| |

|
|
The BC Cowboy Heritage Society Proudly Presents
The 12th Anniversary!
The Kamloops Cowboy Festival
March 7th - 9th, 2008
PLUS Thursday evening, March 6th
BONUS for weekend pass holders
We've gained the reputation of being the
Biggest and Best Festival of its kind in Canada
as well as one of the best in North America!
Don't miss out on the Sunday performances: 3:00 Rising Star Shocase finals and
5:30 happy hour with a 6:30 evening main feature show!
|
|
|
|
Our headquarters hotel, Best Western Kamloops, is offering
a Sunday evening special price
Book Early - see details below!
Hall of Fame inductions Friday night
Joe Marten Award presentation Saturday night
BCCHS Student Scholarships Saturday night
Western Film Festival all weekend
Alberta folks now have a choice of three different
tour companies. See the details in the
Bus Tours
section Don't like winter driving? Here's the answer!
|
|
|
|
What's new for 2008?
There's lots new and exciting planned for 2008! I'll touch on them here
but have a look over the rest of this page, too as well as the rest of this
web site ... you'll find things like bios and
photos of all the entertainers, a list of the
Western Art and Gear Show exhibitors with a description of their product, and
information on the BC Cowboy Hall of Fame
inductees - for this year and for all past years.
We'll start with the welcoming party Thursday evening at Forster's
convention centre for all those that have weekend passes. The entertainment
will be a jam session on stage with all the performers that are here
taking turns. A good time to meet them and get a CD signed.
Don't miss out on a chance to win the new Commemorative Festival Belt
Buckle! There will be raffle tickets at the "General Store" and
at the information desk at the Festival. Only one made, only 300 tickets
printed and they are only $10 each!
The Western Art Exhibition and Sale sponsored by Canadian Cowboy Country
magazine will include Bronzes and Saddles this year! It will be in its
own room at the Festival, in Forsters - watch for the signs!
The Joe Marten Award for the Preservation of Cowboy Heritage
recipient is being kept a secret this year but don't miss the
presentation Saturday evening at the Calvary Church, just before the
intermission during the evening main feature.
This year, as always we have some terrific cowboys being
inducted into the BC Cowboy Hall of Fame and we will also be
giving the first annual award for a "Century Ranch". These
inductions will be Friday evening during the main feature show
at the Calvary Church and will once again be MC'd by Hugh McLennan.
Watch for the shuttle busses, as we'll be running between
venues, to the Horse Barn, and town on a regular basis. In fact
for the early birds we'll be running to the Horse Barn Friday morning
between 9:00 AM and noon for the free entertainment that will be there.
The Country 103 Rising Star Showcase should be as good as
last year with $4000.00 being split between 6 finalists! The
semi finals will be starting at 1:00 PM on Friday, in the Western
Art and Gear Show room at Forsters Convention Centre.
The Cariboo Country Film Festival ... we have over 30
episodes now from Paul St Pierre's CBC TV series and they'll
be playing all weekend in the Fireside room at the Calvary Church.
How's that for a few highlights!! All this March 6th - 9th, 2008!
|
|
Presidents Report, BCCHS, February, 2008
Celebrating One Hundred and Fifty Years of History and two pickle jars!
Welcome to the twelfth annual, Kamloops Cowboy Festival, This year we
are celebrating 150 years of ranching heritage in Canada's original
Cow Town!
In 1858 the influx of an estimated thirty thousand prospectors led
to the establishment of The Crown Colony of British Columbia. It
also sparked the establishment of Cattle Ranching in the BC Interior.
Hudson's Bay Company first brought cattle into the Kamloops Area in
1831, but it was the Fraser River Gold Rush that sparked the beginning
of large scale cattle ranching.
When Donald McLean was chief trader for the Hudson's Bay Company in
Kamloops he began to receive small amounts of gold in trade. When he
had accumulated enough to fill two pickle jars with coarse gold, he
sent it to his superiors in Victoria. James Douglas sent 800 ounces
of gold to the San Francisco mint to be struck into coin and by April
1858 the rush was on. Within two months after the first miners arrived
in Victoria, General Joel Palmer crossed the border with a herd of
cattle, the first of approximately 25,000 head would pass through
Kamloops bound for mining camps. Donald McLean soon left the employ
of the Hudson's Bay Company to become one of BC's first ranchers.
