Indo Canadian News News That Matters
The Brazilian cowboy, Filipe Masetti Leite will be the honorary Calgary Stampede Parade Marshal for 2020 as per official press release by Calgary Stampede President Dana Peers. “The choice of Masetti Leite for the role of parade marshal has been many years in the making and was finalized long before our world changed this spring,” said Dana Peers.
The Stampede Parade is an iconic part of Calgary’s cultural identity. Since 1912, the Stampede Parade has served as the official kickoff of The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth – the Calgary Stampede.
Unfortunately 2020 Calgary Stampede is cancelled for the first time in over 100 years amid COVID-19 pandemic. The official statement on Wednesday, said “Masetti Leite was originally going to lead the parade before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.”
He will be a parade marshal without a parade, but that will not stop the celebration of his incredible achievement.
Eight years ago, in 2012, at the Calgary Stampede’s Centennial celebration, Masetti Leite set on an extraordinary dream of riding across the Americas. The dream, that was passed down to him from his father and was inspired by the legendary long-riders of the past. Swung into the saddle, he began a 12 country, over 25,000 km journey on horseback across North and South America, through some of the most beautiful and most challenging countries on Earth. From Canada, Masetti Leite made his way to his native Brazil, then on to the very tip of South America, Ushuaia, Argentina.
Last year he once again set off on horseback from Alaska for returning to Calgary in time for the Stampede this year. After stopping for the winter months and the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Filipe Masetti Leite is at present riding his final 800 km along remote roads, headed to Calgary.
The Finale
To complete his journey, he plans to arrive in the city on Friday, July 3 — the date the Calgary Stampede would have held the 2020 Stampede parade.
“I’m finishing where I started. It’s a dream,” Masetti Leite said. “To be named the Calgary Stampede parade marshal is the biggest honour of my life.”
