A long-standing coffee shop in Cold Lake, Alberta, has permanently shut down after facing severe community backlash for hosting petition events that supported Alberta's separation from Canada.
Beantrees cafe owner John Ewanek closed the 27-year-old business in late June 2026.
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Prior to the shutdown, the cafe allowed the group Stay Free Alberta to gather signatures for a petition demanding a provincial independence referendum.
Ewanek noted that the business was already struggling with inflation before agreeing to host the meetings, which drew fewer than a dozen participants.
Following the political events, local customers boycotted the venue, scheduled musicians canceled performances, and an explicit sign condemning the separatist gatherings was left outside the establishment.
"I probably lost about 15 per cent of my revenue and never recovered from that," said John Ewanek, owner of Beantrees.
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"It was just a nail in the coffin," Ewanek added.
The revenue loss ultimately forced Ewanek to close the cafe and sell off its assets to remain financially afloat.
Despite the negative impact on his business, Ewanek confirmed he intends to vote in favor of separation, citing dissatisfaction with federal public health measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Elections Alberta verified nearly 223,000 of the roughly 280,000 signatures submitted by Stay Free Alberta, surpassing the 178,000 threshold required for success.
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Following the petition's approval, Premier Danielle Smith placed a separation question on Alberta's upcoming October 19 referendum ballot.