One hundred and fifty years after the Crown Colony of British Columbia
was founded, Kamloops remains the economic heart of BC's cattle industry
and the cattle industry remains as a major cornerstone of the provincial
economy! It all started with two pickle jars.
The Pickle Jars of Destiny!
In the Fall of fifty seven,
the story first took hold,
that the sandbars of New Caledonia,
flowed ankle deep in GOLD!
The California rush of forty-nine,
by then, was about played out,
whispered rumours through the winter,
by spring became a shout.
GOLD!
Gold! Along The Fraser!
Gold! In Cariboo.
Gold! In Tranquille River,
the Quesnel, and Horsefly too!
When we look to the very beginning
we'll find the first link in the chain,
was two pickle jars of nuggets,
gathered here by Donald McLean.
Mike Puhallo
|
|
The 2008 Performers:
Here's a partial, tentative, entertainer line up. Biographies and
photos for the following are available on the
Entertainers Bios and Photos.
|
| |
- Alan Moberg
- Allen Christie
- BJ Smith
- Brian Salmond
- Buddy Gale
- Bud Edgar
- Butch Falk
- Chelsea Cunningham
- Chris & Sharky Schauer
- Dave Longworth
- Doris Bircham
- Doris Daley
- Ed Brown
|
|
- Ed Peekeekoot
- Eli Barsi
- Frank Gleeson
- Gordie West
- Horse Crazy
- Hugh McLennan
- Ivan Daines
- Jay Snider
- Jeremy Willis
- Jesse Fowler
- Jessica Noad
- Kevin Davis
- Les Folles Jambettes
|
|
- Matt Johnson
- Mike Logan
- Mike Puhallo
- Patricia Willestoft
- Phyllis Rathwell
- Riley Tubbs
- Rob Dinwoodie
- Ryan Fritz
- Shirley Field
- Susan Parker
- Terri Mason
- Tim Hus
- Tom Cole
|
This will be the second year of the
"Country 103 Rising Star Showcase".
Last year was a great success with an incredible amount of talent
taking part - so much talent that we have picked four of the
entries (only one was a winner in the contest) to perform on
main stage this year!
This year we are splitting the contest into two groups to
spread the prize money a little farther. There will be a
section for poets and a section for musicians. Both first place
winners will receive $1000 each. The other four finalists
(2 poets and 2 musicians) will receive $500 each.
These Rising Stars will be performing throughout the weekend
and the six finalists will be showcased on main stage Sunday
afternoon.
If you are
interested in being part of the "Rising Star Showcase" please see the
Rising Star Showcase page, which includes an
application from.
|
|
The 2008 Performance Schedules!
All schedules are subject to change
This year the schedules are made up a little differently than
in past years and hard to put on a web site (they take up a lot of room).
The evening schedules are below and if you want the complete schedules
pick one of the following PDFs to download it. They include daytime performances, evening
performances, and the workshop schedule on three separate documents -
one for each day. There is also a list of entertainers with their
scheduled sets beside their name if you're hunting a particular show.
|
| |
Friday Schedule PDF
Saturday Schedule PDF
|
Sunday Schedule PDF
Schedule list by Entertainer PDF
|
|
|
The 2008 Evening Performance Schedule!
All schedules are subject to change
|
| |
March 7th - Calvary Church
Friday Evening - 7:00 PM!
(MC) Hugh McLennan
Shirley Field
Buddy Gale
Matt Johnston
Mike Puhallo
Ed Peekeekoot
Intermission
Hall of Fame Inductions
Chelsea Cunningham
Doris Daley
Allen Moberg
|
|
March 8th - Calvary Church
Saturday Evening - 7:00 PM!
(MC) Mike Puhallo
Jesse Fowler
Doris Bircham
Ivan Daines
Hugh McLennan
Frank Gleeson
Joe Marten Award
Intermission
BCCHS Scholarship Awards
Mike Logan
Brian Salmond Tom Cole
Eli Barsi
|
| |
March 7th - Dinner Theatre
Forsters Convention Centre
5:30 Happy Hour - 6:30 Dinner!
