AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT FROM MEDIAPlanET TO THE NATIONAL POST Summer in the Rockies Northern Alberta Climb, swim, bike and Why this unique region will relax in the mountains keep you coming back March 2013 EXPLORING ALBERTA 3 FACTS YOU DIDn’T KNOW ABOUT ALBERTA EXPERIENCE THE NeW ALBERTA PHOTO: BONTERRA PRODUCTIONS PRODUCTIONS BONTERRA PHOTO: Former Mantracker Terry Grant gives his unique insight as to why he calls Alberta home. 2 · MARCH 2013 AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT BY MEDIAPlanET TO THE NATIONAL POST CHALLENGES WE RECOMMEND Answer the call of the north Taking the road less traveled PAGE 5 “The call of the moun- tains is beckoning you personally to come and discover its culture, historic lodges and supernatural beauty.” Dave Moberg p. 6 1. Local legend & hotel historian shares his secrets of the Rockies Erica Durance p. 7 2. Hollywood actress and Alberta girl Erica Durance shares her stories of growing up in this region On Haddo Peak with Mt. Temple in the background. PHOTO: YAMNUSKA With rolling plains, rugged mountains, turquoise lakes, and burgeoning cities with endless events; Alberta is the place to be this summer. Lying on top of the world ou can visit the top — only the buzzing bees, the darting soothing silence. And yes, you can EXPLORInG ALBERTA of the world with- dragonflies and the warming rays of even find our real residents – elk, deer, FIRST EDITION, maRch 2013 out ever setting foot the mid-afternoon sun. As near as I moose, bear, mountain goat, Rocky on Mount Everest. can tell, I’ve just walked into Heaven Mountain Bighorn sheep, lynx, wolf, Responsible for this issue: Business Developer: Emily O’Donnell In fact, you can get on Earth. My breath settles. My stride eagles, osprey, trout and on and on. [email protected] there just by lying slows. I turn off the trail beside a small Many are easy to find and some even Lead Designer: Alana Giordano [email protected] down. brook and head upstream a short dis- easy to photograph from a safe dis- Designer: Anna Staffansson It’s springtime in the glorious Can- tance. There, I make a slow turn, peel tance, with reverence and respect. Contributors: Alberta Culture, Y Alan Hobson, Max Jones, Ted Kritsonis, adian Rocky Mountains near Can- off my pack and after surveying the I’ve hiked, biked, skied, climbed, Heather Ritchie, Minister Dr. Richard Starke more, Alberta, just a 75-minute drive stunning scene around me, quietly lie swum, kayaked, canoed, hang glided, Cover Photo Credit [Top]: Travel Alberta west of Calgary. I head out for a hike. down in the flowers. Oh the flowers scuba dived, backpacked, lived and All images are from Alan Hobson Photo Credit: After scrambling up one ridge, over a — the glorious, sweet-scented blos- 2-Time Cancer Survivor & Bestselling Author, Mt. breathed in the power and presence iStock.com unless otherwise accredited. Everest Climber & Summiteer, Climb Back Inc. small pass and to the top of Mt. Allen soms — all the colours, all the shapes of this place for over 25 years. It is Production Manager: Maggie Ritchie (site of alpine skiing at the 1988 Olym- of mystery and magic, amid the peace BIO more than my home. It is my church, [email protected] Managing Director: Jon Kent pic Winter Games) I find myself des- of paradise. There, I spend 30 of the my sanctuary, my solitude. It is my [email protected] cending what is surely one of the most most memorable minutes of my life Alan Hobson place in the universe – and I can Is the bestselling author of six Distributed within: breathtakingly beautiful mountain staring up at the clouds. They drift assure you, most nights you can see National Post, MARCH 2013 lines in Canada – Centennial Ridge. gently across my vision as I slowly books, including Climb Back from it clearly from here. This section was created by Mediaplanet Cancer. and did not involve the National Post or its At my feet is laid out an undulating slip off to sleep… Alberta has to be seen to be A two-time cancer survivor, fol- Editorial Departments. carpet of thick forests, glistening believed. Even then, you won’t lowing his treatment for leukemia, Welcome to Alberta creeks and sweeping meadows. My he moved from Calgary to Canmore believe it. I still don’t. Every day I gaze takes me on a breathtaking Welcome to one of the most mag- and has never looked back. wake up and say, “This place is awe- 360-degree tour of soaring mountain nificent and magnetically alluring A former winner of the William inspiring.” Get out here so you can ramparts, including the towering places on the planet. You can find it Randolph Hearst Award for Excel- get out there. You – and your life – will FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND face of 10,200-foot (3,110-metre) Mt. all here – dramatic mountain vistas, lence in News Writing, he is also the never be the same. TWITTER! 