George Canyon, Alberta country singer, seeks Conservative nod

Country music singer George Canyon announcedthis morning he will seekthe Conservative nomination in Alberta's new federal Bow River riding.

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"The people in this riding are resilient and hard working. I was blown away byhow well we all pulled together as a team while under the terrible stress of theflood crisis last year, the recovery of which is still ongoing," Canyon writes in a release.

"I live in this community and these people are my friends and neighbours. It would be an honour to represent them as a member of Parliament."

The new ridingwill include the communities of Brooks and Taberto the south of Calgary, but will also includea large chunk of land to the east and north of the city, all the way to the border ofDrumheller.It encompassespart of what is now the Crowfoot riding, a seatheld byConservative MP KevinSorenson.

Versions of the riding have existed under other prime ministers, fromDiefenbaker to Mulroney, says Canyon.

I kind of giggled because the boys in my band always tease me on stage and say Im kind of a combination, when you look at me, between Buzz Lightyear and Brian Mulroney, because of my chin," Canyon told CBC News.

Canyon won't quit country

The singer wasquick to point out the move is not acareer change.

• Listen to his full Calgary Eyeopener interview below:

Music is ingrained in me, and Im actually working on new music right now, Ive got a new single coming out, a new album.

Canyon says he's always been drawn to serve. The musician says he had planned on a future with the military before he developed Type 1 diabetes.

He now speaks tochildren across the country living with the disease, and wasawarded theCanadian Country Music Association Humanitarian Award for his work with Canadian troops, according to the release.

Canyon,wholives on a ranch just outside High River with his wife, says it was the June floods that devastatedthat community and others in southern Alberta, that convinced him to run for politics.

This past summer that we went through here in southern Alberta as everyone knowswas heartbreaking and devastating, but what I got to witness and what I got to be a part of with my family, volunteering alongside of complete strangerscomplete strangers!that didnt know anybody, giving of themselves covered in,lets be honest,poopy, smelly water in a lot of these basementsand, you know me, Im a simple guy, I speak my heart, thats what it was."

The musician also says he has travelled extensively, selling more than 300,000 albums whichhavegarnered him multiple awards.

Canyon says he will spend the next few weekstravelling around the area to meet with residents.

The Bow River riding was created ahead of the next Canadian election, following the redistribution of federal electoral districts,which happens after every 10-year census to reflect the changes and movements in Canada's population.

Alberta gained six new ridings, and is nowdivided into 34 electoral districts.

More information on Canyon'scampaigncan befound on Facebook or hiswebsite.