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A contrarian view of Alberta and Albertans from the outspoken and often controversial former Calgary Herald columnist.

In 2005, Alberta celebrates its centenary: a hundred-year stretch that has seen the province catapulted from being little more than thinly populated grassland and mountain to one of Canada’s richest provinces, one with a fair claim to being perpetually misunderstood. Albertans, of course, are passionate about their province, even when to outsiders the sentiment is baffling. For instance, can a liberal feminist like renowned columnist Catherine Ford find happiness in a right-wing, neo-conservative province? The short form of Ford’s answer is “Yes, I can. But . . .” The long version is the intimate, revealing, entertaining, and opinionated picture of the province she paints in Against the Grain.

On the surface, the province is monolithic in its politics, anti-gay, anti-feminist, anti-choice in its opinions, and macho in its demeanour. But Ford shows that this is a lopsided, outsider’s view of Alberta, and to prove it she takes readers on a tour from Calgary to Banff and Jasper, Fort McMurray, Edmonton, and beyond, pointing out the good, the bad, and the plain bewildering. Tough-minded but loving, Against the Grain gives outsiders the real goods on Alberta in this, its centenary year.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

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A comprehensive, interdisciplinary examination of the life of the first Ukrainian immigrants. The volume consists of eight parts. It begins with a prologue by Roman Onufrijchuk that sets the stage for understanding the difficult process of cultural transmission and accomodation, made even more difficult for the first Ukrainian settlers, who were from the peasant stratum as well as pioneers. It ends with a more theoretical epilogue by Ian H. Angus that points up the unique significance of ethnocultural communities in rescuing Canadian identity from the universalizing grip of homogenizing cultures like that of the United States.

In between, the volume explores (in the second part) the historical conditions in western Ukraine and western Canada at the turn of the century, the overall nature of the rural Ukrainian bloc settlement in east central Alberta (the largest in Canada), and the contrast between the cluster village in Ukraine and the railroad village in the West. In this part, John-Paul Himka presents the hypothesis tested indirectly by subsequent presentations: "Ukrainian immigrants in Canada were at first not only culturally more traditional/backward than most Canadians but also more traditional/backward than their contemporaries in western Ukraine."

The next four parts on material culture, the life of women, customs and beliefs, and cultural institutions and organizations in the new world could be said to constitute the heart of the volume. The life of the first immigrants is analyzed in detail in terms of the problems of shelter, agricultural technology, the status and responsibilities of women, the endurance of customs and beliefs, and the evolution of institutions and organizations that were similar to, yet distinct from, those in the Old Country. The analysis is as strong as the field work on which it depends, and there is no doubt a lesson here for all ethnocultural groups: research in the field should begin early, while most of the immigrant generation is still alive.

The seventh part on the "open-air" museum may be seen as the applied part of the conference and is, of course, most directly relevant to the needs and concerns of the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village. As a type, the village has numerous models in other countries, and its problems, like its accomplishments, are in some respects unique.

Published in association with Historic Sites Services, Alberta Culture. ... Read more

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Economic developments in irrigation, agriculture, and hydroelectric power generation in western Canada at the turn of the last century challenged the way Native peoples had traditionally managed the watershed environment. Facing rapidly expanding provincial and federal power as well as private industries, Native peoples saw opportunities to protect their self-governing rights and explore reserve-based economy. Through a combination of field work and archival research, Kenichi Matsui offers an original and pioneering overview of the evolution of water law and agricultural policies in the Canadian west. By incorporating the history of water law philosophies, water development technologies, agricultural policies, and cross-cultural theories, Matsui constructs an interdisciplinary analysis of how both Native peoples and non-native stakeholders struggled for better rights and livelihood through litigation, political campaigns, and direct actions. The dramatic stories of early cultural, legal, and political conflict in interior British Columbia and Alberta featured in Native Peoples and Water Rights enrich our understanding of current Native rights disputes throughout North America. ... Read more

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For Albertans-and for that matter, all Canadians-the name of this western province is inseparable from the maverick attitude it connotes. Alberta conjures images of honest, backbreaking work, free from the restraints of propriety and status found in older settled lands. As with the province, the names of its cities and towns, villages and hamlets reveal attitudes, values, history and geographical connections.

