Aug. 20, 2026 "With 60 days left until Alberta’s referendum, stay and leave sides plot their course": Today I found this article by Joel Dryden on CBC:
Only 60 days remain until Albertans answer 10 questions
that could shape the future
of the province.
Nine focus on immigration
and constitutional reform.
But it’s the 10th question — whether Albertans want the province to remain in Canada
or hold a second, binding referendum on separation
— that is increasingly poised to animate town halls and rallies scheduled in the coming days.
And with the clock ticking, both sides have limited opportunities to win over hearts and minds.
That will be a challenge.
Longtime pollster Janet Brown has been watching the numbers for years.
Those numbers have shown, consistently,
that support for separatism
trails well behind
those who back staying in Canada.
“We've seen very little movement in the data over the past eight years,” Brown said.
“And very few people remain undecided at this point — in the five per cent to eight per cent range.”
Given that, the referendum campaign is becoming less about persuasion,
and more about mobilization,
in Brown’s view.
“Voter turnout is critical for both sides,” she said.
There are, of course, many different groups competing for eyeballs on both sides of the debate.
Here’s a look at how four of them say they’ll approach the campaign’s next phase.
Let Alberta Decide
One pro-independence leader says some on the campaign trail have been hesitant to share publicly that they support Alberta independence. He’s not entirely convinced the polls are accurate.
“But from a strategic point of view, we assume they are,” said Keith Wilson with the third-party advertiser Let Alberta Decide. “So we realize we have an uphill battle.”
The group, which leads all third-party advertisers with more than $415,000 in donations as of Aug. 13, is planning a major rally on Oct. 17 at the Alberta Legislature, two days before the referendum.
Traditional get-out-the-vote operations are planned, including
organizing minibuses to drive people to stations.
Polling shows support for independence is strongest in rural regions,
but weaker in the urban areas,
so the group is concentrating efforts in Calgary and Edmonton,
as well as smaller cities like Lethbridge and Lloydminster.
It’s also adapting its messaging on social media towards different demographics
— for instance, towards young men in their 20s struggling to make rent,
or towards senior citizens concerned about their grandchildren's future.
“We're going to be ramping up incrementally as we get closer to the voting day,” Wilson said.
Forever Canadian
Last Friday, volunteers were busy at the Forever Canadian campaign office in Edmonton, stacking lawn signs into wagons before loading them into vehicles.
Organizer Thomas Lukaszuk said the group has teams “literally in every municipality across Alberta,” and plans to visit more towns in Forever Canadian’s “Unity Bus.”
“I think we’re in the second period of a hockey game, but this has been already going on for one year and one month,” Lukaszuk said.
Lukaszuk said some large rallies organized by Forever Canadian are planned over the next couple of months, and the group plans to continue distributing its lawn signs across the province.
The group has said it has more than 18,000 Albertans who volunteered to promote unity. As of now, Lukaszuk said he sees the group’s role continuing much as it has been.
“If we pivot into get out the vote, then obviously we have the resources.
But at this stage of this campaign, that’s not what we’re focusing on,” he said.
“We’re focusing on boosting Canadian pride,
and that seems to be a very effective campaign.”
Alberta Prosperity Project/Stay Free Alberta
This group, which led the citizen initiative petition looking to force a vote on Alberta separating from Canada,
views October as the culmination of years of work.
Mitch Sylvestre, CEO of Alberta Prosperity Project, said the group plans to maximize advance polls — even if it’s not something it “agrees with” — while holding town halls across Alberta.
“We'll focus on getting people out to vote right now.
I think we’ll have a very good chance if we get our people out,”
Sylvestre said.
The group has a rally planned Aug. 29 at the Alberta Legislature, which it refers to as a “gathering for a province in peril.”
In the lead-up to the vote, the group plans to encourage its members to develop a list of close friends and neighbours, ensuring they’re responsible to get them to polls.
Alberta's Voice
Alberta's Voice, run by Decide Campaigns' president Stephen Carter, currently has the most contributions listed for a pro-Confederation campaign, with more than $87,000.
Carter said Alberta’s Voice would like to do an
“air war” advertising campaign, buying radio spots
in Calgary, Edmonton and rural Alberta.
“But raising funds has been our primary challenge,
and we need to make sure that we’re able to compete with the separatists,”
Carter said.
“The leading separatist group has raised four times as much money as we have.”
The group is also focused on undecided voters and is aiming for a 75-25 split on referendum day in favour of staying in Canada.
