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Quebec sovereigntists see fundamental rift with Alberta separatists
Quebec sovereigntists distanced from Alberta vote
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
With just days before Alberta’s vote on an independence referendum, longtime Quebec sovereigntists are distancing themselves from the western province's separatists.
Question 10 of 10 on Monday’s referendum ballot asks whether Alberta should remain in Canada or if the government should start the legal process to hold a subsequent, binding referendum on separation.
Advance polls opened Tuesday and run until Saturday.
Quebecers may have a sense of déjà vu after voting on a similar question in 1980, when René Lévesque’s Parti Québécois asked whether the province should begin negotiations to leave Confederation. Nearly 60 per cent of Quebec voters were against Lévesque's proposal.
A second referendum followed in 1995, narrowly won by the "No" side. But ardent sovereigntists see profound differences in the two movements.
Marie-Anne Alepin, president of the Société St-Jean-Baptiste de Montréal, a prominent Quebec nationalist group, believes Alberta is using the threat of separatism as leverage in negotiations with Ottawa. She sees the referendum as a means of pressure rather than a genuine desire to form a country.
“They want a bigger role within Canada and we want to leave,” she said. “They want more control over their oil and gas … we don't want pipelines.”
But that hasn't stopped some leaders in the Alberta separatist movement from claiming common cause.
Quebec elected the PQ — which has promised a third independence referendum — to a minority government on Oct. 5, leading figures in the Alberta separatist movement to rally behind premier-designate Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and declare him a possible ally.
"Quebec rejected the status quo today," wrote columnist Cory Morgan — a founding member of the Alberta Independence Party in 2001 — on social media after the PQ's victory. "Alberta can do the same in two weeks by choosing to send a message with Option 2 on Question 10.”
Alberta separatist Jeffrey Rath also took to social media the day after the provincial election, saying that "for the first time in history, Alberta Independence will have the support of the elected government of Quebec." He also congratulated St-Pierre Plamondon and "the country of Quebec."
The two, along with lawyer Keith Wilson, lamented that Quebec’s quest for independence is seen as legitimate while they say Alberta separatists are sneered at.
During a visit to Calgary last year, St-Pierre Plamondon said he would recognize an independent Alberta should the province vote to separate. Rath said he met with the PQ leader during that visit.
But while they believe in the democratic process of a referendum, many Quebec sovereigntists do not identify with the Alberta separatists.
Former PQ leader Jean-François Lisée did not mince words when asked about Monday’s referendum.
"It's mostly a waste because defeat is certain," he said. “There's really nothing much to gain from watching the Alberta independence movement, except maybe negative lessons."
It’s a feeling shared by other sovereigntists.
Louise Harel, who was a PQ minister during Quebec's 1995 sovereignty referendum and later served as interim leader of the party, agrees with Lisée. Both say the Quebec and Alberta sovereigntist movements are fundamentally different.
In their view, Quebec sovereigntists are motivated to preserve their cultural and linguistic identity, while Alberta separatists are motivated by the economy and political libertarianism. They also see a desire for Alberta to get closer to the United States, while Quebecers are wary of talk of assimilation.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has repeatedly said she is against secession, while PQ leaders have openly called for sovereignty.
"In Quebec, the idea is to give a unique historical nation in North America, which … has valiantly resisted assimilation, the powers it needs to survive in a globalized world,” said Harel. “But there is no such issue of identity or culture in Alberta.”
While sovereigntist Quebecers also feel economically disadvantaged within Canada, Lisée said, the sentiment isn’t at the core of the movement. He also stressed that Quebec's sovereigntist parties have historically been social-democrat, while the movement in Alberta seems tied to conservatism.
Daniel Turp, a Université de Montréal law professor who represented both the Bloc Québécois and the PQ, sees differences in the referendum process itself. Quebec’s two independence referendums included a single question on sovereignty.
As a result, there were mass mobilizations from both federalist and sovereigntist factions for weeks.
Public support for independence also varies widely between the two provinces.
On the eve of the 1995 referendum, public opinion was split evenly in the polls. Three days before Quebecers cast their ballots, Canadians from across the country made their way to Montreal to urge them to vote against independence.
Poll aggregator 338Canada shows less than 25 per cent support for Alberta to leave Canada as of Oct. 11.
