By Haylee Dianne
Men attending the Crocus Hill Stampede in Valleyview had an opportunity to take a proactive approach to their health Saturday as the Prostate Cancer Centre’s MAN VAN® made a stop at the Stampede grounds.
The mobile men’s health clinic was at the Crocus Hill Stampede Grounds on Saturday, August 8, from noon until 4 p.m., offering free PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) blood testing for men ages 40 to 70. No appointment was necessary.
The MAN VAN®, operated by the Prostate Cancer Centre, is Canada’s first mobile men’s health clinic. The program travels throughout Alberta, bringing men’s health services directly into communities and making screening more accessible.
A PSA test measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen in a man’s blood. PSA testing can help with the early detection of prostate cancer, but an elevated PSA level does not necessarily mean cancer is present. Other conditions can also cause PSA levels to rise, and further medical assessment may be needed.
The MAN VAN® also provides mental wellness checks for men 18 and older. The Prostate Cancer Centre says the checks assess symptoms and risks related to depression and suicide, with follow-up available for patients who require additional support.
The Valleyview visit was part of the 2026 Crocus Hill Stampede, which ran August 7, 8 and 9 at the Valleyview Ag Grounds.
The annual event, organized by the Valleyview & Districts Agricultural Society, brought together rodeo action, family activities and community events throughout the weekend. The Stampede opened with its parade on Friday, August 7.
Rodeo fans could watch Wildrose Rodeo Association action at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with events including barrel racing, team roping, saddle bronc, bull riding and steer wrestling. Saturday also featured rodeo slack beginning at 8 a.m., while the Crocus Hill Ranch Rodeo was scheduled for Sunday.
There was also plenty for younger visitors, with activities including barrel racing, goat tail untying, mutton bustin’ and calf scramble. Mini Truck Pulls were scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, and a farmers’ market was held at the Valleyview Ag Grounds from 1 to 4 p.m. on August 8 and 9.
Bringing the MAN VAN® to the Stampede provided local men with an opportunity to access preventive health services while attending one of Valleyview’s major annual community gatherings.
The Prostate Cancer Centre says the MAN VAN® serves approximately 7,000 men each year. Its mobile clinics travel to communities, workplaces and events throughout Alberta, with the goal of helping reduce barriers to men’s health screening.
For men considering PSA testing, the Prostate Cancer Centre recommends checking the guidelines for the individual MAN VAN® clinic, as testing requirements can vary.
The Valleyview stop brought together two important aspects of community life — the western tradition and family atmosphere of the Crocus Hill Stampede and an opportunity for local men to take a proactive step toward their health.
For information about upcoming MAN VAN® clinics across Alberta, the Prostate Cancer Centre provides a current clinic calendar on its website.