Gordie West, Jeremy Willis
After Dinner Show
Les Folles Jambettes
(MC) Dave Longworth
Jessica Noad
BJ Smith
Ryan Fritz
Phyllis Rathwell
Ed Brown
Intermission
Patricia Willestoft
Terri Mason
Allen Christie
|
|
March 8th - Dinner Theatre
Forsters Convention Centre
5:30 Happy Hour - 6:30 Dinner!
Gordie West, Jeremy Willis
After Dinner Show
Les Folles Jambettes
(MC) BJ Smith and Ed Brown
Rob Dinwoodie
Dave Longworth
Butch Falk
Susan Parker
Kevin Davis
Intermission
Tim Hus
Jay Snider
Horse Crazy
|
|
There will also be a Sunday evening dinner
theatre show at Forsters Convention Centre. We will not
schedule the performers for this show until a later date, leaving
this as a surprise show!
|
The Western Art and Gear Show!
Click here to go to this year's
Trade Show Page!
As well as all the above entertainment we also have a Western Art
and Gear Show that will run all weekend long! The exhibitors in
this show are some of the finest cowboy craftsmen and artists
in Canada! There will be a variety of booths selling and taking
orders for saddles and leather work, western clothing, cowboy hats,
books, jewelry, lots of art, bronzes, and some educational booths!
Here is the list for the 2008 Festival
- Bar-0-Seven Ironworks
- BC Cattlemen's Association
- BC High School Rodeo Association
- Cariboo Saddlery
- Chris Kind - Author
- Cowboys' Choice
- Cowboy Classic Equipment
- Coyote Blue
- Coyote Crossing
- David Thompson Resort
- Eakin Creek Enterprises
- Equine D'oro by Ken
- Grey Wolf Metal Art
- Hope River Metal Art
- Joanne Hay Saddle Blankets
- Kamloops Saddlery
- Kamloops Wish Trail Ride
- Ken Cochrane Western Art
- Kim Rose Western Art
- Laserit Art
- Lazy B Stock Horse
|
- Medicine Man Gallery
- Mountain Hi Soapworks
- Mountain North Art
- Mousetrap Custom Clothiers
- M-TE Stitches
- Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin
- Original Cariboo Stirrups
- Peter Grauer - Author
- Ranches Only.Com
- Richard Moray Photography Originals
- Richard Tenisch, Silversmith
- Rivers Edge Logworks
- SweetWater Bronze
- Swift Fox Gallery
- Tara Gardner Western Art
- West Coast Cowgirl Artists
- Western Canada Heritage Centre
- Wildechoes Art
- Wild Horse Tails Horse Care Products
- Wild West "5" Rodeo Group
- Willis Entertainment
|
|
For photos and write-ups on some of the exhibitors see
The Trade Show Page!
|
| |
The BC Cowboy Heritage Society Presents
The Art of the West Exhibition and Sale
Sponsored by Canadian Cowboy Country magazine!
|
There are exciting changes in the Festival's Art Show
for 2008. Firstly, we have an incredible new sponsor,
Canadian Cowboy Country Magazine. We are proud that they
have chosen to sponsor our event, having already sponsored
prestigious fine art shows at the Calgary Stampede and
the Canadian Finals Rodeo. The art show will be expanding
this year as well. 2008 will see the inclusion of sculpture
and saddle-making, in addition to fine wall art. We are
especially happy to be adding saddle-making to the show
as it is our first step toward exhibiting cowboy crafts
that have been developed to the level of fine art. Making
this particularly exciting is that we have booked Canadian
master saddler, Chuck Stormes to judge the event. He will
also be doing a workshop on Saturday at 11:00 AM in the Calvary
Church.
Below is a list of the accepted artists for the 2008 Art of the
West Exhibition and Sale. Thanks so much to Canadian Cowboy Country
magazine. The final entries are 7 saddles by 7 makers, 9 pieces of
sculpture by 4 sculptors, 20 pieces of flat work by 13 artists.
Sincerely, David Ciriani, Alcan Western Art Show Chairman
|
| |
Saddles
- Ryan Cope
- Darcy Kabatoff
- Bob Kaufman?
