The Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba is excited to announce the return of a wild west spectacle not seen at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair since 2009 when the annual event returns to Brandon later this month.
The Tom Bishop Wild West Show, with more than 100 years of history, will be showcased in Westoba Place during the afternoon and evening show as well as the Ag Action stage over the course of the six day Fair.
Bishop and his team of performers have been entertaining audiences across North America since 1914 when Thomas W. Bishop entertained with his trained horse Saladin for a sold out crowd to raise money for the war effort. Saladin was trained to perform a number of tricks, including climbing up into a wagon and pulling the trigger of a shotgun aimed squarely at a dummy of the German Kaiser.
A combination of the vaudeville stage shows of the east and inspiration from the original Buffalo Bill Wild West Show inspired Bishop to start a show in Canada after emigrating to the prairies and learning the ropes of being a true cowboy.
Now in the third generation of performers, Bishop’s grandson continues the show and tradition across venues across the country. When he’s not performing, he has appeared with his horses in such television shows as Murdoch Mysteries, Anne, American Gods and The Handmaid’s Tale.
This year’s Royal Manitoba Winter Fair is scheduled to run from March 28 to April 2, 2022, at the Keystone Centre, with the week officially kicking off on the Monday morning with the annual Western Breakfast at the historic Dome Building, presented by Sunrise Credit Union, Chemtrade and Q Country Radio.
Tickets to the Fair are on sale now. Children (12 and under) have the opportunity to receive “free” tickets (until March 27th), courtesy of J&G Homes.