Foothills MP John Barlow says there were more than 3,000 people at the Federal Conservative Convention in Vancouver over the weekend. He says it was a chance for party members to bring potential discussion items forward.

"We really pride ourselves on being a party that is grass-roots, from the bottom up. This is an opportunity for the members themselves to bring forward potential amendments and discussion items that they feel that are important."

Barlow says the conservatives removed a part in their policy defining marriage as one man and one woman. He says same-sex marriage has been legal in canada for over a decade and this was an opportunity to update their policy and keep up with the times.

"It maybe takes some of that stereotype away of what the Conservative party is like, removes some of that stigma of being this old-school, redneck party. That we are a party willing to welcome all Canadians from all cultures or sexual orientation. We wanted to be a party and a group that is going to be there to serve all Canadians."

He says the foothills riding was represented by a full contingent, including a youth delegate from Black Diamond.

"We had a youth delegate for one of the first times in our history. Austin Caron from Black Diamond, a high school student at Oilfields High School, who is a part of our team and actually had an amendment on Canadian defence policy passed over the weekend."

Barlow says after losing an election there's a chance for different factions to form, but those gathered had a team attitude with energy and enthusiasm thanks to Interim Party Leader Rona Ambrose.