HOLLY CULP
Opinions Editor
We are probably all familiar with the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede. Whether you’ve attended the notorious beer gardens, aided local bars in breaking even for the entire year or simply heard the legends, you probably know that it is an altogether sinful affair that people travel far and wide to attend. It showcases such noble Western traditions as the rodeo, the livestock show and being drunk and belligerent.
For me, the Stampede has had a hand in a number of my own life’s memorable moments. In elementary school I marched in the Stampede Parade twice. I saw my favourite band (at the time, Rooney) at the Coca-Cola stage in high school.
I was raised to believe that the Calgary Stampede was “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.”
So you can imagine my instant disgust when I heard that the Calgary Stampede refused to remove or apologize for a survey that was blatantly sexist and homophobic. In the survey they present two loaded statements to “better get to know our patrons” with which the surveyed individual was to agree or disagree on a scale from one to 10.
I was upset, but not entirely surprised.
In a section of the survey that is categorized as “different approaches to life,” there are two statements:
(1) Some jobs are best suited to men. Women should just accept this.
(2) The only acceptable definition of a family is a husband, wife and children.
In a CanWest news article, Stampede spokesman Doug Fraser said that the survey was meant to get to know patrons of the Stampede better and that the results will help the Stampede reflect the desires of Calgarians.
I am curious to know just how the desires of Calgarians will be reflected at the Stampede when the results reveal that “women should just accept” that some jobs aren’t meant for them or how Calgarians will be better served by reiterating the traditional definition of “family.”
And why would they choose those questions? One look at those statements and the knowledge of who commissioned the survey will tell you what your answers should be. The Calgary Stampede may have issued the survey with the intention of “getting to know their patrons better” but all the survey did was attempt to categorize Albertans and remind them of their “redneck” beliefs and values.
On a certain level, I understand the Stampede’s desire to better know the changing population of Calgary. I just fear the survey is going to reflect how intolerant and out of control Alberta has willingly become within the last decade.
Judging by my Google search into the matter, the survey has been criticized everywhere.
Likely, the survey will do its job in revealing just what Calgarians value and I for one hope that it proves them to be less redneck and more tolerant than they have shown to be in the past.