Alberta rodeo organizers apologize for parade float with ‘despicable display of racism’

Organizers of the Sundre Pro Rodeo in rural Alberta are apologizing for a parade float on Saturday that was widely condemned as racist, but they say it was not approved or registered to be part of the parade.

The Sundre Pro Rodeo in Sundre, Alta., featured a float with a man wearing a fake beard, dressed in a suit and a “pagri” – commonly known as a turban.

The float was labelled “The Liberal,” according to images shared online. It was being pulled by a tractor.

A prominent figure in the Sikh community spoke on the matter.

“The Sikh community is very disappointed and very saddened at the Sundre Pro Rodeo parade to insult the Sikh community. And the event which is designed for families to attend sends a very dangerous message that it’s okay to insult minorities,” said Amanpreet Singh Gill, president of Dashmesh Culture Centre. 

“We would encourage all levels of government to denounce this. And we just got to know recently that the parade committee apologizes and we welcome that move and we would like to welcome them to come here at the Dashmesh Culture Center and we can open a dialogue about the Sikh Community,” said Gill.

“In today’s world, there’s no room for this kind of discrimination. We have our kids growing [up] here and we don’t want them to feel like they’re not welcomed in Alberta and that’s not the message that Albertans are spreading,” said Gill.  

“We always encourage a message of tolerance and respect, Sikhi teachers [teach] we are all equal,” said Gill.

Politicians also condemned the float on Twitter.

George Chahal, MP for Calgary Skyview, called it a “despicable display of racism.”

“The Sikh community in Canada, of which I am a proud member, has a wide diversity of political perspectives,” he tweeted.

“More importantly, Sikhs have been a steadfast force for good in Alberta and across the country.”

Chahal added such “bigoted behaviour” has no place in Canada.

Druh Farrell, who is running for Alberta’s NDP in the Calgary-Bow riding called the float a “disgusting display of racism” and a “hateful act.”

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Member of Parliament for Calgary Forest Lawn, Jasrah Singh Hallan, added that “These kinds of acts have no place in Canada. This should be condemned in strongest terms by all.”

“I spent a lot of time traveling in rural Alberta in support of these newcomer communities and to see that on display in a parade was disgusting and deeply concerning,” said Geroge Chahal, Member of Parliament for Calgary Skyview.

“It’s not a joke. This is targeting members of the Sikh community and racialized community here in Alberta. And for people to think it’s appropriate to put somebody dressed up in a costume in a parade and target our community it’s disturbing. I know the organizers have condemned it and did not think it was part of their float but it is concerning to see that happen,” said Chahal. 

“We need to call out when these actions happen and we need to have conversations across Canada and Alberta when we see incidents like this happening and make sure we all stand up against forms of racism, hate, and discrimination. We’ve seen so much impact our communities and so much hate. We as Canadians need to stand up united against that type of behaviour against racialized communities,” said Chahal.   

In a statement posted on social media, the Sundre Pro Rodeo says it “does not approve the floats for the parade.”

“That is entirely up to the parade committee! If we knew about that float, we would have never approved it! We do send our deepest apologies and something like that will never happen again. The float was entered in as a tractor! Nobody had a clue that it had such profanity. So we are sorry,” the post reads.

–With files from Camae Marayag and Taylor Braat