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Ten-day hometown festival takes top spot in WestJet's online contest

CALGARY, Dec. 9, 2011 /CNW/ - WestJet today announced that the Calgary Stampede has been voted Canada's favourite festival, according to the airline's online contest.

Launched for a second year, WestJet Festivals invited Canadians from coast-to-coast to join the conversation and choose their favourite Canadian festival. After more than 10,000 votes were cast, the Calgary Stampede was selected, beating out more than 230 other festivals from across the country.

Garnering the most votes for 2011 were:

1. Calgary Stampede in Calgary, Alberta
2. Royal St. John's Regatta in St. John's, Newfoundland
3. Fair at the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) in Vancouver, British Columbia
4. Just For Laughs in Montreal, Quebec
5. Pictou Lobster Carnival, Pictou, Nova Scotia
6. Sarnia Rogers Bayfest Art & Music Festival in Sarnia, Ontario
7. Niagara Wine Festival in Niagara, Ontario
8. Halifax International Busker Festival in Halifax, Nova Scotia
9. Sioux Lookout Blueberry Festival in Sioux Lookout, Ontario
10. Edmonton's Capital EX in Edmonton, Alberta

WestJet was the official airline sponsor of the 2011 Calgary Stampede, sponsoring the WestJet Skyride, the bull-riding competition and the chuckwagon tarp of driver Jamie Laboucane. The WestJet Fun 'n Festival Zone, located on the midway, showcased the WestJet caravan with a sleek new design, digital scratch kiosks and interactive route map of more than 70 WestJet destinations.

"The traffic to our site saw Canadians passionate about having fun," said Corey Evans, WestJet Manager, Community Marketing. "At WestJet, we take fun seriously and this is why we've partnered with some of the best festivals. Thanks to the efforts of our Sponsorship team and dedicated, passionate WestJetters from our bases across Canada, we delivered another great season to our Fun 'n Festival Series, sponsoring 47 festivals in 2011."

"We're absolutely thrilled to be voted as Canada's favourite festival," said Karen Connellan, Director, Consumer Marketing for the Calgary Stampede. "We're proud of our terrific partnership with WestJet and know they'll be there to help us welcome folks from every part of Canada during the Calgary Stampede Centennial celebrations, July 6-15, 2012."

Along with voting for their favourite festival, westjetfestivals.com allowed Canadians to share their experiences, photos, videos and opinions about any festival in Canada and enter to win one of six festival experiences. The site also reported the adventures of the WestJet Sponsorship team as they crossed the country bringing the WestJet spirit to festivals in communities WestJet serves.

About WestJet
WestJet is Canada's favourite airline, offering scheduled service throughout its 71-city North American and Caribbean network. Inducted into Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures Hall of Fame and named one of Canada's best employers, WestJet pioneered low-cost flying in Canada. WestJet offers increased legroom, leather seats and live seatback television provided by Bell TV on its modern fleet of 96 Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft. With future confirmed deliveries for an additional 39 aircraft through 2018, WestJet strives to be one of the five most successful international airlines in the world.

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