Photos and clippings of important moments in Western Canada Concept history.
"Free the West!" On November 20th, 1980, a huge rally for Western Independence filled the Edmonton Jubilee Auditorium to over-flowing, in a reaction to the National Energy Policy of Pierre Trudeau's government. The front page of the November 21, 1980, Edmonton Journal told the story. Photo by Bill McKeown. This picture was recently republished in the Edmonton Journal in February of 2003.
The first stamp refers to Louis Riel, saying "He died for Western Independence, November 16, 1885."
The second stamp calls for the repeal of Emergency Planning Order, an Order-in-Council passed on May 21, 1981, which provided for the creation of internment camps in the case of a state of civil emergency in Canada. This order was indeed repealed some time later.
The third stamp commemorates a convention of the Western Canada Concept Party of Alberta "The Voice of the West", held in Red Deer, Alberta on November 27 & 28, 1982.
The fourth stamp says "Witness the Abolition of Crows Nest Freight Rate. Save Western Farmers!"