The Hat That Defines Calgary: Smithbilt Has Been Crafting the West's Most Iconic Headwear Since 1919
A $300 loan, a Russian immigrant's vision, and more than a century of handcrafted Western hats — Smithbilt is, without question, the most Calgary thing that has ever existed
June 28, 2026 · By Travis Holden · Calgary, Alberta · Business · 7 min read read
The $300 That Started Everything — and the City It Helped Build
In 1910, a young man named Morris Shumiatcher convinced his father to move their family from Russia to Canada. The language barrier was navigated the way many immigrants navigated it in that era: the family was renamed Smith, and they set about becoming Canadian.
Morris borrowed $300 from a local bank and purchased Calgary Hat Works. He was in his late teens. The year was 1919. At the time, the company produced mostly dress hats — small-brimmed styles popular in Eastern Canada and Europe. Calgary was a frontier city still building its identity, and the hat that would come to define it had not yet been conceived.
That conception came in 1926, when Morris Shumiatcher began a collaborative effort with local businessmen and the Calgary Stampede Board to create something that would represent the spirit of the Canadian West: a broad-brimmed white felt hat that would become the unofficial uniform of Stampede week and, in the decades that followed, the official symbol of Calgary's identity and hospitality.
Smithbilt has been making that hat for one hundred years. The $300 loan has more than paid off.
The White Hat Ceremony: A Symbol That Has Circled the Globe
In most cities, the key to the city is a ceremonial piece of metal. In Calgary, it is a white felt cowboy hat — specifically, a Smithbilt hat.
The Calgary White Hat Ceremony has been a civic tradition since the 1950s, when Mayor Don Mackay began placing white hats on the heads of visiting dignitaries as a gesture of Western Canadian hospitality. The symbolism is deliberate: the white cowboy hat communicates that you are welcome, that the West's open spirit applies to you, and that Calgary regards you as a guest to be received with generosity and warmth.
**Notable recipients of the Calgary White Hat include:**
- **Royalty:** Queen Elizabeth II (1951), Prince Charles, Princess Diana
- **U.S. Presidents:** Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama
- **Canadian Prime Ministers:** Pierre Trudeau, Brian Mulroney, Jean Chrétien, Stephen Harper, Justin Trudeau
- **Global leaders** from more than 60 countries
- **Performers and athletes:** Garth Brooks, Taylor Swift, Shania Twain, Wayne Gretzky
Every one of those heads was covered by a hat made in the Inglewood workshop that Smithbilt has occupied for decades. The globalism of the gesture is rooted in a very local act of craft.
What Goes Into a Smithbilt Hat — and Why the Materials Matter
The Smithbilt process begins with fur felt — the premium material of choice for serious Western hats. Fur felt, as opposed to wool felt, is made from the processed fur of beaver or rabbit and produces a hat that is smoother, more water-resistant, and significantly more durable than its wool counterpart. A quality fur felt hat, properly cared for, will outlast most things you own.
The blocking process — shaping the hat body into its distinctive crown and brim form — requires a combination of steam, hydraulic pressure, and skilled handwork. The brim is stiffened and shaped. The crown is set. The interior sweatband and liner are fitted and hand-finished. Each hat passes through multiple stages of quality inspection before it leaves the workshop.
Smithbilt offers several grades of felt quality, with higher grades producing a smoother finish, a richer sheen, and a longer lifespan. The difference between a mid-grade and a top-grade Smithbilt hat is something you feel the first time you put one on — and see every time you look at it.
Custom Hats: When Off-the-Shelf Is Not Enough
One of Smithbilt's most distinctive offerings is their custom hat program — the option to work with the workshop team to design a hat built entirely to your specifications.
Custom orders allow clients to specify: the brim width and curl profile; the crown shape, height, and crease pattern; the felt colour from the full Smithbilt palette; the quality grade; the hatband material, width, and finish; and the interior liner and sweatband specifications. The result is a hat that fits the exact dimensions of the customer's head and reflects their exact vision of what a Western hat should look like on them.
For Calgarians who attend the Stampede every year, a custom Smithbilt is both a personal statement and a permanent investment. Unlike off-the-shelf fashion, a custom hat built from quality fur felt does not go out of style. It becomes more yours with every year you wear it.
Custom consultations are handled in-store at the Inglewood workshop. Booking ahead is strongly recommended in the months leading up to Stampede, when demand reaches its peak.
Find Smithbilt in Calgary — and Online
Smithbilt Hats operates from their workshop and retail shop at 914 11th Street SE in Calgary's Inglewood neighbourhood — one of Calgary's oldest and most characterful districts, and a fitting address for a business that is itself a piece of Calgary history.
The shop is open Monday through Saturday. Online ordering is available at smithbilthats.com for ready-to-wear styles, accessories, and gift vouchers. Custom hat orders require an in-store consultation.
During Stampede season — the second week of July — Smithbilt is also present at various Stampede Park locations and participates in White Hat Ceremony events hosted by the City of Calgary and the Stampede Board.
**Contact & Location:**
- **Address:** 914 11th Street SE, Calgary, AB T2G 3E8 (Inglewood)
- **Website:** [smithbilthats.com](https://smithbilthats.com)
- **Instagram:** [@smithbilthats](https://www.instagram.com/smithbilthats/) — 24K followers, product drops, custom showcases, and Stampede content
Key takeaways
- Smithbilt Hats has been crafting premium Western headwear in Calgary since 1919 — founded by Morris Shumiatcher on a $300 bank loan
- The Calgary White Hat, created by Smithbilt in 1926, is the official civic symbol of Calgary and has been presented to queens, presidents, prime ministers, and world champions for nearly a century
- Recipients include Queen Elizabeth II, U.S. Presidents from Eisenhower to Obama, and performers including Taylor Swift, Shania Twain, and Garth Brooks
- Smithbilt offers fully custom hats built to specification, with in-store consultations at their Inglewood workshop at 914 11th Street SE, Calgary
- Ready-to-wear styles and accessories are available online at smithbilthats.com; follow @smithbilthats on Instagram for 24K followers of Western hat content
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Smithbilt Hats located in Calgary?
- Smithbilt Hats operates from their workshop and retail shop at 914 11th Street SE in Calgary's Inglewood neighbourhood. They are open Monday through Saturday.
- What is the Calgary White Hat?
- The Calgary White Hat is a broad-brimmed white felt cowboy hat created by Smithbilt in 1926 in collaboration with the Calgary Stampede Board. Since the 1950s it has been the official symbol of Calgary's hospitality, presented to visiting heads of state, prime ministers, presidents, royalty, and celebrities during the Calgary White Hat Ceremony.
- Can I order a Smithbilt hat online?
- Yes. Ready-to-wear hats, accessories, and gift vouchers are available for order online at smithbilthats.com. Custom hat orders require an in-store consultation at their Inglewood workshop.
- How long has Smithbilt Hats been in business?
- Smithbilt Hats was founded in 1919 by Morris Shumiatcher. As of 2026, the company has been in continuous operation for 107 years — making it one of Canada's longest-running hat manufacturers.
- What materials are Smithbilt hats made from?
- Premium Smithbilt hats are made from fur felt — typically processed beaver or rabbit fur — which produces a smoother, more durable, and more water-resistant hat than wool felt. Multiple quality grades are available.
- How do I order a custom Smithbilt hat?
- Custom hat orders are handled through an in-store consultation at the Inglewood workshop at 914 11th Street SE, Calgary. Booking ahead is recommended, particularly during the months leading up to the Calgary Stampede in July.
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