While Smith was going to small town events, Gotell noted many of the attendees were white.
“Premier Smith updates us on her tour of white Alberta,” tweeted Gotell on Sunday.
Premier Smith updates us on her tour of white Alberta. #ableg https://t.co/WfzHMVLMHX
— Lise Gotell (@LiseGot) August 18, 2024
Since she had received backlash for her comments, she said she “never thought I would live in a Canada in which racists would be so emboldened.” She called for people to read the replies with caution.
Gotell was commenting on Smith saying she was having a great weekend, which she kicked off by participating in the Westlock and District Agricultural Fair Parade with Alberta United Conservative Party MLA Glenn van Dijken (Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock).
“Then I headed to Drayton Valley to meet constituents at the Small Town Big Life Party with MLA Andrew Boitchenko,” she said.
It’s been a great weekend so far- kicked off things with the Westlock parade with MLA Glenn van Dijken. Then I headed to Drayton Valley to meet constituents at the ‘small town big life’ party with MLA Andrew Boitchenko. pic.twitter.com/iJMFst4PVM
— Danielle Smith (@ABDanielleSmith) August 18, 2024
Beltline Urban Society President Rob Taylor said Gotell’s comment was an ugly remark to make for no good reason.
“You must be a deeply hate filled person,” said Taylor.
. what an ugly thing to say for no good reason, @lisegottell . you must be a deeply hate filled person .
— Rob Taylor (@beltline_pres) August 19, 2024
Former Calgary Herald publisher Peter Menzies said he was stunned.
“University prof,” said Menzies.
Wow. University prof https://t.co/80OpvJfeR9
— Peter Menzies (@Pagmenzies) August 19, 2024
This ordeal comes after a U of A professor was awarded a grant from the Department of National Defence in 2023 to assess the extent of white supremacy in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
READ MORE: Alberta professor investigates white supremacy in Canadian military
U of A political science professor Andy Knight will look into how entrenched radicalization, antisemitism, xenophobia, and anti-black sentiments are in the CAF and devise policy suggestions based on his findings.
He would produce a 25-minute documentary about his research.
https://www.westernstandard.news/alberta/u-of-a-professor-mocks-smith-for-attending-small-town-events/57099
Read the comments especially Marc in Calgary.
https://www.smalldeadanimals.com/2025/08/06/are-you-more-of-an-albertan-or-a-big-city-canadian/
Aren't they just wonderful! Her add to post is interesting. I have a son working on a pipeline in B.C. that was approved many years ago that I hadn't heard of as it never makes the news. Previously he worked on Trans Mountain which was major news daily.
https://www.smalldeadanimals.com/2025/08/06/i-want-a-new-country-144/