Darlene Keeler, seen welcoming attendees to the Medicine Hat Stampede's President's Luncheon on July 27, has been removed from the position, she tells the News, and is challenging the board to reverse the decision.--News Photo Collin Gallant
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
A dispute on the Medicine Hat Stampede board has led to the removal of the group’s president, and could lead to a legal challenge, the News has learned.
Darlene Keeler became president of the Exhibition & Stampede company in early 2023, and was lauded as the first female to ever hold the position during a successful annual fair last July.
On Sept. 6 however, a 7-2 vote among board members removed her as the head of the board of directors. Keeler remains as a member of the board that next meets Sept. 20.
Keeler announced the change in a release to the media on Wednesday night, saying she is concerned about the future of the organization that serves as the area’s main agricultural society.
It states that the issue needs “to be fully understood” by the public and other volunteers at the Stampede, but she isn’t going into specifics of the disagreement at this time.
“I don’t want to embarrass the Stampede or myself,” she told the News on Thursday, only adding that other directors disagreed with her approach to an unspecified issue. “I support the Stampede wholeheartedly, the shareholders and volunteers. The disagreement is between myself and the board.
“I feel that I was wrongly dismissed … I hope that things could work out, and I hope it won’t go any further. I have to honestly say that I am seeking legal advice, because this boils down to ego and economics.”
Stampede officials deferred comment to the board, which prepared a statement to the News delivered by past president and current board member David Ziegenhagel, who said the change was done in accordance with the Stampede’s governing bylaws.
“The board of directors had to make a difficult decision in relieve Darlene from the role and duties of president. As per policy a (new) president will be named in the near future,” he said.
Keeler told the News she is working with an out-of-town legal firm to “determine her options,” but local lawyer and former Stampede director William Anhorn said he is “concerned for the future of the organization” unless it can learn to better manage internal conflict.
“This is not the first time that dedicated volunteers of the organization have been summarily dismissed for expressing opinions or views that did not necessarily align with the executive management or other board members,” he told the News.
Beyond the annual fair, rodeo and concert series held each July, the Stampede hosts a number of special events throughout the year, rents venues and supports the community as a not-for-profit society that receives provincial funding as the region’s agriculture society.
The Stampede is currently raising funds and seeking government support for the large capital project to replace the grandstand and add event space at the exhibition grounds.
Officials have told the News this summer they are focused on resuming more normal operations after several years hampered by the pandemic and resulting economic fallout.
The Stampede also changed general managers twice in the last two years. The position has now been held by former Stampede president Rod Edwards since late 2021.
