First Flip pancake breakfast marks unofficial start to Stampede 2023
It's time to dust off your cowboy boots and hats, because the Calgary Stampede is rapidly approaching.
Though the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth doesn't officially kick off until Friday, Thursday's First Flip pancake breakfast marked the unofficial beginning of the annual celebration.
From 7:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, people headed down to Stephen Avenue in front of the Telus Convention Centre to enjoy free flapjacks and live entertainment.
The first pancake breakfast was held 100 years ago. Since then, they have been an aspect of the Stampede that picked up steam, spreading to every corner of the city.
This year, the First Flip event included live performances by the Blake Reid Band, followed by roving entertainment from the Green Fools Entertainment Society.
Mayor Jyoti Gondek joined Premier Danielle Smith and Canada's Minister of Tourism Randy Boissonnault for brief remarks at 8:30 a.m., followed by some time on the grill.
The First Flip event was hosted by Calgary Economic Development, Tourism Calgary, the Telus Convention Centre, Calgary Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Calgary and Calgary Arts Development, Platform Calgary, with support from the Calgary Marriott Downtown Hotel, Hyatt Regency Calgary and The Printing House.
The breakfast precedes Sneak-a-Peek at the Calgary Stampede, which sees visitors treated to half-price admission from 5 p.m. until midnight on Thursday.
If you visit the Stampede this year, there is a fresh menu of unique foods to try.
For those brave enough to push their taste buds to the limit, there will be ketchup and mustard ice cream, Kool-Aid chicken burgers and elk pepperoni pizza, among other creations, available for purchase.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Child under 5 dies of measles in Ontario: PHO
A young child has died of measles in Ontario, marking the first death in the province from the highly contagious virus in more than 10 years, a Public Health Ontario report confirms.
NEW Pack the macaroni necklace: Lessons on evacuations from a woman who fled one of Canada's worst wildfires
Carol Christian had 15 minutes to evacuate her home during the Fort McMurray wildfires in 2016. She ended up losing the house and everything inside. Now, she wants to share the lessons she learned.
Think twice before sharing 'heartbreaking' social media posts, RCMP warn
Mounties in B.C. are urging people to think twice before sharing "heartbreaking posts" on social media.
'Ugly produce': One way Canadians are shrinking rising grocery bills
As the cost of food in Canada has risen, grocery shoppers are looking at ways to reduce their grocery bill, and more are choosing price over beauty, turning to companies that deliver so-called 'misfit' produce at a fraction of the cost.
Vatican revamps norms to evaluate visions of Mary as it adapts to Internet age and combats hoaxers
The Vatican on Friday radically reformed its process for evaluating alleged visions of the Virgin Mary, weeping statues and other seemingly supernatural phenomena, insisting on having the final say in whether the events are worthy of popular devotion.
Wildfires burning across Canada: Communities threatened as flames creep closer
Thousands of residents fled Fort McMurray this week, fearing a repeat of the 2016 wildfire that forced out the entire community and torched more than 2,400 homes.
5 secrets to moving better and preventing avoidable injury
Countless people seek emergency care for back pain, muscle strains and similar injuries resulting from “moving wrong” during mundane, everyday tasks such as bending over to tie shoes, lifting objects or doing household chores.
Trudeau calls New Brunswick's Conservative government a 'disgrace' on women's rights
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assailed New Brunswick's premier and other conservative leaders on Thursday, calling out the provincial government's position on abortion, LGBTQ youth and climate change.
French police fatally shoot a man suspected of setting fire to a synagogue
French police shot and killed a man armed with a knife and a metal bar who is suspected of having set fire to a synagogue in the Normandy city of Rouen early on Friday, the latest apparent act in a storm of antisemitism roiling France amid the Israel-Hamas war.