But there is much more than noise happening on the street, off the Stampede grounds where there are tons of events.<\/p>\n
The Calgary police admit in past years they haven\u2019t had enough boots on the ground.<\/p>\n
They\u2019re\u00a0bringing in more uniforms\u00a0and even have a name for the area where they will lay down the law and\u00a0keep a lid on the lunacy, 3 in the afternoon until 3 in the morning.<\/p>\n
![\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/59852c0f924172fe9c10e53089de58fa.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
L-R, Deputy Chief Coby Duerr, Calgary Emergency Management Agency, Kerrie Blizard, Director, Public Safety & Environment, Calgary Stampede and Inspector JF Dery, Calgary Police Service during a behind-the-scenes look at the Stampede Park Operations Centre.<\/p>\n
They call it Zone Ex.<\/p>\n
We are happy there is a Zone Ex.<\/p>\n
In Zone\u00a0Ex\u00a0there is the party and there is\u00a0behaviour\u00a0that is no longer\u00a0part of\u00a0the party.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s\u00a0where a line\u00a0has been crossed.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s\u00a0where our\u00a0cops\u00a0come in and reinforce the line.<\/p>\n
For the record there are also about 400 police officers\u00a0paid by the organizers of events, including the big tents, to also make sure\u00a0public safety is\u00a0maintained.<\/p>\n
If problems boil over, the\u00a0cops\u00a0are there. You\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0have to pick up the phone.<\/p>\n
Chief McLellan says when it comes down to individuals breaking the law, any law, the police will respond.<\/p>\n
A bylaw. The Traffic Safety Act. The Criminal Code.<\/p>\n
It even comes down to social disorder where folks are frightened, feel intimidated.<\/p>\n
\u201cNobody wants to be concerned about being victimized.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNobody wants to have\u00a0a bad experience\u00a0because somebody is being a \u2026 what is the word I want to use so I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0swear.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2d8e787cd9d13639fc39784b44105cc1.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Members of the Calgary Police Service, along with private security and a paramedic, monitor crowds at the Coca-Cola Stage on Stampede Grounds on July 10, 2025.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s\u00a0where it is no longer a party.\u00a0That\u2019s\u00a0where it is no longer fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will be very strong in relation\u00a0to enforcement,\u201d\u00a0says the top\u00a0cop, adding\u00a0wrongdoers will be\u00a0\u201cheld responsible.\u201d<\/p>\n
We can already hear the\u00a0bellyaching.<\/p>\n
Here they come.\u00a0They\u2019re\u00a0the fun police\u00a0ruining our\u00a0good times.<\/p>\n
McLellan will not be\u00a0tagged\u00a0with that handle.<\/p>\n
\u201cNobody wants to be a party pooper or, what do they call it, the fun police.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou still\u00a0have to\u00a0act like a normal human being.\u201d<\/p>\n
And normal human beings, when they are acting as normal human beings, don\u2019t assault people or sexually assault them or get into their vehicle hammered out of their mind pretending they\u2019re perfectly capable of driving.<\/p>\n
The police chief mentions \u201cmajor public intoxication\u201d where it\u2019s having an impact on other people\u2019s enjoyment.<\/p>\n
We are not talking about just having one wobbly pop too many.<\/p>\n
There will be zero tolerance for those carrying weapons. They will be arrested and they will be charged.<\/p>\n
![\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/a95da49c3aca97fc272e59a9f7f42bf3.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
A stabbing occurred near the Euroslide at the Calgary Stampede midway in 2025.<\/p>\n
A few years back Calgary city hall asked inner-city residents what they saw with the events happening in their backyard. There was laundry list of concerns, a laundry list of total disrespect, dirty laundry.<\/p>\n
McLellan has been with the police for In 35 years. What has changed for her?<\/p>\n
There are the drugs.\u00a0There are\u00a0the mental\u00a0health issues. The population has exploded. What was once unacceptable has for some time been tolerated.<\/p>\n
Sadly, there are also some Calgarians who see the city\u2019s core as a place where you can do anything you want and any way you want and then high-tail back to the suburbs where the residents on their neighbourhood street would never in a million years accept their behaviour.<\/p>\n
McLellan does feel the pendulum is now swinging back from the past.<\/p>\n
The police chief puts her final stamp on the interview.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not an opportunity to turn the city of Calgary upside down and get on our radar for all the wrong reasons,\u201d she says, of the next week and a half.<\/p>\n
And that includes Zone Ex.<\/p>\n