“The number one thing to do is to really dig into the undecided voters,” Carter said.
“There’s not many of them, but those that are there are going to make the difference between
whether or not we have to face this again in the future,
or if we can kill this dead right off the top.”
The group plans to establish a campaign college in early September to train volunteers on voter mobilization.
It also has designs on a “captain system,”
which would involve people emailing and calling others to get to the polls on election day.
“We're hoping to sign up 100,000 people through that mechanism,” Carter said.
“And that will enable us to really change, I think, the overall turnout.
“The people who we're targeting aren't necessarily the hyper-engaged,
but they're the ones who are adjacent to the hyper-engaged.”
While the referendum is 60 days away,
Elections Alberta is also allowing residents to vote by mail — and that deadline comes sooner. Special ballot packages must be received before 5 p.m. on Oct. 16.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-independence-referendum-advertising-rallies-9.7311518
Aug. 26, 2026 "Alberta NDP urges Smith to cancel separation vote amid Canada-U.S. trade war": Today I found this article on BNN Bloomberg:
CALGARY — Alberta’s Opposition leader says now is not the time to hold a referendum on quitting Canada as the country wages a consequential trade war with its southern neighbour.
NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi says Premier Danielle Smith needs to
cancel it or,
at the very least, postpone it.
“It’s time to call off the referendum,” Nenshi told reporters Tuesday in Calgary.
“The premier’s pandering to separatists just shows weakness;
it shows that Canada is not united.”
Albertans are to vote Oct. 19 in a provincial referendum that asks whether the government should start the legal process to hold a future binding vote on separating from Canada.
Nenshi said Canada has to send a message of unity as it resumes the trade war with the United States.
The U.S. has levied import fees on $28 billion worth of Canadian goods,
with Canada announcing counter-tariffs that are to kick in Sept. 8 on an array of items,
ranging from American steel and aluminum products to video game consoles and fishing rods.
When asked for a response to Nenshi, Smith’s office referred to the premier’s comments on her radio talk show last weekend.
Smith said the referendum will continue,
because hundreds of thousands of citizens have signed petitions demanding a resolution.
“Citizens signed one of two petitions saying they wanted to have this question now,
and that’s what the vote is going to be on Oct. 19,”
Smith said Saturday.
“I think we need to make sure that we are clear about what Albertans want us to do.
That’s part of the reason why we’re having the vote.”
Smith has said she’ll personally be voting to remain in Canada.
Nenshi’s criticism piggybacks on comments last week from Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon.
St-Pierre Plamondon said if his separatist party takes office in the Quebec general election in October, it would postpone a promised referendum on secession until the end of U.S. President Donald Trump’s presidency.
The unpredictable nature of the Trump administration could harm Quebec’s referendum process and discussions about the province’s future, St-Pierre Plamondon said.
Trump is about midway through his four-year mandate.
The Alberta NDP has accused Smith of holding a separatist vote not to resolve a profound question preoccupying Albertans,
but rather to placate hardline separatists in her United Conservative Party.
That contrasts with the long-standing separatism concerns of Quebecers, said Nenshi.
“If real separatists (in Quebec) understand the danger of doing this,
how come a separatist of convenience, like Danielle Smith, doesn’t understand that danger?”
he said.
The battle for hearts and minds of Albertans ahead of the referendum has seen groups on both sides organize advocacy campaigns.
That includes two former Alberta political foes.
Former NDP premier Rachel Notley
and ex-UCP premier Jason Kenney
announced are co-chairing a Canadian Chamber of Commerce campaign to
encourage Alberta stay in Canada.
Both say they have had their differences but agree on the value of Alberta staying in Confederation.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 26, 2026.
Dayne Patterson, The Canadian Press
My week:
Sat. Sept. 5, 2026:
Jasmine K, Vancouver, British Columbia, would like to know:
Are you looking forward to fall?
Yes, I love fall
49.19% (1737)
Yes, but I prefer summer
34.83% (1230)
No
15.97% (564)
My opinion: Yes, I love fall.
I should have picked "Yes, but I prefer summer."
Fall is a close 2nd favorite.
Tues. Sept. 8, 2026:
Karen I, Scarborough, Ontario, would like to know:
Do you wear sunscreen?
Yes
64.68% (619)
No
35.32% (338)
My opinion: Yes.
Wed. Sept. 9, 2026:
LEO would like to know:
What makes you most want to watch a new series or movie?
