In what might be considered the safest rodeo in the province, many of Alberta’s finest and bravest first responders are inviting Cochranites to spend their next Saturday at the Calgary Police Rodeo on Aug. 12.
The rodeo will take place at the Cochrane Lions Rodeo Grounds, with the gates opening at 11 a.m., the rodeo starting at 1 p.m., and an adults-only barn dance capping off the festivities at 7:30 p.m.
Ticket prices range from $20 for a full-day pass, which includes rodeo and barn dance entry, $15 for rodeo-only access, $10 for dance-only access, $10 for students, and complimentary entry for seniors over 55 and children under 14.
Sgt. Jimmy Dalidowicz, president of the Calgary Police Rodeo Association, said a beneficiary for this year’s rodeo is the Missing Children Society of Canada, a group that helps law enforcement locate missing children in the surrounding area and across Canada, through an iOS and Android app.
“It’s a great cause, and they’ve been a great supporter of us and vice-versa,” Dalidowicz said. “We couldn’t do it without them. They provide us with a lot of volunteers and they’re really just a great beneficiary to provide a great partnership with the Calgary Police.”
The rodeo will feature only amateur riders, consisting of police officers, firefighters, medics, and a few individuals from the Canadian Armed Forces. The competitors will run the same events of a regular rodeo.
“It’s just fun to see these guys and gals get on bulls and horses and do those things,” Dalidowicz said.
A half-time intermission will feature kids junior rodeo events, including mutton busting and a calf scramble, alongside a police canine demonstration, and a trick riding show featuring Shelby Burns.
A marquee event that will be once again return for the annual rodeo is the bull poker event at the end of the day. According to Dalidowicz, this garners as much attention as the bull riding.
“So, we have a poker table right in the middle of the rodeo area, and we sit four cowboys down and we release the bulls,” he explained. “The last cowboy to get out of their seat or move wins the shiny bull poker buckle and bragging rights of being the bull poker champion of the year.
“It’s probably one of my favourite events that really gets the crowd going and everybody’s there to see the bull in action.”
The event will be dedicated to the late Calgary Police Service officer Sgt. Andrew Harnett, who passed away in the line of duty while on patrol on New Year’s Eve in 2020.
“He was a great proponent and I would say a great participant int eh Calgary Police Rodeo and we will always have him in memoriam of this event,” Dalidowicz said. “We’ve actually had named one of the events after him – the Andrew Harnett Wild Horse race. It was one of the major events he was always involved in and always a huge star in.
“So, we made sure that he is always idolized and remembered in that event.”
Dalidowicz said he and everyone involved in the Calgary Police Rodeo love Cochrane and the continued support the event garners from members of the community and the surrounding area, and the Cochrane Lions Club.
“It’s such a pleasure to bring our event [to Cochrane]. And having grown up in the Cochrane area myself, it’s great to bring something to the community, and to share and bring a fun, safe event for everyone,” he said. “And making sure that we humanize the badge, get with the community, and make sure that they know we’re just one of them and we’re there to protect them.
“We couldn’t have done it without the Town of Cochrane and it’s been a great event that we’ve moved here and we don’t plan on moving anytime soon.”
Tickets for the event can be purchased online by visiting calgarypolicerodeo.com or on event day at the gates.
