When Stampede rolls into town, where do everyones manners go?

Has anyone noticed that respect takes on a whole new form during Stampede Week in Calgary? As Canadians, we are conditioned to be considerate of personal space, to respect our workplace, and are born with innate kindness, most of the time. But for some reason, when along comes Stampede, all respect of all kind seems to go straight out the window. Sure, the majority of people are trying to be patient during traffic jams, long lineups, big crowds, and when waiting for absolutely everything, but trying to work or get anything normal done during Stampede seems nearly impossible.

Some years I think of leaving town, to create some personal space for myself during this time of year, but then I think I might miss a great concert or party. I like to think of Stampede Week as unpredictable but expected. We know we won’t get much work done; we know we will fight with our parking guards; and we know that half the city will call in “sick” at some point over these ten days. We know that we will meet new and existing clients on patios, at functions, and walking down the street. We know we will eat too many carbs and fried foods, drink too much alcohol, and spend too much money. We also know that the entertainment will be fabulous; we will have more fun than we can normally handle; and will get almost nothing accomplished at work.

There are some important things to keep in mind as you enjoy the Stampede festivities. One, don’t bite the hand that feeds you (i.e. respect your boss and your co-workers)! Two, this is not the week to quit your job or line up a job interview, because things may look different next week. Three, if you have a work commitment, keep it; everyone knows that Stampede is here, so book the time off if you need it. Four, remember your vows, if you’ve taken any with your significant other, because one week of this much fun is not worth a lifetime of payback. For some reason, people tend to appear much better looking during Stampede (especially if you’ve been spending too much time in the beer tent)! But next week, everyone goes back to how they normally look, act, and are. Lastly, don’t push boundaries this week; respect personal space, work space, and traffic space! And if your space is being pushed in any way, just smile, breathe, and relax. Stampede only lasts 10 days, so we should all be able to survive it! Happy Stampeding everyone!