Why U.S. presidential candidate Ted Cruz won't embrace his Calgary roots
The Texan senator was born at Foothills Hospital and lived in Canada until he was 4
Ted Cruz, U.S. presidential candidate, was born in Calgary's Foothills Hospital when it was brand new in 1970.
He publicly renounced his Canadian citizenship, and he rarely talks about his time in Calgary.
Jason Markusoff, a journalist who's been digging into the history, called the Cruz family's experience in Alberta "an American dream, but made in Canada."
Cruz's parents Rafael Bienvenido Cruz and Eleanor Darragh started their own company in the seismic data industry, and its booming success opened doors to some of Calgary's most elite circles.
"They wound up moving to Riverdale Avenue, getting a really nice place on the river, having nice fancy pig roasts on the river and what not," said Markusoff.
But by the time Ted was four years old, the family had packed up and was ready to move to Texas.
Since then, Cruz has been fairly tight-lipped about his experience north of the 49th parallel.
When asked what he remembers of Canada, Cruz offered three words: "It was cold."
"I think if he was more of a progressive, more Canadian-friendly politician, that might be different," said Markusoff.
"He's so right-wing in American politics that I think if he was part of the Wildrose caucus, Brian Jean would have to kick him out for saying something way too off-base."