- Don Loewen
- Ron Stolp
- Ken Wright
Sculpture
- Doug Alcock
- Dee Doige
- Linda Kelly
- Jordan Straker
|
Flatwork
- Christine Dix
- Jenny Fletcher
- Faye Gustafson
- Janice Jarvis
- Shannon Lawlor
- Lyn Melnechenko
- Arnold Mosley
- Charlene Parenteau
- Jack Peterson
- Kim Rose
- Cindy Weitzel
- Tanner Wells
- Lesley White
|
|
Where Are We?
The Kamloops Cowboy Festival is held in two great venues - across the road from
each other. Forster's Conference Centre and the Calvary Community Church!
We'll be running a shuttle service between venues.
Forster's Conference Centre is located at 1250 Rogers Way and the Calvary Community
Church is at 1205 Rogers Way - just off of Highway #1 in Kamloops, BC, Canada. Kamloops
is one of the few places that you can not only take in a super Cowboy Festival, but you
can also bring your snow skis and your golf clubs and enjoy a week long holiday in March!
Remember to tell your motel that you are attending the Cowboy Festival, as they are
offering discount rates! For more information phone 1-888-763-2224 (in Canada), outside
Canada phone: (250)579-5667,
or Email: cowboys@bcchs.com
Click here for a Map!
|
|
Accommodation
Just say that you're going to the Cowboy Festival and the following sponsors will
give you a special "Festival Rate!" Don't forget to tell them, though. If you do need
accommodation please stay at one of the following as they do sponsor the Festival.
|
|
Our Official Host Hotel
|
Best Western - Kamloops 1250 Rogers Way (Festival Headquarters)
Phone 1-800-665-6674 or (250) 828-6660 Email:
bestwestern@kamloops.com
www.bestwestern.kamloops.com
|
single $99 or $109 double for standard
or view rooms (limited space).
Please quote: Cowboy Festival
|
|
Special package prices at the headquarters hotel!
$230 per person plus GST (based on Double Occupancy).
Please note package change. Includes the three nights in a
standard room, two full festival weekend passes and 2
tickets to either Friday or Saturday Dinner Theatre Show
(reserved seating - please let us know if you want to sit
with anyone). Also includes the new Thursday Night
Get-Acquainted Party!
Upgrades - King or Poolside: $15.00 per person
* One
Bedroom Suite $75.00 per person (plus GST)
Early Bird (up to Jan 15th) - $215 per person
plus GST based on double occupancy
You never have to leave the building!
|
|
South Thompson Inn Guest Ranch and Conference Centre
3438 Shuswap Road, (Lafarge Exit)
Quietly nestled on 55 scenic acres stretching along the banks of the South Thompson
River. Boutique guest rooms, bourbon lounge, room to breath and views to enjoy!
Kentucky style Inn - Western Hospitality!
Phone: 1-800-797-7713 or (250) 573-3777
theinn@stigr.com
www.stigr.com
|
single or double $99
Stable suites with kitchenettes $99.00 (sg/db)
Bring your horses - bed & bale!!
|
|
* * * Shuttle Bus to the Cowboy Festival * * *
|
|
Hampton Inn
1245 Rogers Way (just 2 doors away!) Your room includes a complimentary self
serve hot breakfast bar (6:00am - 10:00am)
Phone 1-866-571-7897 or (250) 571-7897
Email:
kambc_hampton@hilton.com
www.hamptoninnkamloops.com
|
single or double $89
Hot Breakfast Included
|
|
Free high speed internet access, free premium movie channel, and free use of the indoor
pool, hot tub, and fitness room (6:00am - midnight). Suites with a fridge and
microwave starting from $99.00. 100% Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed!
A proud member of the Hilton Family of Hotels.
|
|
Comfort Inn Suites 1810 Rogers Place (1/2 block away)
$79.00 for our 2 queen beds with kitchenette! Kitchenette Suites from
$139.95 to $159.95
Full service luxury Hotel Phone 1-888-556-3111 or (250) 372-0987
Email:
comfort@kamloops.com
www.comfort.kamloops.com
|
Standard room $79
|
|
Room Rate includes Deluxe Continental Breakfast
|
|
Best Value Inn - Super View Motel 1200 Rogers Way (right across the street)
Phone 1-800-665-4467 or (250) 374-8100
Email:
asuperviewmotel@kamloops.com
www.asuperviewmotel.kamloops.com
Suites with Kitchens and Jacuzzi Suites are also available!!
