A troubling incident in Bonnyville has sparked a police investigation and renewed calls for calm in Alberta’s heated separation debate.

According to reporting, a man walked into Sylvestre’s Source for Sports, placed two bullets on the counter and made a threatening remark connected to the Alberta independence discussion. The incident reportedly left two young employees shaken. Law enforcement is now involved.

What Mitch Sylvestre Said

Following the incident, Mitch Sylvestre issued a public statement:

“We will take pictures of you and then we will put you up on the internet and then we will find you. We will identify you. Then we will charge you. And anyone that tells you to do that, we will charge them as well. We will take every step that we can to protect our people. We are conducting a legal democratic path laid out by the Supreme Court of Canada for Alberta Independence.”

Sylvestre is the CEO of the Alberta Prosperity Project, which is advocating for a lawful referendum process around Alberta independence.

MLA Scott Cyr: “This Is Unacceptable”

Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul MLA Scott Cyr also responded publicly, condemning the incident.

Cyr said there is “no justification for threats, intimidation, or political violence in Alberta or anywhere in Canada,” adding that every Albertan has the right to participate in a lawful democratic process without fear, whether they support separation, a united Canada or remain undecided.

“Political disagreements must be settled at the ballot box, not through fear,” he said.

Cyr also called for a broader de-escalation of rhetoric in the province’s political discourse. He criticized recent comparisons of Conservatives to “Nazis” by political opponents, saying such language trivializes historical atrocities and poisons public debate.

“We must lower the temperature,” Cyr stated. “Passion is part of democracy, but dehumanization is not. Strong debate is healthy, but intimidation is not.”

Democracy Without Fear

Cyr emphasized that when rhetoric escalates, it is often everyday people who feel the impact first.

“In this case, it was two young employees simply doing their jobs, caught in the middle of a political fight they never chose,” he said. “That is the cost of irresponsible words.”

The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the RCMP.

As debate around Alberta’s future continues, leaders across the spectrum are urging Albertans to engage respectfully and ensure political disagreements remain rooted in lawful, democratic processes.