Focusing not just on basic facts, The Story Behind Alberta Names fleshes out the personalities, using humorous anecdotes, the context of people's lives and careers, and the relationship between individuals and the places named for them. ... Read more

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Few people realize that provincially owned railway systems existed in Canada. Still fewer know that at one time Canada's third largest railway system was operated in Alberta as the Northern Alberta Railways Company. Ribbons of Steel, based on mini-biographies of the people involved with NAR, is as much a memoir of a community as it is a history of a major Canadian railway. ]

According to Ena Schneider, dedicated employees built the reputation of the NAR. Interspersed with anecdotes and photos of these colorful men and women are chapters which give fresh insight into well-known events in this history. ... Read more

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Alberta has a long-standing reputation for attracting and producing characters with scant respect for the law and even less for public opinion. In his latest collection of short biographies, Brian Brennan, Dave Greber Award winner for freelance writing, looks at the flamboyant, eccentric, and downright bizzare people who established this provincial tradition. People such as:

• Wild Bill Peyto, the legendary mountain man who once let a lynx loose in a saloon to see how quickly the drunks could escape.

• Calgary's notorious prostitute Pearl Miller, who left such an impression with Canadian soldiers in WWII that they responded to the American sign "Remember Pearl Harbour" with "To hell with Pearl Harbour, remember Pearl Miller."

• Fred Percival, the Alberta Rancher who inherited the title Earl of Egmont and decided, after a few years in an English castle, that ranching was the better life.

• Elizabeth "Sweaty Betty" Abbott, an Edmonton slum landlord known for punching out abusive husbands and taking care of their battered wives.

They're a wild and unruly bunch, but Alberta couldn't be prouder of them. ... Read more

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The election of neo-conservative governments in Alberta and Ontario in the early 1990s brought dramatic changes to provincial public policy; both the Ralph Klein Revolution and Mike Harris' Common Sense Revolution emphasized fundamental changes in the role of government, balanced budgets, and the elimination of provincial debts. While public sector unions were forced to react, the response of the Alberta and Ontario unions differed significantly. The reasons, outcome, and long-term impact of the difference is the focus of Yonatan Reshef and Sandra Rastin's careful and revealing analysis.

The authors' argument concentrates on union responses to the neo-conservative transformation in the two affected provinces, but the scope of the discussion expands to cover such issues as the differences between the two regimes, the damage to the Ontario labour movement dealt by the labour-oriented NDP government, the limits of inter-union cooperation, and the role of modern unions in politics.

Lively and timely, Unions in the Time of Revolution places Canada's unions in the full context of the neo-conservative trend in provincial politics, and demonstrates the importance of individual union responses in times of such significant change.

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From the optimism associated with provincial status in 1905, through the trials of Depression and war, the boom times of the post-war period, and the economic vagaries of the 1980s and the 1990s, the twentieth century was a time of growth and hardship, development, challenge and change, for Alberta and its people. And during the century, twelve men, from a variety of political parties and from very different backgrounds, led the government of this province.