We welcome new owners for the 2008 Festival!
|
$59 single or $69 double
Please quote "Cowboy Festival"

|
|
Sandman Inn and Suites 550 Columbia Street,
(within walking distance of Cactus Jack's). Denny's Restaurant on site.
Phone 1-800-726-3626 or (250) 374-1218
Email:
jwight@sandman.ca
http://www.sandman.ca
|
single or double $65
Suite $80
|
|
Studio Suite with full kitchen $80.00, including free coffee, Bagels, and Juice.
|
|
The Kamloops Travelodge 430 Columbia St
Completely renovated rooms and a new indoor pool/spa! Complimentary continental
breakfast and discount dinner coupons for Sleepy's Hollow Restaurant. Walking
distance to Cactus Jacks Dance Hall and Saloon!!!
Phone 1-877-372-8202 or (250) 372-8202
Email:
sleepy@kamloops.com
www.travelodge.kamloops.com
|
single or double $65
includes breakfast
|
|
Holiday Inn Express Kamloops
1550 Versatile Drive
King & Queen Executive w/fridge - $100.00 plus taxes
Phone: 1-800-996-3993 or (250) 372-3474
Fax (250) 372-1585
SalesHIE@shaw.ca
|
Standard Room $99
King Room $112.50
|
|
Please note that the room rate includes their Express Start Breakfast
Bar served every morning featuring a selection of fruits, juices,
cereals, yogurt, breads/pastries, and even hard-boiled eggs. They have
also created the world's best tasting cinnamon roll.
|
|
Riverland Motel
1530 River Street
Suites & jacuzzi suites also available, please ask for more information when you reserve.
Rates include a continental breakfast. Kamloops' only river front motel
located minutes from the Cowboy Festival & downtown.
Phone: 1-800-663-1530 or (250) 374-1530
riverlandmotel@telus.net
www.riverlandmotel.kamloops.com
|
Single $59, Twin $69
|
|
For folks who want to bring their RV
the Knutsford Campground is two miles up the hill from the Cowboy Festival on the
Old Merritt Hwy. They have full hook ups available as well as heated showers and
washrooms.
Phone toll free: 1-866-777-1954 or local phone # (250) 372-5380
|
|
Thanks for supporting our sponsor motels!
Please remember to ask for the
"Kamloops Cowboy Festival Rate"
when making your reservation.
|
|
Chuck Stormes to judge Art of the West Exhibition and Sale
and do a saddle workshop / seminar at this year's Festival
|
|
We're proud to be able to say that Chuck Stormes has agreed to
come to Kamloops to judge the Canadian Cowboy Country magazine
sponsored "Art of the West Exhibition and Sale". We're also really
happy to announce that while he is here he has agreed to do a
workshop / seminar on saddles. For those of you who don't know
who Chuck Stormes is, here's a little about him.
|
|
|
His saddles have been on display at every major North American
exhibition of western crafts, and, in 1998 he was the first
recipient of the City of Calgary's Silver Spur Award for his
dedication to the preservation of western culture. Also in 1998,
he received the Will Rogers Award from the Academy of Western
Artists in Ft Worth, Texas. In 2005, Stormes was granted the
honourary title of Associate Curator by Calgary's Glenbow Museum.
Chuck is a founding member and past President of the Traditional
Cowboy Arts Association.
|
|
Chuck has a deep respect for the traditions of the trade that
have led him to a broad understanding not only of historical
saddles and their makers, but also of the tack and trappings
that evolved with them. He has been a consultant for several
private and public collections in Canada and the United States
and continues to lecture on the history of the tools of the
cowboy trade.
Building on a strong sense of tradition and a deep commitment
to fine craftsmanship, Stormes has developed an enviable
word-of-mouth reputation. His forty years in the trade have
resulted in an unmistakable personal style that clearly reflects
many influences.
|
|
Today, from a new shop next to the home he shares with his
wife, Heather, at the edge of Southern Alberta's foothills,
Stormes' saddles, built on trees of his own manufacture,
continue to speak eloquently for the superior bloodlines of
the old California vaquero saddles.
You can find Chuck's web site at:
www.chuckstormes.com
|
|
The Poster, Poster Art, and Poster Artist
The Kamloops Cowboy Festival poster art has been picked.
