Forever Canadian, a group formed by local citizens, spoke with residents in Old Strathcona on August 2, 2025, as part of their effort to gather support for keeping Alberta within Canada. CTV News
A new group in Alberta is working hard to keep the province part of Canada. On Saturday, during the long weekend, members of the group visited Old Strathcona. They asked people a simple question: “Do you agree that Alberta should remain in Canada?”
Who Are They?
The group is called Forever Canadian. Their goal is to stop the growing talk of Alberta separating from Canada. They want to collect thousands of signatures from legal voters. The plan is to send a clear message to the provincial government: Albertans are proud to be Canadian.
A Push Against Separation
After the 2025 federal election, talk of separation grew louder. A group called Alberta Prosperity Project pushed to put the separation question on a ballot. But on Wednesday, Alberta’s chief electoral officer sent that proposal to a judge. The court will decide if it breaks the Constitution.
How Forever Canadian Got Started
Thomas Lukaszuk, a former Deputy Premier, started Forever Canadian. He applied to Elections Alberta for permission to gather signatures for an official petition. Elections Alberta approved his request on Wednesday.
The petition will run until October 28. The group needs almost 300,000 signatures—that’s 10 percent of voters from the 2023 election list.
First Day of Petition Drive
The campaign kicked off in Old Strathcona. Many people showed up to sign the petition. A few protesters stood nearby with a banner that read “Alberta Sovereignty Now!” But the mood remained peaceful.
“This group does not speak for most Albertans,” Lukaszuk said. “This petition gives us a chance to show that.”
He also said he was happy to see people from all political backgrounds supporting the cause.
“This isn’t about politics,” he added. “We may disagree on many things, but we all love being Canadian.”
What Happens Next?
John Lobe, another group member, said the first day was full of hope. People were eager to sign and show support.
He also spoke about Alberta’s Premier, Danielle Smith. Lobe believes she now faces two choices. “She can accept this petition and stop all talk of separation, including laws like the Sovereignty Act. Or she can take the issue to a vote,” he said.
Lobe added, “Albertans will tell her to stop this nonsense about separation.”
What They Need
To take the petition to the Alberta Legislature, the group must collect exactly 293,967 signatures. That’s a big task, but they believe it’s possible. Supporters say it’s time to prove that most Albertans want to stay in Canada.
