News

Rob Laidlaw
February 9, 1960 - January 5, 2025
Rob Laidlaw (C) and Chuckwagon Driver Luke Tournier (R) receive the sponsor's bronze trophy from Calgary Stampede Director Wee Yee (L) for winning the 2007 Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby.
Inset (L-R): Chuckwagon Driver Luke Tournier (L) and The Cowboy's Posse Rob Laidlaw (R).

The World Professional Chuckwagon Association has been saddened by the sudden and unexpected passing of longtime active supporter Rob Laidlaw on Sunday, January 5, 2025, after a brief illness at the age of 64.

Rob was born and raised in Calgary, and embraced the spirit of the west embodied into every Calgarian by the Calgary Stampede, and by his father Bob who began volunteering for the Calgary Stampede on the Downtown Attractions Committee in 1956 and ultimately served as Calgary Stampede President in 1983 and 1984. Following in his father's footsteps, Rob began his career as a Stampede Volunteer in 1985 with Downtown Attractions as a mascot, eventually becoming chairman of the Downtown Attractions Committee, and in 2003 Rob was elected to the Calgary Stampede's Board of Directors. Rob was a well liked and well respected Board Member who was a big supporter of the chuckwagon races, and served the Calgary Stampede admirably for ten consecutive years. One of Rob's proudest moments as a board member came on Friday, July 9, 2004 when he arranged for the Calgary Stampede's champion bucking bull named Outlaw to ring the bell that closed the day's trading at the New York Stock Exchange and was witnessed by millions of people worldwide. Following his retirement from the board after the Calgary Stampede's Centennial Celebration of 2012, in 2013 Rob was honored by the Calgary Stampede by being named an Honorary Lifetime Director.

Early in 1999, Rob was appointed President of Acumen Capital Partners, and among his first actions in his new role was going down to the annual Chuckwagon Canvas Auction at the Calgary Stampede where he purchased chuckwagon driver Bill McEwen's tarp for the 1999 Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby. Despite some challenging circumstances that first year, Rob developed a stronger passion for the chuckwagon races, and the Acumen Capital Partners tarp returned to the Rangeland Derby again in 2000 with chuckwagon driver Edgar Baptiste. In 2001 Rob was part of a group of 30 Calgary businessmen that affectionately took the name "The Posse," and under that name they sponsored chuckwagon drivers Doug Irvine and Ross Knight in 2001 and 2002 respectively. The Posse was one of the early charitable groups that used their chuckwagon sponsorship to boost and promote the group's philanthropic efforts in the Calgary area. Another of Rob's many, and most notable, fund raising functions was The Best Damn Stampede Party - an annual event that has raised nearly two-million dollars for charitable causes.

After a one-year absence, The Posse partnered up with Cowboys Night Club and teamed up with chuckwagon driver Kelly Sutherland at the Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby under the canvas of "The Cowboys Posse." Between 2004 and 2006, The Cowboys Posse achieved a tremendous amount of success at the Rangeland Derby, qualifying for the Championship Final Heat in 2005 and 2006, and winning the Richard Cosgrave Memorial Award, symbolic of the Calgary Stampede's Aggregate Winner in 2006.

In 2007 The Cowboys Posse teamed up with chuckwagon driver Luke Tournier, and for the first time, Rob could call himself a "Calgary Stampede Champion," as The Cowboys Posse outfit, driven by Luke Tournier, made it a clean sweep of the 2007 Calgary Stampede by not only winning the Rangeland Derby, but taking the Richard Cosgrave Memorial and the Calgary Stampede Safety Award in one of the most dominating performances in Calgary Stampede history. Over the next twelve years, in addition to Luke Tournier, The Cowboys Posse tarp graced the chuckwagons of Neal Walgenbach, Hugh Sinclair, Mark Sutherland, Jason Glass, Mitch Sutherland, and Ross Knight for the final time in 2019. Rob was also part of a special chuckwagon group called the "Ten Day Tarmac Babies" that was formed to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Calgary Stampede in 2012. The Ten Day Tarmac Babies wagon was also driven by Luke Tournier.

Rob Laidlaw was not only an inspirational person, but one could argue that he was a symbol of what it is, and what it means, to be a Calgarian. He was a successful man both personally and professionally, and a tireless volunteer with a charitable heart. He was proud of his family, and has left a lasting impact on the city of Calgary and one of its most foremost institutions - the Calgary Stampede. He was a Stampede volunteer for over 30 years, and for 20 years Rob was a canvas sponsor at the Rangeland Derby.

Rob is survived by his loving wife, Joyce (née Van Buren); his two sons, Alex (Cody) and Ryan (Taylor); his sisters, Beverlee and Margaret; an extended family of beloved relatives including in-laws, nephews & nieces; and countless cherished friends.

To honour Rob, his parents Bob and Esther, and commemorate their many contributions to the Calgary community, the Laidlaw Family Fund has been established at Calgary Foundation. Donations in his memory can be made here.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the Champions Ballroom at the BMO Centre at Stampede Park (1912 Flores Ladue Parade SE, Calgary, AB) on Thursday, January 16, 2025. Doors will open at 2:30pm, with the formal program to begin at 3pm and a brief reception to follow. Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Rob’s service streamed live on the day of the service. For those who are unable to view live, a recording of the service will be posted.

In living memory of Rob Laidlaw, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.

Rob was a remarkable individual and will be dearly missed by all in the WPCA, and we extend our sincere condolences to the Laidlaw family.

Billy Melville