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Cowboy crooner Ian Tyson to be Calgary Stampede parade marshal

Country singer-songwriter Ian Tyson has been named this year’s Calgary Stampede parade marshal.

CALGARY — Country singer-songwriter Ian Tyson has been named this year’s Calgary Stampede parade marshal.

Stampede president Mike Casey says Tyson is a true cowboy and symbolizes western values.

Tyson, who lives in the rolling foothills southwest of Calgary, says he’s honoured because the Stampede has always been close to his heart.

Tyson’s career spans five decades: he performed in the 1960s and ’70s with former wife Sylvia Tyson and wrote what has become the iconic song Four Strong Winds.

Tyson was honoured earlier this week when Calgary Transit unveiled a wall along its downtown route with lyrics of his song Land of Shining Mountains.

The Stampede will also honour its historic partnership with the Treaty Seven First Nations, whose chiefs will ride as honorary parade marshals.

The Stampede will be July 6-15.