Maybe it's the pos- 9/11 world we live in, or maybe it's still fallout from that spate of pie attacks on politicians a few years back (see Chrétien, Jean; and P.E.I.) but — gosh — it seemed there was a lot of security at this morning's Stephen Harper event at a suburban Richmond BC private residence.

Amid the chirping birds, the plastic pink scooters and the greener-than-green grass in the backyard while Harper spoke, the following was spotted: the elbow of a security officer poking around one corner of the house, the face of another peering from around the edge of the place next door, and more than a few others mingling with the reporters, keeping them away from the front of the house until given the all-clear.

All of this in a picture-perfect, ladybugs-on-trees, quiet little lower mainland B.C. neighbourhood, bright and early on a Monday morning. Neighbours gaped.

No hovering helicopters or rooftop sharpshooters though.

— Paul Hunter