The bracelet that Prime Minister Mark Carney often wears is not a secret signal to satanists, or a sign he belongs to a cabal that traffics in the sex trade.
In fact, the friendship bracelet originated with a Liberal Party campaign worker from Maple Ridge, despite what online conspiracy theorists presuppose.
Justine Sones, a stress management coach, was aghast to see some of the wild suggestions as to why Carney would wear the bracelet she made, which he did at the Calgary Stampede on July 5.
"I was taken aback and shocked," said Sones of the tweets. "I feel sad for people."
The Maple Ridge mother and business owner started making the beaded bracelets that became popular during the Taylor Swift Eras Tour. They say things like "Witchy," "Gorgeous," or "Fearless." Sones gives them away. She even leaves them in public places like on park benches or in restaurants for strangers to find, with a note that says "If you find this, it was made for you."
She hopes that finding the little bracelets, can "give people that feeling of joy and connection."
When she volunteered for the campaign of Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge Liberal candidate Angie Rowell, Sones started making some with the "Elbows Up" message 鈥� a popular slogan about pushing back against U.S. President Donald Trump's assertion Canada must become the 51st State.
The bracelets were a hit with campaign volunteers. When people commented to Rowell about her bracelet, the candidate would regularly give it away.
Sones kept making them, and one eventually found its way to the party leader.
When it appeared on his wrist in photos from the Stampede, some online sleuths suggested "It's the secret handshake, as it were."
"Bro he hung out with Ghislaine Maxwell and company," said another.
"It's a cult," and others worse.
"I don't even wanna know how he got that," said another.
Local Liberals want people to know 鈥� he got it from Rowell during a campaign stop in Richmond.
She told him: "I've got incredible volunteers that have come out Mark, and someone has made this for you."
"I love it. Like Tay-Tay," responded the man who would become prime minister as he slid it on. Carney has four daughters.
He frequently is seen wearing it at events, much to the maker's delight.
"The fact he continues to wear it means a lot," said Sones.
She hopes "elbows up" resonates with everybody, regardless of their political colours.
"We're all on the same team 鈥� we're all Canadians."
