Organizers of the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) have wrapped up what they call another successful year.
There were high expectations for the CFR's 40th anniversary, Northlands spokesperson Jennifer Sheehan said.
“I think everyone expected a great atmosphere this year and I think that is what we had.”
However, Sheehan explained there was one incident that cast a shadow on this year’s rodeo.
“On Friday night, during the tie down roping we did have a calf that had to be brought out of the arena,” she explained.
“We had a veterinarian on site who assessed the situation and decided that the most humane thing to do for the animal was to euthanize it at that point.”
Nevertheless, Sheehan said the event benefits the whole city.
“These people are staying at hotels; they are eating at restaurants.
“They are spending the money in our city,” she explained.
Some retailers have compared rodeo week revenues to Christmas sales.
“In the western business, we have a chance to have two big months. It's really an important part of the business,” Barry Lammle, owner of Lammle Western Wear & Tack, said.
“They're lined up at the tills all day. It's like Christmas.”
There were an estimated 88,000 people that attended the CFR this year, compared to 90,000 last year.
With files from Sarah Richter
