Shaping the future with the Calgary Stampede Foundation

Enbridge Citizens of Tomorrow Program helps to launch dreams and careers

They’re tomorrow’s leading lights – on the stage, in the studio, and out on the land.

While the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth is now more than 100 years old, Enbridge and the Calgary Stampede Foundation are ensuring that future generations of Stampede program alumni shine bolder and brighter than ever.

The Calgary Stampede Foundation, the charitable arm of the world-renowned Calgary Stampede, is committed to developing the potential of youth in the community – providing them with the means to become spirited citizens, while retaining strong roots in western heritage and values.

And since 2009, Enbridge has been the title sponsor of the Calgary Stampede Foundation’s Enbridge Citizens of Tomorrow Program, helping to launch dreams and careers.

The Enbridge Citizens of Tomorrow Program provides post-secondary scholarships to teens showing extraordinary achievement through their time with The Young Canadians School of Performing Arts and the Calgary Stampede Showband. Additionally, Enbridge supports the Calgary Stampede’s International Youth Livestock program through an annual series of post-secondary scholarships.

“It’s about tenacity, hard work, teamwork, and endurance. These programs teach many of the qualities that teens need to become future leaders of our community,” says Bianca von Nagy, manager of the Calgary Stampede Foundation.

“These kids come to view groups like The Young Canadians and the Calgary Stampede Showband as a second family,” she says. “They bond through a common love for the performing arts, or music, or agriculture.”

With the 2014 edition of the Calgary Stampede bursting out of the chutes today, The Young Canadians, members of the Calgary Stampede Showband, and the International Youth Livestock program participants will contribute significantly to the fabric of this year’s Stampede – and, at the same time, experience the culmination of months of hard work.

In many ways, the Young Canadians have become virtually synonymous with the Stampede’s show-stopping splendor. The Stampede’s TransAlta Grandstand Show is staged for 10 straight nights by singers and dancers from The Young Canadians School of Performing Arts – which provides an exceptional opportunity for youth focusing on a career in stage, television, or the recording studio.

TYC School of Performing Arts offers rare, high-calibre training ground for its students, through workshops, performances, touring opportunities, and year-long technical training in vocal, ballet, jazz, tap, acro, gymnastics, and other forms of artistic performance expression.

The 140-member Calgary Stampede Showband, meanwhile, offers top-flight musical training. An integral part of the 10-day festival on Stampede Park, the Calgary Stampede Showband also travels the world throughout the year, representing the Stampede at musical competitions and entertaining thousands of listeners.

The Stampede’s International Youth Livestock program recognizes the commitment, dedication, and ingenuity shown by the future leaders of our agriculture industry. The IYL Supreme Championships, in purebred beef, commercial beef, dairy, and sheep classes, reward the region’s very best exhibitors from a demanding show season. A wide array of IYL program scholarships are also awarded on the final Saturday of Stampede, and IYL alumni have used those scholarships to achieve career success in the agribusiness, livestock nutrition, and veterinary medicine industries, among others.

The Enbridge Citizens of Tomorrow Program recognizes and rewards values such as accountability, commitment, compassion, engagement, and stewardship.

“The Calgary Stampede and Enbridge share common heritage and values,” says D’Arcy Levesque, Vice President of Enterprise Communications, Brand, and Community Partners. “Programs such as The Young Canadians, the Calgary Stampede Showband, and International Youth Livestock build character and dedication, while also allowing participants to refine their talents and showcase their skills.

“Investing in our communities, including the Calgary Stampede Foundation, allows us to develop and grow the leaders of tomorrow.”

To date, Enbridge has invested about $1.45-million in support of the Calgary Stampede and the Calgary Stampede Foundation.