Festival Western de St-Tite

History

Located north of Trois-Rivières, between Montréal and Québec, Saint-Tite boasts a population of approximately 4 000 people.

At one time, it was the central meeting-place for lumberjacks from the northern stretches of the Mauricie region where many forest workers lived. The forestry and leather industries created an important and active economical situation in the area.

Actually, Saint-Tite specializes in the transformation of leather and manufactures products of this material, giving it the title "Leathertown of Québec". These products are well known for their excellent quality all across Canada, the United States and in Europe.

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The leather industry is the basis of the western Festival. It is also the reason for its origin.

In 1962, the company of G.A. Boulet Inc., leather-manufacturing specialists, decided to focus their production on western boots.

In 1967, as a publicity strategy, a rodeo day was organized. The local baseball stadium was used for this event. Regardless of the rain which fell insistently the whole day, about five to six thousand visitors took part in this first celebration.

In 1968, several local merchants grouped together and formed an Association of merchants, industries and businesses of Saint-Tite. These members got together with G.A. Boulet Inc. in an effort to expand on last year's experience. Together, it was hoped to create a viable attraction to encourage personal potential and to boost the local economy.

After the spontaneous success of 1967, the doors where wide open. By 1968, no less than 25 committees were formed to plan a tourist attraction without equal. The Festival acquired its first logo in that year.

The participation of volunteers and local citizens contributed largely in making this a concrete enterprise. The majority of the population participate by wearing costumes and sporting the official hat which symbolize the western trend.
The organizers of this first edition focus mainly on the creation of a professional Rodeo and equestrian competitions. All this takes place in the local College schoolyard where bleachers, found somewhere in Montréal, where installed.
During the following years, several activities are added to the Festival. The town animates and "dresses" itself in a western atmosphere.
In 1969, the symbolic western parade makes its appearance. Horse-pulls, old-fashioned weddings and a variety of shows appear on the program.

With the years, installations and services are improved: security, circulation, property moves, lodging, restoration, sanitary services... everything is done with the satisfaction of the visitors, cowboy and the local population in mind, as well as meeting with government standards. The horses, which were previously kept in temporary lodging, can now stay in actual stables.

In 1972, a stadium was built. In 1999, new installation were built with the highest quality structure with seating capacity for 7 200 people. In 1979, Mr. Jacques Parizeau, Minister of Finance for Québec, visits Saint-Tite. After touring the various sites of the Festival as well as certain industries, he declares that the western Festival is without a doubt an organization which surpasses the town and the surrounding area, and the opportunity is there to become bigger and better. It is important to note that the Festival is more lucrative with each ensuing year. Budgets, committees and visitors have learned with time that the proportions of the Festival are more optimistic than anyone would ever have imagined. In 1981, a crash in monetary and human resources is evident, and the Festival consults with the local population to take action to adjust to the needs and demands of one and all. They get their second wind and go ahead with their cavalcade.

In the beginning, the budget for the Festival was a mere 8 500$; this amount was rapidly brought up to 33 500$ and reaches an amount of 3 100 000$ in 2004. Each year, the local economy is boosted by close to 5 million and for the regional side it's 20 million dollars, and close to 450 000 people visit the area during the Festival. The "Western Festival" deserves the title of "the largest western attraction in Eastern Canada"

The Festival also owes its success to the numerous prestigious sponsors which support it each year.

Excellent media coverage is highly beneficial to an organization of this size.

However, the Festival would be non-existent if it weren't for the local population. Each year a fantastic team of volunteers donates its time actively to this event.

Finally, the hospitality shown by the people of Saint-Tite has made the Festival an economical and tourist reality - one of the best - rated in Canada.