The trailer sold me
32.98% (2065)
I like the actors or creators
17.58% (1101)
Someone recommended it to me
15.68% (982)
The reviews are great
15.57% (975)
Everyone is talking about it
11.66% (730)
I liked the book or original version
6.53% (409)
My opinion: The trailer.
Thurs. Sept. 10, 2026:
Rudy A, Stony Plain, Alberta, would like to know:
Do you use artificial intelligence (AI)?
Yes
60.90% (2291)
No
39.10% (1471)
My opinion: Yes. Well, I go on Google and there is the "AI overview" and I read that.
Fri. Sept. 4, 2026 Garage sale #1: I took a 2 min. bus ride and walked a few min. to get there.
There was a woman and 2 men in their seniors who were selling.
There was a room upstairs above the garage.
There were a lot of books like novels and kids books.
There were stickers, arts and crafts, and scrapbook materials.
Some were partially used and some unopened.
There were color by the number coloring books that were partially colored:
Brain Games - Color by Number: Butterflies - Stress-Free Adult Coloring Book with Tear-Out Pages | Relaxing Activity for Paint by Number Lovers | Gift for Women, Seniors & Teens
The pictures on these were pretty cool:
These were like $2 each. I like them, but not enough to to buy them.
I like these more:
I didn't buy anything.
Free library: I checked the one there.
Sat. Sept. 5, 2026 Garage sale #2: Yesterday I walked home from the garage sale, I saw this sign for this other one.
I went there this morning and this Asian woman was selling:
-jewelry
-home decor
-bags
There were a few things that were unopened like a small canvas with an easel from Dollarama.
I didn't buy anything.
Free library: I checked the one there.
Sun. Sept. 6, 2026 The Community League Pancake Breakfast: This was from 9AM-11AM.
I went there at 10AM and brought my own tupperware. I used the metal fork and knife in the kitchen to prevent making garbage with disposable plates and cutlery.
I sat at a table with this white woman. Then a white woman and an Asian man sat and ate.
I then see a whole bunch of people coming in, so I sat at a table of 2 white woman and 2 Asian woman in this order:
Cory
Colleen
Josephine
Monica
Colleen: Weren't you at the AGM (Annual General Meeting)?
Tracy: Yeah.
I let the new groups of people have a table to themselves.
There were pancakes, small brown sausages, and bacon. Towards the end, the bacon was all eaten.
There was some fruit pieces.
That's what happened at the pancake breakfast at my Hotel Restaurant job in 2019:
There were pancakes and sausages, all the bacon was eaten.
Coloring books: There were free Edmonton coloring books. I didn't like them.
Free library: I checked the one inside the league. There was a kid's coloring book, but I didn't like it.
I have seen kid's or adult's coloring books,
activity books,
and DVDs,
in these free libraries.
Mon. Sept. 7, 2026 Garage sale #3: I went to a job interview and I saw this sign. I went to this and there was this blonde woman in her 40s or 50s with her mom.
They were mainly selling her dad's old things though he passed away in 1993.
There was the big soft brown stuffed animal in a pineapple outfit. His name is Sunny. I liked this.
The woman won this in a draw at a doctor's office.
There were Halloween costumes and skis.
She also sells her handmade earrings and fish tail sequin keychains.
There will be more garage sales when it's not raining.
Wed. Sept. 9, 2026 Community League Meeting: I went there.
It turns out 140 people came to the Pancake breakfast.
There were 6 pancakes leftover.
Acapella Catering: They ordered breakfast from here.
If you want Thanksgiving and Christmas buffets, you can go to the website:
https://www.acappellacatering.com/
Clothing Swap - Fall 2026
Thu, Sep 17 | Forest Terrace Heights Community League
Time to refresh your wardrobe!
Time & Location
Sep 17, 2026, 5:00 p.m. – Sep 20, 2026, 2:00 p.m.
Forest Terrace Heights Community League, 10150 80 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6A 3H8, Canada
About the event
On September 19 and 20, we invite you to our much-anticipated Clothing Swap. This event lets you clean out your closet and discover new pieces. It’s a win-win for your wardrobe AND your wallet.
Donations Drop off only:
Thursday, September 17, 5-8pm
Friday, September 18, 5-8pm
Donations and Shopping
Saturday, September 19th
9-10am - Community League members only
10am- 3pm - open to anyone
Shopping only
Sunday, September 20th, 11am-2pm
https://www.forestterrace.org/event-details/clothing-swap-fall-2026
My opinion: I won't be going there. I was there for the last few years and I got a lot of clothes. I don't need more.
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