Residents in Beaumont, Alberta, can now visit two local businesses to sign a province‑wide petition seeking a referendum on whether Alberta should become an independent country. The signature drive is part of a formal citizen‑initiative process that could trigger a province‑wide referendum if organizers gather the required support.
The campaign, run by Stay Free Alberta, has listed permanent campaign signing stations at Maina’s Donair (101–5010 50th St) and Five‑O Bar & Grill (5017 50th St) in Beaumont. Those locations are campaign‑run hubs where eligible Albertans can sign during the posted business hours rather than having to wait for specific community events.
To advance the initiative, organizers must collect 177,732 in‑person signatures from eligible Alberta voters by May 2, 2026. Signatures must be collected in person on Elections Alberta’s official petition sheets as wet (pen) signatures; digital or electronic signatures are not permitted under the current rules.
Mitch Sylvestre, CEO of the Alberta Prosperity Project and the official proponent of the petition, says the goal is to give Albertans more control over their economy and government. Sylvestre and campaign materials say turnout has been strong in many towns; media reports have described long lineups in some locations, with people waiting hours to sign.
While local businesses have agreed to host the petition stations, municipal governments have moved to clarify they are not involved. For example, the Town of Didsbury issued a notice saying its Memorial Complex was not an authorized signing location, underscoring that these signing stations are privately run campaign locations.
