‘Fun police have struck:’ Alberta premier criticizes new Calgary Stampede noise bylaw

CALGARY – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says “the fun police have struck” Calgary while the federal Opposition Leader says the city is “smothering country music culture” after it announced it’s dialing down the sound for the Calgary Stampede after midnight.

The city says music at last year’s event left windows shaking and items falling off shelves, but Smith said in a post on X that Calgary’s decision to lower music volume thresholds during the rodeo festival will hurt workers.

She said it will also create crowd-control issues, as festival attendees will leave early. 

“Stampede is one of Calgary’s signature events, attracting hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors who come to enjoy the attractions, live music, and the unique energy of our city,” Smith said in the Saturday post.

“The mayor and council should work with bylaw to reconsider these restrictions and work with festival operators to find a solution that balances community concerns with the economic and cultural benefits these events bring to Calgary.”

Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also weighed in on social media, saying he hopes the city reverses course. 

“City Hall gatekeepers are making a big mistake killing jobs, smothering country music culture, and cutting back performances at the world-famous Cowboys celebration during the Calgary Stampede,” he said on X. 

A memo Mayor Jeromy Farkas posted on X said that in response to hundreds of complaints last year, the city adjusted its noise exemption permit times and allowable decibel levels for the Calgary Stampede’s music festivals.

On weeknights, the memo said concerts must now end at midnight with cool-down music permitted on outdoor speakers until 12:30 a.m. End times for concerts will remain the same on Fridays and Saturdays — 1:30 a.m. with cool-down music until 2 a.m. There will also be reduced allowable noise levels.

It said that Stampede venues that operated past midnight in 2025 were notified of the changes in February.

The memo was signed by Calgary’s chief of community standards, Ryan Pleckaitis.

It noted that many of the people who complained said their windows were vibrating and items were falling off shelves and tables due to music playing at downtown festivals.

“We also received numerous complaints about social disorder and excessive intoxication as patrons left these venues and entered nearby downtown neighbourhoods,” said Pleckaitis’s memo.

Farkas said in another post on X last year’s event also saw property damage.

“No (one) gets a free pass to disturb residents or create unsafe conditions,” he said.

“A great city backs major events and holds operators accountable.”

James Farquharson, who works with an Alberta-based acoustical consulting firm, said the adjustments venues will make to their sound systems due to the threshold depends on how far they are from homes.

He said it may be difficult for patrons actually at the venues to notice there’s a difference because they won’t remember how loud it was last year.

“Will (they) notice if it is as loud as last year compared to this year?” he asked Sunday.

“I doubt it.”

Pleckaitis said in the memo that event organizers received their noise exemption permits this month with the updated thresholds.

“These adjustments are intended to balance a safe, vibrant Stampede experience with reduced impacts on surrounding residents,” he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 21, 2026.

— By Fakiha Baig in Edmonton