WESTLOCK - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith paid a visit to Westlock and participated in the Aug. 18 parade that kicked off the 107th–annual Westlock and District Agricultural Fair.
Dressed casually in blue jeans and cowboy boots, Smith joined Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock MLA Glenn van Dijken as the pair rode in the back of a pickup truck in the parade, waving to the crowds along the route. Following, the two went to the Canadian Tractor Museum where they were greeted by museum board president Steven Miller for a meet and greet and tour of the facility.
Smith called the museum “amazing” adding it was “hard to imagine what it would be like to be farming with some of this equipment today. It’s incredible the innovations over the years.”
During the walk through, she also asked van Dijken, who is a farmer himself, if he would like to use some of this equipment in 2023. “Not a chance,” he replied.
Mayors, reeves and councillors from municipalities across the riding also got a chance to meet with Smith and van Dijken in the boardroom, where Smith spoke about the work she and the United Conservative Party are currently doing. This was followed by a short question-and-answer period before Smith left for Whitecourt and at least one other stop in a long day.
“What a great time to be in Westlock,” said Smith. “It’s amazing to see the history of over 100 years and the fact that people came out with such enthusiasm to see the parade and the fair. It was a pretty long parade, but people seemed to enjoy it.”
Smith added that she loves coming to rural Alberta where she can connect with constituents.
“Every time I come, I hear about important issues. And that allows us to make better decisions (for the province),” she added.
