Alberta Premier Jason Kenney was all smiles during a speech Wednesday in Red Deer (rdnewsNOW/Rene Rondeau)

By Troy Gillard

Premier visits Red Deer

WATCH: Jason Kenney brings message of optimism to kick off Westerner Days

Jul 17, 2019 | 4:15 PM

After smiling and waving his way through Wednesday morning’s parade through downtown Red Deer, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney shared an optimistic message to help kick off the 2019 edition of Westerner Days.

“Albertans are natural optimists. They just need a reason for their optimism, and I think we see lots of those reasons right now,” Kenney said during a speech at the President’s Luncheon at Westerner Park.

Kenney said Westerner Days celebrates the industry that helped put Alberta on the map – agriculture.

“Westerner Days is a way to remember those roots and show thanks for our pioneers, for our tough women and men who built this society,” he said proudly.

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“Here in central Alberta, we’ve got a great diversified economy, but it all started with agriculture, and without farmers and our ranchers we wouldn’t be here.”

Kenney heralded the work being done by Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Devin Dreeshen in fighting for farmers and fair access for Canadian products around the world.

The premier also thanked Red Deerians for electing Adriana LaGrange and Jason Stephans as MLAs this past April.

“Thank you for sending such phenomenally strong representatives for the city of Red Deer to the Edmonton legislature. We’re very proud of them.”

Kenney praised Red Deer for its spirit of volunteering and for expanding its legacy by bringing the Canadian Finals Rodeo to town.