This great piece by Kim Rose won the People's Choice award at
last year's Western Art Show at the Kamloops Cowboy Festival.
Here's a little bit about "Andy and Zeb" from Kim.
|
Click to enlarge |
"Andy Adams is a good friend and a long time cattle buyer,
who has recently retired, or so he says! He's had his
hands in the cattle industry for over 60 years. With his
"retirement", he now has time to come and visit. When he
does, he finds a perch, pulls out his pipe and proceeds
to tell stories. I believe it would take years to hear
all of his stories. On this particular visit, Andy had
recently lost his own dog and longtime companion. Our
dog, Zeb, took a shine to Andy that day and my wife captured
this picture with her camera.
PS Andy and I worked together at Saskatoon Livestock
Sales and Andy was standing on the rails above where I lay
booggered in the alley on the day of the bull wreck mentioned
in my bio (below). All I remember is Andy saying "he's a cowboy
just give him his hat and he'll be ok."
|
|
PPS Hugh McLennan had me on his radio program to promote
a painting done to support the BSE recovery fund. That was in
2004 and one of Hugh's sponsors actually purchased that painting,
I still have much appreciation to Hugh for doing that."
Kim W Rose, Western Artist
In true cowboy style, every picture tells a story. Kim is a
self-taught artist and carver who has had success in several
mediums including acrylic, watercolour and wood. Kim draws
upon a myriad of life experiences to tell his stories in the
visual mediums. From life on the professional rodeo and chuck
wagon circuits to working on various ranches throughout the
Western Canadian provinces; there seems to be no end to Kim's
artistic impression.
|
|
In February of 2003, while working at a stockyard, Kim had a
run in with a 2000 lb. bull and as Kim tells it "the bull won".
Consequently, while mending a severely broken leg, he turned his
attention to painting and carving.
Currently Kim resides at Pike Lake, Saskatchewan (just outside
of Saskatoon) with wife Kathy, daughter's Ella and Sophie Jo, two
quarter horses, Roxy and Ada, Zeb the border collie and last but
not least barn cats J and CC.
For more info on Kim including some of his many shows and awards
have a look at his web site at:
www.kimwrose.com
|
|
|
The Cowboy Festival wouldn't be possible if it wasn't for our sponsors
If you get a chance drop in and see them - tell them thanks!
|
We have quite a pile of sponsors lined up -
please take a minute or two and go through this
list - if you see a sponsor that you could patronise
please support them - they support us!
|
Platinum Sponsor
- CJKC Country 103.1
- Best Western - Kamloops
- Black Press Group
- North Thompson Star Journal
- Canadian Cowboy Country magazine
Gold Sponsor
- Pollard Banknote
- South Thompson Inn
- The Horse Barn
- Spirit of the West
- Calvary Community Church
- MSR Web Design
- Twilight Ranch Productions
- Dr David Ciriani Inc
Silver Sponsor
- Cariboo Radio
- Saddle Up magazine
- TV 7 - Larry Reed Show
- Meadow Springs Ranch
|
Bronze Sponsor
- Greenway Equipment
- Hampton Inn
- SignRite Signs
- Cowboy Coffee (up town)
- Central Equipment
- Cowboys Choice
Sponsor
- Coopers Foods
- Dearborn Ford
- Kamloops Dodge Chrysler
- Comfort Inn Suites
- Holiday Inn Express
- Sandman Motel
- Scott's Inn
- The Kamloops Travelodge
- Travelodge - Mountview
- Riverland Motel
- Surplus Herby's
- Alpine Motel
- Best Value Inn - Super View Motel
|
- Dilman Enterprises
- Pagebrook - Tobiano
- Larry W. Good
- Highland Valley Copper
- 100 Mile NetShop
- Lees Music
- National Car Rentals
Supporters
- Aberdeen Mall
- Canadian Springs Water
- Omega Communications
- Costco
- Hoodoos Bar and Grill
- Kal Tire
- Art Knapps
- Verse Travel Centre
- Home Hardware
- Cowboy Coffee (North Shore)
- KMS Tools
- Kam Lake View Meats
- Wall Mart
|
|
This website built and maintained by
MSR Web Design at Meadow Springs Ranch
|
|