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{{Short description|Canadian cowboy}}
[[Image:Guy-weadick-florence-ladue.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Guy Weadick and [[Florence LaDue]] (his wife) circa 1912.]]
'''Guy Weadick''' (1885-1953) was an American performer and promoter. Today, he is best known as the founder of the [[Calgary Stampede]] in [[Alberta]], [[Canada]].


{{Infobox person
== Early years ==
| honorific_prefix =
Weadick was born in 1885, in [[Rochester, New York]].
| name = Guy Weadick
He was a well known Wild West performer, on and off the [[vaudeville]] circuit.
| honorific_suffix =
Weadick worked the vaudeville circuit all across North America and Europe, performing rope tricks in a fifteen minute western act. He was popular in the United States and Europe.
| image = Guy_Weadick.jpg
His career led him to meet his eventual wife, [[Grace Bensell]], another famous trick rope rider, performing under the stage name of [[Florence LaDue]]. As a couple, they toured the vaudeville halls and circuses of Europe, before coming to Western Canada.
| alt =
When not traveling, they lived together in [[Wyoming]].
| caption =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| birth_name = George Guy Weadick
| birth_date = February 23, 1885
| birth_place = [[Rochester, New York]], U.S.
| disappeared_date =
| disappeared_place =
| disappeared_status =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1953|12|13|1885|2|23}}
| death_place = [[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, California]], U.S.
| death_cause =
| body_discovered =
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline}} -->
| monuments =
| nationality =
| other_names =
| citizenship =
| education =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = Cowboy
| years_active =
| employer =
| organization =
| agent =
| known_for = Co-founder of [[Calgary Stampede]]
| notable_works =
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| height = <!-- {{height|m=}} -->
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| spouse = {{Plainlist|
* {{marriage|[[Florence LaDue|Grace Maud Bensel]]|1906|1951|end=died}}
* {{marriage|Dorothy Mullens|1952}}
}}
| partner =
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}}
'''George Guy Weadick''' (February 23, 1885 – December 13, 1953) was an American cowboy, performer and promoter. He and his horse Cyclone quickly became well known in the Calgary area. Today, he is best known as the founder of the [[Calgary Stampede]] in [[Alberta]], Canada. He was married to famed cowgirl, [[Florence LaDue]]. Weadick was the first to be inducted in the Builder category in the [[Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame]].


== Calgary Stampede ==
== Calgary Stampede ==
In 1912, Weadick traveled to Calgary, where he met with '''H.C. McMullen''', a [[livestock]] [[Agency (law)|agent]] for the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]]. The two of them put together a program for a [[frontier]] show. They envisioned a [[cowboy]] championship along with a tribute the Old West. Weadick gained financing from the [[Big Four (Calgary)|Big Four]]: [[George Lane (politician)|George Lane]], owner of the Bar U Ranch; two other wealthy ranchers, [[Patrick Burns (politician)|Patrick Burns]] and [[A. E. Cross]]; and [[Archie Maclean]], provincial secretary. He staged the first Calgary Stampede September 2-7, 1912, when ranchers and farmers had finished the harvesting and would be free to attend.
In 1912, Weadick travelled to Calgary, where he met with H.C. McMullen, a [[livestock]] [[Agency (law)|agent]] for the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]]. The two of them put together a program for a [[frontier]] show. They envisioned a [[cowboy]] championship along with a tribute to the Old West. Weadick gained financing from the [[Big Four (Calgary)|Big Four]]: [[George Lane (politician)|George Lane]], owner of the Bar U Ranch; two other wealthy ranchers, [[Patrick Burns (politician)|Patrick Burns]] and [[A. E. Cross]]; and [[Archibald J. McLean|A. J. McLean]], provincial secretary. He staged the first Calgary Stampede September 2–7, 1912, when ranchers and farmers had finished the harvesting and would be free to attend.


Weadick arranged for 200 head of Mexican steers, 200 bucking steers, and wild horses to be brought in from the ranches around Calgary. In order to entice top quality competitors, $20,000 in championship money and world championship titles were offered. The prize money was about four times the closest competition, causing riders from across North America to arrive in the 1912 Stampede.
Weadick arranged for 200 head of Mexican steers, 200 bucking steers, and wild horses to be brought in from the ranches around Calgary. In order to entice top quality competitors, $20,000 in championship money and world championship titles were offered. The prize money was about four times the closest competition, causing riders from across North America to arrive in the 1912 Stampede. In 1919, Weadick and Calgary Industrial Exhibition manager, [[E. L. Richardson (sports executive)|E. L. Richardson]], agreed to combine the rodeo events with the Calgary Industrial Exhibition and, in 1923, Weadick and Richardson co-founded the [[Calgary Exhibition and Stampede]] as an annual event.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dixon |first1=Joan |last2=Read |first2=Tracey |date=2005 |title= Celebrating the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede |location= Canmore, Alberta |publisher=Altitude Publishing Canada Ltd. |page=36 |isbn=1-55153-939-X }}</ref>

In 1912, Indigenous peoples were not allowed to celebrate their cultures on their own reserves because of Indian Act laws and regulations. The Stampede was one of the only places they were welcomed to participate and celebrate their traditions publicly because of a special agreement Guy Weadick and the Calgary Stampede made with the government.
Indian Village is organized by volunteers on the Stampede's Indian Events committee, Stampede employees and the tipi families who camp at the Village during the Stampede.
There is constant consultation about the name of the Village and if it should be changed. The tipi owners have indicated that Indian Village is a place and a name with great historical significance and honours the role of Guy Weadick and the relationship with the Stampede throughout the 20th century.


== Later years ==
== Later years ==
Following on the success of the [[Calgary Stampede]], Guy Weadick continued promoting his own personal Old West shows (outside Calgary). He continued running the Stampede for 20 years after its initial creation. His next appearance at the Stampede was to appear in the parade in 1952. He died in 1953.
Following on the success of the [[Calgary Stampede]], Guy Weadick continued promoting his own personal Old West shows (outside Calgary). He continued running the Stampede for 20 years after its initial creation. His next appearance at the Stampede was to appear in the parade in 1952. He died on December 13, 1953. The Calgary Stampede Guy Weadick Award, created in 1969, was named after him.<ref>{{cite web |title=Guy Weadick Award Winners |url=https://www.calgarystampede.com/heritage/guy-weadick-award |website=Calgary Stampede |access-date=April 8, 2020 |archive-date=May 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513112341/https://www.calgarystampede.com/heritage/guy-weadick-award |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was inducted into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in the Builder category on July 12, 1982.<ref>{{cite web |title=1982 |url=https://www.canadianprorodeohalloffame.org/1982/ |website=Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame |publisher=CanadianProRodeoHallOfFame.org |access-date=March 6, 2019}}</ref> He was inducted into the [[Rodeo Hall of Fame]] of the [[National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum]] in 1976.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rodeo Hall of Fame Inductees |url=https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/rodeo-hall-of-fame/5093/ |website=National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum |access-date=November 25, 2019}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://collections.ic.gc.ca/pasttopresent/settlement/aa_guy_weadick.html Alberta Settlement: Guy Weadick]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041013022420/http://collections.ic.gc.ca/PasttoPresent/settlement/aa_guy_weadick.html Alberta Settlement: Guy Weadick]
* [http://www.abheritage.ca/pasttopresent/settlement/aa_guy_weadick.html Alberta Heritage]
*[http://www.factscanada.ca/friday/friday-2001-14-07-06.shtml FactsCanada.ca]
*[http://www.factscanada.ca/friday/friday-2001-14-07-06.shtml FactsCanada.ca]
*[http://www.canadianencyclopedia.ca/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1ARTM0012302 The Canadian Encyclopedia]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060223053816/http://www.canadianencyclopedia.ca/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1ARTM0012302 The Canadian Encyclopedia]
*{{IMDb name|0915698}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Weadick, Guy
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American performer
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1885
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = 1953
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Weadick, Guy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Weadick, Guy}}
[[Category:1885 births]]
[[Category:1885 births]]
[[Category:1953 deaths]]
[[Category:1953 deaths]]
[[Category:American expatriates in Canada]]
[[Category:American expatriates in Canada]]
[[Category:Vaudeville performers]]
[[Category:Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Rodeo promoters and managers]]
[[Category:Canadian vaudeville performers]]

