CALGARY
It’s an event steeped in tradition and history that brings out the southern Alberta ranching establishment. The annual Old Time Range Men’s dinner, recently held at Calgary’s Palliser Hotel, was the 80th edition of an event started by the Canadian Pacific Railway.
“It was started as a sort of customer appreciation event by the CPR,” said Hugh Lynch- Staunton, whose family is longtime dinner attendees.
Back in the early days of ranching in what is now Alberta, the CPR transported livestock and horses by the thousands to markets in Eastern Canada and the U.S. Cattle were also shipped by rail from the foothills to summer pastures in other areas, making the old Calgary Stockyards a major marketing and shipping point. South of Calgary at Cayley, the CPR maintained extensive yards to receive thousands of head of cattle and sheep that were trailed in from the large ranches along the foothills. Transporting livestock was a major source of income for the CPR. However, by the 1960s trucks had taken over most livestock transportation and railways across North America were out of that business by 1970.
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The demise of its livestock transportation business caused the CPR to cease sponsorship of the annual dinner. However, because it had become such a tradition, an organizing committee stepped forward to keep it alive. This year’s committee was composed of Harvey Buckley (chairman), Dr. Brian Edge, Roy Clark, Jason Edworthy, and John Douglas.
Part of the event is to honour individuals who have through dedication, resilience, or other service contributed to the well-being of the cattle-ranching business. This year’s honourees were Sherm Ewing, Ken McKnight, and Ed Mattheis.
“These are the range men that our industry is all about,” said Buckley.
This year’s event attracted over 250 participants, including many members of families who have ranched in Alberta for over 100 years. The dinner has traditionally been an all-male event. Wives, widows and other female family members hold a separate dinner event at the same time in the Palliser Hotel.
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“Thesearetherangementhatourindustryisallabout.”
HARVEY BUCKLEY
