Guy shared this story with us:

I was born on May 23, 1963 in Calgary, Alberta. The desire to be a professional cowboy was an inspiration that began at a young age and rapidly evolved through time. As a young man my father, Harold Shapka, never had the opportunity nor the funds to pursue his love for the sport of rodeo. Since I was the only boy and the youngest child, my father raised me under the prospect that I would become a cowboy and pursue a professional rodeo career. This journey began at the age of 9, when I attended a Calgary Stampede steer riding school hosted by Winston Bruce and Frank Edge. Two years later, I qualified for the inaugural Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) at the Edmonton Gardens. These experiences were invaluable, as they resulted in numerous friendships that would later aid me in advancing my rodeo career.

By the age of 15, I received a Severe Brothers bronc saddle from my father. The following spring, in 1979, I attended my first bronc riding school hosted by Wilf Hyland and accommodated by Gid Garstad’s arena and Stan Weatherly’s broncs. My family then moved to Spruce View, Alberta that same year. It was at this point that I took my pursuit of a professional rodeo career to the next level, practicing on a weekly basis at the Willsie’s arena in Caroline, Alberta. This was made possible through the gracious acts of Ivan Daines’ and Lawrence Pengally’s in providing broncs, as well as the mentorship of various cowboys within the region. One year later, I attended Ivan Daines’ bronc riding school in Innisfail, Alberta.

My official bronc riding career came to fruition in 1980, at the age of 17, when I qualified for the National High School Finals in Yakima, Washington. The following year, I won the Alberta High School Saddle Bronc Finals, the Calgary Stampede Novice Saddle Bronc, and qualified for the National High School Finals in Douglas, Wyoming. In 1982, my career aspirations were exponentially heightened when I enrolled at Casper College in Wyoming. I developed lifelong friendships with individuals such as Skeeter Thurston, Con Williams, Cody Lambert, Tom Reeves, Jeff Switzer and Dave Appleton, all of whom were on the same career path as myself.

In the same year, I qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Bozeman, Montana and proceeded to win the finals. During my second year at Casper College, I won the CNFR and the National Intercollegiate title. Following my Cheyenne Rookie Bronc Riding title in 1983, the rest I consider to be history. I leveraged the Foothills Cowboy Association (FCA) as a springboard to turning professional in 1984. This marked the beginning of an 19-year professional career, where I chose to retire in 2002. My notable career accomplishments and titles between 1984 and 2002 comprised:

- 1984: 1st of 17 CFR’s in Saddle Bronc Riding, Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) Rookie of the Year and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Saddle Bronc Rookie of The Year

- 1987: Canadian Saddle Bronc Champion and qualified for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR)

- 1988: Competed in the Calgary Olympics and qualified for the NFR

- 1995: Qualified for the NFR

- 1998: Won the Calgary Stampede Guy Weadick Award

- 2000: Won the CFR Saddle Bronc Average title

- 2002: Competed in the Salt Lake Olympics and won CPRA Cowboy of the Year

Professional rodeo was, by far, one of the greatest times of my life. With it came an abundance of noteworthy rodeos, road stories and memories. Rodeos such as the Pendleton Round-Up and the Calgary Stampede were personal favorites. With the rodeos came countless road stories.

In my rookie year, for unbeknownst reasons, Butch Small took me under his wing and acted as my mentor figure. I would assume it was because I looked up to Brad Gjermundson, Duane Daines, Lewis Field and others who would stay around for the winter rodeos. However, Butch would force Skeeter and I to sleep on the floor or box spring in his room, drive to rodeos using our personal outfits, and eat at restaurants that were beyond our budgets. He would also try to take the little money we had playing the card game known as “Pitch”.

This eventually backfired on Butch. We were travelling from Fort Worth, Texas to Jackson, Mississippi when Butch made us eat at his restaurant of choice and drive the entire route. As karma would have it, Skeeter ended up leading the rodeo that night, I was ranked, and Butch bucked off a blooper. Butch then swallowed his pride, took us to McDonalds, and proceeded to take the wheel all the way back to Fort Worth. Later that winter Skeeter and I devised a cheating scheme in Pitch that Butch nor anyone else could figure out. This allowed us to further chip away at Butch’s pride.

Another story goes back to 1996, when the United States was searching for the Unabomber. Skeeter and I were at Williams Lake Stampede when we sent a note to Dave Poulsen in the announcer’s booth. The note said: “Would Ted Kaczynski, if you’re within the sound of my voice, please report the fireworks area”. After Dave proceeded to announce this to the entire rodeo, someone tapped him on the shoulder and said, “Isn’t that the Unabomber?”. From that point forward, Skeeter and I were never to be in Dave’s good books.

Lastly, as for memories, winning the National Intercollegiate title in Bozeman, Montana was a particularly special moment. I had no intention of attending college until Trevor Helmig advised Dale Stiles, the Casper College coach, to consider me for the team. Dale took me in at the last minute and provided me with a scholarship. I was then fortunate to pay my dues by winning Dale and Casper College a national title.

Competing in North America’s most renowned and celebrated rodeos led to countless memories that I will cherish indefinitely. I met a number of incredible people along the way, many of whom I will always be thankful for. Most importantly, I met my wife, Tammy Minor, because of rodeo and now cherish our family in my years of retirement.

In my younger years my family consisted of my father, Harold, and my late mother, Gloria. I had two sisters, (late) Dallas and Janice, who spent some time barrel racing, primarily in the FCA. In 1992, I married Tammy. Since then, Tammy has been a schoolteacher for 29 years in our hometown of Alix, Alberta. We currently have two children, Tanner and Teagan, neither of which showed interest in the competitive side of rodeo. Instead, my son Tanner is turning 24 this year and entering his third year of law school at the University of Alberta. As for my daughter, Teagan is turning 22 this year and entering her fourth year of the registered nursing program at Red Deer College.

Next, I would like to use this space to show appreciation to a number of people who were instrumental throughout the entirety of my career. Many thanks to:

- Tom Grant, who owned the Crossroads Hotel in Calgary and provided me with sponsorship;

- Bryan Mandeville, who connected me with Mac’s Convenience Stores as a sponsor;

- Kim Trowbride and Nancy Brown at Mac’s, along with others in the company; and

- Bill Yuill with Monarch Broadcasting in Medicine Hat, Alberta.

To conclude, and I apologize for missing anyone, I would like to thank all the others that made my career possible:

- My immediate family and parents;

- Stock contractors, sponsors, fans, coaches;

- Bruce and Iloe Flewelling

- The Northcotts

- Lawrance Pengally

- The Willsie Family

- Wilf and Mel Hyland

- Jim Kelts

- Clayton Hines

- Con Williams

- (Late) Dale Stiles

- Skeeter Thurston

- Jim Cooper

- Brad Gjermundson

- Clint Johnson

- Duane Daines

- Winston and Duane Bruce

- Ross Wilson

- Scott Breeze and many others.

Please join us in welcoming Guy Shapka into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.