BY COURTESY ROLEX
PHOTOGRAPHY: ROLEX GRAND SLAM/SOFYA KHIZHIK; SM MEDIA/DAVE CHIDLEY

A showjumping rider for the Canadian team at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, Linda Southern-Heathcott has been President and CEO of one of the sport’s most iconic venues, Spruce Meadows in Calgary since 2006.

Spruce Meadows was founded by your parents, Ron and Marg Southern, and your family has continued to develop the venue over more than five decades. Following last year’s 50th anniversary, how do you balance preserving that family legacy with continuing to evolve Spruce Meadows?
I think we have always stayed true to the core values of Spruce Meadows, from the grass rings to the traditions. However, the venue has evolved considerably since I took over 20 years ago, and today it has become much more of a sports and entertainment destination. We still have our show jumping events, but we have also added our International Christmas Market, soccer, concerts, big fireworks displays, and more.
Continuing to evolve is important because, when we started Spruce Meadows, there were only around 300,000 people in Calgary, compared to around 1.3 million today. There are a lot of people who have never been to Spruce Meadows before, so it is important that we continue to engage with people and encourage them to come to Spruce Meadows throughout the year. We also have a real focus on bringing the younger generation to Spruce Meadows to enjoy our events, our show jumping, and everything else that we do here.
◆ The CAD $5 million prize purse for the CPKC ‘International’, presented by Rolex, has been retained for 2026. What does that commitment say about the ambition of Spruce Meadows and the status of this competition within international show jumping?
Throughout the 51-year history of Spruce Meadows, we have always been a leader in offering the top prize money to equestrian athletes from around the world. It is important to our family that we continue that tradition and continue to lead in that space. As it was last year, it will be the richest single-day prize money of any sporting event in Canada. This has also been made possible by the commitment of our sponsors, some of whom have been with us from the very beginning.
◆ Richard Vogel arrives as the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping live contender following consecutive Major victories at The Dutch Masters and TSCHIO Aachen. What would it mean to witness only the second Rolex Grand Slam triumph in history at Spruce Meadows?
In the early days of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, everybody said it couldn’t be done. Then Scott Brash went on to achieve that remarkable feat in 2015, and it would be spectacular if we could have another Rolex Grand Slam winner.
It is a huge feat for an athlete in terms of how they manage their horses, how they manage themselves, how professional they are, and how good a horseperson they are. If Richard Vogel were to go on and win the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, I think it would really elevate not only our sport, but also the accomplishments of the athletes. Furthermore, I think it puts us in the same spotlight as sports such as tennis or golf, and that is very important to us.
◆ Richard enjoyed considerable success at Spruce Meadows during the 2026 Summer Series. What will he have learned from that experience, and how might it help him prepare for the very different demands of the ‘Masters’ Tournament?
Whenever you have competed at a venue several times, that experience helps to shape your decisions. It doesn’t necessarily mean you have an advantage on the course, but I think it gives you an advantage mentally. You are comfortable in the venue; you understand what is expected and you understand the lay of the land. Therefore, I do believe Richard’s experience here during the 2026 Summer Series will give him an advantage when he returns for the ‘Masters’ Tournament.