‘We can’t be fractured’: Forever Canadian hosting free Calgary Concert for Unity at The Confluence

The Confluence will be the site of a free concert celebrating Canadian unity Sunday in Calgary.

Jann Arden is headlining a day of Alberta performers, including Caleigh Cardinal, Ruben Bullock and the Bullhorn Singers, Caity Gyorgy, John Wort Hannam, Lindi Ortega, Montuno West, and Kue Varoe and The Only Hopes.

Forever Canadian founder Thomas Lukaszuk and Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas will speak as well.

“Join in a celebration of what it means to be Canadian with homegrown Alberta artists,” Arden posted on social media.

Lukaszuk gave the concert a shout out on social media as well.

“Come as you are. It’s free. Bring kids along. Enjoy amazing Alberta artists. Show your pride in being Canadian,” he said.

In a Sunday afternoon interview with CTV News, Lukaszuk said the concert gave Albertans an opportunity to celebrate Canada.

“We’re giving Calgarians and frankly all Albertans, because they’re coming over here from all over Alberta, an opportunity to celebrate Canada, to show unity, and just have a good time, and show how much Canada means to us all,” he said.

“We have a beautiful lineup of Alberta artists, true Canadians, and the weather is cooperating, so I think the gods are on our side.”

Lukaszuk said he was anticipating around 12,000 people attending the event, expressing gratitude to all the artists, who are playing for free -- even Jann Arden.

“Anybody who has never had the opportunity to see Jan Arden will be able to see her today. She is a true Canadian, very much in support of the Forever Canadian movement so we’re really happy and proud to be able to do this together with her.”

Joyanne Wood said her reasons for attending were simple.

“I’m an eighth generation Canadian and I want to see Canada stay together. And I think some people in Alberta have forgotten that.”

Lukaszuk reflected on how Forever Canadian has grown since he launched a petition as an organization of one man.

“it’s hard to describe it in words,” he said. “This started with one person -- being me -- filing a petition with Elections Alberta, and then it grew to a point where we have over 18,000 registered volunteers.

“We collected nearly half a million signatures, and now to one event, 12,000 people are showing up.

“It’s indescribable,” he said, continuing, “but it’s not because of me. It’s because of the fact that Albertans love Canada.

“Albertans are true Canadians, and and they want to show that. They want to show it not only to our premier and to the rest of Canada, but they they want to show it abroad because we live in very critical times right now, very, very fragile geopolitical times, and Canadians want to show that this country can’t be broken up.

“We can’t be fractured,” he added." No one can take advantage of us. We are as united as we have ever been, and and this is a great show of unity."