“There hasn’t been a love-in in Alberta yet,” Turp said. “Maybe we’re not as worried because the polls show the option to remain will win.”
More than 90 per cent of registered voters cast a ballot in the 1995 referendum, which federalists won with 50.58 per cent of the vote.
“That’s the kind of voter turnout you see in countries where voting is mandatory,” said Harel. “I would be extremely surprised if voter turnout in the Alberta referendum were the same.”
But the sovereigntists do not reject the Alberta separatist movement entirely. All four said they sympathize with the desire for autonomy and self-determination.
"If Alberta were to vote yes, and then Ottawa would say, 'well, you can't leave,' we will be on the side of Alberta," said Lisée.
Harel added that while she does not see ideological similarities between separatists in Quebec and Alberta, the democratic process must be respected. She said that the Alberta referendum can give legitimacy to the one promised by the PQ.
Asked if they worry that a no vote on Monday could affect the PQ's promised referendum, all four said no.
Alepin believes the two movements are too different for Albertans to influence Quebecers’ appetite for sovereignty.
Meanwhile, Lisée predicts that “the defeat of the yes side in Alberta will be a negative but very insignificant factor in (Quebec's) referendum debate.”
If Alberta stays within Canada, Turp believes the province may be inspired by Quebec’s approach to negotiating more autonomy with Ottawa.
“And then they can organize a second referendum, like we did,” he added.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2026.
By Erika Morris | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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This little village in Ontario has twinkling train rides and pumpkin-filled streets
Be sure to visit after dark. 🎃
@pumpkinferno | Instagram, Courtesy of Pumpkinferno
If you're looking for a fall outing that feels like stepping into a Halloween storybook, there's a little village in Ontario that offers glowing pumpkins, historic streets and magical autumn nights that needs to be on your radar.
Just over an hour from Ottawa, you can visit an enchanting outdoor experience where handcrafted illuminated pumpkins and large-than-life creations transform the night.
Set in the Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg, Pumpkinferno is a classic Halloween tradition that brings thousands of illuminated pumpkins to life after dark.
The Upper Canada Village is one of Canada’s largest and most immersive living-history destinations, home to more than 40 carefully preserved and reconstructed buildings, where you can step into the past and see what daily life looked like in a rural English Canadian community.
Come October, the historic village transforms into a spectacular display of more than 7,000 jack-o'-lanterns for the popular Pumpkinferno, becoming a glowing wonderland with creative pumpkin sculptures, themed displays and plenty of spooky-season fun.
Instead of traditional rows of carved pumpkins, the outdoor event features thousands of pumpkins arranged into intricate illuminated displays.
The pumpkins you’ll see at PumpkInferno aren't your average jack-o’-lanterns – they’re actually hand-carved artificial pumpkins, each moulded into the shape of a spooky face or scene.
As you make your way through the historic village, you'll encounter colourful installations and creative scenes that range from whimsical to wonderfully eerie.
The displays are designed to be enjoyed after dark, when the glowing pumpkins stand out against the night sky and the village's historic buildings add to the atmosphere.
The pumpkin displays also change every year -- this year's Pumpkinferno features several new exhibits, including a "Village Grand Prix," a sweet, candy-filled wonderland, and a world of larger-than-life jungle creatures.
The experience takes about 1 hour to complete, though visitors are welcome to spend as much time as they like admiring the pumpkin creations.
Along the way, you'll be able to experience the village's interactive zone, where you can snap some photos, play some games, and soak up the Pumpkinferno magic.
You can even hop on board a life-sized, brightly lit toy train for a short ride through the village that even includes a photo stop.
The night will also include a sound and light show as hundreds of colourful lights dance in sync with Ladies of the 80’s tunes, creating a magical scene that you can't help but dance and sing along to.
If you work up an appetite, you can stop at Willard’s Hotel, the Harvest Barn, the on-site BeaverTails, the Village Café or Cauldron Corner for classic fall treats, bites and warm drinks.
Be sure to bring your camera, as the glowing installations provide plenty of opportunities for festive photos. Just remember to dress for the weather, since you'll be spending much of your visit outdoors and the event takes place during rain or shine.
Pumpkinferno runs on select nights until October 31, 2026, with different opening times depending on the date. General admission costs $23 plus tax for adults, $22 for seniors and $21 for students and children aged five to 18. Admission is free for children aged four and under.
