A large blue flag with Alberta's shield appeared in Sarah Batchelor's neighbour's window in Airdrie, a city near Calgary.

Batchelor, a 49-year-old music teacher, wouldn't have been bothered by the flag a couple of years ago.

Now it bothers her because separatists use it.

The flag gives her a 'weird vibe' and makes her sad.

The Alberta flag is a symbol of the province's heritage.

Batchelor put a Canadian flag in her garden, and her neighbours did the same.

People with Canadian flags wave at each other on the street, showing solidarity.

The Alberta and Canadian flags have new meanings as the province nears a vote on staying in Canada.

Batchelor thinks locals are using symbols to show their views on separatism.

In a democracy, people can express their views, but others should be just as loud.

The reasons for the vote are disputed.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith ordered the vote for October 19, citing hundreds of thousands of petition signatures.

Critics accuse Smith of calling the vote to placate separatists in her party.

Prime Minister Mark Carney opposes separation and calls the vote a 'dangerous bluff'.

Groups for and against separation are campaigning across the province.

The Alberta flag has become a symbol for separatists, like the Maple Leaf for federalists.

The debate has become personal and ugly in some areas.

A rodeo parade was cancelled due to threats after organizers rejected a float with Alberta flags.

A union filed a grievance after Sobeys stores displayed Alberta flags, which they see as a symbol of separation.

The union says the flag alienates customers and employees who love Canada.

The Alberta flag has become a symbol of the Alberta Independence Movement.

Sobeys did not respond to a request for comment.

People question the meaning of flags when they appear in social media posts by politicians.

Last week, separatist supporters waved Alberta flags at a housing announcement.

A spokesperson for Smith says the Alberta flag is a symbol of unity.

The flag belongs to all Albertans and represents the province's landscapes and heritage.

A flag expert says he's not surprised the flags divide people.

Flags are icons of tribalism, used in sports and politics.

During the pandemic, the Canadian flag was used by the Freedom Convoy movement.

Now, the Canadian flag is displayed by proud federalists in Alberta.

Flags show what groups people belong to, and the Alberta flag shows belonging to Alberta.

Alberta's current flag was created in 1967 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Confederation.

Batchelor is leaving pamphlets at doors with Alberta flags to remind people of the flag's original meaning.

She's doing this in a polite, Canadian way to deal with separatism.

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