As the world’s most powerful leaders prepare to descend on Kananaskis, high., For this year’s G7 summit, a famous welcome tradition of Calgary may not take place this time.
According to Tourism Calgary and the mayor’s office and the mayor’s office, there are no current plans for a white hat ceremony, since the dignitaries arrive at the Calgary region for the summit.
“Given the complexity around security and the event, at this time, there are no plans for our team to perform a white hat ceremony for G7,” said Lorèn Lailey, Tourism Calgary spokesman, in an email.
The mayor of Calgary, Jyoti Gondek, is still open to the idea, but his office has not been able to confirm any role for the mayor to deliver white hats.
“Our office, together with the city organizers, has been in contact with the Summit management office regarding the possibility that the mayor accommodates, but we are still waiting to receive news,” said Sophie Stone, communications assistant at the mayor’s office, in an email.
Alberta’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports also said that he is not planning a ceremony for the G7, and sent the news of CBC to federal organizers. The federal organizers of the G7 did not immediately respond to a request for comments.
Lalyy, with Calgary tourism, said that the organization that emits white hats for the event has not been asked, but could not speak for other city organizations.
Destined to serve as a hospitality symbol
In 2002, the last time the region was the host of the summit, the then mayor of Calgary Dave Bronconnier and other officials greeted the G8 leaders in the asphalt of Calgary airport, giving each of them a Smithbilt White cowboy hat.
The hat has been presented for a long time to visitors, destined to serve as a symbol of the hospitality of the city.
At the time of the last summit, some leaders hugged the gesture, including former president of the United States, George W. Bush, who got under and shouted “Yes!”, According to Calgary Herald Reports at that time.
Others, such as former French president Jacques Chirac and former British prime minister Tony Blair, decided not to put their hat or pass them to the assistants.
The white cowboy hat dates back to the end of the 1940s. In the 1950s, the mayor of Calgary, Don Mackay, began the tradition of presenting white hats to the visiting dignitaries.
Since then, the hats have been delivered to all, from Pope John Paul II to Oprah Winfrey and Bob Dylan.
‘Largest national security operation’
The summit, which extends from June 15 to 17 in Kananaskis, is being referred to by security officials as “the largest national security operation” that a country can assume. Thousands of delegates, journalists and security personnel will be extended by Calgary and the surrounding region.
Security officials have specifically highlighted the new technology at stake, the greatest concern being the advent of unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones. The authorities have said that they will deploy a counter-DRONE team in Kananaskis, but have not established specific measures that these teams will take.
Look | RCMP and Calgary Police describe the security plans for G7 Summit:
Police services, in association with the provincial sheriffs and the military, are responsible for security during the G7 leaders summit in Kananaskis at the end of this month.
Gary Mar, a former Alberta Cabinet Minister who attended the 2002 ceremony, remembered Junichiro Koizumi, Japanese prime minister at that time, marveling at the blue skies while putting his white hat.
“He said ‘beautiful place’ and proudly wore his hat. And he was quite tickle for him. And, of course, President Bush was very familiar with cowboy hats, and was delighted to receive one,” said Mar.
Mar said that even if the ceremony does not continue, he is confident that Calgary and the region will show his hospitality in other ways.
“The white hat ceremony is a great tradition, but not essential … there will be some expressions of great hospitality,” he said.
The leaders of the United States, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, Italy and Canada, as well as the European Union, will attend this year’s summit.