Whether you're going for the glowing pumpkin sculptures, the twinkling train ride or just want to embrace spooky season, this historic Ontario village offers a fall outing that's full of charm (and pumpkins).
Pumpkinferno
Price: $23 per adult
When: Select nights until October 31, 2026
Address: 13740 County Rd 2, Morrisburg, ON
Why You Need To Go: You can visit an incredible outdoor attraction at this historic village near Ottawa with thousands of glowing pumpkins and large-than-life structures that's like something out of a Halloween storybook.
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B.C. ballet school founder guilty of sex charges involving teenage student
B.C. ballet school founder guilty of sex charges
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
The founder of a ballet school in Greater Victoria has been found guilty of two sexual offences over his relationship with a 15-year-old student.
David Beales was originally charged with sexual interference, sexual exploitation and making sexually explicit material available to the girl, but he was found not guilty of the third charge.
His British Columbia Supreme Court trial in Victoria heard Beales operated the Maple Leaf School of Russian Ballet, first meeting the girl when she was nine, and she idolized him as she dreamt of becoming a professional dancer.
The B.C. Supreme Court decision released this week says that when the girl's parents forbade her to return to the school, Beales suggested a scholarship arrangement in which she no longer had to pay tuition or attendance fees.
The girl told the court she became pregnant by Beales and had a miscarriage in the summer of 2020, before her Grade 11 year, and dropped out of school shortly afterwards.
In finding him guilty of the two charges, Justice Liliane Bantourakis ruled Beales was not a credible witnesses, while the girl's testimony was reliable and the Crown's evidence met the burden of proving the charges against the man.
The judge found Beales' control and influence over the girl, identified as E.R. in the decision, were enhanced by her vulnerability and isolation.
The ruling says he had significant control over the teen, at least until the school closed temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic in November 2020, but their sexual relationship lasted until 2022.
"He was, as she described, the keeper of the information for her future career and she idolized him, thinking of him as above other people. E.R.'s dream of being a professional dancer and the role Mr. Beales played relative to that dream are significant."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 15, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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Élisabeth Rioux répond aux gens qui lui disent qu’elle devrait « manger quelque chose »
« Ces commentaires sont toujours dans ma tête. »
L'entrepreneuse et créatrice de contenu Élisabeth Rioux a fait une intervention sur son compte Instagram le 12 décembre dernier. C'est sous une vidéo d'elle pendant un voyage qu'elle s'est ouverte au sujet des internautes qui ont des propos dégradants à l'égard de son apparence physique.
Élisabeth a décidé de répondre sans tabou aux personnes qui partagent des commentaires de bodyshaming sous ses photos : « "Anorexique", "Tu devrais aller manger quelque chose", "Tu ressembles à un squelette", etc., etc. sont tous des commentaires que j'ai reçus sous ma dernière publication. Ces commentaires sont toujours dans ma tête. », a-t-elle écrit en anglais.
Elle a ensuite avoué avoir un sentiment d'incompréhension lorsqu'elle reçoit des messages de la sorte : « Je ne comprends pas pourquoi les gens ressentent le besoin de commenter le poids de quelqu'un. Ça ne va pas aider, ça ne peut que faire mal alors pourquoi? Juste pourquoi? »
L'entrepreneuse a terminé son intervention en confiant qu'elle a toujours été comme ça et qu'elle n'a besoin de personne pour lui dire quand se nourrir :
« En tout cas, à tous ceux qui n'arrêtent pas de commenter "Va manger" sous mes photos, sachez que je mange beaucoup, le fait est que… Je vais aussi beaucoup aux toilettes (littéralement deux à quatre fois par jour), c'est mon métabolisme, j'imagine, je ne sais pas, j'ai toujours été comme ça. J’espère que maintenant tu es rassuré et arrête de penser que tu dois me rappeler de manger. »
Ce n'est pas la première créatrice de contenu à partager ce genre de message. Claudie Mercier d'Occupation Double Afrique Du Sud, Emy-Jade Greaves et plusieurs autres ont déjà abordé ce genre de propos, que ce soit pour répondre aux avis sur leur style vestimentaire, leurs habitudes de vie ou leur corps.