Calgarian raises accessibility concerns at Stampede and Saddledome

As Calgary prepares for the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” some say getting around the Stampede grounds is no walk in the park.

Kale Crisp was born with cerebral palsy and uses a walker to assist with his mobility.

He acknowledges Stampede can be an overwhelming place for anybody, but he says his unique challenges, and those others face, can sometimes be overlooked.

“As somebody who has to use a walker every day, it’s tight to get into the tents because you’re shoulder to shoulder with hundreds of people,” he told CityNews.

“My friends sometimes say: they don’t realize how accessible or inaccessible a place is until they go there with me.”

Meanwhile, in a statement to CityNews, Calgary Stampede says it works with an accessibility consultant to help improve the park every year.

Examples include accessible seating areas at the Coca-Cola stage, the Big Four Roadhouse and more. It says it is also working with a consultant to highlight such areas on festival maps.

Related Stories:

• ‘Our cultural fabric’: Calgary Stampede gets ready to kick off Friday with parade

• Calgary Stampede aims for safety with police presence in park

• Local artist paints the town for Calgary Stampede

While Stampede comes with its own accessibility challenges, Crisp says a bigger problem lies with the Saddlecome, which also hosts events during the Stampede.

With a final agreement for a new arena expected later this summer, he hopes it will be built with accessibility in mind.

“Even just climbing the stairs to my seat. Sometimes if my buddies go with me, they’ll like piggyback me up the stairs just cause it will be faster and easier to get me up there,” Crisp said.

Read More: Calgary agrees in principle to $1.2B Event Centre deal

Another issue comes with only two elevators within the building.

“My biggest problem with the Saddledome, personally, is the fact that there’s not one elevator from the club seating up into the press level,” he said.

According to the Saddledome’s website, accessible seating areas are only in available four-seat sections.

It says that at this time, the arena does not have facilities to provide further accessible seating on the floor level.