Prime Minister Mark Carney paid a quick visit to Kitchener on Friday to participate in Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest. During his visit to southern Ontario, Carney stopped by the Schwaben Club in Breslau, near Kitchener, where he used a wooden mallet to tap a keg at the fest hall. He then enjoyed a mug of beer while engaging in conversations with local politicians.
The Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest, known as the largest Oktoberfest celebration outside of Munich, Germany, attracted Carney between his morning engagement in the Niagara region and an evening event in Brampton for Diwali celebrations.
The event has a history of hosting prime ministers, with Justin Trudeau attending the opening ceremonies in 2016 and tapping the keg. Trudeau also made an appearance in 2023 but did not participate in the keg tapping that year. In 2015, Stephen Harper was present at the K-W Oktoberfest parade, although he did not march due to an ongoing federal election at the time.
This year, Canadian musician Steven Page had the honor of tapping the keg, while former Canadian Football League player and current Toronto Argonauts general manager, Michael Pinball Clemons, served as the parade marshal.