The names of some — like William Aberhart, Ernest Manning and Peter Lougheed — are still household words, while others—like Arthur Sifton, Herbert Greenfield and Richard Reid — have been all but forgotten. Yet each in his unique way, for better or for worse, helped to mould and steer the destiny of the province he governed. These are their stories. ... Read more

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The Petroleum and Natural Gas Conservation Board, created by the Alberta government in 1938, ensured that the province's petroleum resources were utilized in a manner that protected the long-term public interest. ... Read more

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Forging Alberta’s Constitutional Framework explores the nature and development of Alberta’s constitution by examining a number of celebrated cases and themes that have shaped and altered legal, social, economic, political, and cultural rights and responsibilities within Alberta and Canada. Contributors from across Canada include historians, lawyers, political scientists, and politicians writing on themes that illustrate how Alberta’s constitution is the product of decades, even centuries, of contest, debate, division, and negotiation. ... Read more

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“I have faith in a better future, because I have faith that most human beings want to do the right thing”.- Lois HoleIn early 2005, Alberta lost one of its greatest treasures—a woman who not only voiced her thoughts, but also acted upon them. Lois Hole was a compassionate being who remained, even as Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, modest and approachable to those inspired by her. This collection of speeches, edited by Mark Lisac, will appeal to everyday Albertans whose lives Lois Hole touched, and particularly to those interested in how this remarkable woman reacted to and affected Alberta’s history and political life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Beautiful Words
Lois Hole's vision on the importance of education and reading comes through so clearly in this book. Her warm words resonate and her inclusion of "all" makes this a most inspiring book. This book has given us a gift by publishing her speeches, so her spirit remains with us. I particularly like the speech that brings the wonderful story of Mrs. Durocher, just beautiful. Lois was ahead of her time too.

Inspiring and moving
Caring is something the world needs more of. "Lois Hole Speaks: Words That Matter" is a collection of speeches about a woman who does care - about life, education, and her country. A university chancellor, gardener, and lieutenant governor, she made a career out of caring, and despite passing away in 2005, her speeches and writings have been collected. Inspiring and moving, "Lois Hole Speaks" is a must for those who want to bring caring into their government.
... Read more

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HellÂ’s Half Acre is the story of the people who lived and worked in Turner Valley, western CanadaÂ’s first commercial oilfield, located southwest of Calgary. Beginning in 1914, the oil fields attracted thousands of workers from across North America to the drilling rigs, processing plants, and the pipeline crews that dug the first trenches. In addition to the beginnings of an oil industry, Turner Valley provided Alberta with a rich historical legacy of epic proportions, along with a cast of very colourful characters.

Drawing on contemporary accounts and dozens of interviews with Turner Valley pioneers, as well as probing the vast visual history of archival photographs, David Finch captures the life and times of an exciting era in Alberta history.

Imagine natural gas flares so plentiful and powerful that night turned into day and the glowing sky could be seen from Calgary. The smell of sour gas and its deadly effects were a constant danger, as were the primitive work conditions associated with the early years of oil exploration. But on the workers toiled, constructing massive drilling rigs out of huge timbers, working day and night in a relentless search for black gold. The Second World War brought an unprecedented level of urgency and tension to Turner Valley when the national treasure became a military target.

These were fascinating times, and in HellÂ’s Half Acre the people, the companies, the booms, and the busts are all revealed in entertaining detail. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Hell's Half Acre
As this was a gift, I can't really review it accurately. However, the recipient was thrilled with it.
Thank you! ... Read more

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This best-seller identifies 351 species of trees, plants,fish,amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Full-color illustrations confirm your findings as you discover the wonders of Alberta's rich natural heritage. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Nature Alberta
I couldn't find most of the roadside vegetation I saw on our trip in Alberta. Might be OK as a supplementary book but, I would say, look for something more comprehensive. ... Read more

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I Was There shares the insights and experiences of the generations of students, professors, and staff who lived and worked at the U of A for the past 100 years. First-person stories and period photographs present a unique insight into university lore from the vantage point of those who were most intimately involved in making the university what it is today: the students and alumni. ... Read more

