Hundreds of Albertans gathered in northwest Edmonton on Saturday for the grand opening of the Forever Canadian campaign office, a cross-partisan event aimed at promoting unity and opposing separatism. The office, located at 16815 117 Avenue, was overwhelmed by the crowd, forcing the rally to move outside for speeches.
Cross-Partisan Support
Former Progressive Conservative deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk, who founded Forever Canadian, highlighted the diverse political affiliations of the attendees. “This shows you how passionate Albertans are about being Canadian,” he said. “It has nothing to do with where we live, but who we are.” The event drew supporters from across the political spectrum, including former MLAs, Alberta New Democrats, and former Tory party members.
Among the notable attendees were Edmonton-Centre MP Eleanor Olszewski, Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood MLA Janis Irwin, Alberta NDP deputy leader Rakhi Pancholi, former mayor Amarjeet Sohi, and former city councillor Michael Walters. They waved lawn signs and chanted “Team Canada!” in a show of solidarity.
Unity Bus and Parade
The rally followed a morning pro-Canada parade in St. Albert, where the Unity Bus made its way to the newly opened Forever Canadian office. The industrial park road, typically wide enough for semi-trucks, was packed with dedicated Canadians from wall to wall.
Critical Six Months Ahead
Lukaszuk emphasized the importance of the next six months, as Alberta prepares for an Oct. 19 referendum called by Premier Danielle Smith. “Voter turnout will be key,” he warned. “Separatists now have a list of electors they are using. We’re asking all supporters to sign up so we can be in touch with them.” He urged unity among Canadians, stating, “We may have different opinions and ideologies, but at the end of the day we are all fighting to make Alberta and Canada a strong place.”
Complementary Campaigns
The Forever Canadian campaign is one of several pro-Canada initiatives in Alberta. The Alberta NDP has launched its own door-to-door campaign, “For Alberta, For Canada.” NDP deputy leader Rakhi Pancholi encouraged Albertans to sign up for multiple campaigns to stay informed. “I think we should all work together as much as possible,” she said. “Many of the people here are supporters of our party but there’s also supporters of other parties and that’s a wonderful thing. We should all be going out there together and fighting for Canada.”
Pancholi also criticized the provincial government’s focus on referendums, arguing that public services are underfunded. “I have three schools that have gone to a lottery because there are kids doing chemistry labs in the hallways,” she said. “This is not a fiscally responsible government. They have their own pet projects and they’re using taxpayer dollars to pay for it.”
Conservative Presence
While no members of the United Conservative Party attended the event, many conservatives who identify as Canadian were present, including former members of the now-defunct Progressive Conservative party. The crowd demonstrated that support for Canada transcends party lines, with attendees expressing their commitment to keeping Alberta within the federation.
