For those new to Calgary, the official yell of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth is "yahoo," not "yeehaw." While both expressions of joy are welcome, Stampede history reveals "yahoo" has been the favoured choice for over a century.
Origins of the Stampede Yell
When Guy Weadick created the Stampede in 1912, he used the expression "Whoop-Eee-Eee-Eee" in early newspaper ads, not yahoo or yeehaw. The word "yahoo" appeared in the Calgary Herald as early as 1901, but it originally described an "ill-bred" man. Over time, it evolved into a term associated with having a good time, as seen in a 1921 Herald editorial cartoon during Prohibition.
The first recorded combination of "yahoo" and "Stampede" in the Herald was on July 15, 1949, when a reader wrote a letter to the editor suggesting giving Stampede officials a "yahoo" and thank you for their work.
The Yipee Era
In the early decades, "yipee" was also a popular expression. A July 11, 1953 article praised local radio stations for Stampede coverage, saying, "What do you say we give our three local radio stations a big yipee, with a couple of loud yahoos on the side." A 1954 photo caption of an over-indulged cowboy hinted at the yipee/yahoo debate. In 1967, during Calgary Day at Montreal's Expo, festivities featured a Stampede theme with "yipee" still in use. The last Herald Stampede story using "yipee" was in 1983.
Yahoo vs Yeehaw
As years passed, "yahoo" became more common in Stampede coverage, often appearing in Herald front-page headlines. "Yeehaw" also appeared occasionally, but the City of Calgary's official Twitter account settled the debate in 2018 with a poll: yahoo won 80.6% to 19.4%. The Stampede itself uses "yahoo" in marketing and signage—one campaign noted, "It's Yahoo Not Yeehaw — It's a Stampede Thing." Stampede mascot Harry the Horse always yells "yahoo."
