Who We Are; What We Do

The Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede (MHE&S) is a "Not for Profit" volunteer community service organization, established to provide the City of Medicine Hat and District with programs, events and facilities.

"Not for Profit" means all our revenues are used to sponsor events or are reinvested back into our facilities. Hence, all the facilities and assets of the MHE&S are, in essence, owned by Medicine Hat and District residents.

The Board of Directors of the 'MHE&S, along with a small core of hard working paid staff, manage these facilities for the benefit of the residents of Medicine Hat and District.

Members of the "Stampede Board" are community minded volunteers who serve either as Directors or Associate Directors. In addition to these Directors, there are many other members of the community who also volunteer their time to help organize and run various events throughout the year.

Because it is a volunteer organization, the only payment our Directors, Associate Directors and other community volunteers get is the satisfaction they receive from working together to put on successful events for the benefit of the community.

Without the volunteer time and effort, many of the events we present would be too cost prohibitive for people to attend.

There are upwards of 500 people who volunteer their time annually to the MHE&S activities. This makes the MHE&S one of the largest volunteer organizations in the City of Medicine Hat and District.

A unique aspect of the MHE&S that makes it different from other volunteer organizations is that it owns and operates facilities for the community. Provincial funding has assisted in the construction of some of the facilities and a portion of our operating costs are covered by provincial funding. These facilities are utilized not only for events we undertake but are also rented out for other functions. The profits we do derive from rentals and events we sponsor are used to further maintain and upgrade our facilities.

Some of the most recent facility upgrades include, the construction of the Cypress Center Fieldhouse, upgrades to kitchen facilities in the Cypress Center; widening of the Rodeo Infield to allow safer conditions for Chuckwagon Racing; and construction of the NWMP Barracks Replica, along with numerous other improvements in Pioneer Village.

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A new web site {www.mhstampede.com) has been established, which lists all of the activities and services provided by MHE&S. This secure web site now allows patrons to buy tickets "on-line" for all MHE&S sponsored events.

In the fall of 2003, a new wireless ticket purchasing system was installed, which allows patrons Best Available Individual Seat Selection; and provides the option to locate offsite ticket sale locations. In addition to printing and selling tickets for all MHE&S events, this ticket system has the capability to provide the same service for all of the major venues in Medicine Hat. In conjunction with this service, a year around Ticket Sales Location has been established at the Medicine Hat Mall.

A major maintenance and renovation project has been undertaken on the Original MHE&S Grandstand. Phase 1 of the renovation was completed in time for the 2003 Stampede. New amenities include handrails, step lighting, handicap access improvements and backrests.

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The Fieldhouse addition to the Cypress Center has been important venue for Trade Shows and many local sports organizations including baseball, softball gymnastics and volleyball, with indoor soccer being the major user. The city of Medicine Hat helps facilitate the use of this venue by leasing the major block of rental time, and subletting it to local sports organizations.

Major city events that we all have come to expect and attend would not be available to city and district residents if the MHE&S facilities were not here ie. Rodeos, Night Shows, Trade Shows, Indoor Soccer, etc.

These facilities also provide a venue for other local service clubs to raise money ie. raffles held during the Exhibition & Stampede. The operation of these facilIties, has a significant impact, both directly and indirectly, on the economy of the City of Medicine Hat.

In 2002, 90% or $2.2 million, of our annual operating expenses, were spent locally. This spending combined with the resulting additional economic spin-off generated from this economic activity Is estimated to add $4.7 million annually to the local economy.

The MHE&S as an entity also contributes financially to the cultural well being of our community. Events or activities that we either support annually or have supported on an ad hoc basis include:

• Major supporter of the Leaders of Tomorrow Program promoting youth leadership in Medicine Hat.
• Presentation of the Stampede Parade which costs in the neighbourhood of $16,000.00 annually.
• A Scholarship Fund of $30,000.00 at the Medicine Hat College has been established by the MHE&S.
• The annual budget for free entertainment during the annual Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede is about $40,000.00.

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