Prime Minister Trudeau attends first Calgary Stampede since 2019

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau landed in Calgary on Sunday to attend Stampede for the primary time since 2019.

Trudeau joined his lone Calgary MP, George Chahal, at a pancake breakfast at northeast Calgary’s Genesis Centre within the morning, stunning the gang of about 200 individuals. Chahal, a former metropolis councillor, greeted Trudeau with a giant Stampede-welcoming “Yahoo.”

“This can be a second to assemble and to rejoice having the ability to collect as soon as once more. It’s nice to see everybody in individual. Completely happy Stampede,” the prime minister stated in a quick tackle to the gang.

“We’ve had a troublesome couple of years the place individuals have needed to pull collectively and make it via. And we actually noticed the power of group, Canadians leaning on one another, being there for one another — that’s what it’s all about.”

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Trudeau flipped pancakes and mingled with the gang for about half-hour earlier than heading to the Stampede round 10:30 a.m. alongside Tourism Minister Randy Boissonnault. He was additionally scheduled to attend a Liberal Get together fundraiser later within the day.

“I used to be not anticipating Justin Trudeau in any respect,” stated Melvin Lopes, who attended the breakfast together with his household. “Excellent shock; my father-in-law is visiting us from India and he’s a giant fan of Justin Trudeau . . . He’s with me right here as we speak, and he’s so glad to see him right here in individual.”

One man was escorted off the premises by police after shouting “Trudeau’s a traitor” because the prime minister took the microphone to talk to the gang.

On the Stampede, Trudeau met with the Stampede’s veterinarian and a few college students who’re researching animal security. They walked alongside the horses within the pens behind the grandstand infield as they talked. He then met with Mayor Jyoti Gondek, who welcomed him to Calgary.

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Gondek informed The Canadian Press it was nice to speak to Trudeau in regards to the Stampede and their shared accountability.

“We had an important dialog in regards to the vibe that he’s feeling within the metropolis — his phrases — so it’s actually good to make it possible for the federal authorities is conscious that Calgary’s in good condition,” she stated.

Trudeau additionally visited one of many barns and talked to some heavy horse house owners earlier than strolling via the crowds on the grounds, the place many younger households had been attending.

Some Stampede-goers stopped the prime minister whereas he walked alongside the halfway, asking for selfies as he talked about how good it was to be again on the occasion. Others, together with refugees from Ukraine, Syria and Afghanistan, thanked him. One Calgary lady thanked him for serving to save her residence through the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Osman Husein, who was attending his first Stampede, stated he felt like he had a star second.

“It’s cool. It’s cool to see him. I didn’t count on him at Calgary, not at Stampede,” he stated.

Others may very well be heard muttering detrimental feedback beneath their breath earlier than strolling away, and a few yelled within the background.

After greater than an hour of strolling via the crowds, Trudeau was whisked off by his safety element to a Liberal Get together fundraiser at a brewery in northeast Calgary, the place he spoke to a pleasant crowd.

He took the chance to rally the troops by speaking a few federal child-care deal, offering pandemic helps from Ottawa and standing up for democracy in locations reminiscent of Ukraine.

Trudeau’s Calgary journey got here after a day in Nova Scotia on Saturday, the place he formally apologized for the systemic racism skilled by the one all-Black unit to battle for Canada through the First World Warfare.

It was additionally a day after a federal Conservative party barbecue Saturday night time at Heritage Park attended by 4 of the occasion’s 5 management candidates.

Interim occasion Chief Candice Bergen assured the gang of 1,100 that unity doesn’t imply uniformity, and it’s OK if occasion members disagree on points.

“It’s OK to be a Conservative and have a special view from one other Conservative on a specific subject. We’re in the midst of a management race and I’m not naive nor am I blind,” Bergen stated.

— With information from The Canadian Press

mrodriguez@postmedia.com

Twitter: @michaelrdrguez