The cancellation of Calgary’s biggest event of the year didn't stop a heavy-duty mechanic who lives in Millarville from serving her duty as royalty with a smile on her face.
Although Calgary Stampede Princess Janelle Mackenzie missed out on parades and rodeos due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she spent what would have been the Stampede’s July 3-12 run greeting and welcoming the public at events ranging from a newcomers’ ceremony to a food truck rally.
“It was really encouraging and uplifting to have those events that the Stampede and the City of Calgary worked together to put on for our community,” she said. “It’s very different from a regular Stampede year, but it’s just keeping people’s safety and health in mind.”
The 25-year-old Holy Trinity Academy graduate had dreamt about being Stampede royalty since she was a child. She was selected to be an ambassador of the Calgary Stampede last fall in her third attempt.
“I love Stampede,” she said. “I look forward to it so much every year. I love being on the grounds.”
Mackenzie is a fourth generation Calgary Stampede volunteer and is on the Stampede Parade Committee’s horse safety subcommittee.
The avid horsewoman spent her childhood in 4-H as a member of the Okotoks Outriders for 10 years and the Millarville-Stockland 4-H Beef Club for five years. She showed competitively in breed shows through the American Quarter Horse Association.
This year's royalty also includes Queen Kelcey Moore, First Nations Princess Falon Manywounds and Princess Madeline Kerkovius – all of whom were excited about the Stampede’s 10-day run as royalty.
“We were really looking forward to Stampede this year because it was going to be very special, to us in particular, to the degree we get to participate,” she said. “I’ve been involved in the Stampede before as someone who attends and participates, and also as a volunteer for over eight years in the background. It was very strange and a little sad not to have anything happening.”
Mackenzie said there was still an abundance of events to attend and people to meet.
“We had a couple of fun events – things to bring some of the Stampede fun back - like the food-truck rally,” she said. “We really enjoyed that. People dressed up in their western wear and dressed their dogs up. We participated in all of the events just to bring encouragement to the community and help spread the community spirit around.”
Mackenzie’s favourite event was the #UnitedApart Basic Needs Round-Up, a partnership between the Calgary Stampede and United Way Calgary and Area where they collected donations from 380 households and delivered them to families in need.
“A lot of families received the basics that people are really hurting for during COVID,” she said. “That’s just one example of how the Calgary Stampede brought positivity to the community and helped everyone and brought everyone together.”
As Calgary Stampede royalty, the women are tasked to attend more than 400 events throughout their 11-month reign while gaining skills in social media, media interactions, public speaking, Stampede history, animal care, etiquette and networking.
Mackenzie said the best part of the experience has been getting to know new people, whether it’s through attending events or sending messages to seniors’ homes in a personal outreach initiative.
“We sent videos to seniors with the four of us girls just saying ‘Hello,’” she said. “We got to announce their names and say ‘hi’ personally. Those kinds of things are really heartwarming to do, and we often get notes back that are so sweet.”
What the future holds in the coming months will depend on the protocols around the COVID-19 virus, said Mackenzie.
In the meantime, she’s been impressed with the community spirit the past couple of weeks.
“Having such a positive outpouring during Stampede just shows us that our efforts and our encouragement for positivity isn’t falling on deaf ears,” she said. “The response from the community has been amazing. I think it’s something we really need right now for everybody.”
The public can follow the 2020 Calgary Stampede royalty on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.11
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