An Edmonton councillor wants one of the streets outside the Alberta legislature to say the quiet part out loud.
Ward papastew Coun. Michael Janz is applying to rename a section of 99 Avenue in front of the Alberta legislature as Forever Canadian Avenue, a nod to the citizen-led Forever Canadian petition and the Albertans who backed it. Janz isn’t picking a quiet street. The stretch runs beside one of the most political places in the province the legislature grounds, where school groups, tourists, workers, protesters, MLAs, and media pass through constantly.
If the rename goes ahead, “Forever Canadian” would not just be a slogan from a petition campaign. It would be sitting on a street sign outside the building where Alberta’s future is debated.
Why The Name Matters
The name comes from the Forever Canadian petition, a pro-Canada campaign launched in response to renewed separatist organizing in Alberta. The petition asked Albertans whether they agreed that Alberta should remain within Canada. More than 400,000 signatures were verified by election officials in December, making it one of the more visible public responses to the separatist debate.
For Janz, the rename is about recognizing that movement and the people who signed or helped collect signatures. It also lands at a tense time. Alberta separatism has been back in the headlines after a court ruling threw out a proposed separatist referendum petition, while the province and separatist organizers have said they plan to appeal.
That timing gives the street-name pitch extra weight. This is not just a civic naming request. It is a political message placed directly beside Alberta’s most important political building.
A Street Sign With A Point
Street names usually honour people, places, history, or neighbourhood identity. This one would do something slightly different. It would mark a political moment. That is probably why the proposal is already getting attention. Supporters will see it as a clear statement that Alberta’s capital city still has plenty of people who want the province to stay in Canada. Critics may argue that a street name beside the legislature should not be used to make a current political point. Either way, the location is doing a lot of the work.
A “Forever Canadian Avenue” sign outside the Alberta legislature would be hard to miss especially in a province where the question of separation has moved from fringe conversation back into courtrooms, petition drives, and political speeches.
What Happens Next
The rename still has to go through Edmonton’s naming process. Janz has said he plans to submit the application to the city’s Naming Committee. If approved, part of 99 Avenue outside the legislature could carry the new name in time for Canada Day. And if that happens, the message will not just live in a press conference, a petition, or a social media post.
It will be bolted to a street sign right outside the legislature doors.
Source:
Michael Janz announcement:
