By the Banks of the Bow

There was an unveiling of one of North America’s largest public art in 2012 for the Calgary Stampede’s 100^th Anniversary. The monumental larger than life bronze sculpture “By the Banks of the Bow” is a symbol of the Greatest Show on Earth's equestrian and agricultural past, and also symbolizes the Stampede’s future and vision towards becoming a world-class, year-round meeting place for Calgarians and visitors alike.

 The larger-than-life sculptures reflect the spirit of Calgary depicting the strength, speed and dependability of the cowboy and their relationship with the free-spirited western horse. The 15 bronze horses and 2 cowboy figures are 1 ½ life-size with the south group towering over 14 feet above the ground. The drive across the bow to the Stamped grounds is led by the legendary Clem Gardner, named the All-Around Canadian Cowboy of Calgary’s first Stampede, riding Skook. Ten other horse sculptures are representative of famous rodeo horses from the Stampede’s past and present.

It took two local sculptors/ranchers Rich Roenisch and Bob Spaith from Longview, Alberta 4 years to design and build “By the Banks of the Bow” blending historical and modern-day images depicting Calgary’s past, present and future. It reflects the Stampede’s relationship with the people of the First Nations, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, cowboys and ranchers, farmers, town folk, prospectors and adventurers.

Become part of Calgary’s history with an old-fashioned trail ride traversing the river driving rodeo horses towards the Stampede Grounds. Experience the artist's snapshot of the city when the area around Calgary was a wide-open prairie when ranchers herded their horses across the Bow River. This Stampede Park landmark in front of the Agriculture building is a unique perspective of Alberta's western agricultural heritage and values preserves and promotes western heritage and values and a must-see Equestrian Public Art.