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Professional rodeo is coming to Sydney, N.S., this fall.
The event had been held in Truro the last couple of years, but after organizers there declined to host it again this year, Cape Breton Regional Municipality jumped at the chance.
Mayor Cecil Clarke admits CBRM is probably better known for lobster fishing and fiddle music, but he says the island’s agricultural industry has always had livestock, horse racing and 4-H clubs, so a rodeo would not be out of place.
And he says Cape Bretoners have long had to go out west for work, so there’s another natural connection.
“We have a lot of Cape Bretoners-cum-Albertans and Westerners, so maybe with the direct flights through WestJet coming into Sydney from Calgary, we’ll actually get some people for a homecoming and they’ll bring their Stetsons with them,” Clarke said following an announcement Thursday.
“We’re known of course for seeing the fishing boats out on the water, but we’re also known from a proud farming history here. This will be very exciting for everyone to come together that’s been part of that movement.”
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The Nova Scotia Stampede has been hosted by the Central Nova Scotia Civic Centre Society, which operates the Rath Eastlink Community Centre in Truro, but the community centre board decided it didn’t have the capacity to handle the event this year.
B.J. Prince, owner of the Rawhide Rodeo Company, said he would have liked to go back to Truro, but he also intended to eventually take his show to other Maritime communities.
“That Western lifestyle market has grown,” he said. “So we’re seeing it in music, we’re seeing it in the culture, we’re seeing it in the grassroots, and we’re seeing it at events that we’re doing out here.”
The rodeo will include the usual bull and bronc riding competitions and roping events inside Sydney’s Centre 200 arena.
Animals well cared for
Prince said the livestock used in rodeo events are well cared for.
“We’re the biggest animal activists you’ll find and if somebody has questions about animals in rodeo and the standard of care, we invite them to come out,” he said.
“We invite them to ask questions and we’re happy to answer them and be fully transparent with that.”
The rodeo is scheduled for Sept. 24-27 and will include an outdoor stage with performances by Adam Baldwin, Mary Frances Leahy, Sam Roberts, High Valley, Doc Walker and Alan Doyle.
Clarke said if he has his way, it will also include plenty of politicians flipping pancakes.
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