Apparel and record shop Turkey & Pistols started as Rob Sawchuk’s side-hustle.
Now it’s a creative space that’s building community.
Along Alberta’s iconic Cowboy Trail, the hamlet of Bragg Creek serves as a gateway to Kananaskis Country and outdoor adventures. Near the corner of the hamlet’s authentic boardwalk, behind a hitching post and beside an old stagecoach, stands Turkey & Pistols — a shop dedicated to art, music and the beauty of nature.
When you walk inside, you’re likely to find owner Rob Sawchuk (TSR ’04) in the middle of a deep-dive discussion with a fellow customer about rare vinyl pressings; the inspiration behind his designs on t-shirts, hoodies and hats; dream guitars; John Prine lyrics; or the weather. Every guest who visits and every conversation shared helps build Sawchuk’s vision of creating a safe and welcoming space that celebrates local community — all through the joy of music and creativity.
LINK writer Zach Robertson sat down with Sawchuk to chat about the power of live music, local culture, great stories and common ground.
What’s the origin story behind Turkey & Pistols?
In 2017, I took three months off from my job to help my wife through a difficult health issue. I started out making signs, and that gave me a creative outlet and some passive income. So it all started out of my basement, using an Instagram account and inspired by a John Prine song.
How did you go from your basement to this cool location in Bragg Creek?
We did a pop-up test in Redwood Meadows — it was a ukulele night where people came by to jam and where I was selling local printed shirts and a small selection of vinyl records. In 2023, we pulled the trigger to move the merch company here, where I have a storefront full of apparel and records with an in-house printing shop in the back.
What’s your creative inspiration?
The real heart of this place is the people and the small-town vibes out here. I want to use my art and my design to showcase and elevate the community.
How does your passion for music come into community building?
Music is a place where we can all find common ground — our cultures and our communities need stories. And that’s country music. It can be one person, one instrument and a great story, and it doesn’t matter what colour you are or how old you are; you can relate to it.
What’s your vision for the future?
We host an open mic night at the local saloon and I’m trying to build a place where local, authentic artists feel safe and encouraged to be original and different. And I want this space to be somewhere anyone can come, talk and connect.
Oki, Âba wathtech, Danit'ada, Tawnshi, Hello.
SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.
We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. We now call it the city of Calgary, which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta.