With more than 15,000 attendees, the Rotary International Convention doesn’t feel like a typical annual gathering - it’s more akin to seeing a small multicultural city move in. Attendees come from more than 120 countries. In 2025, that diverse cast of participants converged on Calgary for five days.
Read on to learn what set Calgary’s bid apart for the Rotary International Convention — and what it says about the city’s ability to host other mega events.
Calgary is no stranger to this kind of global experience. The city hosted the 1996 edition, but it certainly looks much different nearly three decades later. The population has more than doubled, and the business community has grown from a traditional energy leader into an innovation hub. One thing, however, has remained the same: people here simply love to welcome guests.
“The previous Rotary International Convention host said we would need 400 volunteers to pull it off,” Craig Stokke, co-chair of the Rotary Host Organizing Committee, said. “We had 1,400 sign up, which means we had an additional 1,000 volunteers compared with previous years. It’s a symbol of how proud people are of their city. They want everyone to feel at home.”
When Stokke was assisting with putting the bid together in 2017, he said that he knew the city’s Western heritage would be its “secret sauce.” It proved to be a key ingredient in Calgary’s activation at the 2024 convention in Singapore. Everyone donned the iconic White Hat, and exuberant “Yahoos” echoed throughout the hall.
“Everybody from around the world came to check out the booth,” Stokke said. “They wanted their pictures taken. We created the excitement, and the Calgary spirit was there.”
Indigenous artist, Keegan Starlight, did a painting demonstration on the conference floor (Photo Credit: Colin Way)
The organizing committee worked with the Calgary Stampede to host a rodeo for attendees (Photo Credit: Colin Way).
The Calgary spirit may be synonymous with the 10-day celebration that happens in July, but Rotary attendees got to feel that same sense of magic before cowboy boots started strolling down Stephen Avenue. Attendees enjoyed a Stampede breakfast — an annual tradition of free pancakes — and pop-up entertainers appeared at the airport and in hotel lobbies. A grandstand show with horse racing and fireworks also gave attendees an opportunity to experience part of the magic that defines The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
“Through our partnerships with the Calgary Stampede, we have opportunities to put on amazing signature events,” Stokke said. “With a lot of conventions, attendees just end up at a cocktail reception in a hotel.”
Stokke added that the city’s world-class hosting infrastructure — the main venues for Rotary were the expanded BMO Centre and the Scotiabank Saddledome — ensure that Calgary is equipped to handle such a large group. Of course, it’s the people inside all those facilities who play the biggest role in turning an event into an unforgettable experience. “Everyone has been so excited about this event,” Stokke said. “They all asked one question: ‘How can we help to make it succeed?’”
Volunteers were stationed at host hotels to provide local insight to attendees (Photo Credit: Roth&Ramberg).
Greeters were ready to welcome attendees from around the world at the Calgary International Airport (Photo Credit: Roth&Ramerg).
Most people who call Calgary home today used to call somewhere else home. The city’s sustained growth has attracted plenty of newcomers, but Stokke checks a rare box - he was born and raised here. Still, he has spent plenty of time comparing other cities and their ability to host guests. He has attended every Grey Cup — the Canadian Football League Championship — since 1992, and he believes Calgary’s key edge comes down to its ability to make every group feel like a big deal.
“Some large cities can sort of swallow an event,” Stokke said. “If you get a block away from the convention hall, you might have no idea that the event is going on. That’s not the case in Calgary. Our businesses and our residents truly appreciate you being here.”
And while Stokke was thrilled about the feeling that attendees had during the convention, he was even more excited about seeing them return long after the closing session wrapped up. “We know that if we can get people to come to the city, they're going to have an amazing time and they're going to want to come back,” he said.
Connect with the team to learn more about why your attendees will love Calgary as much as Rotary attendees did.