Indigenous culture at the 2025 Calgary Stampede

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👀 In today's edition:

• Measles cases now “impossible to contain”

• A fatal three-car collision outside Edmonton

• Why EVs aren’t taking off in Alberta

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Indigenous culture at the 2025 Calgary Stampede

The 2025 Calgary Stampede, running from July 4 to 13, will again highlight Indigenous culture through two major events: the Elbow River Camp and the Stampede Powwow. Elbow River Camp features 26 tipis representing the Kainai, Piikani, Siksika, Tsuut’ina, and Stoney Nakoda Nations, all part of Treaty 7. Open daily during the Stampede, the camp includes artisan displays, traditional foods, and cultural demonstrations. The area has been part of the Stampede since 1912 and was renamed from “Indian Village” in 2018 following consultation with Indigenous partners.

The Stampede Powwow will be held at the Scotiabank Saddledome on July 12 and 13 and is open to all Stampede Park visitors. It features competitive dancing in eight categories and four age groups, with participants from across North America. The total prize pool is $200,000, making it one of the most significant events of its kind in Canada.

This year’s First Nations Princess, Pacey Strangling Wolf of the Kainai Nation, will serve as an ambassador for the five Treaty 7 Nations throughout the Stampede. She joins this year’s Stampede Princess, Breanna Correia, in promoting cultural understanding and community involvement.

Need to know

💔 A woman tragically died in a three-vehicle crash that occurred southwest of Edmonton.

👀 The province has reported 1,020 cases of measles. Experts are warning that it is now "impossible to contain.”

🚔 A 36-year-old Calgary man has been charged with two counts of sexual assault after allegedly attacking women he met on dating apps.

⭐️ A Calgary high school graduate with autism celebrated a proud milestone, highlighting the importance of support and inclusion in education.

💡 A survey has suggested that Albertans aren’t keen to adopt electric vehicles, with less than a third saying that they were “certain, very likely or inclined to buy an EV as their next car.” Here’s why.

🚨 City officials are warning residents to keep off the Bow River after last weekend’s heavy rainfall.

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Get into the Stampede Spirit with the CORE Midway

Yeehaw! Stampede season is nearly here and the CORE is getting you into the spirit with the CORE Midway!

From June 23 to July 13, the CORE is presenting you with a jam-packed schedule filled with daily activations, entertainment, giveaways, games, and more! Featuring Calgary Hitmen, Roughnecks, and Wranglers, Country 105, NIWE Academy, Heritage Park, Showpass, Alberta Boot Company, Honky Tonk Market, Sephora, Rocky Mountain Soap, Jugo Juice, and MarketSpot.

The CORE Midway is located at the glass bridge area, on Level 2, across from the CORE Information desk.

Dig into dino history at Heritage Park

Opening June 28, Heritage Park’s newest exhibit, the Badlands Dinosaur Dig, invites visitors to step into the shoes of paleontologists at a hands-on fossil site located in the park’s Resource Ridge area. The interactive experience allows participants to uncover real fossils, including pieces from an Albertosaurus, while exploring a working paleontology field office and learning about the fossil excavation process.

The exhibit highlights Alberta’s role in the Great Canadian Dinosaur Rush (1910–1917), a period when fossil hunters and local guides unearthed some of the world’s most significant prehistoric finds. Visitors will learn how fossils were documented and prepared and how local ranchers and landowners contributed to these discoveries. Interactive displays and storytelling aim to make the experience accessible and engaging for all ages.

“This exhibit is a hands-on way for kids to play, explore, and connect with Alberta’s prehistoric past—and adults might learn something new too,” said Sarah Edwards, director of programming and experience at Heritage Park. Admission to the Badlands Dinosaur Dig is included with general admission or a Heritage Park annual membership.

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Where to eat and drink

🍴 Betty Lou’s Library: Guests enter this hidden, vintage-style lounge through a discreet phone system and settle into a candlelit space inspired by 1920s Prohibition and Parisian salons. With a focus on handcrafted cocktails, live jazz and burlesque performances, and an atmosphere that encourages quiet conversation, the venue offers a carefully curated, immersive experience for adults only.

🍴 Proof: This award-winning cocktail bar is staffed by enthusiasts who are deeply passionate about drink culture and hospitality. Alongside their expertly crafted drinks, they offer weekly features like a Sunday Book Club–inspired cocktail list and a “Case of the Mondays” happy hour, all served in a welcoming, unpretentious atmosphere.

Have a food or drink suggestion? Message us and we might share it!

Things to do

🎟️ Jazz in Parkdale: Tomorrow evening, enjoy an intimate jazz performance featuring a vocalist and pianist, accompanied by a drummer, at a cozy venue in Calgary's Parkdale neighbourhood.

🎟️ Banquet at Telus Spark: Experience a sensory-rich event that explores the science behind food through interactive exhibits designed to engage all five senses and inspire culinary creativity.

Have an event suggestion? Message us and we might share it!

That’s it!

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