Calgary Stampede becomes fashion and political stage for Alberta leaders
Western wear has become political theatre at the Calgary Stampede, where Alberta's premier, federal leaders, and politicians use clothing to signal alignment with Alberta culture and values.
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The Calgary Stampede has evolved into a political runway where Alberta leaders and federal politicians use western wear to signal cultural alignment and relatability — with varying degrees of success.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith have all appeared in western attire at this year's festival, which the Stampede's website encourages. Fashion experts say the choice is deliberate: through clothing, politicians build character and tell voters who they are.
Poilievre drew online mockery for a white embroidered shirt paired with a matching white cowboy hat during a speech criticizing Liberal policies. Designer Paul Hardy compared the outfit to something a Ken doll would wear, though she noted it showed Poilievre was "really immersing himself in cowboy culture." The large controversy, Hardy said, was that his messaging about "warrior culture, not woke culture" seemed contradictory to his polished aesthetic.
About a decade ago, former Alberta Premier Rachel Notley was mocked for wearing her cowboy hat backwards at the Stampede. In 2018, former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced criticism for overdoing cultural attire during a trip to India.
Anne Bissonnette, a dress historian and professor at the University of Alberta, says politicians wear cultural clothing to show respect and understanding, and to seem approachable. But the strategy requires careful study. "They have to figure out what they're trying to say," Bissonnette said. "What is their message? How could it be understood or misunderstood?" Smith, who has worn everything from floral dresses to denim on denim, understands the Stampede and therefore Albertans, Bissonnette said. Carney and Ford, by contrast, have added only a cowboy hat or belt buckle to their daily dress — a choice some might interpret as not fully leaning into western culture.
