Stampede has come to an end, and it was one for the books! We saw so many people come together to celebrate The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. Did you know that in its origin, the purpose of the Calgary Stampede was an event created to showcase Western Canadian Production and for people to escape tumultuous world events such as world war? At its very heart, this still rings true for Stampede today. What an incredible opportunity to escape and enjoy some fun with so many wonderful people!

As some may be reflecting on the past week, hopefully with joy, we encourage you to continue summer with the same spirit of coming together in celebration and fun. We hope that many of you are about to enjoy vacations away from home, and for those of you who may not, simply enjoying the company of others and celebrating the relationships that you cherish at home, is all that embodies the joy of summer.

As always, at The Gift Designers, we hope to inspire you, not only to find unique opportunities to give, but also to inspire moments to celebrate and here are a few tidbits of what we came up with:

Road Trip! even if it is just to Canmore, Lethbridge, Drumheller, or maybe even as far as Edmonton, there is nothing like grabbing a couple of friends and taking to the open road. Blast the music and sing at the top of your lungs! Take a break and escape for a day or two!

Be a Spirit Lifter! No one likes a ‘Debbie Downer’ so be intentional in bringing joy into every gathering or party that you enjoy over the summer.

Bring along a Massive Bucket of Cheer! Sometimes, impromptu get-togethers are just the best! Grab a bucket and fill it with drinks and snacks and call a few friends over to hang out on the deck … maybe even grab one designed by TGD !

Getting together is a great way to recharge and refresh. Good company is a source of encouragement and joy. We encourage you to keep up the spirit of celebration all summer and be intentional in “coming together”.