For Trevor Pelletier, singing around the drum has never just been about music."It's about our children," he says. "We want them to know what it means to travel the powwow trail, to carry on these songs and to understand where they come from."That sense of family, culture and pride is taking centre stage at the Calgary Stampede Powwow presented by TC Energy, where a brand-new drumming competition is making its debut and giving visitors another way to experience one of North America's richest Indigenous traditions.For Trevor and the Blackfoot A-1 Club, the competition marks more than a chance to perform — it's the continuation of a legacy.The drum group recently revived the historic A-1 Club name, bringing together family members determined to honour the singers who came before them."We're all family. We're all related to each other," Trevor says. "We're bringing back that sense of pride to our families and to the ones that started this before us."The group gathers weekly to practise, with grandparents, parents and children all coming together around the drum. Throughout the two-day Powwow, held Monday, July 6 and Tuesday, July 7, 14 singers perform as one, filling the Scotiabank Saddledome with songs that have been passed down through generations."There are a lot of songs that belong to the club that we want to bring back," Trevor says. "It's really about bringing that cultural piece back to our families."For first-time visitors, the new drumming competition offers a fascinating glimpse into the traditions behind every Powwow dance.While newcomers may hear powerful voices and steady rhythms, experienced singers recognise that each performance tells its own story. Different dances require different songs, each with its own style, tempo and purpose."To the untrained ear, they might sound similar," Trevor explains. "But to us, every song has a name, every style has a purpose. When they tell us what category we're singing for, we already know exactly which songs belong there."Trevor has spent more than 25 years immersed in Powwow culture. A champion chicken dancer as well as a singer, he's performed across North America, danced in the Olympic ceremonies and travelled as far as New Zealand to share Indigenous culture through song and dance.He also serves on advisory councils supporting addiction and mental health initiatives, using singing to help reconnect people with culture."Singing is one of my medicines," he says. "It's something I use to empower people."That deeper meaning is something he hopes Stampede guests will take away as they experience the Powwow.The introduction of the drumming competition adds another exciting layer to an event already filled with spectacular dance, regalia and celebration. While dancers often capture the spotlight, the drum remains the heartbeat of every Powwow, providing the songs that guide each category and connect performers to generations of tradition.If you missed Monday's performances, there's still one more opportunity to experience the Powwow.The Calgary Stampede Powwow presented by TC Energy continues Tuesday, with visitors able to watch the new drumming competition alongside vibrant dance competitions, hear the powerful voices surrounding the drum and experience a celebration of Indigenous culture that has echoed across generations. <a href="https://www.calgarystampede.com/powwow">Click here</a> for more information.

<title>Stampede Newsroom | More than a beat: New drumming competition brings…</title>

For Trevor Pelletier, singing around the drum is about more than music. Discover how a new drumming competition is celebrating family, culture and tradition at the Calgary Stampede Powwow presented by TC Energy.

More than a beat: New drumming competition brings powerful tradition to the Calgary Stampede Powwow

The Nutrien Western Event Centre was buzzing with excitement on Monday as spectators packed the stands for the final day of the Team Cattle Penning Championships and Heavy Horse Show, capping off three days of elite horsemanship, teamwork and tradition.In the Team Cattle Penning finals, April Howarth, Noah Morin and Casdon Masse captured the 14 Class Final title after penning 12 head of cattle in 130.08 seconds. In the 7 Class Final, Suzie Emms, Ron Scott and Carolyn Simpson claimed the championship with 12 head in a winning time of 165.47 seconds.Judges Don Poole and Debbie Myslicki, who have judged Team Cattle Penning qualifiers and championship competitions for more than a decade, said the level of competition continues to reach new heights. “The last few years have gotten more competitive. The horses and riders are better. And in the higher classes (10, 14 and open), they have some good horsepower,” said Poole. Having followed competitors throughout the season, the pair said the Calgary Stampede represents the pinnacle of the sport. “People build from when they start the season to the Stampede, and then peak at the Stampede,” said Myslicki. The judges also praised the enthusiastic crowds that packed the venue throughout the three-day event. “We truly enjoy our invite to come here to judge. And we always bring our A game,” said Myslicki. All results for the Calgary Stampede Team Cattle Penning Championships can be found on this <a href="https://ag.calgarystampede.com/events/team-cattle-penning-championships">page</a>.The Heavy Horse Show also concluded Monday, marking its 140th anniversary. The competition is the longest-running agricultural event on Stampede Park and the oldest heavy horse show in North America, celebrating the strength, skill and enduring legacy of these remarkable horses.“We celebrated the history of heavy horses that is deeply woven into the story of the Calgary Stampede,” said Courtney Stephenson with the Heavy Horse Show committee. "From the influence of the Big Four and their impact on heavy horses in the region and across North America, their legacy remains an important part of Calgary Stampede heritage."Stephenson said the show's continued success is driven by the dedication of exhibitors and the enthusiasm of fans who return year after year. “The best thing about the Heavy Horse Show is the huge amount of people that come to watch. The fan base is unrivalled,” she said. All results for the Calgary Stampede Heavy Horse Show can be found on this <a href="https://ag.calgarystampede.com/events/heavy-horse-show">page</a>.

