SRT April/May
Click here to view the April/May edition.
The cowboy lifestyle has long been a staple of Western Canadian culture. From Wild West shows, to rodeos and stampedes, all have been around in some form or another - some formal, some makeshift - since the late 19th century. The one thing they all have in common is the rugged, bred-in-the-bone tenacity of the men and women who live the lifestyle. The Williams Lake Stampede, for instance, was founded after a group of cowboys put on a `Wild West' show for passengers on a waiting train, stopped over in Williams Lake for a cargo pick-up. After the show the riders would pass around a hat to collect donations in appreciation for their daring performances.
In the early days, people came to camp, to compete; to visit and dance; to gamble and party: rodeos were a major social event that brought competitors and spectators from miles around.
"From farmers to fishermen; cowboys to christians; locals to loggers – all were drawn in - including the First Nations peoples of the Cariboo. In the early years, the primary means of travel was horse-drawn wagon or saddle horse - very few country folk owned automobiles."
Check our upcoming April/May issue for a special feature on Western Canadian rodeos and stampedes, new department features and much more.