Organizers of a central Alberta rodeo and its parade committee are calling for calm after a float in this weekend's parade, which possessed a racist theme, was seen in the procession.
The float in the parade, held in the town of Sundre on Saturday morning, consisted of a tractor pulling an individual in a fake beard dressed in a turban and a suit. On the side of the trailer, which was a manure spreader, was the message, "The Liberal."
Both the Sundre Pro Rodeo and the parade committee said they did not approve the entry. The committee went on to suggest that it broke the rules.
"The entry was not approved and, upon further investigation, joined the parade without passing through any registration," the committee wrote in a statement that was posted on the Sundre Pro Rodeo's Facebook page.
Despite how the float got there, it has already drawn harsh criticism from community members.
The Dashmesh Cultural Centre, a centre of the Sikh community in Calgary, said it was "extremely disappointed and saddened" by the "display of racism."
"We need to have serious conversations and actions to stop these forms of racism. We welcome (Sundre pro rodeo organizers) and their parade committee to visit DCC and learn about Sikhs," it wrote on Twitter.
"We hope dialogue will help end these senseless displays of ignorance towards minorities."
Calgary Skyview MP George Chahal also called out the float as "shameful" while Jasraj Singh Hallan, the representative for Calgary Forest Lawn, shared similar sentiments.
Calgary's mayor also took to social media to condemn the float.
Meanwhile, rodeo organizers and the parade committee have further apologized about the situation and pledged to ensure nothing like this happens any more.
"We do send our deepest apologies and something like that will NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN," the rodeo said.
MLA Jason Nixon, representing Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre, condemned the float, adding in a statement to CTV News that "discrimination and racism have no place" anywhere in Alberta.
"I have been assured by parade organizers, that this float was not approved, and that they are putting measures in place to ensure this does not happen in the future," Nixon added.
The town of Sundre is located approximately 92 kilometres northwest of Calgary.
For the second time in less than a month, a resident of Ashcroft, B.C., died while waiting for health care.
Canada's average resale home price fell 4.5% from a year ago in July and was down 5.4% on the month as buyers continued to sit on the sidelines amid rising borrowing costs.
British drug regulators have become the first in the world to authorize an updated version of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine that aims to protect against the original virus and the omicron variant.
A year after the Taliban seized control of Kabul, Canada's resettlement efforts have lagged behind official targets and the efforts to help those fleeing the war in Ukraine. More than 17,300 Afghans have arrived in Canada since last August compared to 71,800 Ukrainians who have come to Canada in 2022 alone.
Anne Heche, the Emmy-winning film and television actor whose dramatic Hollywood rise in the 1990s and accomplished career contrasted with personal chapters of turmoil, died of injuries from a fiery car crash. She was 53.
China announced more military drills around Taiwan as the self-governing island's president met with members of a new U.S. congressional delegation on Monday, threatening to renew tensions between Beijing and Washington just days after a similar visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi angered China.
Padma Lakshmi is supporting her ex-husband Salman Rushdie in his recovery. The 'Top Chef' star tweeted Sunday that she is 'relieved' Rushdie is 'pulling through after Friday's nightmare' in which he was stabbed multiple times while on stage in New York.
The Newfoundland and Labrador government says it will not be changing the name of the Colonial Building in downtown St. John's.
About 4,000 beagles are looking for homes after animal rescue organizations started removing them from a Virginia facility that bred them to be sold to laboratories for drug experiments.
Canada's average resale home price fell 4.5% from a year ago in July and was down 5.4% on the month as buyers continued to sit on the sidelines amid rising borrowing costs.
The government of Alberta is looking to draw skilled workers from Toronto and Vancouver to the province and will launch its recruitment campaign Monday morning.
Jason Kenney and United Conservative Party leadership hopeful Danielle Smith traded words about her proposed sovereignty act this weekend, with Smith saying the premier should not interfere in the contest.
For the second time in less than a month, a resident of Ashcroft, B.C., died while waiting for health care.
