Every July, the city of Calgary undergoes a dramatic transformation, with rodeos, parades, and celebrations of Western heritage that bring thousands of people together.
The Calgary Stampede is, as the banners proudly proclaim, “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth” — and one of the highlights of my year. As Canadian Foodgrains Bank’s government and stakeholder relations advisor, part of my role is representing the voices of our supporters, many of whom work in the agricultural sector, to government leaders.
What better place than the Stampede to talk about ending global hunger?
The connection may not be immediately obvious, but it is deeply strategic. Beneath the festive surface of the Stampede lies one of the most important policy networking events in Canada.
Advocacy in Ottawa is often a formal, highly structured affair. Meetings with Members of Parliament (MPs), cabinet ministers, and public servants are booked months in advance, and held in office settings where schedules are tight and guards are up.
But at the Stampede, the barriers come down. If you walk up to one of the breakfast grills, you are highly likely to find an MP or a provincial minister flipping pancakes and serving sausages — providing a unique opportunity for conversation.
Over four days this year, I met 40 MPs, including three federal ministers and one party leader. Before I’d unpacked my bags, I had arranged a meeting with an MP I met while he was flipping pancakes. I can’t think of another place in Canada where that many meaningful interactions with elected officials can happen in such a short period of time.
A handshake at a pancake breakfast won’t end global hunger. But the relationships built can help shape policies, partnerships, and investments that improve food security for millions of people.
When I first attended the Stampede two years ago, I rarely encountered colleagues from the international development sector. But this year, more than a dozen organizations from across Canada were represented. Increasingly, our sector is recognizing that if you want to engage Canada’s political leaders, being in Calgary during Stampede week is one of the best ways to do it.
The Wellington Advocacy Global Leadership Dialogue series — a side of the Stampede that many Canadians never see — brings together international development experts, business leaders, academics and policy makers to discuss Canada’s leadership on the global stage, aid effectiveness, and global stability, making the Stampede a place that honours our western heritage while acknowledging Canada’s global leadership.
In 2025, the Foodgrains Bank was invited to participate on a panel at the Global Leadership Dialogue — an invitation that was a direct result of our consistent presence and relationship-building efforts in Calgary. The event was a prestigious platform that allowed us to share our expertise on food security directly with influential decision-makers, demonstrating how Canadian aid is helping millions of people to transform their futures.
Beyond the structured panels, the Stampede is also a hotbed for serendipitous encounters that bear unexpected fruit. Last year, while waiting for a morning train, I struck up a conversation with a University of Calgary professor. We began discussing the complexities of global food insecurity and climate change, and, by the end of the conversation, I had been invited to guest lecture in their international development class. It’s a prime example of the ripple effect of the Stampede — that you never know who you will meet, or where a conversation will lead.
By showing up in Calgary, putting on our boots, and engaging with Canada’s leaders, we are advancing the critical work of ensuring that, with Canada’s continued investment in official development assistance, millions of food-insecure people around the world will get to experience a life free of hunger.
Barbra Chimhandamba is a government and stakeholder relations advisor at Canadian Foodgrains Bank based in Ottawa.