RE: Alberta Rancher to hold an ‘End the Lockdowns Rodeo’.On behalf of the live events industry, and the venues that host them, with a pre-pandemic workforce of over 50,000, we ask that you reconsider your support for the upcoming rodeo, with spectators, planned as a lockdown protest, on May 1 and 2 in Bowden, AB. I am not writing to disagree with your opinion on ending Alberta’s restrictions on movement and gathering, I am writing to disagree with your timing and your motivation. Civil disobedience and editorial fueling of the flames when our (collected) industry is 5-7 weeks from events that will employ 1000’s is grandstanding at best and destructive at worst..Underlying my opinion is a clear motivation by the Western Standard to derive revenue from ticket and advertising sales (as evident from your website). Is this the action of a publication whose motivation is to re-open the live events industry towards re-employment of 1000’s or simply a motivation for your Publication?.Quoting Homer Simpson ““It takes two to lie; one to lie, and one to listen.” Please stop the lie of genuinely speaking for a harmed industry, as people are listening..Sol Zia is Executive Director of the Calgary Hotel Association.EDITORS RESPONSE: The Western Standard does not receive any ticket revenue from the ‘No More Lockdowns Rodeo’, and we stand by our editorial decision to support the peaceful gathering of people who do not support lockdowns.
RE: Alberta Rancher to hold an ‘End the Lockdowns Rodeo’.On behalf of the live events industry, and the venues that host them, with a pre-pandemic workforce of over 50,000, we ask that you reconsider your support for the upcoming rodeo, with spectators, planned as a lockdown protest, on May 1 and 2 in Bowden, AB. I am not writing to disagree with your opinion on ending Alberta’s restrictions on movement and gathering, I am writing to disagree with your timing and your motivation. Civil disobedience and editorial fueling of the flames when our (collected) industry is 5-7 weeks from events that will employ 1000’s is grandstanding at best and destructive at worst..Underlying my opinion is a clear motivation by the Western Standard to derive revenue from ticket and advertising sales (as evident from your website). Is this the action of a publication whose motivation is to re-open the live events industry towards re-employment of 1000’s or simply a motivation for your Publication?.Quoting Homer Simpson ““It takes two to lie; one to lie, and one to listen.” Please stop the lie of genuinely speaking for a harmed industry, as people are listening..Sol Zia is Executive Director of the Calgary Hotel Association.EDITORS RESPONSE: The Western Standard does not receive any ticket revenue from the ‘No More Lockdowns Rodeo’, and we stand by our editorial decision to support the peaceful gathering of people who do not support lockdowns.
