Guy Weadick
Kathleen, Brina, Paula, Jared & Brittany
 
   

Biography

Guy Weadick was born in Rochester, New York, on February 23,1885. Guy Weadick was an American cowboy, trick roper and promoter. In the year 1911 an American cowboy by the name Guy Weadick wanted to have a rodeo to celebrate ranching. Guy Weadick came to Calgary in the year 1912 and said there should be more rodeos. Guy Weadick was one of the best rope riders in Calgary . He and his wife Flores la’ Due were on riding and roping teams.

He had big ideas and needed lots of money to start the Stampede. He talked to Lane then to Burns, A.E Cross and McLean for help. The Big Four liked Weadick’s idea of a super western show. George Lane, Pat Burns, A.E Cross and McLean each agreed to give him $25,000. In 1912 Guy Weadick and Southern Alberta’s “Big Four” staged the first Calgary Stampede. In the beginning of the Stampede its name was the Calgary Exhibition. He gave the name Stampede. Guy Weadick bought 300 wild horses from the Day brothers of Medicine Hat for the Stampede.

World War I diverted Weadick’s attention away from the Stampede. In spring of 1919 he returned to try again. The Stampede was not held again until after World War I in August 1919. The Stampede became a permanent part of the annual Calgary Exhibition in 1923. In the year 1923, Guy Weadick was ask to manage the rodeo section of the Calgary’s Stampede.

As a general manager of the Stampede, Weadick encouraged everyone to decorate their store fronts. 1000 natives helped Guy Weadick with the Stampede. He managed the Stampede for nine years. Guy Weadick was pretty young when he managed the Stampede. Guy Weadick did not pay his helpers.

He got fired and Jack Dillon took over his job. Guy Weadick wrote a play called the High Wood Trail. He operated the Stampede Ranch, west of High River and later retired to California. By the time Guy Weadick retired the Stampede was the biggest out door rodeo on earth. He died in 1953.

Contributions

Cowboys from all over the world came to Calgary to compete to win $50 000. They are in events like bull riding, steer-wrestling and the famous chuck wagon races.

Calgary has some of the greatest contests of all rodeos and Canada has produced lots of great rodeo cowboys.

There is a school named Guy Weadick because he is the one who started the Calgary Stampede.
 

Lifestyle

When the first pioneers were here schools were small and wooden. During the winter a small wooden stove would be lit to keep the students warm. A long time ago, pioneer children would have to walk a long way to get to school. After a big fire in 1886, schools were built of sandstone or brick.

When pioneers traded, they only traded for what they needed. Pioneers mostly traded for sugar, vegetables, and so on. They would only trade for what their furs were worth. Pioneers sometimes wore beautiful beaded Indian clothes.

In the winter during a settler’s spare time they would play hockey or just go skating. Usually only men went hunting for fun. Pioneers went on sleigh rides during the winter and on picnics during the summer.

The settlers from Eastern Europe had a very long journey to Western Canada. It would start with a train trip to a sea port and then a trip across the sea. Usually the passengers would get seasick. Then the European settlers would take a train trip from Quebec to Western Canada. It would take from four to six days to arrive in Western Canada. When the ship docked in Quebec, their journey was still not over. They still faced another long train trip to Western Canada.

Pioneers sometimes wore beautiful beaded Indian clothes. Settlers knitted their own clothes, usually made of cloth, cotton, leather and fleece. Pioneer women and girls would wear aprons over their good clothes.

When settlers moved to the prairies, there were few lakes and rivers. Yet, pioneers and their animals still needed water to drink. Pioneers sometimes found fresh water in a nearby pond called a slough. A hole was dug near the slough to allow it to filter. If there were no pond nearby, they would dig a well. Once water was found, a wooden cover would be placed over the water to keep animals and dirt from falling in. Homesteaders had only hand tools to help them plant and harvest their wheat and other crops. They had to work hard to even produce a small amount of wheat. The invention of new farm machinery made work easier for the farmer. As soon as the wheat ripened, the farmer had to harvest it quickly before the frosts came.

In spring homesteaders would arrive to claim their homestead because then they could plant a small vegetable garden and produce a small amount of wheat. Pioneers would live in a tent until their house was built. Homes were built of logs, lumber, and sod. Lumber and nails were very expensive, so usually the home would be small with only one or two rooms. A stable would be built last to shelter the animals.
 

Reflection

Guy Weadick's dream was to become a famous cowboy and his dream came true. He was a trick rider and calf roper. I wanted to research Guy Weadick because he created the Stampede and I have never been to the Stampede. I wanted to know what it is like. Now I know that it is for horses, cows and bulls and they are in shows. The Stampede is also for people to have fun. When I grow up I want to be a barrel racer in the rodeo. Guy Weadick contributed to my life bringing the Stampede to Calgary so one day I can go and have some fun.
 
 
 
 
 
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