WESTERN EVENTS & CULTURAL CENTRE
Bringing the action, talent and culture to Alberta’s eastern backyard. WECC is intentionally designed for year-round events, performances, educational opportunities and experiential tourism at the gateway to the Canadian Badlands.
Western Events Arena
Step into the heart of the Western experience at our 2000-seat Rodeo and Equine dirt arena, an outstanding venue that brings together folks through recreation and western events. This facility will not only host exhilarating rodeo and equine events but also welcomes international competitions year-round, drawing enthusiasts from around the globe. With VIP boxes offering a premium vantage point, you can witness the thrilling action in unparalleled comfort. Beyond the arena's grandeur lies a commitment to providing recreation opportunities for the region's residents, fostering a sense of community and shared passion for western events. Whether you're a seasoned rider, a devoted fan, or someone seeking an unforgettable experience, our Rodeo and Equine Arena promises an atmosphere of excitement, excellence, and a celebration of the timeless bond between individuals and horses.
Interior Dirt Arena
Warm-up Area
2000
8
Seating Capacity
VIP Booths
5,000 ft
25,000 ft
Culture & Events Space
The heartbeat of the West comes alive on our captivating 300-seat Culture & Events Space. Flexible and transformative - in both design and function.
Plays, theatre performances, dance competitions, weddings, receptions, tradeshows, and graduation ceremonies just to name a few, can find a home in this space.
Here, artists and audiences can immerse themselves in the transformative power of the performing arts, fostering connections and enriching live through the universal language of creativity.
260
Retractable
Seat Capacity
Seating to Transform into a Multi-Use Space
40
VIP
Additional Accessible
Floor Seating
Booths
Practical Ranching School & Year Round Rodeo Academy
Embark on a transformative journey into the heart of ranching heritage with our Practical Ranching School, a groundbreaking initiative designed to ignite the passion for ranching in the next generation and meet the growing labour need for Alberta ranches. This innovative program goes beyond traditional education by integrating into curriculum within high schools and post-secondary institutions, offering dual credits for students, and providing hands-on experiences that bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical skills. Open to all, it fosters a connected community dedicated to rural stewardship with the practical aim of preparing young people with the hard-nosed skills to work a ranch.
Our Year-Round Rodeo Academy is an idea primarily led by Rodeo Legend and Wheatland County resident Scott Schiffner. Through comprehensive coaching and access to year-round facilities, this program fosters rodeo athletes through a consistent and structured program that places emphasis on long-term development.
Next Generation
of Cowboys & Cowgirls
Structured
365
Education
Days a Year
AMENITIES & FEATURED ADDITIONS
WECC offers exceptional amenities for our human and equine guests. For our four-legged friends, we proudly offer a state-of-the-art Horse Hotel featuring up to 300 well-appointed stalls, ensuring they experience the utmost comfort and care during their stay.
Meanwhile, our 150 full-power parking spots designed with living quarter horse trailers in mind, provide a welcoming haven for competitors and enthusiasts alike, guaranteeing a seamless and enjoyable experience for those who travel from near and far. We understand the importance of creating a home away from home, where both equine athletes and their human companions can relax and recharge after a day of fast-paced competition. These additions are crucial components of a successful operation - which we learned when exploring similar facilities.
5,500 ft
Multi-Use &
Roughstock Area
150
300
Full-Power
RV/Camper Stalls
Indoor/Outdoor
Horse Stalls
Tourism & Economic Impact
The proposed Western Events & Culture Centre is not just a venue; it is a driving force for transformative tourism and economic impact in our community and the province of Alberta.
Positioned as a year-round attraction, the center fills a crucial gap in Eastern Alberta, drawing international events, out-of-province tourists, and maintaining traffic during colder months. Serving as a gateway to the captivating Badlands, the facility is strategically poised to become an apex in the region, a must-stop destination on any road trip through the Eastern Corridor.
