As a Calgary Stampede volunteer, you play a critical role in the development and maintenance of our strong safety culture. 

Our goal is to ensure volunteers, employees, program participants, and guests experience the Stampede in a safe and enjoyable way. Your commitment to safety helps protect our community and ensures the success of our events.

Safety Orientations & Training Videos

Before you begin any work as a volunteer, you are required to complete the General Safety Orientation video that was provided in your onboarding package from Volunteer Services. 

When volunteering on Park, you should be familiar with the muster points, the location of medical services including AEDs, and the location of first aid kits.

Additional Training Videos

HSE Online Training Module 1
A short 6-minute video describing the volunteer incident reporting process.

HSE Online Training Module 2
A short 6-minute video illustrating a volunteer call to Stampede Dispatch.

Incident and Near Miss Reporting

All volunteer incidents, near-misses and hazardous conditions must be reported to the Stampede's Dispatch team. This includes injuries, environmental spills, illnesses, property and CS vehicle damage, safety and security concerns, and/or hazards that are identified.

Reporting

When it is safe to do so:

Step 1: Contact Emergency Services (depending on where you are):

  • On Stampede Park: Call Emergency Dispatch at 403.261.0595
  • Off-Site:
    • Call 911 (if emergency services are required)
    • Then call Stampede Emergency Dispatch at 403.261.0595

Step 2: Notify your volunteer leader

Contacting Stampede Emergency Dispatch activates the internal reporting process.

Roles

Calgary Stampede Dispatch

  • Completes a Volunteer Incident Notification Questionnaire with the volunteer.
  • Dispatches appropriate services on Stampede Park including the Park Patrol Team and/or Medical Services.
  • Activates CS Operations, to respond to any Hazardous Conditions on Stampede Park.
  • Sends the completed Incident Notification Questionnaire to the applicable Committee Chair, Staff Liaison, Volunteer Services, HSE Support Committee and the reporting Volunteer. This is an automated process. 

Committee Chair

  • Receives an email with links to the applicable online forms, in addition to the initial questionnaire, with instructions on how to complete them. Forms may include:
    • Volunteer Incident & Near-Miss form
    • Volunteer Witness Statement form
    • Volunteer Hazard ID form
  • Note: the Volunteer Incident & Near-Miss form must be completed within 24 hours of receiving the Incident Notification Questionnaire from Stampede Dispatch.
  • The Chair is responsible for colleting witness statements from volunteers who were involved it or may have witnessed the incident.
  • If assistance is required to fill out the forms, contact the HSE Support Committee or Volunteer Services. 

Incident Investigation

To promote learning and reduce the possibility of reoccurrence, every incident must be formally investigated. This includes the following steps:

  • Preliminary investigation my be conducted by the Park Patrol Team for incidents on Stampede Park.
  • A Volunteer Incident Investigation form will be sent to the applicable Committee Chair within 24 hours of receiving the completed Volunteer Incident & Near-Miss report.
  • Once completed, the Volunteer Incident Investigation report is automatically sent to the HSE Support Committee, Volunteer Services, and the reporting volunteer. 

Corrective actions should be shared within the committee and documented in meeting minutes.  

More widespread communication of corrective actions and preventative measures outside the affected committee should include a discussion with the Director Liaison, Staff Liaison, HSE Support Committee, and/or Volunteer Services

Hazard Identification

For hazards identified on Stampede Park: 

  • Complete the Hazard ID form within 24 hours
  • Once completed, the Hazard ID form is automatically sent to the committee Chair, Volunteer Services, HSE Support Committee and the reporting volunteer.
  • Identified hazards will be corrected by CS Operations via an internal work order.

For hazards off Stampede Park: 

  • Report to your volunteer leader for follow up and resolution. 

Pre-Event Briefing Checklist

The Daily Pre-Event Briefing Checklist is a tool that can be used to ensure health, safety hazards and emergency response have been assessed and provides a quick reference tool for each event. 

The completed checklist should be kept with committee documents for three (3) years. 

Online Form: Click Here

Optional: Printable PDF- Daily Pre-Event Briefing Checklist

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)

You may visit the Government of Alberta’s website and learn more about The OHS Act, Regulation and Code which outlines the legislation that provides health and safety rules for Alberta's workplaces.  

Animal Care & Safety Around Animals

We are proud of our connection with animals. Treating them with respect and care is part of how we celebrate our Western heritage and values. To find out more about our commitment, animal care practices, FAQ and informational videos, please visit our website.

For volunteers working with animals, several Animal Care Checklists are available:

Safety Around Animals

Only volunteers with animal experience and an identified, specific animal handling role should be engaging directly with animals at the Calgary Stampede. Awareness and caution are essential to keeping both you and the animals safe. 

Understanding Animal Behaviour

Animals may display sudden or unexpected movements. They may: 

  • React to noise or crowds
  • Startle unexpectedly
  • Move suddenly or change direction

Do not touch, feed, or interact with any animal unless you have an identified role supporting that animal. 

Environmental Hazards

Barns, show areas and rodeo spaces can present several environmental hazards, including:

  • Uneven or shifting footing
  • Wet, slippery, or manure‑covered floors
  • Crowded pathways

Wear clean, supportive, closed-toe footwear with good traction. Stay alert to your surroundings and take care when moving across surfaces that may affect your balance or footing.

Safe Volunteer Practices

To keep yourself and others safe:

  • Maintain a safe distance from all animals
  • Stay attentive and avoid distractions such as mobile devices
  • Report any unsafe conditions to a supervisor immediately. 

Safety Questions?

If you have any safety questions, concerns, or observations, please contact your volunteer leader, the HSE Support Committee or Volunteer Services.