How we're celebrating 25 years of Google Canada at the Calgary Stampede
As the Calgary Stampede kicks off, Google Trends are showing that Canadians have been getting ready for the big event, with “Breakout” Search interest in the Calgary Stampede parade route, chuckwagon tickets, Stampede breakfasts, and all things Stampede fashion.
This year is special for us, too. Google Canada is celebrating its 25th anniversary and we’re excited to be returning to The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth for our second year as an official sponsor.
Get a little help from AI on the grounds
Navigating the Stampede grounds can be a whirlwind. That’s why we’re powering the official "Howdy Booths" across the park. You can ask Gemini for helpful, specific tips to make your day better, like finding a quiet, shaded spot for your family or getting a quick historical tour of nearby landmarks. While you’re there, you can customize your cowboy hat selfie with Nano Banana.
To catch all the Stampede action (and see our Gemini-powered "Howdy Booths" in the wild!) follow @GoogleCanada on Instagram for live updates from the grounds. ✨ 🤠
Partnering to build AI skills in Alberta
Our commitment to the province goes beyond the 10-day festival. Alberta has been a pioneer and leader in artificial intelligence, and we want to help Albertans and local businesses take advantage of the AI opportunity. Here’s what we’re up to in Calgary:
- Leading up to the Stampede, we were thrilled to host over 100 Alberta businesses for a virtual workshop to help them prepare for the upcoming influx of travelers with the help of some of our free tools like Google Business Profiles.
- To support the workforce long-term, we’re proud to partner with trusted local organizations, including BGC Southern Alberta, Calgary Downtown Association and Platform Calgary, to offer Grow with Google scholarships. These scholarships will give people in their networks free access to our online courses, like the new Google AI Professional Certificate, helping the Albertan workforce and local SMBs build their skills for the future.
- We’re also bringing together local startup founders for an AI roundtable with federal and provincial elected officials, hosted by Platform Calgary, to discuss how AI is helping them save time, innovate and grow at home and globally.
Celebrating Alberta’s AI leadership
From the Government of Alberta’s forward-thinking AI strategy to our ongoing partnership with the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii), this province is at the forefront of a new era of innovation in Canada. And many companies right here in Calgary are already putting AI to work to solve real world problems.
- With the help of Google AI, Livestock Water Recycling is transforming how farmers manage livestock waste, helping farmers eliminate greenhouse gases, get more out of their farms, and increase profits.
- Helcim is offering a new, secure, and affordable payments platform, powered by Google AI, that’s helping small businesses across Canada stay competitive and unlock new growth opportunities.
- CropMind has developed a platform with Google AI that’s helping farmers protect their harvests and increase yields by providing early and accurate insights on weather and climate patterns that affect crop health.
AI has the potential to create significant economic growth in Alberta, with our most recent Economic Impact Report from Public First showing that generative AI has the potential to boost the province’s economy by $36 billion.
We’re proud to be a partner in Alberta’s AI transformation journey and we look forward to celebrating with everyone at Stampede.
