October in Banff–Kananaskis: Voting, Voices, and What Comes Next
Fall is one of my favourite seasons in our riding. I love seeing the colours change during larch season and hiking in the mountains with my dogs. Kids are back in full swing at school, and the hockey rinks are humming again with the sounds of skates and sticks. It’s the season when our communities feel fully alive despite the chill. It’s always a treat to chat with constituents at cafes, at the rink during evening games, at harvest festivals, and at community halls. This October, there’s something else threading through my conversations with all of you: the weight of the referendum ahead.
I’ve always believed that democracy works best in places like ours. People know each other, conversations happen face to face, and every voice genuinely matters. That’s the Banff–Kananaskis I know. It is part of the reason this moment feels so important for all of us.
October 19th, 2026: When Every Voice Counts
Over the last few months, I have been in our communities listening to growing concerns around the referendum. On the phone, at local events, in coffee shops and at town halls, people ask questions: What does this vote mean for us? How do I make sure my voice is heard?
Here’s what I want to say clearly: your vote matters. It doesn’t matter if you’ve always voted one way, if you’re unsure, or if you’re voting for the first time. What matters is that you cast your ballot.
But, I’m going to encourage you to do something more. I’m asking you to get your friends, your family, and your neighbours out to vote too. If you know someone who’s on the fence, talk to them. If you know someone who usually sits out elections, invite them to come with you to the polls. If you know someone who needs a ride, offer one. This referendum is too important for any of us to sit on the sidelines and we need every voice heard in this conversation.
The referendum questions are available for you to review and prepare for the vote on the Elections Alberta website. I’ve put together a detailed explainer on my blog site too. Make sure you are aware of the questions and come prepared to the polls. If you have already voted using the mail-in ballots, then you’re one step ahead!
A note on October 19th: If you didn’t receive mail-in ballots, please plan ahead. Election day voting can see lineups, especially in smaller communities. Come prepared with patience and your voter information card (or know where your polling station is).
If you have any questions about where to vote, the ballots, or the referendum, please contact Elections Alberta directly, as they are the best equipped to provide you with answers and solutions:
Phone: 1.877.422.VOTE (8683)
Email: info@elections.ab.ca
For those of you wondering “where do I vote” you should have received a “where to vote” card in the mail or your email inbox. Reach out to Elections Alberta or check their website for updates if you have not received that information. My office is always happy to help as well!
Why This Vote and Referendum Matter to Our Riding
Let me be direct: this vote and referendum are about issues that impact all our lives.
For families in our riding, it’s about whether we have schools that are properly funded and supported. It’s about whether healthcare is there when we need it, whether a doctor’s appointment is weeks away or months away, whether rural clinics stay open. It’s about making life more affordable when groceries and rent keep rising, forcing young people to face the challenging question of whether they can afford to stay in the communities they grew up in.
And it’s about fairness. About a province where people who work hard can afford to live with dignity. Where public services such as schools, hospitals, parks aren’t dismantled or sold off, but are treated as the common good they are. Where every community, whether it’s a town or a rural area, gets its fair share.
I’ve listened to concerns in our riding, and they’re consistent: people want a government that actually listens to them. We want a government that funds education properly instead of underfunding it year after year. A government that invests in healthcare. A government that takes the environment seriously. One that doesn’t just talk about affordability but actually does something about it.
So, I encourage you to seek out reliable information. Talk to your neighbours. Think carefully about what kind of Alberta you want to see five years from now, ten years from now. And then vote accordingly.
Back to the Legislature for the Fall
As October progresses, I’ll be heading back to Edmonton for what promises to be an intense fall sitting. The legislature will be focused on this vote, the referendum, and the legislation that flows from it. It’s important work, and I don’t take it lightly.
Ten ballots is a lot to hold in your hands at once, and I think that’s part of the point. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and just start marking. Please don’t. Take the questions apart. Ask which ones the province can even act on, and which ones are really just asking Ottawa and nine other provinces for permission we’re unlikely to get. Notice how many of them go looking for a fight with the rest of Canada instead of tackling the issues facing us right here, right now: the cost of groceries, the price of a home, hospital wait times, good jobs in our communities.
For all the reasons above, I’ll be voting No on Questions 1 through 9, and choosing “Alberta should remain a province of Canada” on Question 10. But the most important vote on October 19 is the one you cast for yourself, having thought it through. So, mark your calendar, make your plan to vote early, by mail, or on the day.
Let’s Stay Connected
If you have thoughts on the vote or referendum, if there’s an issue on your mind, or if you just want to chat, please reach out. You can connect with me through my constituency office or catch me at community events around the riding. That’s what I’m here for.
This October, our voices matter. Let’s make sure they’re heard.
Sarah Elmeligi
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