<title>Stampede Newsroom | Team Cattle Penning and Heavy Horse Show deliver…</title>

The Nutrien Western Event Centre was buzzing with excitement on Monday as spectators packed the stands for the final day of the Team Cattle Penning Championships and Heavy Horse Show, capping off three days of elite horsemanship, teamwork and tradition.

Team Cattle Penning and Heavy Horse Show deliver exciting finals on Day 4 of the Calgary Stampede

A rider and his horse competing in the Nutrien Western Events Arena at the Calgary Stampede.  Some of the most impressive displays of skill at the Calgary Stampede happen between a rider and a horse reading a cow’s next move before it makes it, or a handler and a dog moving a flock of sheep with nothing but a whistle. Partnerships like these helped build Western Canada, the Stampede, and that history is still on full display through two standout competitions: <a href="https://ag.calgarystampede.com/events/working-cow-horse">the Working Cow Horse Spectacular</a> and the <a href="https://ag.calgarystampede.com/events/world-stock-dog-championships">World Stock Dog Championship</a>. Animals play a key part in agriculture, but it’s the relationship between animals and owners that make it all work. These are more than just horses and dogs, they’re companions, and workers that provide so much.  At the Calgary Stampede, that partnership takes centre stage with skills-driven competitions. See for yourself, years of trust between animal and handler, put to the test in front of a crowd. <a href="https://ag.calgarystampede.com/events/working-cow-horse">Working Cowhorse Spectacular </a> The Cow Horse Spectacular runs July 9, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., in the Nutrien Western Event Centre. It’s an NRCHA-sanctioned event that puts western riding’s finesse on full display, with competitors moving through reining patterns and herd work that test both control and instinct. Years of training go into building a horse that can read cattle that quickly, and it’s that trust, more than speed, that decides who wins. <a href="https://ag.calgarystampede.com/events/world-stock-dog-championships">World Stock Dog Competition</a> Now in its 29th year, the World Stock Dog Championship returns July 7 and 8 in the Nutrien Western Event Centre. Pairs are given less than four minutes to move three sheep through an obstacle course and into a pen, using nothing but whistles and voice commands built up over years of training together. Amy Harms, of the Stock Dog Committee, said the skill on display in the arena is the same skill Ranchers rely on every day. “For sheep, I find it really challenging to round up sheep without a dog,” Harms said. “I just tell them the command, and they bring the sheep to you. It makes our work so much easier.” More than a competition Both events are proof that agriculture has never run on human effort alone. The trust built between a cow horse and its rider, or a stock dog and its handler, takes years to develop and only shows itself fully under pressure.  And at the Calgary Stampede, that partnership is a strong reminder of the work still happening on ranches across Alberta today.  Article courtesy of Katie Yarn, Agriculture &amp; Western Events Media Committee volunteer.

<title>Stampede Newsroom | Partnership On Parade: Western Competitions that…</title>

Some of the most impressive displays of skill at the Calgary Stampede happen between a rider and a horse reading a cow’s next move before it makes it, or a handler and a dog moving a flock of sheep with nothing but a whistle.

Partnership On Parade: Western Competitions that Showcase True Working Partnerships

Cherie Copithorne-Barnes, First Vice-Chair of the Board at the Calgary Stampede, was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws (Hon. LLD) Degree by the University of Calgary in November 2025. A fourth-generation rancher and CEO of CL Ranches Ltd., Cherie has carried forward a 138-year family legacy, advancing sustainable beef production, strengthening the connection between agriculture and business, and helping shape national standards through her founding leadership with the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef.   We visited Cherie at CL Ranch to learn more about her life, her career in ranching, and the values that have guided her journey as an industry leader and First Vice-Chair of the Calgary Stampede.   Watch the <a href="https://youtu.be/qVlTuSiywGU?si=bH_lzLlCmrLIEIbx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">full video</a> to learn more about Cherie’s story.

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<title>Stampede Newsroom | Cherie Copithorne-Barnes: Leading Through Legacy</title>

Cherie Copithorne-Barnes, First Vice-Chair of the Board at the Calgary Stampede, was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws (Hon. LLD) Degree by the University of Calgary in November 2025. We visited Cherie at CL Ranch to learn more about her life, her career in ranching, and the values that have guided her journey as an industry leader and First Vice-Chair of the Calgary Stampede.

Cherie Copithorne-Barnes: Leading Through Legacy

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More than a beat: New drumming competition brings powerful tradition to the Calgary Stampede Powwow

Team Cattle Penning and Heavy Horse Show deliver exciting finals on Day 4 of the Calgary Stampede

Partnership On Parade: Western Competitions that Showcase True Working Partnerships