Protesters crowded the barriers erected to protect former U.S. president George W. Bush on Tuesday and saved some of their anger for people who attended his speech. (CBC) When George W. Bush was delivered by motorcade to a speaking engagement in Edmonton, local opinions of the former U.S. president already covered the map. And his speech did little to change them.

Bush was greeted by protesters before speaking Tuesday to about 2,000 people, including admirers and critics, at the Shaw Conference Centre.

"Oh my goodness, it was a dream come true," Janet Brouwer said after the speech. "I never thought I'd be able to see him, and I'd go again tomorrow. He's just a down-to-earth person like the rest of us, that cares about the country and the people."

But Hawa Barud, who was also in the audience, said Bush repeated too many of justifications for war.

"Like liberating the Iraqi people and the freedom of the Iraqi people," Barud said. "The same old same old."

Police estimated the number of protesters on the street outside the convention centre at around 250 when Bush arrived around 4 p.m. They chanted "Bush go home" and waved placards with messages like: "War criminal go home," "Defend the rights of all," and "Afghanistan Iraq illegal wars."

When the event was over, a much smaller crowd of protesters stuck around to boo those who had attended the event, whether they supported the former U.S. president or not.

"He hoped the future would be better for the United States and Canada and the rest of the world," said oseph Fong, who heard Bush speak.

"I came because I wanted to hear what he had to say," Kari Atkins said. "I've never been a fan, but I owed it to myself to give it a listen."

After his speech in Edmonton, Bush travelled to Saskatoon, where protesters marched in advance of the noon. event at the TCU Place on Wednesday.