Flores LaDue: The First Lady of the Calgary Stampede | Culture + Entertainment District

The Culture + Entertainment District is where Calgary’s history meets its future. Home to a storied past and now the place where our city’s future unfolds – there are stories of success and passion at every corner.

One such story is that of Flores LaDue – a world champion trick roper, trailblazer for women in rodeo and an integral figure in the founding of the Calgary Stampede.

In October 2024, the 17th Avenue SE Extension was opened and aptly named ‘Flores LaDue Parade’ to honour this remarkable woman who helped shape the city’s western legacy.

But who was Flores LaDue – also affectionately known as “The First Lady of the Calgary Stampede”? We spoke with Jessica Smallman, Collections Specialist at the Calgary Stampede, about LaDue’s influence and how visitors to The Culture + Entertainment District can experience her story today.

Q: Who was Flores LaDue? For those unfamiliar with her, how would you describe her in just a few words?

Flores LaDue is often recognized as the wife of Guy Weadick, the founder of the Calgary Stampede, but she was much more than that. A world champion trick roper, talented athlete, and business partner to Weadick, she carved out a legacy in rodeo. Leaving home at a young age to pursue an uncertain future, she became a vaudeville performer and a rodeo star, earning the title ‘Champion Lady Fancy Roper’ at least four times across North America.

In a few words, Flores LaDue was daring, fearless, and a trailblazer.

Credit: Calgary Stampede Collections & Archives

Q: Flores LaDue was known as ‘The First Lady of the Calgary Stampede.’ How instrumental was she in shaping the event?

While some accounts suggest Flores LaDue directly influenced the creation of the Stampede Parade or advised Guy Weadick on what to say to The Big Four to secure funding, one thing is certain—the Calgary Stampede was their shared vision and dream.

Flores played a crucial role in shaping some of the events, particularly in setting the high standards for fancy and trick roping and riding. Beyond the arena, she worked tirelessly to promote the Stampede, showcase women in rodeo and help support every aspect of its success. She was also instrumental in managing the family’s ranch, where many of the horses used in the early years of the Stampede were raised, ensuring the event’s foundation was strong both in and out of the arena.

Q: How did her role as a co-founder of the Calgary Stampede compare to her husband’s, Guy Weadick in terms of visibility and recognition?

Flores LaDue’s role in the Calgary Stampede was historically seen as a supporting one, receiving little public recognition at the time.

Weadick himself, however, was always vocal about her importance. After her passing, he credited much of his success to her influence, loyalty and confidence in him, acknowledging her deep understanding of his strengths and weaknesses.

Today, there is a greater effort to highlight and celebrate her role—not just as Weadick’s partner, but as a trailblazer and driving force behind the Stampede’s early success.

Q: As a skilled trick roper and performer in the early 20th century, how did Flores pave the way for women in rodeo and Western culture?

Flores LaDue was not the first woman in rodeo, but she was certainly a celebrated figure. The early years of the Calgary Stampede saw many skilled female competitors, including Tillie Baldwin, Bertha Blancett and Lucille Mulhall. One thing we see with Flores is the widespread publicity surrounding her trick roping skills. She was already a well-known performer before the Stampede and then a winning athlete, capturing multiple championship titles across North America (1912, 1913, 1916, and 1919). Her success and visibility likely inspired many young cowgirls to pursue rodeo.

Flores LaDue’s legacy continues to shape Western culture and rodeo, inspiring future generations of cowgirls. Organizations like the LaDue Ladies Lunch (LLL) actively work to raise awareness of both past and present women in rodeo, ensuring their contributions are not forgotten.

Q: What do we know about Flores’ early life and what influenced her to pursue trick roping and rodeo as a career?

Flores LaDue’s early life remains somewhat of a mystery, with conflicting accounts about events such as her mother’s passing and where exactly she grew up in Minnesota. What we do know is that she was born Grace Maud Bensell in 1883 in Montevideo, Minnesota, and was taught to ride horses from a young age.

