CALGARY — The Calgary Stampede parade turned into a pseudo-referendum on Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on Friday, as she heard both cheers and jeers while riding shotgun on a wagon clip-clopping through the city’s sun-baked downtown.

“We love you, Danielle!” some yelled as Smith, in a red cowboy hat and blue jeans, waved from the box seat of a horse-drawn cart with other United Conservative Party legislature members.

Some in the crowd pointed at her and chanted her name, drawing out the two syllables: “Dan-yell! Dan-yell!”

Many waved back at the premier as she passed by. Cowboy hats and boots were abundant — almost a dress code.

Along with the Stampede staple “Yahoo!” were scattered boos for Smith.

One man along the route shouted: “Danielle suuuuucks!” Another responded, “So do you, sir.”

Smith has promised to support Confederation as the province barrels toward an Oct. 19 referendum on whether it’s time to kick-start the process for a binding vote on quitting Canada, which she announced in May.

“Ca-na-da! Ca-na-da!” some chanted as Smith rode past.

In the province’s separation debate, Smith has been viewed both as an arsonist and a firefighter, standing up for a united country while simultaneously validating a movement to dismember it.

It’s been a divisive issue, leading to a threats, abuse and the cancellation of a parade in the town Sundre earlier this summer over a float of Alberta flags viewed as a separatist stalking horse.

Smith has said separation is a real issue in Alberta, arguing that with hundreds of thousands signing petitions about it, the province needs to put the issue to bed with a vote.

Parade watcher Darrell Siemens, who cheered for Smith in the parade, agreed.

“I like that she’s just standing up for what she feels,” said Siemens.

“The citizens of Alberta deserve to hear from both sides of the whole debate about separation or not separation and allow both sides to have a voice.”

Nicky Currie was among those who booed the premier.

“I think she is an absolute disgrace for Albertans, I think she’s doing an absolutely terrible job of governing in Alberta. I think she’s obviously a separatist,” Currie said.

Smith has enjoyed strong poll support in her term, though those numbers have slipped a bit during the separation debate.

On Thursday, she announced alongside Prime Minister Mark Carney what she calls a major nation-unifying project – a proposed new bitumen pipeline to the west coast.

When asked about her thoughts on the proposed new pipeline, parade attendee Andrea Byrns replied, “Drill, baby, drill.”

“I was born and raised Calgarian, and I think (Smith) really gets to the root of what the heart of Albertans really want,” Byrns added.

“I grew up in more of a conservative oil and gas household, and I just think she has very realistic views that I align with very well.”

The parade fires the starter’s pistol on 10 days of rodeo, midway rides, concerts and parties. The Stampede is also a major summer meet-and-greet for politicians and stakeholders at barbecues and pancake breakfasts.

Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas said a lot of deals get done during Stampede and, when it comes to politicians, they tend to leave their agendas at the door.

“It is probably the world’s premier politician petting zoo,” Farkas said.

National pride was embodied in Friday’s parade marshals: Olympic medallists Mikael Kingsbury, a Quebec-born moguls skier, and Courtney Sarault, a short-track speedskater from Moncton, N.B.

Both received training before saddling up to lead the 90-minute parade, learning that while the rider is in the saddle, the horse sets the pace.

“We maybe had 30 minutes, 45 minutes with the horse,” said Sarault.

“We were good. By the end I was trying to go faster, but (the horse) was like, ‘Nope. You’re only walking,'” she said with a laugh.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 3, 2026.

Dayne Patterson and Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press