Beautiful, prosperous, and unpredictable, Alberta has always been the maverick province. Indeed, Albertans pride themselves on their difference. This book tells the story of how this fascinating part of Canada has come to possess the character it does. Through the stories of a host of individuals who together shaped southern Alberta's unruly history, Audacious and Adamant traces the profile of a place both beautiful and contrary. This is the story of the immigrants and politicians who weathered dust storms and national policies to forge Alberta's unusual temperament. This is the story of the dancers and wrestlers and artists who depicted Alberta's beauty and demonstrated Alberta's prosperity. This is the story of the dreamers and ne'er-do-wells who refused to follow the rules. This is the story of winners and losers, mavericks whose determination helped to ferment the astonishing place that Alberta has become. Determined to control their destiny, the characters profiled within these pages rolled up their sleeves and went to work. Through boom and bust, through rain and dust, they persevered, leaving their indelible mark on this part of Canada. Against the backdrop of a stunning landscape, the sheer audacity of these province-builders demonstrates the stubbornness and foresight of those who poured their energy into making this place as unusual and awe-inspiring as its scenery. Alberta's inheritance is unorthodox. Her citizens defy definition. In a history unlike any place on earth, Audacious and Adamant recounts the tales of Albertans who made a difference, whether they were lovers or liars, saints or sinners. Their heads in the clouds and their feet in the mud, these characters together forged a fascinating history.
