BOWDEN — Town of Bowden Mayor Robb Stuart says the municipality has been deluged with complaints about a large billboard near the community promoting a union with the United States but is limited in what it can do about it.
The billboard, which can be seen off the east side of Highway 2, near exit 357, says “Tell Danielle! Let’s join the USA!”
Underneath that, it says “America Fund.ca.” It features a picture of Premier Danielle Smith with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Bowden, Alberta. More coming in Leduc, Ponoka, and Strathmore.
— America Fund (@RealAmericaFund) February 6, 2025
If you want to tell Ottawa to get stuffed AND end equalization once and for all, visit https://t.co/C8yzPDeQ4S.
cc: @BeccaPolakSays @boonecutler #TellDanielle #TeamUSA #MAGA #Wexit #51stState pic.twitter.com/GqLWHza32t
America Fund appears to be a Wexit-like organization that is asking for donations to help make "West Canada" the 51st American state.
"Your donation helps end the Trade War between Canada & America by directly funding high-impact public messaging designed to help West Canadians accept President Trump’s offer for us to become the 51st American State," the organization's website says.
Trump has repeatedly said the U.S. should annex Canada and has threatened imposing tariffs on Canadian goods entering the United States.
Since the Bowden-area sign went up weeks ago, criticism has been levelled against it on social media across Canada.
One post on the Albertans Against Separation social media page said, “imagine driving through Bowden and you see this billboard at a time when Canada’s sovereignty is being threatened and the vast majority of us would never ever want to join America.”
This week that criticism extended to the Town of Bowden, leading officials to issue a statement in recent days.
“The Town (of Bowden) does not condone any advertising that could be considered morally wrong or offensive," the Feb. 18 statement said.
“However this advertisement has been placed by a private organization on a private billboard which is sited on private property.
“The Town (of Bowden) does not therefore have any legal right to demand the removal of the advertisement.
The municipality's statement goes on further to say, “while we appreciate that the content may cause upset we are limited in options as to what (if any) direct action we may take.”
During an interview with the Albertan, Stuart said municipal officials learned of the issue this week after being inundated with complaints and from social media posts.
He said it’s become so high-profile that other news outlets have been calling about it.
“It’s a bit of a conflict. If you’re fiercely loyal to Canada why would you let that sign go up on your billboard,” he asked.
Stuart says town officials reached out to the provincial government about the matter because of its reference to the premier but was told there’s nothing that can be done about it because it’s on private land.
Stuart said the deluge reminds him of the volume of complaints the Town of Bowden received a few years ago when the No More Lockdowns rodeo was held on private property in Red Deer County near the town.
He said in that instance as well there was nothing the town could do because it was held on private property.
Stuart stressed that the Town of Bowden had nothing to do with the installation of the sign.
“We're proud of our Canadian unity,” he said. “And the hockey game tonight; it’s actually kind of ironic that it's on.
“The Town of Bowden is, as you know, pretty solidified in its beliefs, and it's just too bad that the sign reflects badly on our image.”
- With files from Albertan staff
