Press Release – GOTV Assembly
Calgary GOTV Assembly Draws Approximately 175 Participants, Builds Commitments to Mobilize Thousands of Voters
CALGARY, AB — Approximately 175 representatives from the Calgary Alliance for the Common Good’s 32 member organizations gathered at Scarboro United Church on September 16 to launch their Get Out the Vote (GOTV) Campaign. This is the second phase of their Vote for the Common Good campaign ahead of Alberta’s October 19 referendum. Alliance member organizations made commitments through the campaign’s Pledge to Vote initiative to mobilize an estimated 16,000 to 20,000 voters.
“We are organizing our community to vote because not just the results of this referendum, but the future direction of our province and the lives of people in our community will be determined by who shows up to vote.” Ryan Andersen, Executive Director for the Calgary Alliance for the Common Good, told the gathered crowd.
The assembly featured personal stories from community members, including immigrants and Indigenous leaders, about what living in Canada and Alberta has meant to them and why they intend to vote. Their experiences brought a personal perspective to the discussion of the referendum and its potential impact on communities.
A GOTV strategy workshop gave participants an opportunity to explore practical ways to encourage others to vote. Members of Alliance organizations exchanged ideas, developed strategies, and shared their commitments of how many people from their communities they would have pledge to vote. Together, those commitments represented a collective effort to mobilize between 16,000 and 20,000 voters.
“When we vote, we do more than mark a ballot. We affirm that every person counts, every voice has value, and every community deserves to be heard. Whatever your views on the referendum questions, I hope Albertans will engage, reflect, and participate in shaping our shared future,” said Rev. Samaya Oakley, Minister of the Calgary Unitarian Church.
“Decisions are made by those who show up. It’s critically important that we as an Alliance show up to vote, hold our elected leaders accountable, and be actors with agency in our communities and province. Fundamentally, this referendum is about belonging, and I hope that Albertans will show up and send a clear message that immigrants belong here, that we want real solutions to the problems facing our province, and we belong in Canada,” said Chris Mah Poy, a member of Scarboro United Church.
Opening with a prayer led by Elder Grant Little Mustache and closing with “Song of Solidarity,” the gathering emphasized the relationships and shared responsibility at the heart of the campaign. The next phase will carry that work into communities through conversations, outreach, and support for people to make a plan to vote.
The assembly built on the campaign’s June 3 launch at Central Memorial Park, which drew more than 150 people. Guided by three pillars—Connect, Educate, and Act—Vote for the Common Good encourages Albertans to consider how the referendum questions could affect their communities and whether they reflect their shared values.
You can find some photos and videos from the GOTV assembly here.
Media Contacts
Primary Spokesperson - Available for the Media
Rev. Samaya Oakley - Calgary Unitarians
Phone: (604) 323-4341
Email: [email protected]
Chris Mah Poy - Scarboro United Church - Chinook Winds Region of The United Church of Canada
Phone: (403) 463-4031
Email: [email protected]
Other Contacts
Ryan Andersen - Executive Director for the Calgary Alliance for the Common Good
Phone: (403) 993-7123
Email: [email protected]
Reza Dehaki - Communications Coordinator for the Calgary Alliance for the Common Good
Phone: (587) 284-0508
Email: [email protected]
About The Calgary Alliance for the Common Good
The Calgary Alliance for the Common Good is an Alliance of 32 Faith, Labour, Non-profit, educational, and ethnocultural organizations that together represent over 100,000 Calgarians. The Calgary Alliance organizes the power of communities to build a more just, compassionate, and equitable city.