Here’s today’s agriculture news.
The Lead
The organizers of an “anti-lockdown” rodeo in Alberta that violated public health orders aimed at mitigating the spread of the coronavirus have been charged with breaking the Alberta Health Act. As CBC News reports, hundreds gathered May 1-2 near the community of Bowden in defiance of restrictions. The rodeo event was not sanctioned by the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association.
RCMP confirmed to CBC News that Ty and Gail Northcott have been served papers requiring them to appear in Red Deer provincial court on May 17.
Meanwhile, other Alberta rodeo organizers are worried the unsanctioned Bowden rodeo could hurt the sport’s recovery — with some saying the event made their sport look bad while reinforcing long-held stereotypes about Western Canada. CBC News has that story, too.