Following in his dad’s footsteps, 36-year Stampede volunteer Roc Spence has had a unique relationship with the Calgary Stampede Parade. Spence was elected to the Stampede’s board of directors earlier this year.

“When my dad was posted to Canadian Forces Base Calgary in 1960, it was the beginning of a wonderful relationship with the Stampede,” said Spence. “As the major in charge of the military’s engineering team, he was appointed to the Stampede’s Parade committee to provide support to the Parade itself and nurture the special relationship the two organizations enjoyed, and continue to enjoy. Whether it was providing soldiers, trucks, jeeps or tents, my dad loved being part of the Stampede and as a boy I got to go along and help out too.”

Spence became an official Stampede volunteer in 1973 after many years of unofficially working hard on the Parade. “Me and a bunch of the guys – their dads were all on the Parade committee too – have been replaced by horses and golf carts,” said Spence. “From about age 12 on, we were sent out to find parade entries and move them into place in the form-up area. We really got a work out!”

Over the years, Spence held various positions within the Parade committee and was the chair for the 1998 and 1999 Stampede Parades. He was also a member of the Downtown Attractions’ Square Dance committee.

Roc has held senior level positions in the medical, laboratory equipment and chemical distribution businesses, serving customers across Canada and around the world. He is currently the global vice-president of sales and marketing for Seastar Chemicals. He is highly respected in the community and well known for his energetic, focused, motivated and creative solutions.

“Being a member of the Stampede’s board of directors gives me a chance to give back to the community at a new level,” said Spence. “As a Stampede volunteer, my peers are some of the most knowledgeable and dedicated people you’ll ever meet. Everyone is there to enhance the organization and they all have the same agenda - to make a difference.”

Roc has served on several other boards, including St. John Ambulance, and he was the alpine sport representative to the Canadian Olympic Development (CODA) board from 1996 to 2000. He was a founding member and president of the National Alpine Training Centre, operating out of the CODA National Sport School in Calgary. He was the race chair and local organizer for the TELUS World Cup women’s events at Panorama Mountain Village in November 2007, and he is currently a national technical delegate for alpine ski racing.

Roc was raised on a ranch southwest of Calgary where his family was active in the purebred beef cattle business, starting with Herefords and moving to Angus and Charolais. Eventually a homestead opportunity moved the family’s ranching business up north to the Peace River country where his mother and brother are still active in the cattle industry. Spence has been married to Lori for 32 years and they have two adult sons, Shayne and Brad.