Hats Off to Heritage: The White Hat as Calgary's Crown

Sam Centre is home to many fascinating Stampede stories, including the history of the iconic white hat, with roots deeply tied to the Calgary Stampede.

The tradition of “white hatting” began in the late 1940s as a gesture of hospitality, but the hats have since become one Calgary’s most recognizable symbols, a crown of sorts, representing civic pride, belonging and Calgary spirit. Over the years, thousands of dignitaries, celebrities and visitors have been white hatted as a way to say, “Welcome to Calgary. You belong here.”

It all began in 1946, when the Calgary Stampede teamed up with Morris Shumiatcher, the owner of the Smithbilt Hat Factory at the time, to encourage Calgarians to show their Stampede spirit by wearing cowboy hats. Pastel-coloured hats were popular, but white quickly became the standout. Shumiatcher leaned into the trend, producing hats that not only turned heads but helped define a city’s image. By 1947, the white cowboy hat was everywhere during Stampede. It was bold, eye-catching and instantly Calgarian.

But it was a trip east that cemented the white hat as a civic icon. In 1948, the Calgary Stampeders football team wore their Smithbilt white hats to Toronto for the Grey Cup, handing them out along the way, including to the Toronto mayor. The simple gesture made a big impression. Calgary-raised announcer Don MacKay, who tagged along for the trip, was elected Mayor of Calgary two years later and formalized the act of “white hatting” visiting dignitaries.

Since then, white hatting has become a proud tradition, offered to everyone from royalty to rock stars. Today, Tourism Calgary champions the tradition, hosting official white hat ceremonies for visitors from around the world and locals alike. The white hat remains a uniquely Calgarian welcome, a symbol of connection and a declaration of belonging.

Among the long list of notable honourees is Colonel Chris Hadfield, who was white hatted in 2013 when he served as the Calgary Stampede Parade Marshal. Hadfield, a Canadian astronaut celebrated as the first in the nation to perform a spacewalk and command the International Space Station, embraced the tradition wholeheartedly. After the Stampede Parade in 2013, he signed his white hat and donated it back to the Stampede.

That very hat sits proudly on display at Sam Centre, showcasing the story of how a small gesture became a symbol of something much bigger. Hadfield’s hat is part of the Hats & Boots display, which brings together a striking collection of headwear and footwear worn by Stampede legends, performers, and volunteers, including Alessia Cara, Patsy Rogers, Bill Siebens and more. At Sam Centre, guests can explore more stories like this through immersive and interactive exhibits and experiences, preserving and sharing the Stampede spirit for future generations.