In a Calgary hotel, attendees of a high-priced separatist conference voted overwhelmingly in favor of Alberta separating from Canada. The event, which featured speakers and participants paying up to C$900 for weekend passes, served as a focal point for the growing independence movement. The atmosphere was described as intense, characterized by fiery rhetoric and the use of LED hats by attendees to signal their support for the cause.

While the conference participants showed strong consensus, the broader political climate in Alberta remains deeply divided. As the October 19 referendum approaches, the prospect of separation has triggered heated discourse across the province. Critics of the movement have leveled accusations of political grift and even treason against those pushing for independence, while supporters argue that the province would be better off governing itself. The Guardian reports that the debate is far from settled, noting that the intensity of the conference reflects a wider, ongoing struggle over Alberta's identity and its relationship with the Canadian federation. The event underscores the stark contrast between the concentrated enthusiasm of the separatist base and the wider, more skeptical public opinion across the province.