Several ServiceMaster Restoration by Wills employees spent three weeks to aid in the cleanup of the Calgary Stampede after devastating floods ruined the grounds and much of the city of Calgary.

About 75,000 residents were forced to evacuate after heavy rains and flooding rocked the Calgary, Alberta, Canada area in June, causing the Elbow and Bow rivers to overflow their banks. In addition to flooded roads, broken bridges, and damaged homes throughout the area; the high waters also damaged the fairgrounds and all of the Stampede’s 63 buildings.

Slated as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” the Calgary Stampede is an annual rodeo, exhibition and festival held every July in Calgary that attracts millions and generates roughly $345 million for the community, according to the Stampede’s website.

ServiceMaster Recovery Management (SRM), the large commercial loss division of ServiceMaster Restore, sent their project management team from their U.S. locations to head up the restoration efforts in Calgary. The SRM team members from ServiceMaster Restoration by Wills helped get the fairgrounds ready for the 101st running of the Stampede, which ran July 5-14. Members of their team worked on the Calgary Grandstand, the Stampede’s welcome center; and the Saddledome, which hosts headlining acts.

"We were working under the pressure of getting the fairgrounds open for the Calgary Stampede,” says Sheri Wills, co-owner of ServiceMaster Restoration by Wills. She adds, “Our people were working 12 hours on and 12 hours off, and sometimes more. Throughout the process our team persisted to provide excellent service and remained calm."

ServiceMaster Restoration by Wills reports that they are back in Calgary to assist with the restoration of hundreds of residential homes that were impacted by the flood.

ServiceMaster Restoration by Wills is a disaster restoration company, with local offices serving the New London and Stamford areas for over 30 years. As a leading ServiceMaster Restore franchise in Connecticut, the company provides fire, water, flood, and smoke restoration; structural drying, 24/7 emergency services and more; while adhering to their own high standards of quality and corporate objectives. ServiceMaster Restoration by Wills also has an SRM large loss team that focuses on the cleanup of large commercial losses around the world.

The Calgary Stampede is a not-for-profit community organization that strives to preserve and promote western heritage and values. The Stampede promotes volunteerism, offers a year-round calendar of events; invests in youth and agricultural programs; and creates a unique western experience for the world to enjoy.