As Alberta separatism referendum looms, flags become symbol of voting intention

As Alberta separatism referendum looms, flags become symbol of voting intention — and tension

Flags are the most powerful cultural symbols ever invented, expert says

With less than four weeks to go before Albertans cast their ballots on the issue of separatism, flags have become a rallying point for people on both sides of the debate — not only indicating voting intention but, at times, becoming a point of tension.

Albertans will cast a ballot Oct. 19 on whether the province should stay in Canada or whether there should be an eventual vote on separating from the country.

The Canadian flag has been flown by federalists making the case for the country to stay intact while the Alberta flag seems to have become a symbol for an independent Alberta.

Louise Lyons is proud to have a provincial flag flying outside her house in central Edmonton.

Lyons has lived in the area for close to 30 years and for roughly half that time, there has always been a flag flying out front.

A Canadian flag had been on display up until a couple years ago when Lyons said she wanted to switch things up and fly an Alberta flag instead, a decision made before a referendum was announced.

“We love Alberta. We’re both born, bred Albertans and this is a fabulous place,” she told CBC News.

Then approximately a month ago, a thought dawned on Lyons.

“I'm thinking, ‘Oh no, they’re going to see an Alberta flag and they might do something right?” she said, referring to people who do not want an independent Alberta.

Lyons said she is in favour of separatism.

“I hate to say it, especially over the last 11 years with the Liberals, with Trudeau and Carney, I really feel that our country is not what it used to be,” she said.

Lyons used to be proud of the maple leaf; now she is disheartened by it.

“I am very concerned about where Canada is going right now,” she said.

In a neighbourhood north of Lyons, Keri Goad bought a Canadian flag more than a year ago to display outside her home.

“I’m a proud Canadian above and beyond what province I live in,” she said in an interview.

Goad, who supports Alberta staying in Canada, said her identity lies with the red-and-white.

“To me, the Canada flag brings a sense of peace,” she said.

Goad said she wanted to “reclaim” the Canadian flag, which became a symbol for protesters during the 2022 trucker convoy.

“After the convoy, you’re like, 'oh, are they one of those convoy people that are against the Canadian government?' I had a really strong feeling that I wanted to reclaim the Canadian flag for the people who were proud to be Canadian, not the people wanting to fight the federal government,” she said.

Goad admits that she now feels some apprehension when she sees an Alberta flag or logo.

“They have a right to do that. But it does make me wary of that person,” she said.

Though they may be on opposite sides of the issue, both women agree that people should be allowed to express themselves.

Lyons said the fervour around flags is “ridiculous.”

“If you’re a proud Albertan, you can fly a flag without being judged,” she said.

When asked if she is upset that some people have become offended at the Alberta flag being seen as a symbol for separatism, Lyons said yes.

“They’re picking things out to rally around, to make something of it, to make something negative of it,” she said.

As for Goad, while she might disagree with signs supporting an independent Alberta, she said she tries to respect other people’s opinions.

“I believe everybody has a right to their own beliefs, their own opinions and I have the right to be proud to be a Canadian, whether it’s a flag, whether it’s a lawn sign, whether it’s a sticker on a car. That should be something that is never a negative thing,” she said.

‘Powerful cultural symbols’

John Bertrand is a vexillologist, or someone who studies flags, and a member of the North American Vexillological Association.

He said flags, whether for sports or politics or otherwise, are used to quickly identify what group a person belongs to.

“It’s the ultimate icon of our tribalism. At a glance, they tell people who we are,” Bertrand said in an interview.

Betrand said it is isn't surprising how flags have been mobilized in the separatism debate.

“They let people know what group they belong to, the people flying it, and what they aspire to. And I think that in Alberta, we’re seeing a very, very typical use of the flags,” he said.

Betrand said flags are the most powerful cultural symbols ever invented and they are, at times, not far from controversy.

“The flag itself is neutral… It’s a piece of cloth with a symbol on it. The same flag can mean different things to different people. And it’s what we bring to the flag that makes it controversial, not the other way around,” he said.

At Discount Flags, manager Isaac Pratt has seen an uptick in the sales of both flags, adding not everyone is taking a side.

“From the businesses, you’re seeing a lot of trying to stick with neutrality. They don’t want to oust one group or the other. They want to very much keep themselves in the middle, because in the middle they get both people buying off of them,” he said.

Pratt said he’s hearing that sentiment from residential buyers as well.

“You even hear some concerns about, ‘I’m scared to fly this flag because it might associate me with this. I’ve always had this on my house but now this flag might associate me with this group.’ And it’s some people just switching from one to the other or also going with both to just kind of stick in that middle ground there,” he said.

Pratt, who has worked at the store for roughly three years, said he would never have guessed interest and sales of the flags would be at the level he has seen.

“Everybody’s very passionate right now,” he said.

Julia Wong is a senior reporter based in Edmonton.