A Short History Of Alberta

To many people, Alberta represents the true Canadian frontier. It is known for the rugged independence of its residents-whether they are homesteaders, cowboys, explorers, oilmen, grassroots politicians or strong-willed feminists. This book is a wonderful collection of images and stories that tell of Alberta's many roots. Beginning in the 18th century and continuing into the present day, this collection of over 150 photographs chronicles the development of Alberta from a frontier society into a modern-day economic powerhouse.

Most of us know bits and pieces of our history but would like to be more sure of how it all fits together. The trick is to find a history that is so absorbing you will want to read it from beginning to end. With this book, Desmond Morton, one of Canada’s most noted and highly respected historians, shows how the choices we can make at the dawn of the 21st century have been shaped by history. Morton is keenly aware of the links connecting our present, our past, and our future, and in one compact and engrossing volume he pulls off the remarkable feat of bringing it all together – from the First Nations before the arrival of the Europeans to the failure of the Charlottetown accord and Jean Chretien’s third term as prime minister. His acute observations on the Diefenbaker era, the effects of the post-war influx of immigrants, the flag debate, the baby boom, the Trudeau years and the constitutional crisis, the Quebec referendum, and the rise of the Canadian Alliance all provide an invaluable background to understanding the way Canada works today.