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Soulful compendium and tribute
Written by former University of Alberta student and senior administrator Ellen Schoeck, I Was There: A Century of Alumni Stories About the University of Alberta 1906-2006 is a work of oral history chronicling the accomplishments and contributions of the University of Alberta over the past century. Collecting testimonies from generations of students, professors, and staffs who lived and worked at the University of Alberta, I Was There reads fluidly throughout its length of seven hundred pages, as it walks the reader through highlights, anecdotes, funny stories, and moments that would shape history. Notes, an index, and black-and-white vintage photography scattered through I Was There adds a visual touch to this soulful compendium and tribute that is surely the next best thing to having experienced the University of Alberta for oneself. ... Read more

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Translated from Dutch, this collection of letters makes Available for the first time in English a detailed view of the Dutch pioneer community in southern Alberta. The letters reveal much about the immigrant experience and detail how these pioneers fared in the early years of Alberta's history. They document a slice of early life in Alberta just before and after the province was born in 1905, a time when the great land rush for free homesteads lured thousands of new settlers to the prairies from eastern Canada, the US and Europe. The book pictures the pioneer experience in elaborate detail, from the lonely homestead on the bald prairie to a well-developed rural community with new railroads and towns, new churches and schools, and even rural telephone service - all within the rapid course of a decade. Includes a map of a Dutch settlement in Alberta in addition to a wealth of genealogical information. ... Read more

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Based on original research, this exhaustive volume provides a rich backgroundto Alberta's historic courthouses. Covering in detail all of Alberta's historiccourthouses built between 1874 and 1950, this book considers many facetsof these unique and significant structures. Using the backdrop of the majorpolitical periods in Alberta history, this study considers the influence of localand provincial politics on courthouse construction in addition to the culturaland economic milieu of the time. As part of the overall historical context,the book also presents some of the more colourful aspects of Alberta's little- known legal history, as well as an account of the evolution of the court system.Most courthouses have a rich and detailed history, and as landmarks theyare important not only for their functional requirements but as symbols of thecultural ideals that they reflect in our society. ... Read more

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The UFA/UFWA launched the most successful agrarian revolt in North American history. "The Rise of Agrarian Democracy" is a lucid and persuasive work detailing one of the greatest mass democratic movements in Canada.The book makes new and significant contributions towards our scholarly understanding of the evolution and politicization of the Alberta farmers' movement over several decades.

The result is an important investigation in western and agrarian history and economics. A path is laid from the farmers' inherited ideas and common experience, gender assumptions, class opposition, agrarian ideals and a collective sense of responsibility, co-operation and confidence. We follow the development of a grassroots movement whose astonishing political success culminated in the election of the United Farmers of Alberta in 1921 which governed the province for over a decade.

There is much more on offer than a purely institutional study. Rennie examines this elemental period in Canadian democracy within the cultural, social and community context at the core of the movement's inception. The author provides a solid and balanced focus on organization, the role of gender, the relationships between farmers and other classes and the role of education in the movement.

The result of meticulous research,this work is of unique interest to the study of co-operative movements worldwide and delivers with impressive clarity and accuracy valuable insight to the academic body of reform movements and gender history in this country. ... Read more

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Settled with high hopes of prosperity and home to many thousands in their heydays, ghost towns offer a fascinating glimpse into the past. Often all that remains of the abandoned towns are the stories of a bygone era. Johnnie Bachusky, a collector of ghost-town stories, takes us on an amazing journey into the past through the ghost towns of the Canadian Rockies and foothills. ... Read more

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The Alberta Order of Excellence is the highest honour the Province of Alberta can bestow on a citizen. Members of The Alberta Order of Excellence come from all walks of life. Their careers range from medicine, science, engineering, law, and business to politics, education, agriculture, and the arts. The one thing all members have in common is that they have made an outstanding provincial, national, or international service contribution. ... Read more

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The stories of the people who cleared the land, raised the money and erected the buildings are, in fact, the story of Alberta. Ukrainians, Norweians, Brits, Americans, eastern Canadians and others arrived with very little in the way of worldly goods to begin their new lives, but still managed to find the time, the money and the energy to build their houses of worship. Many Foundations tells their stories of good times and hard times, sad times and comical times.