By Sheldon Spackman

two-year agreement

Bull Riders Canada Finals coming to Sylvan Lake

Apr 8, 2019 | 3:47 PM

The Town of Sylvan Lake has announced a two year deal with Bull Riders Canada (BRC) to bring the Bull Riders Canada Finals to the’ town for all seasons.’

From Nov. 15–16, 2019 and Nov. 13–14, 2020, the BRC Finals will be held at the NexSource Centre.

Billed as the largest Canadian owned and operated bull riding company in Canada, with events spanning the four western provinces, as well as north western USA, Bull Riders Canada features competitors from Canada, USA, Brazil, Mexico, and Australia.

To celebrate, Town of Sylvan Lake officials say they are planning a weekend of festivities around the major two-day event, including a kick-off concert and dance.

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Ron Lebsack, Director of Community Services says hosting this event will bring people to the community during the non-summer months.

“We seem to get enough traffic in the summer time but we need to increase our traffic in the off-season,” he explains. “This is a November event. It’s going to be a big event, a two to three day event with two days of bull riding and a third day of a concert to go along with it.”

Lebsack anticipates a healthy boost to the economy as well when the cowboys come to town.

“It’ll be a big economic boost to our hotels, restaurants, gas stations, everything in town,” he exclaims. “We’re looking at between 4,500-5,000 people over the two days just taking in the bull riding events, and then we’ll have other things that go on. (With) the entertainment (and) daytime events for families and children we’re looking at somewhere between 7,000-8,000 people per weekend.”

Lebsack says hosting this event will put Sylvan Lake on the map for Canada’s rodeo community.

“As you know, there’s a huge rodeo contingent here in central Alberta, plus it’s easy to get to from the south and from the north. We believe it’s going to be really popular and have a real big impact on the community.”

“When the Town of Sylvan Lake first approached us about hosting a BRC Bull Riding event in the NexSource Centre, we never imagined it would one day turn into the home of the BRC Finals,” says Jennifer Friend, Bull Riders Canada Executive Director, in a press release. “We are grateful the opportunity presented itself, and are thrilled for this new partnership.”

“At Bull Riders Canada, our mission is to provide opportunities for Bull Riders to ride bulls, Stock Contractors to buck bulls, and committees in small towns all over Canada to host an event,” adds Russell Friend, Bull Riders Canada President. “We are thrilled to bring the BRC Season VII Finals to beautiful Sylvan Lake, Alberta. These dates of November 15th and 16th, 2019 were carefully chosen, so that they would not conflict with any other bull riding events in Canada.”

Friend says BRC is looking forward to a wonderful partnership with the Town of Sylvan Lake.

The Bull Riders Canada Finals event has been held in Lloydminster for the past five years.

Lebsack says announcements on who the entertainers will be and how people can purchase tickets will be made in the coming weeks.