Chatham-Kent's Canadian Cowgirls will be celebrating Canada's 150th anniversary at the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
The group's founder, Terry Jenkins, says they have been invited to take part in the Calgary Stampede from July 7-16, 2017. It's the first time they have been invited to perform there since 2006.
"They told us that as soon as they were designing the show for Canada's 150, they thought of us -- so that's quite an honour," says Jenkins, adding she is the only member of the team who was also there for the 2006 Stampede. "When we got the call, we didn't hesitate very long to jump on that."
While the group is in Calgary, Jenkins says they'll be riding in the parade and performing three one-hour shows each day.
"We're a musical ride team kind of the like the Mounties, only our lipstick is nicer," says Jenkins. "The show is strictly geared to Canadians and Canadian patriotism."
As part of this year's show, the Cowgirls will also be introducing a new act -- one that involves the riders carrying all of the province's flags as they surround the Canadian flag in the middle.
"We've done it a few times this year, and when people see it, they say it brings chills to them and tears to their eyes," says Jenkins.
Some of the girls will be flying out west for the Stampede, but Jenkins says most of them will be jumping in trucks and hauling their gear and their horses through the United States.
While they're on the road, the group will need to make several stops along the way for breaks and to let the horses get a good rest overnight. All of those costs start to add up, to the point where they are expecting their expenses to be somewhere in the area of $70,000.
To help cover those costs, the Cowgirls are holding fundraiser at Blazin BBQ on St. Clair St. in Chatham on Saturday.
For more information contact Terry Jenkins at tjstables@ciaccess.com.
