Racism toward immigrants rising in Alberta as referendum on separation nears October vote

Immigrant and Sikh community leaders in Alberta are reporting a sharp rise in racist rhetoric and hate-motivated violence as the province prepares for a referendum on immigration and separation in October.

Saima Jamal, co-founder of the Calgary Immigrant Support Society, said she has never seen hatred at this level in her nearly 30 years in Alberta. She pointed to hateful online comments posted ahead of Calgary's Muslim Heritage Day festival — including threats of violence and calls to deport people based on ethnicity or religion.

"Right now racism and hate is on steroids and I've never seen this level of hatred toward immigrant communities," Jamal said. "Muslim communities, Indians, anyone that is wearing a turban."

The escalation moved beyond the internet when two men were stabbed at a Sikh temple in Edmonton on Aug. 20. Edmonton police are still determining whether that attack was a hate crime.

Harman Kandola, Alberta regional president for the World Sikh Organization of Canada, said the shift from online hate to physical violence is deeply alarming. "When you see that hate leave social media and come into the real world where actual injuries have happened, it is extremely, extremely shocking," Kandola said.

Police data reflects the trend. Edmonton police report 139 hate incidents and 43 hate crimes to date in 2026. Calgary police say of 272 suspected hate crimes or incidents reports this year, 44 were deemed to be hate-motivated after investigation, with newcomers or immigrants targeted most often.

Edmonton Police Chief Warren Driechel expressed concern about heightened tensions in a statement on Aug. 21, noting geopolitical polarization showing up locally.

University of Alberta political science professor Jared Wesley links the climate to the upcoming referendum. On Oct. 19, Albertans will vote on 10 referendum questions, five dealing with immigration policy. One asks whether the province should take increased control over immigration to decrease it and prioritize economic migration. Another asks whether only Canadian citizens, permanent residents and those with approved Alberta immigration status should be eligible for provincial programs like health care and education.

"I have concerns about where this is, not where it's headed," Wesley said. "When you table a series of referendum questions about the future treatment of immigrants in Alberta society, the conversation would not be simply limited to economic questions."

As HighOnCity reported in July, Edmonton's mayor called nine of the referendum questions racist and urged Albertans to vote no.