Edmonton city councillors have approved an additional $7,000 in expenses for the Calgary Stampede, bringing the total travel budget for the event to $12,000 this year. The decision was made during a Council Services Committee meeting on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, with a vote of 11-1 in favor.
Stampede as a Networking Hub
While known as the “greatest outdoor show on Earth,” for elected officials, the Calgary Stampede is the biggest networking blitz of the year. Councillor Aaron Paquette emphasized its importance, calling it “the largest government relations event in Canada.” He argued that Edmonton must be present to advocate for its needs, particularly regarding infrastructure funding amid provincial cuts.
Breakdown of Approved Expenses
The approved funds include a $6,000 expense request from Councillors Jon Morgan and Karen Principe, split equally, and an additional $1,000 for Councillor Keren Tang’s costs, on top of $2,000 previously approved for her. Councillor Mike Elliott, who was absent, had earlier secured $3,000 for his travel. The remaining $7,502 of the annual $73,002 travel budget will stay unused. In 2024, councillors spent $8,942 at the Stampede, down from $15,900 in 2023.
Councillor Paquette’s Advice
Paquette advised attending councillors to prepare thoroughly to maximize the event’s potential. “In the space of three days you can have a year’s worth of conversation and hammer out a lot of details,” he said. He identified infrastructure needs as the top priority, given provincial budget cuts.
Ward Budgets and Cost-Saving Measures
The committee also reviewed ward budgets, which are projected to have a modest surplus for 2026. Paquette attributed this to offices avoiding costly mail-outs, noting that most wards can only afford one per year, typically used for budget reporting. “What you’re seeing there is everyone keeping their powder dry because everyone is going to want to do communication with the ward so people know what’s going on in their own city,” he explained.
He highlighted that many seniors do not use email or social media, necessitating expensive paper mail-outs. However, Edmonton’s ward budget remains the lowest among major Canadian cities, at $209,169 per ward for 12 wards serving over 1.2 million residents—about $2 per person. In contrast, Ottawa spends $367,698 per ward, with twice as many wards, equating to $7.40 per resident.
Most ward offices operate with a skeleton crew of one to two employees, limiting their capacity for outreach. Paquette stressed the need for efficient use of resources to keep constituents informed.
