As Alberta heads to the polls for a referendum on its separation, Calgary-born singer-songwriter Jann Arden is coming home to headline a free outdoor concert this month to plea for a united Canada.
The Calgary Concert for Unity takes place September 20 at The Confluence Historic Site, formerly known as Fort Calgary. Arden will be joined by fellow Alberta artists including Celeigh Cardinal, Reuben Bullock and John Wort Hannam and Caity Gyorgy. The event is being billed as a family-friendly celebration of Canadian unity, with organizers encouraging Albertans to come together as “loud and proud Canadians.” The free event runs from 2 to 7 p.m.
On October 19, Alberta will hold a referendum that will ask voters, among other questions, whether they want the province to remain part of Canada or proceed toward a second, binding vote on separation. Supporters of independence argue Alberta would be better off outside of the Confederation, while opponents have raised concerns ranging from the economic consequences of separation to Indigenous treaty rights.
The only other Canadian province to have held a similar referendum is Québec, once in 1980 and again in 1995. Both were unsuccesful, though the 'No' won by a very slim minority, with results being 50.58% to 49.42%.
