Activists protest Manitoba Stampede, call for ban on all rodeos in province

Article content

Around 20 activists gathered outside the Manitoba Stampede grounds in Morris to protest the annual Manitoba Stampede and Exhibition rodeo and call for a ban on all rodeos in Manitoba.

Article content

“We’re asking the organizers, The Valley Agriculture Society, to move away from the animal-centred events and just focus on the other great events that they have: the midway, the entertainment, the concessions, the Gathering of Nations which is a great new event that they’ve introduced the last few years,” said Danae Tonge who runs Manitoba Animal Save which co-hosted the protest with Brandon Animal Save. “Those events will be enough to bring a crowd to Morris. We really don’t need to be including animal entertainment events anymore.”

Protest was held on the public sidewalk outside the main entrance to the Stampede grounds on Highway 75 at the Morris Stampede sign. Similar protests have been staged in previous years including 2019 and last year.

Article content

Article content

“If we switched animals and we said the rodeo is happening and we’re using dogs and cats this year, there would be public outcry,” said Tonge, who reached out to organizers to inform them of the protest and request that the Stampede stop having a rodeo. “It would be socially unacceptable. It would be illegal and you’d be charged with animal cruelty. But because these events are centreing around a baby cow or horses, now it’s a family-friendly event. This is socially acceptable and it’s legal.

“That’s problematic when we’re saying it’s OK for these animals but not for these. People would be horrified if this was happening to dogs.”

Winnipeg Sun reached out to the Valley Agriculture Society for comment but did not hear back.

Article content

The rodeo events that will be taking place this year at the Manitoba Stampede include Saddle Bronc Riding, Break Away Roping, Team Roping, Bareback Riding, Bull Riding, Tie-Down Roping (Calf-Roping), Steer Wrestling, Barrel Racing, and Chuckwagon and Chariot Racing.

Many animals are injured and die every year at rodeo events. Last week, four animals were injured and killed at the Calgary Stampede: three horses used in the chuckwagon races, and one steer used in a steer wrestling event. This has been the deadliest year for horses in the chuckwagon races at the Calgary Stampede since 2019, when six horses died.

In 2019, a cow died during a cattle herding event at the Manitoba Stampede prompting calls for animal cruelty charges to be filed. Last summer, a horse snapped its back leg at a rodeo in Selkirk, Tonge said.

Article content

The Manitoba Stampede dates back 60 years to its origin in 1964. The Stampede has become part of the Manitoba summer fair season.

“Traditions have to change and evolve with the times as we saw with circuses,” said Tonge. “Circuses have long been a part of society and culture and we find that people are moving away from them now. They’re socially unacceptable. Most people see the harm that is being caused, the extreme duress that animas are being asked to perform under. Rodeos are really going the same way as circuses. They are no longer socially acceptable. Two-thirds of Canadians are against the use of animals in rodeos. Our society is changing. Our society expects better for animals now and our public values are changing on our outlook on animal-centred events.”

glen.dawkins@kleinmedia.ca

X: @SunGlenDawkins

Have thoughts on what’s going on in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada or across the world? Send us a letter to the editor at wpgsun.letters@kleinmedia.ca

Article content