Article content The Rangeland Derby won’t go ahead this year. Photo by Al Charest / Postmedia
Kurt Bensmiller called Thursday a “horrible day” for chuckwagon racing.
Another driver who preferred to remain anonymous said: “There will never be chuckwagons run at Stampede again.”
Earlier in the day, the Calgary Stampede formally announced that the annual Rangeland Derby would not happen in 2021. It’s the second year in a row that the most lucrative competition in chuckwagon racing was cancelled.
Officially, the Stampede cited safety concerns as the primary reason for the cancellation. COVID-19 protocols had already forced the cancellation of races in Grande Prairie, Medicine Hat, Bonnyville and Saskatoon, and the Stampede said without those events building up the fitness of the teams prior to the big Calgary event, it was better for the long-term continuation of the sport to cancel.
Article content Mayor Naheed Nenshi Photo by Brendan Miller/Postmedia
Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi made himself available to reporters this morning and gave his reaction to the province’s ambitious reopening plan unveiled on Wednesday.
While Nenshi said he is “very happy” to see a reopening plan, he added that Albertans “have to earn these easing of restrictions.”
Nenshi also said that just because public health restrictions could be lifted in time for Stampede, it doesn’t mean complete business as usual. A lot of the events will look different and there will be extra safety precautions for attendees, volunteers and staff.
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Cross-border travel up in 2021, but still far below 2019 numbers Canadian and American flags fly near the Ambassador Bridge at the Canada-USA border crossing in Windsor, Ont. on Saturday, March 21, 2020. Photo by Rob Gurdebeke/The Canadian Press