Calgary Stampede layoffs blamed on Alberta downturn, reduction in government funding

It's not just the oil companies that are smarting in Calgary these days, with the Stampede laying off five per cent of its full-time staff in order "to be well positioned for 2016."

It works out to 19 employees who were given pink slips on Tuesday.

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"Obviously the Stampede is feeling the same economic pinch that every other organization in Alberta is these days," said StampedeCEO Warren Connell.

"Over and above that, I don't want to say we're reacting.We're still positioning ourselves to be able to move forward given the $2-million grant reduction that we had in May from the Government of Alberta."

Number of booked events also down

Connell says the grant reduction was just "one of many factors" leading to the decision, including a reduction in the number of booked events.

"It's not like our business has dried up or disappeared in one area," he said.

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The not-for-profit, which had 380 full-timeand about 2,000 part-time staff prior to today,treads a fine line and is always adjusting, says Connell. He also says these layoffs are not unusual.

"I've been a part of the Stampede for 33 years and I would tell you that when I started with the Stampede it was the National Energy Program and that was an immediate round of layoffs in my first year of employment. The most recent would have been 2008-2009 when we also had an economic downturn."

Connell, who referred to the layoffs as "rightsizing," says the organization is still well positioned for the 2016 Stampede.