THE RANCHMEN’S CASUAL ELEGANCE

Calgary’s iconic Ranchmen’s Club continues to earn an exceptional reputation for tradition, food quality and service excellence and a flair for contemporary uniqueness.

“It’s exciting, rewarding and enjoyable but it’s also a delicate balance,” say the upbeat Will Trow, general manager of The Ranchmen’s Club. “Absolutely respecting the past, while focused on the present and the future. After all, our legacy pre-dates Alberta itself. The Ranchmen’s Club has been the gathering place of Calgary movers, shakers and thought leaders for more than 130 years.”

Track records matter. He emphasizes that the Club’s longstanding heritage and partnerships with local organizations continues to cultivate a unique energy that makes The Ranchmen’s a popular place for Calgary innovators and trailblazers to connect.

A remarkable aspect, and a secret to the Club’s solid reputation, is both an innovative approach as well as a business strategy which successfully blends deep-

BY JOHN HARDY PUBLISHED BY MELISSA MITCHELL

rooted heritage with a contemporary focus for what members want, and how they want it.

And because heritage is a vital factor for The Club’s present and the future, The Ranchmen’s Club has a dynamic, modern perspective.

In 1891, the population of Calgary was 3,876. A local group, calling themselves the Wolves Pack, first met and huddled in a rail/train car for a few years. Then they rented a meeting room above Mariaggi’s Restaurant on Stephen Avenue, and established The Ranchmen’s Club. Fast forward to 2018, when The Club was recognized as Top 100 Platinum Clubs of the World, and the first and only Platinum-ranked club in Alberta.

Trow is gung-ho, keenly in the present, and passionate about the Ranchmen’s Club reputation. He exudes infectious enthusiasm and pride about the many reasons for The Ranchmen’s popularity and success. The superb menus. The fabulous food. The world-class wine cellar. The exceptional service. The artworks, and the outstanding collection of iconic pieces as well as hosting and celebrating local artists. The Club’s dining rooms and meeting facilities. And the exciting and eclectic roster of The Ranchmen’s events, activities and programs.

With the many features and components that make The Ranchmen’s Club a Calgary tradition, Trow emphasizes the most important bottom line. “The people! First and foremost, Ranchmen’s Club is a community.”

Of course, the essence and the specialness of The Club goes deeper. “We are way beyond being a dining, social or business club. We pride ourselves on The Club as an environment of connection. What is particularly beautiful about our organization is being a kaleidoscope of different things for each of our members. There’s no doubt about it,” he says with passion. “For all of us, and for our members, the true meaning of our Club is – personal.”

The landmark Calgary location, with the art deco exterior and the hallmark dark blue canopy above the main entrance, is a genuinely special place.

Members and guests delight about the many, distinctive and subtle, aspects of The Ranchmen’s Club experience. It is a place to relax and enjoy getting together with friends, savor excellent food, select from the second-to-none wine list and share the good times of participating in The Club’s impeccably organized events and activities.

For many members, The Club is also a popular place to network, develop professionally and do relaxed and informal business. “Privacy and confidentiality is something we value and prioritize,” Trow points out, “making us an effective perfect place to meet and conduct business.”

Members, guests, visitors and Club staff agree. There is a certain specialness about The Ranchmen’s Club atmosphere. The efficient and personalized service. The look and feel of contemporary elegance. The décor, the layout, the lighting, the artwork on the walls and other special touches in The Club’s signature A.E. Cross Dining Room, the more casual Wolves Den, The Terrace, the various meeting and conference rooms, and even in the main lobby and the corridors.

Relaxing. Comfortable. Welcoming. Contemporary elegance does say it best!

Particularly because Calgary is such a vibrant dining scene, where all generations of foodies expect great food and drink, Will Trow explains that Calgary restaurants may just be The Club’s biggest competition. It is also a winning edge for The Ranchmen’s Club.

Members and guests consistently rave about the superb quality of The Club’s menus, the wine selection and the relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Will Trow credits The Ranchmen’s worldclass chef, Douglas King, for creating menus of outstanding and unique dishes with terrific flavors and made with uncompromising fresh ingredients. From the veal schnitzel, steelhead trout, spaghetti vongole, halibut, Nova Scotia lobster sandwich and more.

The current Ranchmen’s menus are also a terrific way to connect the past with the present. “We have a large demographic who enjoy the classics that never go out of style,” he explains.

