Jann Arden headlines Calgary concert for Canadian unity ahead of Alberta referendum

Jann Arden headlines Calgary concert for Canadian unity ahead of Alberta referendum

Groups for and against separation holding events in the coming weeks

A free outdoor concert in support of Canadian unity brought thousands to downtown Calgary on Sunday, about a month before Albertans will cast their ballots on the question of separation.

The show, held at The Confluence Historic Site and Parkland, was headlined by Calgary singer-songwriter Jann Arden with support from a variety of Canadian artists, including fellow Alberta acts Caity Gyorgy, Lindi Ortega and Reuben Bullock.

Thomas Lukaszuk, leader of the Forever Canadian campaign, told CBC News the event was being held to promote national unity at a time of political division, geopolitical conflict, and threats to the nation's sovereignty and economic independence.

"It's sort of a Canada Day on steroids, because that's what we need at this point in time," Lukaszuk said.

"We need to unite, we need to pull together and we need to send a strong message not only to the legislature in Edmonton, and not only to the rest of Canada, but to the rest of the world that as Canadians we are united, and nobody can break us up, and nobody can take advantage of us."

Voters head to the polls next month to answer 10 referendum questions. Nine of them focus on giving Alberta more clout on immigration and constitutional issues.

The tenth question asks if Alberta should stay in Canada or whether it's time to hold a second, binding referendum on leaving the country.

Thousands packed the grounds for Sunday’s concert, with organizers saying 6,000 people had registered.

In the sea of red, a few supporters of separation were in attendance. Several cars adorned with Alberta flags also drove by a few times, honking their horns.

Kelly Shelley says she was there to show support for the Forever Canadian campaign, and to make sure everybody who’s in attendance and watching at home takes the time to go vote.

“We're all frustrated that there even is a petition, but we're darn sure going to put our names on it to stay in Canada,” she said.

Events being held ahead of Oct. 19 referendum

Lukaszuk said the concert comes ahead of a “pivotal shift” in the Forever Canadian campaign, with the group planning to visit municipalities throughout the province to promote its message over the next four weeks.

“I simply want to remind them of the importance of this event, of this moment in Alberta history that we're going through,” he said.

Events in support of Alberta separation are also being held across the province ahead of the referendum, with the Let’s Talk Alberta tour bus planning to visit several different communities.

Alberta Prosperity Project CEO Mitch Sylvestre and Cory Morgan, an organizer with the Pathway to Independence group, are also speaking at Habebe's Banquet Hall in northeast Calgary on Monday evening.

Mount Royal University political scientist Lori Williams said most people have likely already decided how they’re going to answer the separation question this October. The main goal of these events, she said, will be to make sure they go vote.

“Actually getting people who have an opinion on this to participate … particularly to those who think their side is is going to to win, it may take some persuading for them to go to the trouble of applying for a mail-in ballot, special ballot, or go through the time and effort that it will likely take to vote at the advance polls or on referendum day,” she said.

The deadline to apply for special ballots is Friday, Sept. 25. Elections Alberta says more than 500,000 Albertans have already applied to vote by mail.

Williams said events for and against separation could also be an opportunity for people to get their questions answered.

“I'm finding a great many people are confused,” she said. “They're used to seeing ‘yes, no’ questions in referenda, they aren't used to seeing what we're encountering here.”

Albertans head to the polls on Oct. 19.

Amir Said is a multimedia journalist with CBC Calgary. He is an alumnus of the University of Regina, and his award-winning work as a writer and photographer has been published by outlets across Canada, including Postmedia, The Hill Times and The Narwhal. Amir can be reached at amir.said@cbc.ca or through social media.