‘Gone by in a flash’: Scooter Korek celebrates 50 years with the Stampede Midway

A fixture of the Calgary Stampede is celebrating 50 years of work with the Midway this year.

Gregg Korek, better known as Scooter, has been working with the Calgary Stampede Midway for 50 years.

As “King of the Midway,” Korek oversees other fairs and festivals across North America, but his career all started right here in Calgary.

Korek, vice-president of client services for North American Midway Entertainment, is celebrating his 50th Stampede, working every single year, every single day with the Midway for five decades.

Even the one year there was no Stampede in 2020, he was on the grounds for the fireworks show.

It’s a career he never expected.

“Time has gone by in a flash… I take a look, and it seems like I started yesterday,” he said.

“The excitement in 1977 is the same as the excitement here this morning.”

Korek started his Midway career by accident.

He’s from Calgary and always loved the Stampede as a kid.

As a teen, in 1977, he thought he applied to work the 10-day festival but soon realized he actually landed a full-time gig with the travelling Midway company.

“We finished the Calgary Stampede, and I came home and announced to my mom and dad that I was travelling with the carnival, which maybe didn’t go over very well,” he said.

Korek’s family soon realized he was making a successful career for himself.

He was part of the team that pioneered the cashless Midway and has been vice-president of client services for 30 years, managing the Midway at 121 fairs and festivals across North America.

“He’s bailed me out a lot of times, and he just has so much knowledge in so many things. He’s the guy that will never tell you no,” said Cynthia Coetzee, a 35-year employee of North American Midway Entertainment.

Korek isn’t the only fixture on the Midway that’s lasted five decades — his favourite ride has, too.

“When I started here in 1977, what also appeared on the scene that year was our Wave Swinger,” he said.

It’s been a fun ride, and Korek has no plans of stopping.

“I hope we’re here in 10 years, and we’re doing exactly the same thing at my 60th,” he said.

Korek says getting to entertain more than 150,000 people a day never gets old.

“Seeing those people at the end of the day — families walking out of here with a big smile on their face and a teddy bear wrapped under their arms — I know they’ve had a great day,” he said.

“That gives me a lot of satisfaction.”