Alberta Premier Jason Kenney celebrated the first major event to be held in Canada since the COVID-19 pandemic began, with a Calgary Stampede pancake breakfast Monday.
There were plenty of cowboy hats, sausages and, of course, pancakes being served up with country music tunes from the band as people enjoyed the morning.
Alberta is the first province in Canada to fully reopen following months of closures and restrictions as officials worked to reduce community spread of COVID-19.
Speaking to the media, Kenney said he believed Alberta would be “open for good,” and that the government would be able to shift its focus back to what it was elected to do: grow the economy, create jobs, build pipelines and get a fair deal for the province.
“I am proud that Alberta is leading Canada out of the pandemic, and leading Canada in economic growth,” he said.
“For the rest of the Stampede, we’re going to have a great time reconnecting with Calgarians and Albertans as we celebrate our rural roots and our Western heritage.”
Reg Barnes, a born-and-raised Calgarian who attends the Stampede every year, said he was happy to see it return in full swing again this year, after being all but cancelled in 2020.
“It’s a big thing for the city, it’s a big thing for the psychology of the community,” he said.
“I was a little hesitant coming down here but you have to take those small steps back to normal and if it gets too busy then I’ll put (my mask) back on, but until then I think I want to get back at it.”
Health Minister Tyler Shandro said the government will continue to follow the science when it comes to COVID-19 protocols and fully transitioning from a pandemic to endemic response.
“Eventually, the rest of the world will have to be moving to an endemic response and easing restrictions but also moving on with treating this as a communicable disease that’s something that is treated by vaccines,” he said.
“That’s something I’m proud for Alberta to be able to show the rest of the country can be safely done. Stampede – first major event – we did expect that that would be the case, but I think it’s a great first major event for the country to be able to see.”
A small number of protesters were seen at the Stampede breakfast on Monday, carrying signs with slogans like “ARREST KENNEY NOW.”
Weeks ago, Health Minister Tyler Shandro and his family were accosted and harassed by protesters at a Canada Day event.