Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says “the fun police have struck” Calgary, while federal Opposition Leader, Pierre Poilievre, says the city is “smothering country music culture” after it announced their intention to lower sound levels for the Calgary Stampede after midnight.
The city claims loud music during last year’s event left windows shaking and items falling off shelves. But Smith, in a post on X, felt Calgary’s decision to lower music volume thresholds during the rodeo festival will hurt workers. She added, it will also create crowd-control issues if 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,” said Smith.
“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.”
Poilievre weighed in on social media as well, 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.
City memo cites various residential complaints
In response to hundreds of complaints received last year, Mayor Jeromy Farkas posted a memo on X stating the city had adjusted its noise exemption permit times and allowable decibel levels for the Calgary Stampede’s music festivals.
According to the memo, concerts during the week 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 at 1:30 a.m. allowing for cool-down music until 2 a.m.
The memo, signed by Calgary’s chief of community standards, Ryan Pleckaitis, said those Stampede venues that operated past midnight in 2025 were notified of the changes in February.
It also 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.
In another post on X, Farkas cited that last year’s event property damage.
“No (one) gets a free pass to disturb residents or create unsafe conditions.” Adding that, “A great city backs major events and holds operators accountable.”
James Farquharson, who works with an Alberta-based acoustical consulting firm, said volume adjustments that venues will need to make to their sound systems depends on how far they are from homes. He also noted it may be difficult for patrons the venues to actually 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.”
In the memo. Pleckaitis said that event organizers received their noise exemption permits this month with the updated threshold levels.
“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.