Calgary Stampede attendance bounces back after 2013 flood

Roughly 1.26 million people came through the gates over the last 10 days at the Calgary Stampede.

It's up from last year's attendance of 1.13 million, which decreased slightly after flooding devastated the grounds.

"The record was set in 2012 at 1.4 million,...but this has been a really great Stampede and I think all the guests have been really comfortable and are leaving with smiles on their faces," said Stampede spokesperson Jennifer Booth.

"That's all that we can ask for."

For Ed Calf Robe, this year marksthe end of an era.

"I'm gonna turn my teepee ownership to my son, my eldest son and he's gonna take over next year," he said. "I'm getting a little too old for this kind of thing."

His fatherhad ateepeeat the first-everStampede in 1912.His first Stampede was in 1939 and he has not missed one since.

Calf Robesays hehasseen a lot of change over the years.

But one thing that hasn't changed in many years is the opportunity for young musicians to share their talent, and this year it was Layton Kramer who was the big winner of the 2014 Stampede Talent Search.

The 19-year-old originally from Canmore, Alta., grabbed the top prize with his performance of anoriginal composition entitled Sea of Glassself-accompanied on his electric guitar.

For 34 years, the Stampede Talent Search has discovered talent that goes the distance, says Scott Henderson, the chair of the Stampede Talent Search committee, in a release.

We are grateful that the Calgary Stampede invests in rising Canadian talent and are excited that this volunteer run talent search is an annual marquee event of the Calgary Stampede.