Recognizing the need for enhanced year-round attractions and increased tourism infrastructure in the Canadian Badlands, the Western Events & Culture Centre aligns comprehensively with provincial priorities. Beyond providing an indoor venue for world-class events, the center represents a golden opportunity for local economic growth and the enrichment of diverse cultural experiences. This initiative stands as a testament to our commitment to turn regional priorities into reality, fostering investment and securing a vibrant future for the community and the province as a whole.
TIMELINE
In 2019, the Strathmore & District Agricultural Society began pursuing the development and construction of the WECC, with the objective of creating a means of accomplishing its agricultural and community mission of creating a year-round indoor facility. Significant work has taken place on the project, including striking an advisory committee (2021), leading to a conceptual design, completed cost estimate and completion of a full, credible third-party feasibility study (2023). We now move forward into our Capital Campaign - collaborating with interested partners, sponsors and supporters ready to break ground.
Partners in Purpose
TIMELINE
In 2019, the Strathmore & District Agricultural Society began pursuing the development and construction of the WECC, with the objective of creating a means of accomplishing its agricultural and community mission of creating a year-round indoor facility. Significant work has taken place on the project, including striking an advisory committee (2021), leading to a conceptual design, completed cost estimate and completion of a full, credible third-party feasibility study (2023). We now move forward into our Capital Campaign - collaborating with interested partners, sponsors and supporters ready to break ground.
Words of Support
Until now, in order to hold our annual event, we have needed to access several separate venues including three schools and three churches. As this is primarily a music festival, we need to provide young pianists with all of the instruments they need, and that has in the past included renting a grand piano from Calgary, paying for the transport of the piano, and then moving it from one venue to another during the course of the week. This is just one of the challenges we have faced as a result of accessing other venues. Having a venue dedicated to arts and culture, with the option of being able to rent this facility out for the entire week, would be an answer to many of the concerns we have faced in the past.
~Strathmore Performing Arts Festival
Words of Support
This Event centre is desperately needed in this region for a multiple of reasons. Currently, there is not a large area for different needs that supplies good acoustics and parking and is flexible to meet a myriad of requirements from the different societies and groups in our area. The new event centre with our growing population would draw people from many areas in the county and would meet the needs of many groups. This would bring increased revenue to Strathmore and be a facility that would encourage the love of not only music but culture in the young and older generation as well as supply an awesome place for social gatherings
~Strathmore Musical Arts Society
Words of Support
The Western & Cultural Events Centre will be a tremendous asset to the community and businesses in the region. The Centre will provide the arts and culture community with a facility to host events and activities to promote the growth of the arts and thus providing an increase in the quality of life of our residents. These events also provide an opportunity for visitors to our rural community thereby providing economic impact through overnight stays, retail expenditures, ticket purchases and other entertainment and recreation they may partake in during their stay.
~Community Futures Wild Rose
Words of Support
The Chestermere Fine Art Guild believes that a facility such as the Western Events and Cultural Centre would provide a modern and targeted space for artists of all genres to promote their talents and for other cultural events. We feel that this centre will help to attract people to participate more in artistic and cultural activities within their own Community.
~ Chestermere Fine Art Guild
Words of Support
Such a shared space in our area would go far to address some of the needs for so very many local groups. As a thriving arts group, Wheatland Society of Arts advocates not just for the fine arts but for the benefit of all our local community arts and culture groups. Our Community and County has needed a space such as the one proposed for a very long time.
~Wheatland Society of Arts
Words of Support
The Western District Historical Society is pleased to support The Vault Cultural Collective in the potential development of the Western and Cultural Event Centre as proposed by the Strathmore and District Agricultural Society. This facility would be a shared space for a rodeo/riding arena and a multi-use cultural/events centre and allows multiple organizations to work collaboratively to address a need for the Agricultural Society to expand its mission and seasonal offerings to provide access to space for cultural/arts organizations throughout the year.
~Western District Historical Society
