Overview
- Premier Danielle Smith and Mayor Jyoti Gondek led Thursday’s First Flip pancake breakfast on Stephen Avenue Mall to officially launch the 10-day festival.
- Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek has nearly 20 events planned for the first day as festival programming ramps up through next week.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre are expected to attend Stampede events as part of the political barbecue circuit.
- Country star Shania Twain will marshal Friday’s parade, which Global Calgary will broadcast live at 8:45 a.m.
- Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi described the Stampede as a “political petting zoo” and encouraged his caucus to visit church pancake breakfasts.