“Ranchmen’s is well known for items such as our sensational dry-aged steaks, rack of lamb and our famous Ranchmen’s lobster sandwich. But there are also members who enjoy the new trends, styles and tastes, like steak tartar, wild Newfoundland cod fish and chips and others.

He adds that the Club’s seasonal dishes are also a great way to keep the menus fresh and always offer some slightly different choices for the members. “All the dishes on our menus, and the selections from our sommelier-curated Wine Cellar, are examples of how The Club strives for excellence in culinary arts.”

The feedback is positive and unanimous! In addition to The Ranchmen’s Club facility and the exceptional service, the quality and the flavors of the food are keys for earning The Club reputation.

Another dynamic aspect of The Ranchmen’s uniqueness is the overwhelming positivity and the glowing reviews from long-term and new members alike. A unanimous chorus that, in addition to the fabulous food and terrific service, today’s Club is all about community, networking, relationships, good times – and mingling and schmoozing.

Jaspreet Grewal and Michael Kaumeyer are just two of many examples about The Ranchmen’s unique edge of excellence. A special place for opportunities to network, make connections, and a laid-back way to do business and enjoy relaxed and friendly socializing.

Kaumeyer is founder and co-CEO of Grayhawk Investment Strategies, a respected legacy and relationship management specialist and a proud, 25+ year member of The Ranchmen’s Club. “It is somewhat a family tradition,” he says. “My father was a longstanding member, and I joined The Club, partially because it has always been a unique place to do business. The community of likeminded people has always been a natural fit for me. Not just from a functional perspective, but strategically. I believe very strongly in the importance of literally breaking bread with people I do business with.

“The privacy, the standard of quality service and the facilities are unparalleled in Calgary. And The Club’s service is exceptional,” he adds. “The staff genuinely want to know the members and make the member experiences unforgettable. It is a perfect representation of how I want my colleagues and clients to see my firm, as well.”

Grewal, founder, clinician researcher, venture partner and entrepreneur in-residence, has been an active Ranchmen’s member for three years. “As a born and raised Calgarian, I always knew Ranchmen’s as an iconic members club, but having lived abroad for several years, I became a member, partially as a way to reconnect with the Calgary business community and a great way to meet people in a professional and personal capacity. It’s also important to be part of something that’s so meaningful to Calgary’s history.

“The Club provides me with an opportunity to host meetings and events and share everything The

Club has to offer with friends and family,” she says. “And it is exciting how Ranchmen’s is evolving and attracting younger and more diverse members. It was also a driving motivation for me to join. I particularly enjoy the access to the various global Reciprocal Clubs, and of course the incredible food and wine, and the terrific curated events that encourage member networking.”

The roster of Club events, activities, the leagues and the diverse programs are extremely popular member features. Ladies Bridge, Men’s Bridge and Mixed Bridge. The Car Club. The Henry Smith and the Dixon Lang Golf Programs. The lively Saturday Slosh League. And various sporting league events, including trap and skeet shooting, James Bond-themed evenings, and fly-fishing trips on the Bow River and the Fraser River in B.C.

In many aspects of Calgary business and social life, there is consensus that the past three pandemic years of commotion and disruptions were unprecedented and trying. Ironically, it also turned out to be a timely and positive, silver lining opportunity for The Ranchmen’s Club to re-group, refresh and update its focus.

Emily Gabryluk, The Ranchmen’s marketing and communications manager notes that it allowed The Club a chance to step back, re-evaluate goals, approaches and the needs of members, moving into a new era. “There are ongoing conversations, strategic sessions and town hall meetings with members, seeking out their thoughts, opinions and ideas,” she explains.

“It is all about respecting The Ranchmen’s heritage, staying true to core Ranchmen’s values, but also the importance of being trailblazers and innovators.

“Change doesn’t need to be drastic. And sometimes it may not be easy, but it is important. We absolutely stay true to tradition, but we also want to be relevant and up to date. It really is not a re-branding, Just some fresh and exciting ways to enhance an already established and iconic Calgary brand!”

The Club regularly brainstorms with members about celebrating the past while also bringing Ranchmen’s into contemporary times. “It is an ambitious and exciting goal,” the personable Will Trow admits. “But the timing is right and it is a necessary journey.”

By combining heritage and tradition with contemporary excellence, The Ranchmen’s Club is proof that, while most things do change, some things just get better.

By Scott Orban

By David Parker

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