Prime Minister Justin Trudeau listens to speeches as he attends a pancake breakfast in Calgary on Saturday, July 7, 2018. Regardless of their political stripe, politicians roll into the city looking to lasso party support in the form of votes. There’s more to the Calgary Stampede than a rodeo, cowboy hats and horses — it’s also a major opportunity for politicians. Regardless of their political stripe, they roll into town looking for lasso party support in the form of votes. The 10-day festival celebrating the cowboy way of life has drawn all the federal leaders, who often take on the face of dueling gunslingers seeking votes in a game of political monasticism. Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been a regular visitor to the Stampede, as have the leaders of the federal Conservatives, the NDP and the Green Party. Most of the attention this year will be on the federal Conservative leadership race, with five candidates attending a local barbecue Saturday night, as well as many provincial politicians looking to replace Alberta Premier Jason Kenney as leader. of the province’s United Conservative Party. “It’s not just the Conservatives doing this. I think it’s kind of evolved,” said Lori Williams, a political science professor at Mount Royal University in Calgary. “There was enough media attention and enough people coming from outside of Calgary that it became an attraction for leaders across the country to come and engage in some kind of pleasant political relationship that people across the country would see.” He said there’s also some “star power” associated with the Stampede. “Seeing someone they’ve seen online or on TV and they want to see and connect – and that’s a great opportunity for politicians, because sometimes those connections can change hearts and minds.” The federal Conservatives are scheduled to elect a new leader in September. Interim leader Candice Bergen was due to address the crowd at the Conservative barbeque, as well as leader candidates Pierre Poilievre, Jean Charest, Leslyn Lewis, Scott Aitchison and Roman Baber. “It’s an opportunity for politicians to be in a more relaxed and different environment, look a little different, participate in different activities, a little friendlier, more positive about things,” Williams said. Former Calgary Conservative MP Joan Crockett said politicians get to see a lot of people during the riot, which makes it very effective. “I think what people have come to expect from the Stampede is that there’s going to be some star quality, you’ve got to wear your rhinestones, your hat and your cowboy boots,” said Crockatt, who represented the Calgary Center from 2012 to 2015.
