The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are Canada's official police force.They are always in attendance as part of the opening ceremonies.
This celebration was also meant to be a healing event in the community after a Samson band member was shot and killed earlier in the month by the RCMP at a what started out as a routine traffic stop on the highway.....see link:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/story/2013/08/04/edmonton-asirt-third-incident.html