10th Canadian to have climbed Mt. www.facebook.com/MediaplanetCA Lougheed. After hours of awe, when I sprawling glaciers, turquoise-col- www.twitter.com/MediaplanetCA leave the ridge I find myself in an alp- oured lakes, wild rivers, crystal clear Everest and is widely considered to ine amphitheatre the size of a sports streams, sweeping prairie, dinosaur be one of the best adventure speak- ers in the world. Mediaplanet’s business is to create new cus- stadium lined with thousands of bones, rolling foothills, untouched ALAN HOBSON tomers for our advertisers by providing read- mountain flowers. No one is around wilderness, whipping winds and [email protected] ers with high quality editorial content that motivates them to act. CAMP THIS SUMMER! Heart of culture Alberta is fortunate to jewels are spread throughout the happened to be the foremost Icelandic quirky, brilliant, death defying, quite have the world coming our province. poet of the 20th century. There are possibly crazy — are considered vis- way these days. Economic In fact, there is seemingly no end tangible echoes of missionaries and iting dignitaries, and everyone is an opportunities attract new to festivals of all sorts in Alberta. The fur traders and Ukrainian pioneers aficionado of the drama. Theatrical people with new cultures themes are impossibly diverse: Sand that seem to have travelled straight and street performance festivals pro- and traditions and a thirst Sculptures, Dragon Boats, Shake- through time. There’s Canada’s dead- liferate across Alberta, and the Fringe for a good quality of life. The speare, Bluegrass, Caribbean, African, liest rock slide. There’s Albertosaurus, has imitators across the continent. cultural payoff ­­­— in diversity Latin, Food and Wine, Corn, Film, a smaller, sportier cousin of Tyranno- There’s plenty of innovative, year- and enthusiasm — is huge. World Media – you name it. saurus Rex. That’s a start, anyway. round live theatre, symphony, choral music, opera, touring productions, One indication is the summer’s round History and culture A place of the arts and popular concerts. Film makers, of music festivals. There’s an extra- Another kind of diversity is on display The arts have their place in Alberta, authors, digital media artists. And of Camping is available throughout ordinary selection of all types to enjoy. at our historic sites, museums and throughout the province and every course, the restaurant scene introdu- the province in private camp- Renowned folk festivals in Calgary, interpretive centres. A selective tour day of the week. From the stunning ces something new and exotic virtu- grounds and resorts, national parks and provincial parks. Res- Edmonton, Canmore, and others, of them gives a sense of the exciting new Art Gallery of Alberta and The ally every week. ervations can be made at private Country at the Big Valley Jamboree combination of history, people, and Works festival in Edmonton, to the It’s all part of the bonus of having campgrounds and at certain parks. in Camrose – the continent’s largest; landscapes that have made Alberta Alberta College of Art and Design in the world at your door. Feel free to join For more information and reserva- Reggae in Calgary, Jazz in Edmonton what it is today. There’s a World Herit- Calgary, to impressive arts facilities the world in Alberta, for a visit, or to tion options, check out the Alberta and Medicine Hat… the list goes on. age Site where aboriginal hunters in Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Medi- stay. Campground Guide, call Travel Artists you’ll hear range from thrill- perfected the greatest food gathering cine Hat and more, to the rightly Alberta at 1-800-ALBERTA (252- ing new discoveries to homecoming machine to that point in history, thou- famous Banff Centre. Performance 3782), or stop in at a visitor infor- local heroes who’ve taken the world sands of years before the pyramids art is king during the Fringe Theatre mation centre. ALBERTA CULTURE by storm, to international legends broke ground. There’s the residence Festivals in Edmonton and Calgary. [email protected] who’ve heard the Alberta buzz. The of an Alberta homesteader who also It’s a time when theatrical folk – [email protected] AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT BY MEDIAPlanET TO THE NATIONAL POST AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT BY MEDIAPlanET TO THE NATIONAL POST MARCH 2013 · 3 CHALLENGES INSPIRATION TIP 1 ALBERTA HAS MORE SUNshINE ANNUALLY THAN ANY Tourism Regions OTHER PROVINCE OR TERRITORY IN CANADA AT 312 DAys NORTHERN ALBERTA Picture a vast land of boreal traders. Check out the boom- Island Lake forests, sweeping grasslands, town of Fort McMurray, where PHOTO: TRAVEL ALBERTA/SABRINA HILL and endless lakes and rivers.