Calgary Council: Animal Rights Group Demands Skijoring Ban

CALGARY, AB — A national animal rights group is calling for Calgary to ban skijoring events just days before the city hosts a two-day winter competition, alleging the high-speed sport endangers horses and may violate provincial and federal law.

Animal Justice—a Toronto-based legal advocacy organization—claims Calgary's "SkijorDue 2026" event, scheduled for February 21-22 at The Confluence Historic Site, puts horses at inherent risk of injury and death. Lawyer Alexandra Pester says the sport could run afoul of both Alberta's Animal Protection Act and the Criminal Code of Canada.

The friction: There are currently no specific provincial regulations governing skijoring events in Alberta. Calgary's Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw covers dogs and cats but doesn't address horse-related competitions. That regulatory gap leaves the event's legal standing murky—and the debate over animal welfare wide open.

The Complaint Trail

The Calgary Humane Society has received at least one animal cruelty complaint about skijoring, though no details on any investigation have been made public. The sport—where horses pull skiers at speed across snow and ice—is described as "relatively new to Alberta" and gaining traction as a winter draw.

Skijor Canada, the event organizer founded by Sam Mitchell, insists horses are carefully trained, courses are professionally designed, and all safety precautions are taken. The group hosted its inaugural Calgary event in early 2025 at the same venue and has lined up sponsors and ticket sales—including premium "Suite Skijor" packages—for this year's edition.

Who Holds the Cards

Alberta's Office of the Chief Provincial Veterinarian oversees animal welfare policy and administers the Animal Protection Act. The province ran a public engagement process on potential updates to the Act last spring, wrapping in early June 2025, but no new regulations specific to skijoring have emerged.

Calgary City Council has the authority to regulate events through municipal bylaws, but has not publicly weighed in on whether skijoring should face restrictions or require special permits.

The timeline is tight: the event is set to go ahead in 11 days, and Animal Justice is ramping up public pressure for an immediate ban. Whether city or provincial officials step in before opening ceremonies remains an open question.