As a young woman, Flores left the comfort of home to pursue a career in entertainment. Some records suggest that Flores was inspired by renowned Mexican trick-roper Vicente Oropeza to pursue a career as a performer in Western entertainment. It’s possible that her decision to change her name from Grace to the more exotic Flores—Spanish for "flower"—was a tribute to Oropeza. These performances, which gained popularity in the 1880s with figures like Buffalo Bill Cody, the Miller Brothers, and Colonel Fred Cummins, relied on both skill and showmanship to captivate audiences. It was while working on this circuit that Flores met Guy Weadick.

Q: Rodeo and the Wild West circuit were male-dominated spaces at the time. What barriers did Flores face, and how did she challenge societal expectations of Women?

While rodeo and the Wild West circuit were largely male-dominated, they were not entirely closed off to women. In fact, many women found success as performers and athletes, with figures like Annie Oakley, Calamity Jane, and Goldie Griffith making names for themselves in shooting, riding, and roping. Flores LaDue was among a strong contingent of female rodeo competitors, including Tillie Baldwin, Lucille Mulhall, Bertha Blancett, and Hazel Walker, who competed in early Stampedes and other major rodeos. They were however, largely outnumber by their male counterparts.

However, by the 1920s, the opportunities for women in rodeo begin to decline, which was a barrier faced by many. Women were increasingly restricted to exhibition events rather than major competitions, in part due to shifting social attitudes and financial incentives.

Q: Why was it important to the Calgary Stampede to rename the recently extended section of 17th Avenue Flores LaDue Parade? Do you think Flores LaDue has received the recognition she deserves, or is there more work to be done in telling her story?

We wanted to welcome the world and our community to Stampede Park in a way that celebrates our Western heritage and community spirit. Naming the new roadway Flores LaDue Parade celebrates the spirit she embodied – entrepreneur, community builder and trailblazer.

Recognizing Flores' impact also highlights the many untold stories within the Calgary Stampede’s history.

A key goal of Sam Centre is to ensure that stories like Flores LaDue’s are not just acknowledged but embedded in exhibits from the beginning. Inspired by Flores LaDue’s legacy, Sam Centre is dedicated to sharing these important histories. By designing flexible displays that allow for rotating artifacts and evolving narratives, we ensure that the stories of trailblazers like Flores remain an integral part of the Stampede’s ongoing story.

Q: What items or artifacts related to Flores LaDue can visitors find at Sam Centre? Is there a particular piece in the collection that you feel best represents her story or character? How does Sam Centre work to ensure stories like hers continue to be shared with future generations?

At Sam Centre, visitors can find a key artifact that beautifully represents Flores LaDue’s legacy—her custom-made saddle. This unique saddle is a work of art, with intricate silver detailing, leather-carved motifs, and the name "La Due" engraved on the back of the seat. It also features silver saddle skirt corner plates inscribed with the initials "F.L." This was the saddle Flores used during her time as a performer on the vaudeville circuit and as a world champion trick roper in 1912.

Currently, the saddle is proudly displayed in the Vern Scown Gallery at Sam Centre, within a special section called the "Trailblazers." This area highlights individuals who played pivotal roles in establishing the Calgary Stampede as the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. The saddle will remain on display for the next few years, ensuring that Flores LaDue’s story continues to inspire visitors.

Through such exhibits, Sam Centre is committed to preserving and sharing the legacies of historical figures like Flores, ensuring their stories are passed down to future generations.

Q: What can we learn from Flores LaDue’s story today, especially in the context of International Women’s Day?

Flores LaDue’s story is a powerful reminder of perseverance, talent, and the importance of recognizing women's contributions—both past and present. She took a bold leap, leaving the comfort of home for an uncertain future in the world of Wild West shows, carving out a place for herself through sheer skill and determination. As a world champion trick roper and a key figure in the early success of the Calgary Stampede alongside Guy Weadick, she proved that following one’s passion, no matter the risks can lead to extraordinary achievements. Her legacy highlights the resilience of women in rodeo and Western culture, inspiring future generations to challenge expectations and carve out their paths.

On International Women’s Day, her story encourages us to chase our dreams fearlessly and to continue amplifying the voices of women whose achievements have historically been overlooked. It also serves as a call to action to ensure that spaces like Sam Centre remain committed to sharing and celebrating the impact of women—not just during special occasions, but as an integral part of our ongoing storytelling.

For more information about Sam Centre, click here.