22-year-old Calgarian Lloyd Templeton, is the creator behind the 2024 Stampede Poster artwork, which was unveiled earlier this week.

The poster offers a view of the historic Stampede Parade. Stoney Nakoda Tipi Holder Duane Mark is shown riding in the foreground, while a diverse group of Parade participants and spectators comprise a landscape along the downtown Calgary Parade route.

Mark, a Stoney language and cultural instructor who is passionate about preserving and sharing the Stoney Nakoda language. He collaborated with the artist on the title of the piece, which is ‘Wîchîspa Skadabi Odâginabi’ and the two formed a friendship.

The phrase translates to ‘Celebrating the Calgary Stampede’ and the composition captures the community spirit and storied history of the Parade.

Templeton, a recent Alberta University of the Arts graduate said his memories of the Stampede Parade are vivid. 

“I can feel the warmth of the rising sun, the anticipation, and how the spectacle of horses filling the city streets evoked awe in me. I felt very much a part of the community and the celebration. I hope to evoke similar warm memories in others, or spark a desire in them to experience that awe for themselves.”

Will Osler, President & Chair of the Calgary Stampede Board of Directors underlined that the Stampede has always been a place where First Nations people of Treaty 7 could speak their languages, share their traditions, and have ceremonies,

"To have the 2024 Poster so beautifully capture that relationship and the importance of continuing to celebrate language and culture is incredibly meaningful, and a representation of what the Calgary Stampede stands for.”

This is the sixth straight year the Calgary Stampede has engaged youth in a unique learning and development opportunity. The Calgary Stampede Poster Competition is one of the largest art scholarships in Canada. This is the third time Templetonhas competed in the process.

As the winning artist of the Youth Poster Competition, Templeton receives the $10,000 Dustin Peers Memorial Scholarship. The Brandon Flock Foundation provides an additional $10,000 in scholarships to the top eight in the competition annually making the competition one of the largest art scholarships in Canada with $20,000 distributed among the top eight finalists.

The Calgary Stampede is currently accepting applications from Alberta youth, ages 15 – 24, for the 2025 Poster Competition. The application deadline is Friday, December 1, 2023. Apply to be part of the Youth Poster Competition.

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