Hundreds rally in sub-zero temperatures to keep Alberta Canadian

Hundreds gathered at Calgary City Hall to stand in opposition to separation by celebrating what it means to be Canadian. Tyler Barrow reports.

A few hundred hardy souls rallied for Canada Saturday morning at city hall in -20 temperatures as ‘Alberta is Canada’ celebrations were held in Calgary, Edmonton and Medicine Hat.

It was a grassroots response to the province’s separatist movement.

One of the event’s organizers was Indigenous advocate Nicole Johnston.

“Today, we are gathered here in unity to bring people together, to show what unity really looks like and to stand in solidarity with the (First Nation) treaties,“ she said.

Johnston said Alberta separatist advocates have underestimated what would be involved with an actual attempt at separation.

“I just want to keep emphasizing to the fact that the treaties play a real vital role here, and it’s the treaties that are at the main forefront of this,” Johnston said.

“With Danielle (Smith) and her idea of bringing forward that separation, she needs to understand, along with others, that this is going to be a very difficult and complex road to go down.

“If they get their yes votes, if they get their referendum and the majority voted yes, they’re not going to get immediate independence,” she said.

“It’s going to be a long process that will most likely outlive Danielle Smith’s term.”

Susan Dye described a potential referendum on separatism as “not acceptable to me.”

“I petitioned with Forever Canadian,” Dye said.

“I was one canvasser among thousands who collected over 400,000 signatures, and those demand attention. The voices of Albertan Canadians demand attention to stay in Canada.”

James Demers, a community organizer for Queer Citizens United, said, “the queer community is an integral part of Alberta and Canada, and we will fight tooth and nail to maintain our sovereignty within Canada as a country.”

Those spearheading the Alberta separatist movement say momentum is picking up.

“We’re getting large volumes of signatures now,” said Mitch Sylvestre of the Alberta Prosperity Project.

“We’re in the trenches now, and we’re going to absolutely get the work done.”

The Stay Free Alberta petition needs 177,732 signatures by May 2.

Bad for business: NDP

Calgary Buffalo MLA Joe Ceci, who was the province’s finance minister between 2015 and 2019, said separatism is simply bad for business.

“If separatism were to occur, we would lose the interest (of private) investment in Alberta,” Ceci said.

“We would not be able to attract the best and brightest here, because they would think, you know, what’s the point? I come here because I want to be a Canadian, not because people all over the world don’t see Alberta as a separate country. They see us as part of a great country.

“And to throw that away, to make that uncertain and destabilize, is the wrong thing to do for this province and for its people.

“There’s 40 million Canadians,” he added.

“There’s less than five million Albertans. We’re better in all ways as a united country.”

For 55-year-old rally participant Leonard Olien, the entire separatism question seems absurd.

“I think it’s a bit ridiculous that we’re even having this question. It’s devastating. There’s really no good reason for it,” he said.

What does it mean to Olien to be Canadian?

“We’re a really proud group of people. We come from all over the world. Aside from the people singing behind us, none of us are really from here, and we come together because we share the idea of having a safer life, a higher quality of life, but caring for each other much more than some other places do,” he said.

“And we see that in the pride you’re seeing – it’s out here today. You’re seeing it in the Olympics, and it’s just a great place to be. I’ll end it with that."

However, when asked if he was excited to see the Canadian men play for the gold medal Sunday morning, Olien said he will be up before dawn like the rest of the country.

“We got our reservations at the Regal Beagle for 6 a.m.,” he said, “so hope there will be a crew of us there!”

With files from CTV’s Tyler Barrow