The day might be a little ominous, but it is now confirmed that Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be visiting the Okanagan-Coquihalla riding on Friday the 13th.
It won’t be a long visit, but Harper is attending a public barbecue at Quail’s Gate Estate Winery in West Kelowna. The barbecue, which was originally a conservative party member event, is now open to all registered guests.
MP Dan Albas is understandably pleased as Harper is also expected to attend at least part of the B.C. Tory caucus meetings that Albas is hosting in conjunction with Kelowna Lake Country MP Ron Cannan.
“Historically, the prime minister has called on B.C. during the summer and attended a gigantic barbecue at the Gerry St. Germain place down in the Lower Mainland,” said Mark Ziebarth, vice-president of the riding association. Those events ended last year, when Senator St. Germain retired.
“One thing led to another and all of a sudden our little hometown barbecue is now going to be a PMO-level event,” said Ziebarth.
You don’t have to be a Conservative party member to attend the barbecue with the prime minister, but pre-registration is required by Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. in order for the RCMP to do a background check.
Photo identification will also be required.
Tickets for the barbecue are $35. Visit www.conservativeevent.ca/kelowna to register and pay, or contact Ziebarth at 250-404-4428 for more information.