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Vol. 21, No. 18, Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Nobody Here Hates Canada Stay Free Alberta at Bruderheim canvassing support for an independence referendum BY GRANT JOHNSON On a mild winter evening on January 29, members of the Stay Free Alberta movement gathered inside the Victoria Hotel in Bruderheim, clipboards in hand, collecting signatures for an Alberta independence referendum. Among them was Gerry Robinson, an accredited canvasser with Stay Free Alberta, who says he has been involved with the Alberta Prosperity Project for roughly two and a half years. Robinson says his motivation is personal: his children and grandchildren. He believes Canada is moving in a direction he does not support and says it is time for Alberta to become inde-
pendent so future generations can grow up in what he calls a “free Alberta.” Robinson emphasized that the movement is not driven by hostility toward Canada. “Nobody here hates Canada,” he said, adding that supporters believe Alberta deserves more autonomy rather than less patriotism. Attendance at the event was modest, but several local residents did stop by to sign. Bruderheim resident Theresa Law said she does not believe Alberta will ultimately separate from Canada, but signed the petition to send a message to the federal government that change is needed.
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Law also noted that, should a referendum succeed, she would oppose the idea of Alberta joining the United States. Organizers say they need just under 178,000 signatures to trigger a referendum. If successful, they plan to submit the paperwork by late April, which could lead to a province-wide vote as early as October. A signing event as close by as Tofield last weekend, resulted in over 700 signatures. Theresa Law
Former popular radio host now new Leader reporter
The Lamont Leader's newest reporter, is former radio host Grant Johnson. Johnson was at the Andrew Village Council meeting Jan. 28. Photo: Jana Semeniuk
BY JANA SEMENIUK The Lamont Leader’s newest reporter may look familiar to some people. His name is Grant Johnson, formerly part of a three-member team hosting the morning radio show for Cruz FM along with Lochlin Cross and James White. Johnson and his family moved to Lamont County in 2024, right before several layoffs at Cruz FM cancelled the show. “The radio industry never recovered from COVID,” said Johnson. “Everyone decided they could spend their money elsewhere and radio took a huge hit.” Johnson said Cross was laid off first, along with several other staff members, then he and White were laid off a few months later.
Meanwhile, Johnson said he wanted to get back to rural living. “I’m from a small town in Saskatchewan and wanted to get back to small town living. We found our place near Mundare and it was perfect,” he said. On his small farm, Johnson launched a mobile butchering business, Johnson’s Lucky Acres Mobile Butchering and he joined the local fire department. He also recently joined the reporting team at the Lamont Leader. “I saw the ad and thought, I could do that,” he said. “I think it’s a good way to get out into the community. I’m excited for it.” Johnson said he is looking forward to covering sports and other events throughout the county.