How a road trip to Calgary for the Stampede changed 2 sisters' lives

When Tanya Box and her sister Beckie planned a road trip to Calgary for the Stampede back in 2012, they decided to take a gamble.

In a bid to save on hotel bills, the sisters from Ontario posted an ad on Kijiji looking for a kind local who would be willing to let the sisters pitch a tent in their backyard. They got much more than they bargained for.

Six years later, the sisters are still here, thanks almost entirely to the southern Alberta hospitality they received that first summer.

"We ended up getting a lot of responses, which was awesome and a good sign of what was to come in Calgary," Box told the Calgary Eyeopener Thursday, after submitting her story to CBC's Stampede Parade contest. "One in particular stood out to us."

It was from a guy named Shawn McGregor who offered to let the sisters stay in his spare bedroom in exchange for a case of beer. Box acknowledged the scenario raised eyebrows from her family and friends, but she and Beckie had a good feeling.

"He seemed great, and we weren't worried," she said.

After exchanging several emails with McGregor they finally pulled up in his driveway and — after hatching a plan to make a quick getaway in case their host turned out to be a creep — walked inside where they quickly discovered there was nothing to fear.

"We go in, we meet him and he was awesome," said Box. "We became instant friends."

The trio spent all night chatting about their plans for Stampede — plans that would turn out to be life-changing. After 10 days of taking in the rodeo, the grandstand show and dancing the night away, Box and her sister had fallen in love with Calgary, but they'd also started contemplating their return to White Lake, Ont. McGregor, however, had another idea.

"One day, we came downstairs and there was a note on the kitchen table that said he was out looking for jobs for us so we didn't have to leave Calgary."

The plan worked, and thanks to the network from their newfound friend, both Box sisters landed jobs in the city. It wasn't long before they broke the news to their parents that they weren't coming back.

"We asked them to pack up our stuff and send it out to Calgary," said Box, who even had her dog flown out a few months later. The sisters loved the city so much they even convinced a third sister to move out west.

Six years later, they're all still here — except McGregor, who moved to B.C. not long ago. But Box said they still consider him a best friend and will forever be grateful for the warm welcome he gave her and her introduction to the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.

"Stampede definitely changed my life," she said.

More of your Stampede memories

In 2004 my boyfriend (now husband) had cancer. I needed a break and my mom brought me to the Stampede. I bought the showhome lottery ticket and won the chance to go into the money machine. I was so nervous and everyone was looking at me. But it was a lot of fun and I left with $60 more then I came with. I was so happy to rush back and share it with him. The Stampede was an excellent break that year before I headed back to the hospital. We now love going every year together.

— Carrie-Lynn Saville

It was 1974, and our first Stampede ever since moving to Calgary the year before. Three Danish women from Sweden were sleeping on my living room floor. My five-year-old was dressing western for the first time, guests were coming for a pancake breakfast as our balcony overlooked the parade route. I opened the drapes, walked out to the balcony shivering in surprise to see people in lawn chairs, wrapped in sleeping bags and covered with snow! One memorable float that day was with scantily clad young Scandinavian men on a flatbed who were happy to catch the pancakes we threw from the balcony (fourth floor) to the chimes of Swedish voices!

— Janet Wees

My favourite memory is when I saw the parade with my mom coming from France to visit!

— Mathilde Denier

Submit your favourite Stampede memory to our Stampede Parade contest and you could win VIP seating to take in the parade alongside the judges from the Marriott Hotel balcony. 

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With files from the Calgary Eyeopener