Forever Canadian concert draws more than 12,000 RSVPs to the Confluence Sunday

Thousands of Albertans gathered at the Confluence on Sunday, September 20 for Forever Canadian's Calgary Concert for Unity, with more than 12,000 RSVPs to the free event.

Jann Arden, the Calgary-born singer-songwriter, headlined a lineup that included Caleigh Cardinal, Ruben Bullock and the Bullhorn Singers, Caity Gyorgy, John Wort Hannam, Lindi Ortega, Montuno West, and Kue Varoe and The Only Hopes—all performing without payment. Buses were chartered from Medicine Hat and Lethbridge to bring attendees.

Thomas Lukaszuk, leader of the Forever Canadian movement and former deputy premier, spoke at the event, framing it as a statement about Canadian unity. "We're giving Calgarians and frankly all Albertans an opportunity to celebrate Canada, to show unity, and just have a good time, and show how much Canada means to us all," he said.

Lukaszuk described the goal as sending a message domestically and internationally. "I think the most important part of this all is that it will show a strong message not only to our premier, but to the rest of Canada and to the rest of the world, how united we are, how we cannot be fractured and how we will not allow either politicians or foreign actors to take advantage of us," he said in an interview.

He added: "I certainly hope that the Premier Danielle Smith, her entire caucus and some of the federal MPs who are elected in Alberta finally get off their hands and actually actively start promoting Canada, Canadian unity and Alberta's place in Confederation."