CALGARY — There was a long, steady stream of hungry diners at the Calgary airport early Wednesday, as sizzling griddles cooked up pancakes and sausages.

Many outside the arrivals terminal were in uniform — airline staff, police officers and security guards — while some travellers rolled up to the annual Stampede breakfast with their suitcases.

“This is awesome. I love to be part of it,” said Kathy Morris of Calgary, who was headed to see her grandson in Newfoundland.

“I’m on my way out, but this is my first Stampede breakfast ever. And I live downtown, which is crazy.”

It’s the fourth year that the Calgary International Airport has hosted the breakfast during Stampede. The 10-day exhibition and rodeo wraps Sunday.

Airport organizers were expecting to feed about 2,500, as about 66,000 people go through the airport each day.

“It’s because YYC is the gateway to Stampede. If you’re not driving here, you’re flying here,” said Adam Brown, an airport spokesperson.

“We want to make sure when they step off the plane in Calgary they know that they’re in the Stampede city.”

Orazio and Cynthia Rinaldi stopped for a bite after arriving in Calgary from Montreal. They plan to visit Banff and the Stampede.

“We saw the pancake breakfast and said we’re going to go check it out,” said Cynthia Rinaldi.

She said Alberta’s upcoming separation referendum didn’t factor into their trip planning. Quebec also has a long-standing separation movement.

“We hear about it back at home, and we don’t want it to happen. We don’t want Quebec to separate. We don’t want Alberta to separate,” she said.

Albertans are to vote Oct. 19 on whether they want the province to remain in Canada or to start the process for a second, binding referendum.

“We hope Alberta stays in Canada,” said Rinaldi.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 8, 2026.

Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press