Mayor Linnsie Clark rides in a car with top elected officials from Cypress County and the town of Redcliff during Thursday's Medicine Hat Stampede parade. - NEWS PHOTO COLLIN GALLANT
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
Hatters might not be known for standing on ceremony during Stampede Week, but the regions local politicians broke with protocol during Thursday’s Stampede parade through the city centre.
Joining together in one crammed convertible were Medicine Hat Mayor Linnsie Clark, Cypress County Reeve Dan Hamilton and Redcliff deputy mayor Chris Czember – a break from past years when the three top elected officials rode in successive vehicles led by the host.
That practice was established this year at the Redcliff parade last month, said Clark, who rode in her first local parade as top magistrate after winning the 2021 fall election.
“We just felt it was important to have all the regions leaders together,” said Clark at the Stampede President’s Luncheon that followed the parade.
Other local representatives for Medicine Hat – Brooks-Medicine Hat MLA Michaela Frey, Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes and Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner MP Glen Motz – all rode there usual places in the procession.
In terms of election candidates, Alberta Party Leader Barry Morishita (a former Brooks mayor and candidate in Brooks-Medicine Hat) toured the parade route. United Conservative Party leadership contender Danielle Smith rode in an entry, apparently staying over after Wednesday’s leadership debate.
Fellow UCP leadership candidate Brian Jean walked the parade route before arriving back at a meet-and-greet at a downtown coffee shop.
The Alberta Independence Party also was an official entry in the parade.
