Alberta and Calgary beef over Stampede noise levels quashed, premier and mayor say

Visitors flock to the Calgary Stampede on Family Day in Calgary, Alta., Sunday, July 7, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

CALGARY — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Calgary’s mayor say a disagreement over noise levels during the Calgary Stampede has been quashed.

Smith and Mayor Jeromy Farkas say in separate posts on X that the city and Stampede event operators recently agreed to keep reduced concert hours and decibel levels for outdoor events during this year’s festival out of respect for residents who live within earshot.

Smith says the Alberta Sheriffs, the provincial police agency, have also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Calgary Police Service.

She told her provincewide radio show Saturday that the MOU allows her government to better assess and get accurate details of the complaints residents have about noise, public urination and fights during the 10-day festival starting on July 3.

The agreement comes days before the June 30 deadline that Smith gave to Calgary in a letter to change its noise rules or face possible provincial intervention.

The city has said it reduced concert hours and decibel levels for the Stampede after last year’s events drew hundreds of complaints from residents saying their windows vibrated from the noise and social disorder spilled into residential streets during the festival.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2026.

The Canadian Press