Canada’s country capital
Shouts of “Yaahooo!” echoed across the House of Friendship in Singapore as members snapped pictures in cowboy hats at the Calgary convention booth and lined up to register for their trip to Canada’s West.
Courtesy of Tourism Calgary
You’re sure to hear that cowboy call of enthusiasm at the Rotary International Convention 21-25 June in Calgary, a city with country flair that’s famous for its summer rodeo blowout. Affectionately called Cowtown for its cattle industry history, Calgary even has a link to Beyoncé, whose latest album has country music influences. One of her co-writers on the song “Texas Hold ’Em” grew up in Calgary and calls it Canada’s country capital.
Don’t miss the National Music Centre in town that includes the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. A wide-ranging music museum has displays on country star Shania Twain and a mobile recording studio used by the Rolling Stones.
The timing of the convention, on the grounds of the Calgary Stampede, is perfect. You’ll have time afterward to visit another part of North America for a vacation then return to the city to catch the rodeo 4-13 July. One suggestion: Take a train into the neighboring Rocky Mountains to see Banff National Park’s breathtaking scenery. And Calgary invites you to celebrate Canada Day 1 July, with an Indigenous showcase, a street fair, and fireworks show.
Perhaps you’ll leave town with a cowboy hat or boots. But outside of all the fun, you have a serious job: help local members make noise about Rotary to boost public engagement, while supercharging your excitement about all you can accomplish through this great global network.
This story originally appeared in the August 2024 issue of Rotary magazine.