Calgary Stampede selects David Spence as celebrity judge for 2022 parade
Officials with the Calgary Stampede announced on Monday that retired CTV News meteorologist David Spence will be serving as the celebrity judge for the 2022 Calgary Stampede Parade.
He'll be judging the floats while listening to the bands play, the horses neigh and soaking in all of the other highlights the parade has to offer.
Spence retired in November after over five decades in the broadcast industry, including 40 in Calgary.
"For 40 years he judged Mother Nature but this year he’ll be judging and awarding the best of the best during the Calgary Stampede Parade," said a tweet from Stampede officials.
Spence says it will be familiar territory.
"We did so many shows with CTV from the Stampede grounds. We did shows from the top of the ferris wheel, from the midway, when the weather turned bad we kept people aware of thunderstorms and hail storms and when it was hot we even tried to fry an egg on the sidewalk – with mixed results)," Spence said in a video shared to social media.
"Even though I retired from CTV, I'm so happy I can continue my involvement as your celebrity judge for this year's Calgary Stampede Parade."
The parade will be led by Yellowstone actor Kevin Costner this year.
The 2022 Calgary Stampede runs from July 8 – 17, with the parade running serving as the official kickoff to the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
It starts at 9 a.m. on July 8.
This year the parade route is three blocks longer than it was in 2019. It starts at Ninth Avenue and Third Street S.E. and ends at Sixth Avenue and Fourth Street S.E. The parade committee says this is to allow more viewing space for spectators.
If you can’t make it to the parade route, tune to CTV News Calgary for our live broadcast.
We will also be livestreaming the parade at CTVNewsCalgary.ca.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Saskatoon mother accused of faking death says she 'was left with no choice'
A Saskatoon mother who stands accused of faking her own death, as well as her son's, and illegally entering the U.S. is defending her actions.

Well-known Brampton, Ont. real estate agent, media personality savagely attacked outside home
A well-known real estate agent and media personality in Brampton, Ont. was viciously attacked in broad daylight in his own driveway by three men, two of whom appeared to be wielding an axe and a machete.
Canadian army veteran charged with murder after mass shooting in Belize nightclub
A Canadian Armed Forces veteran has been charged with murder in connection to a mass shooting in Belize that left two people dead and eight others injured.
Dutch farmer protests and what's happening in Canada, explained
The ongoing protests in the Netherlands, by farmers opposed to their government’s plan to slash nitrogen oxide emissions by 50 per cent by 2030, have drawn attention to Canadian farmers’ concerns over an emissions reduction target set by the Canadian government. But the policies set out by the Dutch government and the Canadian government are fundamentally different, experts say.
Aid shipment to Afghanistan cancelled due to anti-terrorist law
Two containers of food bound for Afghanistan have been cancelled by a Canada-based aid agency because of a law banning any dealings with the Taliban.
Doctors call for action as growing number of Canadians dying from common food preservative
Doctors are among those calling for tighter regulation of sodium nitrite as a growing number of Canadians are dying after intentionally ingesting unsafe quantities of the common food preservative in its pure form.
Donald Trump 'took the Fifth.' What does it actually mean?
Former U.S. President Donald Trump showed up Wednesday for questioning under oath in New York's civil investigation into his business practices. But he quickly made clear he wouldn't be answering.
Man pleads guilty to threatening prime minister during Cambridge campaign stop
A man has pleaded guilty to uttering a threat against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a campaign stop in Cambridge last year.
Two children at centre of Sask. Amber Alert found safe in South Dakota, suspect arrested
The Meade County Sheriff’s Office in South Dakota said it has arrested the man wanted in connection with an Amber Alert in Saskatchewan.