Strathmore gay rodeo cancelled because of economic slump, U.S. group says

An Alberta organization's decision to cancel the province's only gay rodeo this year came down to a lack of money, according to a U.S.-based group that runs the international circuit.

Last month, the Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association (ARGRA) announced it was cancelling its annual Canadian Rockies InternationalRodeo, which has been held in Strathmore since 2009.

• Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association cancels 2016 event in Strathmore

ARGRAdidn't explain why it made the decision.

But BruceGros, president of the International Gay Rodeo Association, told theCalgaryEyeopeneron Monday that theAlbertaassociation came out of last year's rodeo with a deficitand the economic downturn sealed the decision to cancel the event.

"It was evident to them they needed to pull the plug earlier rather than see it play out again in another deficit year," he said.

"It's not just a matter of sponsorship but it's also a matter of the level of commitment from the people who are going to be the guests, the spectators for the event. And as things dried up there I think that they saw the handwriting on the wall."

Gros says people who bought tickets for the rodeo should contact their credit card companies or the ticket purchasing site they used to pursue a refund.

"My understanding is that ARGRA is an insolvent organization, so they won't have the ability to refund money directly, without following whatever the proper procedures are for seeing that all creditors are treated equally," he said.

TheInternational Gay Rodeo Association has 12 other gay rodeos on its circuit, including the 34thannual event in Denvercoming up in three weeks.

• MORE ALBERTA NEWS|Cyclists to ride 1,000 kilometres with no tap or bottled water
• MORE ALBERTA NEWS|2026 Winter Olympic bid for Calgary subject of closed council meeting