Café Closes Amid Alberta Separation Debate | Calgary News

A Cold Lake café owner, John Ewanek, shut down his 25-year-old business after hosting separatist events that alienated customers and musicians. Though he bought the café just this year, the backlash proved fatal. His story mirrors a broader cultural rift in Alberta, where a petition for separation gathered over 223,000 signatures — enough to force Premier Danielle Smith to put a referendum on the ballot. Ewanek, a self-described separatist who opposed pandemic restrictions, plans to vote for a second referendum, believing Alberta must break free. While polls show most Albertans want to stay in Canada, incidents like canceled rodeos and divisive billboards reveal deepening divisions across the province. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/eb0844b20ef18f0d