Alberta Café Closes After Hosting Separatist Event, Owner Calls It 'Nail in the Coffin'

John Ewanek, owner of the Beantrees café in Cold Lake, Alberta, has closed his business, attributing the closure to a loss of customers after hosting events for a separatist group. Ewanek stated that the café was already struggling with inflation, but the separatist events proved to be the "nail in the coffin." He explained that customers who did not agree with his political opinions stopped patronizing the establishment, leading to its eventual closure in late June. The café had been a popular community hub in Cold Lake since 1999.Ewanek, who bought the business in 2024, said that musicians scheduled to perform at his café also canceled their appearances. He also found a sign with an expletive outside the establishment condemning the separatist events. Ewanek himself is a separatist and joined Alberta's "freedom movement" during the COVID-19 pandemic, disagreeing with public health measures like mask mandates. He believes Alberta should leave Canada due to what he perceives as mismanagement of Canada's food system by Ottawa, citing concerns about domestically grown food being highly processed.The closure of Beantrees comes as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has announced a separation question will be included on the province's Oct. 19 referendum ballot. The question asks Albertans if they wish to remain in Canada or hold a second, binding referendum on leaving the country. This decision was prompted by successful signature verification for a separatist petition by the group Stay Free Alberta, which gathered nearly 223,000 valid signatures, surpassing the required threshold.While polls suggest a majority of Albertans wish to remain in Confederation, the debate is causing divisions within communities. This is exemplified by the cancellation of a rodeo parade in Sundre after organizers rejected a float, amid threats and abuse.

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It was just a nail in the coffin.