Save Music During Stampede

Save Music During Stampede

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people come together during the Calgary Stampede to celebrate our city's western heritage, enjoy live music, support local businesses, and welcome visitors from around the world.

It's one of the things that makes Calgary unique, and for ten days every summer, the whole city benefits from it.

But, I'm sorry to tell you that, once again, City Hall is trying to be the Fun Police.

Last time, City bureaucrats tried to ban fireworks on Canada Day.

This time, those same bureaucrats are trying to ban music during Stampede!

Quietly, without any public consultation, City staff have introduced new rules and regulations that apply to any music festivals operating outside Stampede Park.

Under the new rules, allowable noise levels are being reduced to a ridiculously low level, and weeknight events are now being forced to shut down earlier, with music ending at midnight!

This reminds us of when the City tried to ban fireworks on Canada Day because of unfounded concerns from a tiny number of people who wouldn't know what fun is if it rode a horse and lassoed them itself.

Businesses have booked performers, hired staff, sold tickets, signed contracts, and invested heavily in creating exciting events for Calgarians.

Yet the City administration seems to think that a handful of downtown residents complaining should take precedence over tens of thousands of Calgarians who have purchased tickets.

That’s simply not fair.

It also ignores the reality of downtown living.

People who choose to live in the downtown core benefit from restaurants, nightlife, entertainment, sports, festivals, and a constant flow of activity.

With that comes occasional noise - especially during major city-wide events like the Stampede. 

Expecting a completely quiet downtown during the busiest celebration of the year just isn’t realistic.

It's also yet another example of selective enforcement by the City.

First, why are only festivals happening outside Stampede Park affected by the rules?

If the concern genuinely is about noise, are people living near Stampede Park somehow less deserving of quiet than others?

Second, many Calgarians regularly have to deal with ongoing complaints about loud vehicles, racing engines, and other noise and crime-related issues year-round, with little enforcement action from the City.

But suddenly, live music venues during a ten-day festival are being treated as the source of all problems, while other persistent noise issues continue largely unchanged.

And then there's the economic argument.

Stampede isn't just entertainment - many local businesses depend on the increased traffic and tourism to get them through the year.

And the people working these events - servers, bartenders, security staff, stage crews, food vendors, and students working summer jobs - all rely on a successful Stampede season.

Come on Calgary... Stampede is only ten days!

Ten days that bring in visitors, create jobs, support small businesses, and showcase Calgary on a global stage. 

When the fun police tried to ban Fireworks, almost 15,000 Calgarians signed our petition to City Hall, and Council forced the City's bureaucrats to reverse their decision.

Now it's time to do the same again.

If you agree that Calgary should be celebrating, not restricting, our great Stampede music festivals, tell Calgary Council to Save Music During Stampede by signing our petition now.

Then share the petition with your friends, family, co-workers, and every Calgarian, so they can make their voices heard too.