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Originally published on September 27, 2026 in issue 25 of Forward Weekly
In 2008, shortly after Californians voted to support Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage, a group of LGBTQ activists decided they needed a new tactic to reach people standing against their right to marry. Instead of handing out leaflets or planting signs with short slogans, the L.A. LGBT Center’s Leadership LAB, a program that focused on reducing prejudice, developed a practice called deep canvassing.
The premise is simple: instead of speaking shallowly to many people, canvassers take just 15 to 30 minutes to connect with an individual in a non-judgmental, vulnerable way. “They would talk about love and what we share as common ground,” says Ella Haggis, who has years of experience with deep canvassing working for the Alberta Environmental Network. “They would have conversations asking (a voter) if they ever felt othered or discriminated against — it was people talking to people.” The California canvassers tracked the results on a rating scale; most conversations moved the needle towards their cause. In her work, Haggis says about one in three people report a shift in their thinking after deep canvassing conversations.
This approach can be an especially useful way to engage with opposing views, whether, like Haggis, you’re talking about protecting Alberta’s environment, or — say — trying to reason with Albertans who want to separate from Canada.
We spoke with Haggis about the big-picture goals of these conversations, and how concerned Albertans can apply deep canvassing to the referendum.
This is the golden rule of deep canvassing — and when stakes feel high, it’s harder to follow than it sounds. The goal is to enter every conversation believing you’re not any smarter or better informed than the person with whom you’re speaking.
“It’s like a muscle,” Haggis says. “You get used to thinking, ‘How can I be curious about this person?’ as opposed to shifting into fear, anger and judgment right away.”
This might seem counterintuitive, but Haggis believes these bursts of vulnerability and connection are best used on strangers. When you’re door knocking (rather than sitting around the dinner table with all your cousins), you walk away without being tied to the outcome.
“That allows me to be curious, be myself, let my guard down and ask a lot of questions,” she says. “I think when it comes to people in our family, we really care about the outcome.”
Think of conversations with an airplane seatmate; they can be intense and deep because the minute you both deplane, your vulnerabilities leave with them.
Her recommendation: chat with people at bus stops, the grocery store or soccer games, out and about in your daily life.
Idle chit chat might seem like a waste, but if you can find a connection with someone, it can lead to deeper conversation. For Haggis, politics can be surface-level. People can support a certain party without examining their true underlying beliefs — think about a UCP voter who might value Alberta’s ecological variety. “Those common-ground values are what we should be thinking about at this moment,” she says. “That’s the way we can actually get some people to see a wider perspective.”
For voters supporting separation in order to “send a message to Ottawa,” talking about their underlying discontent could be especially productive.
Don’t expect to walk away from a conversation having swayed someone completely. The goal with deep canvassing is to share a few ideas that someone might later think on. With limited time and resources, it can be hard to consider slow progress a win, but keep the big picture in mind. “You have to remind yourself that you don’t really know what type of impact a conversation is going to have,” Haggis adds. “You have to hope that you’ve stirred the pot a bit in someone’s mind. If you’ve done it right and not been too judgmental, hopefully you’ve made them think about a couple of things.”
It might feel pointless to approach people with entrenched opposing views, but Haggis says deep canvassing strives to bridge far-reaching divides.
“I’m here to have a conversation with this person and learn from them as well,” she says. “I know that’s not the way we’ve done elections. Deep canvassing isn’t business as usual.”
On social media, don’t preach to the choir, or add fuel to a nicely burning fire that only warms the members of your ideological bubble. “Your Facebook post could be shared on other pages or someone’s mom might see it and share it,” Haggis says. “What do you want to imprint on that person? Is now the time to be carving lines and dividing people? Or is it the time to be opening people’s minds and helping people consider different perspectives. I think people only consider your perspective if you consider theirs as well.”
Alyssa Noel is an award-winning journalist based in Canmore, AB. She's contributed to daily and weekly newspapers and magazines from across North America. When she isn't busy clacking away behind a keyboard, you can find her chasing her two young kids around.
A note from Forward Weekly on opinion content: The opinions expressed in this feature article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Forward Weekly or its publisher, editors, staff, or affiliates.