Stampede canvas auction brings in $3.84M; top bid goes to Jason Glass

This year's canvas auction was a huge success for drivers, earning them more than $3.8 million to support their season at the Stampede.

The Calgary Stampede tarp auction is considered a barometer of business confidence in the city.

And Thursday night’s event showed strength in the face of financial hurdles due to American-imposed tariffs.

Twenty-seven chuckwagon drivers competed in Calgary—not on the tracks but on the stage, as advertisers bid to put their logos on chuckwagon tarps.

That money is vital in supporting drivers’ teams throughout the racing season, and this year, it’s through economic uncertainty due to a trade war with the U.S.

“Their advertising for our tarps is what we live and raise our families on and have for 30-some years, so it’s a little scary for sure, but Canada’s always been strong, and we’ll fight through it,” said chuckwagon driver Troy Dorchester.

• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

Bidders started strong, with the first canvas going for $230,000, beating last year’s top tarp price of $210,000.

That $230,000 proved to be the high bid of the night, and it went to Jason Glass, courtesy of Birchcliff Energy Ltd.

“This means a lot. It’s not cheap to run a chuckwagon team,” Glass said in a release.

“It’s money well spent for all the drivers. We put it back into what we do and what we love. It’s a lot of money, and it’s well appreciated. I’ve been doing this for 35 years, and I’ve been around it for 54 years, and I’m just grateful every year.”

What economic clues might the Stampede canvas auction offer? We’re surrounded by uncertainty, but in Calgary, the Stampede canvas auction is thought to reflect our economy, and may be a way to see around the corner.

Dorchester took a bid of $120,000 from MobSquad.

Many call the event a measure of what to expect from Calgary’s economy in the months ahead.

“It’s an indication of how optimistic people are and what kind of cash they have on hand,” said Deborah Yedlin with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.

“You’re also committing to taking people to the chucks; maybe you’re going to feed them, so there are a bunch of expenses associated with the tarp itself.”

The Calgary Stampede typically contributes about $282 million during the 10-day event alone.

In 2024, bids totalled more than $3.11 million.

This year attracted more, with bids totalling $3.84 million.

The average bid was $142,000.

The top 10 bids of the event were as follows:

• Birchcliff Energy Ltd. bid $230,000 for Jason Glass;
• Grey Eagle Resort and Casino bid $220,000 for Kurt Bensmiller;
• Graf Mechanical Ltd. bid $210,000 for Kris Molle;
• Shady Creek Ranch bid $190,000 for Layne MacGillivray;
• De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd. bid $160,000 for Wade Salmond;
• De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd. bid $160,000 for Evan Salmond;
• Lethbridge Lodging Association bid $150,000 for Chanse Vigen;
• Steelhaus Technologies Inc. bid $150,000 for Chad Fike;
• De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd. bid $150,000 for Preston Faithful; and
• Panorama Advisory Group bid $150,000 for Jamie Laboucane.