A union representing tens of thousands of government workers says it will begin job action Monday.
A drive-by shooting of a Surrey home is being investigated by Mounties.
A group of Nova Scotians is being sent to fight wildfires burning in central Newfoundland.
A diving accident at 14-years-old left Brian Parker paralyzed from the chest down. Now at age 49, he's without the person who was caring for him full-time until just last week, after his 68-year-old mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.
The Newfoundland and Labrador government says it will not be changing the name of the Colonial Building in downtown St. John's.
An hours-long standoff between heavily armed police and the occupants of a home in Campbell River has ended with six arrests, Mounties say. Frontline officers responded to the home in the 600 block of Alpine Road around 2:30 a.m. Sunday, after receiving multiple reports of shots being fired.
The U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies are responding to a sunken vessel leaking fuel in Haro Strait, between Vancouver Island and San Juan Island.
Orca sightings on Vancouver Island aren't rare, but they're always thrilling, and that was especially true for a group of aquaculture workers on the North Island this week.
About 60 per cent of Toronto’s non-profit childcare centres have opted into the federal government’s $10 a day program ahead of a Sept. 1 deadline but the uptake among for-profit centres has lagged behind.
Addressing municipal leaders in Ottawa this morning, on the first full day of events at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference, Premier Doug Ford said the 'strong mayor' powers he initially said would be granted to the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa will be expanded to other municipalities.
Hamilton police have arrested and charged a 24-year-old man accused of sexual assault while working as a camp counsellor at a local college.
Quebec health authorities are launching another COVID-19 booster vaccination campaign.
Quebec's public finances are in order as the Oct. 3 election approaches, but nothing should be taken for granted due to prevailing economic uncertainty, according to the auditor general.
Three more people in Quebec have died due to COVID-19, a total of 16,129.
Addressing municipal leaders in Ottawa this morning, on the first full day of events at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference, Premier Doug Ford said the 'strong mayor' powers he initially said would be granted to the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa will be expanded to other municipalities.
Highway 417 reopened to traffic between Metcalfe and Carling/Kirkwood Avenues at approximately 12 a.m. Monday, six hours ahead of schedule after crews worked through the weekend to replace the Booth Street Bridge in Ottawa's west end.
Two people from Ottawa were killed when their small plane crashed in Port Hope, Ont. this weekend.
With only a few weeks before classes begin, multiple students have been displaced after flames ripped through a house Sunday morning. Occupants were home at the time and were alerted by a quick-thinking bylaw officer.
A family that recently moved from Waterloo Region is remembering the life of their nine-year-old boy after the search for him came to a tragic end.
Six people have been arrested following a two-month drug investigation centered in Brantford, Ont. Nearly $214,000 in illicit drugs and 23 firearms were also seized.
The Saskatoon Hilltops season opened Sunday with the team’s home-opener against the Winnipeg Rifles at Gordie Howe Park.
Saskatchewan residents 18 years and older are eligible to receive a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
Parts of central Saskatchewan were battered by severe thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening of Aug 13.
Everett Freeman, 9, went camping with his family on Huckleberry Island in Georgian Bay, and went missing around 3 p.m. on Friday.
CTV News has learned one person has been taken to hospital after an early morning fire at a camp west of Sudbury.
A family that recently moved from Waterloo Region is remembering the life of their nine-year-old boy after the search for him came to a tragic end.
Former Liberal member of Parliament Anita Neville has been named Manitoba's next lieutenant-governor.
Duty-free shops along Canada's border, like the one in Emerson, are continuing to report record low sales.
Environment Canada is warning Manitobans that conditions are favourable in parts of the province for the development of “severe” thunderstorms that could cause strong winds, large hail, and heavy rain.
Saskatchewan residents 18 years and older are eligible to receive a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
Canada's average resale home price fell 4.5% from a year ago in July and was down 5.4% on the month as buyers continued to sit on the sidelines amid rising borrowing costs.
Parts of central Saskatchewan were battered by severe thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening of Aug 13.
