Alberta referendum vote draws mixed emotions from Calgary voters

Calgarians are grappling with competing emotions as Alberta's referendum approaches, with some eager to participate and others frustrated at spending taxpayer money on questions most don't want answered.

Jim Fedor, who booked October 19 off work to vote, said he's looking forward to the experience. "I'm gonna vote Option 1 on the separation question, for Alberta to stay in Canada, and the other nine questions I plan to vote no for each one," Fedor said. "I think it's important for everyone to have their voices heard. A lot of places in the world don't allow voting on much of anything. So I feel quite lucky to be able to vote and make my vote count."

But frustration runs deep among other voters. Christine Nelson said the referendum feels wasteful. "I'm really disappointed. The majority of people do not want to separate, and we have to spend taxpayers' money to vote on something that's not going to go through unless there's some kind of, you know, crookedness going on. It's ridiculous," she said.

Charmaine Coutinho, who attended a CBC pop-up at the Seton library branch in southeast Calgary last week, expressed anger about the referendum's broader implications. "I am feeling anger about the increase in racism and otherness caused by legitimizing these extreme perspectives through government actions. I am saying no to everything, and we are, and I am, very much in favour of staying in Canada," she said.

Not all disagreements are breaking friendships—yet. One pair of senior friends who met at the pop-up plan to vote differently, with one choosing to explore leaving Canada and the other voting to stay. "We might not be friends after!" the pro-unity voter joked, noting their father fought for Canada.

Michael Chudleigh struck a more measured tone. "I'm trying not to be angry about the whole thing and understand that those who disagree with me have their reasons, even if I can't see them," he said.

Library patrons ranged from parents with children to high school students to seniors, with some just beginning to follow the process while others had already made up their minds. Elections Alberta faced security concerns at polling stations ahead of the vote, which was set months in advance.