Vehicle mitigation measures, overhead drones aimed to keep Calgary Stampede safe

Bill Graveland · The Canadian Press

· Posted: Jul 03, 2025 10:51 AM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hr ago

Police and organizers accidental they're assured information measures astatine the upcoming Calgary Stampede would forestall a conveyance onslaught similar the deadly 1 astatine the Lapu Lapu Day solemnisation successful Vancouver earlier this year.

More than 1.3 cardinal radical are expected to be the 10-day rodeo and exhibition, which begins with a parade connected Friday.

The Stampede grounds volition beryllium temporarily turned into a constabulary territory with a headquarters, incidental commander, dispatcher and officers from crossed the city.

And conveyance entree to the grounds volition beryllium highly limited, said Kerrie Blizard, manager of nationalist information and situation astatine the Stampede.

"We're ever making changes ... astatine the entrances specifically. We've really been utilizing conveyance mitigation barriers and strategies since earlier 2019," Blizard told a quality league Wednesday.

Eleven radical were killed and astir 30 were injured successful April erstwhile an SUV rammed into Vancouver's crowded Lapu Lapu thoroughfare festival celebrating the Filipino-Canadian community.

The antheral accused successful that attack, Kai-Ji Adam Lo, faces respective counts of second-degree murder.

Acting Insp. Scott Campbell, incidental commandant astatine the Stampede, said plentifulness of officers volition beryllium monitoring the parade way arsenic good arsenic the grounds.

A conveyance onslaught is unlikely, helium said.

"There aren't going to beryllium immoderate vehicles. There's bully conveyance mitigation and we don't expect immoderate issues connected that," Campbell said.

"District 1 surrounds the Stampede grounds, and District 1 is going to beryllium afloat staffed during Stampede to respond to immoderate events successful the downtown halfway and successful the grounds."

Campbell said the nationalist is urged to study immoderate suspicious activity, including bags near unattended.

Police volition besides beryllium utilizing caller drones that were purchased for the caller G7 leaders' acme successful adjacent Kananaskis, helium said. Drone use, different than by officers, volition not beryllium allowed successful the downtown.

"Large events are a situation for the constabulary but we're utilized to readying for these ample events each year, including our caller acquisition with G7. And we are assured we'll beryllium acceptable for Stampede."

He said the biggest concerns for constabulary volition beryllium radical partying excessively much, thefts and drugs.

The Stampede runs July 4 to July 13.