Calgary Stampede beefs up security in light of recent vehicle attacks
CALGARY— The Calgary Stampede is implementing more security measures this year, including metal detectors, more rigorous entry screening at the grounds and vehicle barriers at Stampede Park and during Friday’s parade. Metal detectors and bag checks at entry points will be an immediately obvious change, but Stampede vice-president of planning Jim Laurendeau said security barriers will largely be designed to blend in with Stampede decor.
Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) chief Tom Sampson said his organization regularly runs exercises to prepare for all kinds of sce- narios, and the new measures are aimed at keeping attendees, who last year numbered more than one million, safe.
“Certainly we’re fully aware of the requirement for … mitigating vehicle attacks, and steps will be taken to ensure that that is most difficult,” Sampson said.
“(CEMA) looks at the events that have happened in the U.S., we look at the events that have happened in Europe and we bring in speakers to talk to those issues.”
In April, 10 people were killed in a van rampage on a northern Toronto street. And in September 2017, five people were injured when a man allegedly stabbed a police officer and hit several pedestrians with a UHaul van during a high-speed chase through Edmonton’s downtown.
University of Waterloo sociology and legal studies professor Lorne Dawson said a number of high-profile vehicle attacks, including one in 2016 in Nice, France, that killed 86 and injured hundreds, have put officials on high alert.
“Security officials are just cognizant, so they have to err on the side of caution, and this is foremost in mind right now, this kind of attack,” Dawson said.
Calgary police spokesperson Corwin Odland said the service hasn’t identified any dangers to Stampede.
“We’re obviously aware of what’s happening in the world, so we make sure we’re planning for those possibilities,” Odland added.
The new security measures also include “dozens” more cameras throughout the Stampede grounds. Canada’s national ter- rorism threat level has been medium since 2014. Dawson said the risk of a co-ordinated attack anywhere in Canada is very low, despite the precautions officials may take.