CTV News Edmonton has reported:

About 30 vehicles decorated with Alberta flags and pro-separation signs gathered outside Rotary Park in Spruce Grove on Saturday, as separatists made what they called a final push before voters go to the polls on Oct. 19. In Thanksgiving sleet, occupants cheered passing cars as drivers honked in response. Participants said they were prepared to continue their campaign after the vote.

Organizer Tyson Rohovich said building a community was the best part of the campaign for him. “We want to see change in Canada … We just want to see fairness here in Alberta,” he said, adding that he was not opposed to Canada as a whole. He said the result was uncertain, but added: “Obviously we don’t know what the vote is going to be, but regardless, you look around, we’ve already won.”

The 10th question on the ballot asks whether Alberta should remain part of Canada or hold a second, binding referendum on seceding. Third-party campaigns on both sides of the province’s independence debate have increased their advertising efforts ahead of the vote.

Forever Canadian, an active pro-federalist group that led a counter-petition to keep Alberta in Canada, brought its Unity Bus to Strathmore on Saturday as part of a final push for its position. Proponent Thomas Lukaszuk told CTV News Edmonton over the summer, “This is the last time where we should be dividing ourselves for internal political gain.” At the time, he cited the ongoing trade war with the United States as a reason to set aside Alberta’s fight and focus on national unity.

Rohovich said he intends to join fellow campaigners in taking their message to Ottawa regardless of the referendum outcome. The Alberta Prosperity Project, the lead group in the pro-separation movement, has said there is “no risk” in voting for a referendum on a future referendum. In a social media post, it also said “the fight for independence isn’t over after Oct. 19.”

Rohovich said Alberta had changed during the campaign. “It’ll never go back to the same … There’s been a great awakening in Alberta. It’s not for hate, it’s not for whatever. We want to see restoration,” he said. He added: “It’ll be interesting to see, Oct. 19, where we’re at.”