Latest revision as of 23:32, 2 November 2024

Guy Weadick
Born
George Guy Weadick

February 23, 1885
Rochester, New York, U.S.
DiedDecember 13, 1953(1953-12-13) (aged 68)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationCowboy
Known forCo-founder of Calgary Stampede
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1906; died 1951)​
Dorothy Mullens
​
(m. 1952)​

George Guy Weadick (February 23, 1885 – December 13, 1953) was an American cowboy, performer and promoter. He and his horse Cyclone quickly became well known in the Calgary area. Today, he is best known as the founder of the Calgary Stampede in Alberta, Canada. He was married to famed cowgirl, Florence LaDue. Weadick was the first to be inducted in the Builder category in the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.

Calgary Stampede

[edit]

In 1912, Weadick travelled to Calgary, where he met with H.C. McMullen, a livestock agent for the Canadian Pacific Railway. The two of them put together a program for a frontier show. They envisioned a cowboy championship along with a tribute to the Old West. Weadick gained financing from the Big Four: George Lane, owner of the Bar U Ranch; two other wealthy ranchers, Patrick Burns and A. E. Cross; and A. J. McLean, provincial secretary. He staged the first Calgary Stampede September 2–7, 1912, when ranchers and farmers had finished the harvesting and would be free to attend.

Weadick arranged for 200 head of Mexican steers, 200 bucking steers, and wild horses to be brought in from the ranches around Calgary. In order to entice top quality competitors, $20,000 in championship money and world championship titles were offered. The prize money was about four times the closest competition, causing riders from across North America to arrive in the 1912 Stampede. In 1919, Weadick and Calgary Industrial Exhibition manager, E. L. Richardson, agreed to combine the rodeo events with the Calgary Industrial Exhibition and, in 1923, Weadick and Richardson co-founded the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede as an annual event.[1]

In 1912, Indigenous peoples were not allowed to celebrate their cultures on their own reserves because of Indian Act laws and regulations. The Stampede was one of the only places they were welcomed to participate and celebrate their traditions publicly because of a special agreement Guy Weadick and the Calgary Stampede made with the government. Indian Village is organized by volunteers on the Stampede's Indian Events committee, Stampede employees and the tipi families who camp at the Village during the Stampede. There is constant consultation about the name of the Village and if it should be changed. The tipi owners have indicated that Indian Village is a place and a name with great historical significance and honours the role of Guy Weadick and the relationship with the Stampede throughout the 20th century.

Later years

[edit]

Following on the success of the Calgary Stampede, Guy Weadick continued promoting his own personal Old West shows (outside Calgary). He continued running the Stampede for 20 years after its initial creation. His next appearance at the Stampede was to appear in the parade in 1952. He died on December 13, 1953. The Calgary Stampede Guy Weadick Award, created in 1969, was named after him.[2] He was inducted into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in the Builder category on July 12, 1982.[3] He was inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in 1976.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Dixon, Joan; Read, Tracey (2005). Celebrating the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede. Canmore, Alberta: Altitude Publishing Canada Ltd. p. 36. ISBN 1-55153-939-X.
  2. ^ "Guy Weadick Award Winners". Calgary Stampede. Archived from the original on May 13, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  3. ^ "1982". Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. CanadianProRodeoHallOfFame.org. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  4. ^ "Rodeo Hall of Fame Inductees". National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
[edit]

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