Canadian No. 1 Dakota Buttar Readies For Double-Duty Weekend With His Namesake Touring Pro Division Event Taking Over Kindersley, Saskatchewan, Sept. 5-6

AIRDRIE, Alta. – This weekend, two-time PBR Canada Champion Dakota Buttar will play double duty, taking on the role of event promoter in addition to being one of the nation’s top riders.

And as the Energy Dodge Dakota Buttar Invitational readies to return to Kindersley, Saskatchewan this weekend, Sept. 5-6, it brings with it far more than just a hometown celebration – the event lands squarely in the middle of one of the tightest PBR Canada Championship races in recent memory.

While Buttar currently sits atop the standings, his lead has been all but erased. After a dominant performance in Armstrong, British Columbia, Fort St. John’s Jake Gardner closed the gap to just 21 points.

“The points are really tight this year,” Buttar said. “We’ve seen some rookies really pick it up in the back half of the season, and with guys like Shay Marks coming back, no question it will be anyone’s game when we get to the Finals.”

Following closely behind No. 1 Buttar and No. 2 Gardner is veteran Jared Parsonage, who is just 115.17 points back in the No. 3 position. Parsonage has been in solid form, picking up wins at both the McDonald’s Colby Cave Memorial PBR Classic in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, and Glen Keeley Memorial Bull Riding in Stavely, Alberta, this summer.

Not far behind is No. 4 Garrett Green, who has closed within 270.33 of No. 1 Buttar courtesy of Touring Pro Division victories in Ponoka and Lacombe, Alberta, and a Cup Series win in Kelowna, British Columbia.

Rounding out the Top 5 is Jordan Hansen, sitting 327.5 points behind the top spot. Hansen hasn't won an event in 2025, but his consistent finishes, five Top 5 placings in his last seven events, make him a serious contender.

For Buttar, returning to Kindersley isn’t just a stop on the schedule, it’s a chance to bring the sport he loves and has seen so much success in home. 

“I grew up in Kindersley. This is the town that made me who I am,” Buttar said. “Where I first experienced rodeo too. There was no other place that could play host to any event I work with.”

The West Central Events Centre will play host to two nights of top-tier bull riding action, with $30,000 in prize money and important Tier 1 points up for grabs. But the event is more than just another stop on the Touring Pro Division, it’s a showcase of elite competition, community, and production.

“Bull riding is a special sport because of its accessibility,” Buttar said. “You don’t need to pay to chat with or get an autograph from these guys like you see in other sports. It’s grassroots.”

Behind the scenes, PBR Canada Cup Series production manager Peter Gebraad has helped build the Invitational into one of the best stops of the PBR Canada Touring Pro Division. 

“We blew the roof off the West Central Events Centre last year, and this year we get to do it twice, bigger and better,” Gebraad said. “We have an incredible team who brings unparalleled production to this event.”

Kindersley’s business community has also played a pivotal role in turning Buttar’s hometown event into a key stop on the national calendar.

“I’m so lucky to be able to work with such a supportive community,” Gebraad added. “Moving to two nights of action this year is indicative of that support. Come early, grab a burger and a beer in the beer gardens, then get to your seats to watch the best bulls and bull riders this country has to offer.”

Last year, Camrose’s Coy Robbins won the inaugural title. It was a fitting moment given Robbins also hosts his own hometown event.

“Coy has done so much for the industry with his event, pushing prize money and the points threshold,” Gebraad continued. “We’re hoping we can continue or even push that trend alongside him.”

As for Buttar, he’s keeping his focus on the job at hand – riding whatever bull he draws – but this weekend undoubtably comes with extra sentimentality.  

“I love getting to chat with anyone from town here,” he said. “Connecting with people who might have known me as a kid is always special—but meeting new fans who see what I do and want to follow along is so cool.”