
A real cool dude.
On what would be opening night yet? That’s amazing! Love your take on the world.
It was such good timing and we love the eerie vibe, even if we lamented the Stampede not happening. Next year though, watch out!
Next year’s party will be legendary!
We’ll drink the breweries dry!
All your photos and stories are all so interesting!
Glad you like them! There’s lots more coming, but most won’t be till the book is done later this year.
So sad to see it empty like this when it should be busy with folks enjoying themselves. Covid has ruined everything in 2020.
This year is a write off for everyone! If we survive it all unscathed it’ll be a miracle.
That’s so strange!
I know, what an odd feeling it was standing there at that time.
Another epic weird adventure. PEACE. Thanx for sharing.
It’s our strange existence and we love it. Thanks for commenting!
So strange to see it all quiet like this.
It was a strange feeling standing there with no one about on what would have been launch day.
Let’s just do away with it. It’s time passed decades ago
Hmmmm, not sure the million plus folks who visit it each year would agree. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea though.