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Alberta is one of Canada's Provinces . It became a province on September 1 , 1905 . Alberta is located in western Canada. It is bounded on the west by the province of British Columbia , on the north by the Northwest Territories , on the east by the province of Saskatchewan , and on the south by the U.S. State of Montana . Alberta is one of two provinces (the other being New Brunswick ) to border a single U.S. state. Alberta's capital is the city of . The Premier of the province is Hon. Ralph Klein , Progressive Conservative. See also List Of Alberta Premiers . Alberta is named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta (1848-1939), the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria . