While residents and out-of-towners gather their wallets and wardrobes for the Calgary Stampede, a local lawyer has recommended adding personal safety tips to the checklist amid police seeing an uptick in sexual assaults during the event.
The annual 10-day event started last Thursday with Sneak-A-Peek, followed by the parade the next day, officially kicking off the event, which will run until Sunday, July 12.
Despite it being a jubilant time for celebrating Western heritage, Calgary police have identified a recurring pattern of discouraging behaviour.
According to an email statement from the Calgary Police Service (CPS), their data analysis has revealed that, compared to the rest of July, the reporting rate for sexual assaults is “slightly higher” during Stampede days.
Last year, a total of 1,025 sexual assault occurrences were recorded across all types, with May, July, and January being the top three months.
Although only a portion of the July incidents were Stampede-related between 2019 and 2025, the spring and summer months consistently saw elevated reports. Acting Staff Sgt. Emma Parker of the CPS’s Sexual Assault Investigative Unit said that the event is only part of the reason.
“Analysis shows reporting rates for sexual assault are slightly higher during Stampede days compared to other days in July, though the increase is modest,” wrote Parker in an email statement.
“This aligns with what we know about large events: environments with large crowds and increased alcohol or drug consumption can elevate risk. While the Stampede itself is not the sole cause, it is one of several factors that can contribute to higher reporting during this period.”
Statistics don’t show the whole story, says Calgary police
Canada’s Criminal Code lists seven types of sexual assault that differ in severity by the nature in which the offence was committed. Namely, this depends on the impact or injury done to the victim, and whether or not a weapon was used.
Generally, sexual assault is defined as any unwanted sexual act that violates a person’s integrity. It encompasses a wide range of non-consensual behaviour which results in the victim experiencing physical, emotional, or psychological harm.
According to a survey that was conducted between 2015 and 2019 by Statistics Canada, 89 per cent of sexual assault victims were women and girls. Yet, fewer than six per cent of these are reported to the police, and just one in 19 results in an accused person being sentenced in court.
Staff Sgt. Parker explained that sexual assault goes significantly underreported for several reasons and that, in turn, police statistics do not accurately represent the status of these types of assault in full.
“Many survivors choose not to come forward for reasons such as stigma, fear of not being believed, concerns about re-traumatization, or impacts on personal, cultural or family relationships,” she wrote in an email statement.
“While the Calgary Police Service has worked with partners to reduce barriers and build trust…reporting remains a personal decision.”
For anyone who has undergone sexual assault, Parker said that reporting to the police is ultimately an individual choice. She noted that there is no statute of limitations in Canada, meaning charges can be pursued no matter how much time has passed since the incident.
Parker said that seeking medical care and speaking with a trusted person or advocate is an important first step, and that confidential support is available through community agencies and crisis lines, like the Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse.
With the Stampede now underway, a local lawyer has made herself known on social media as another resource.
Local lawyer highlights what to know before you go
Former Crown prosecutor Sara Sicherman founded Justice Pathway Consulting with the primary goal of improving people’s understanding of the criminal justice system and access to legal guidance.
She has worked with sexual assault cases in both careers, and said that since it isn’t the Crown’s place to give legal advice, people are often left with unanswered questions on what to expect both before and during the reporting process.
“I basically noticed a lot of people trying to navigate some pretty overwhelming experiences without anyone in their corner to explain the process,” she said.
“I help people sort of slow down, and I give them the information that they need to be able to feel ready and informed and empowered to make those decisions.”
Leading up to Stampede, Sicherman started a series on her Instagram account related to the event. The ongoing posts have defined consent and provided attendees with several tips to ensure their personal safety while at the grounds.
“Stampede brings together enormous crowds, alcohol, tourists, late nights, and a lot of new environments for people,” she said.
“All of those factors, I find, will often create situations where people become more vulnerable, and so it’s important for people to understand consent and what resources exist.”
Understanding consent and taking precautions
Sicherman said that consent is not the absence of a ‘no,’ but the presence of a voluntary ongoing ‘yes,’ adding that alcohol alone does not negate consent. The legal question, she said, is whether a person’s level of intoxication left them incapable of consenting.
She recommended sharing your location with a trusted person, never leaving your drink unattended, and identifying a “sober-ish” friend to supervise the group — someone who is sober enough to “still do math and find an exit.”
Regardless of whether or not alcohol is involved, Sicherman said that her goal is not to convince people to report, but to help them be prepared should they experience sexual assault and eventually choose to report the incident.
From taking a full-body outfit photo before heading downtown to putting your clothes in a paper bag after an assault occurs, she said that preserving evidence can strengthen a case should it go to court.
“If they’re ever in that situation, we know fight or flight that comes up all the time, but there’s also freeze and fawn and a lot of different ways that people can react to trauma,” said Sicherman.
“I’ve noticed that a lot of individuals that experience sexual violence tend to discredit themselves before they even get to a point where they’re considering going through the reporting process.”
