Community Stories

CFR 46 funnels millions into local economy

November 01, 2019

Rodeo fever is spreading like wildfire through Red Deer and Central Alberta this week as CFR 46 stampedes into Westerner Park.

Rodeo fever is spreading like wildfire through Red Deer and Central Alberta this week as CFR 46 stampedes into Westerner Park. But it’s not just the athletes and fans reaping the rewards from one of Canada’s biggest cowboy showdowns.

Last year, CFR pumped an estimated $37 million into the local economy and this year that number is expected to be even higher. Hotels and restaurants are full, as more than 45,000 people descend on Red Deer for the annual event.

“What we’re really trying to focus on is getting people to see that Red Deer has lots to offer,” says Bre Fitzpatrick, Land and Economic Development Officer with The City of Red Deer. “It’s important to get them in the gate and show them a little bit more, to draw people back to our community to try out some new places that they’ve never been, and think of us in different seasons and for different reasons.”

With a small army of more than five hundred volunteers, Fitzpatrick says CFR gives people from across Canada and the U.S. a taste of the types and sizes of events that Red Deer is able to host.

“They might be here and fully booked up with CFR but I think huge success stories come from people saying ‘Yeah I was there for CFR and I really want to come back and explore a little bit more of what I can do in Red Deer and that area.’”

Stop by the City of Red Deer booth at CFR and enter for your chance to win one of three gift baskets valued at $250!