The annual Calgary Stampede chuckwagon canvas auction set an all-time record for the modern iteration of the sport on April 10, with $3.84 million total raised for drivers and an average bid of $142,222.

The latter also set a record for the sport of chuckwagon racing at the Calgary Stampede, exceeding the previous highs by more than $26,000.

The previous record of $4.015 million was set in 2012, the centennial year of the Calgary Stampede, when 36 chuckwagon racers—four per heat—raced in the sport. That was replaced with three per heat and a total of 27 drivers maximum in an effort to increase safety for the chuckwagon horses in 2020.

The highest bid was put forward for Jason Glass, at $230,000 by Birchcliff Energy, which was $80,000 more than in 2024.

The aerospace industry also had a record showing with the 2025 canvas auction, with De Havilland Aircraft winning a record three bids totalling $470,000 bids.

“It’s amazing that, the sport of chuckwagon racing has the support of Alberta and the local community and companies in what we do,” said Glass.

“It’s just amazing, as a wagon driver, that people really appreciate western heritage and what these horses can bring to the seats and the fans, and just the whole enjoyment of watching such a unique sport.”

Record setting total a good precursor to the 2025 Calgary Stampede

The total raised was seen as an absolute success by Joel Cowley, CEO of the Calgary Stampede, as Calgary’s corporate community stepped up to support the western heritage sport.

“It’s just incredible the support we’ve received from corporate Calgary, and especially at a time when there’s economic uncertainty. So we’re just absolutely blown away by the support tonight,” Cowley said.

The canvas auction has long been seen as both a bellwether for the economy in Calgary, and for the prospects of the Calgary Stampede.

Cowley said that the total raised at Thursday’s auction represented an overall increase in interest in the Calgary Stampede for 2025.

“It’s a time of great uncertainty, there’s no question, and so that’s why this is so special tonight. If you look at our numbers internally, rodeo ticket sales are outpacing last year’s record, evening show ticket sales are outpacing last year’s record, premium seating is all but sold out as it what would be at this time normally,” Cowley said.

“The one thing I know for certain in this time of great uncertainty is we’re going to put on a fantastic 2025 Calgary Stampede.”

Last year’s highest auction winner Kris Molle with $210,000 was tied again for his bid by Graf Mechanical with $210,000. The new second place winner for 2025 was Kurt Bensmiller who saw a bid for $220,000.

The lowest bids for the evening were at $75,000 for Todd Baptiste, and chuckwagon rookie and former NHL player DJ King.

Stuart O’Connor, President and Chair of the Calgary Stampede, said that figure which was just $5,000 lower than the lowest bids in 2024, still represented an interest by corporate Calgary to invest into the sport and into the drivers.

“Corporate Calgary has came to play, and and you saw it all the way through from the first bid on. You could just feel the energy in that room,” he said.

“We are absolutely thrilled with the outcome here. It is the highest average, the second highest [total] ever, and we couldn’t be more pleased.”

Canvas auction increases seen across the WPCA

The World Professional Chuckwagon Association’s Stompede canvas auction which occurred a week before the Calgary Stampede on April 6, saw a 30 per cent increase in the total amount raised for chuckwagon drivers at $496,750, versus $356,250 in 2024.

Glass said that increase, along with the increase at the Calgary Stampede canvas auction, was a real relief for drivers and horse trainers for 2025.

He said that increase was in large part due to the long term personal connections that drivers have made with bidders, that extend beyond just a single year and any economic fluctuations that may be occurring.

“Birchcliff Energy, they’ve been with our family for a long time—30 years between [Jeff Tonken] and his friend Larry Shaw, and different companies that they’ve owned… they’re right into it, and they love the sport,” Glass said.

“They have a suite every night at the Calgary Stampede, and and they entertain thousands of people.”

Brian Reimer, Chair of the Chuckwagon Committee at the Calgary Stampede, said that there has been a real showing of long term support for drivers from year-over-year bidders.

“People take the long view, versus a quarter over quarter kind of perspective. This is a family business from the chuckwagon side, and I think that’s what really attracts a lot of the advertisers to it. So it’ll ebb and flow, but for the most part, there’s strong support in this community to keep this thing going,” he said.

“I think that this is a uniquely western Canadian sport, and there’s a lot of pride regardless of the other conditions here. We certainly have lots of advertisers who are showcasing their brand in front of all the folks in the grandstand, but we have an equal number of advertisers who are interested in supporting but also entertaining some of their customers or their vendors.”

He said that every year there is a delicate balance between bidding and also getting value for dollars in the sport.

“We were just talking to Troy Dorchester, and he called it the Stanley Cup for chuckwagon racing and I think that’s what we’re looking for. This is the best of the best, and we’re excited to do that. It does attract more to the sport, and that has a halo effect to help those guys get through the rest of their season,” Reimer said.

“I don’t think we ever want to be put in a position where this is the thing that keeps the sport going, and again Grand Prairie, fantastic night. There’s a lot of support for this outside [the Stampede.] Those guys are selling out shows all across Western Canada.”