Here’s what some of the NGC hosts had to say about introducing the Western Culture to new audiences at the 2010 Calgary Stampede.
The Western Oasis in the BMO Centre was really great this year. I really enjoyed being able to walk around and enjoy the western art with all of our guests as well as look at the unique entertainment that was showcased. One of my favourite parts was the living statues. A lot of people really liked looking at them from afar and then slowly getting closer and closer to them, to see when they would move and what they were going to do next. I also really enjoyed looking at the Royal Trio Alumni exhibit. It was so interesting to see how much history the Stampede has and also how the outfits have changed over the years (for example the bright yellow pant suit from the 1970’s). Another highlight was watching the artist build the Inuksuk’s. Western Oasis was great as it was a chance to really interact and get to know our guests in a quiet, calm and very interesting setting.
-Andrea Miller
I really enjoyed the whole weekend so it will be hard to pick out a favorite part. But after initially being scared to tears by the living statues in Western Oasis, the 4 year old from the Chinese community association asked “Mom, why did it move?” then wanted to go back and see it again, that was definitely up there for favorites! Or the little boy from Vietnam who, after eating Bannock at Indian Village exclaimed “I’ve ALWAYS wanted to try Indian food!” and the lady from Eritrea who was so impressed with the vibrancy of the Native culture. The teenage girl from Afghanistan who told me her favorite part of the tour was looking the artwork in Western Oasis. And the father from Somalia who stopped to do his Muslim prayers next to one of the nature displays in the Western Oasis. Those moments really stuck out for me.
- Nicole Mosher
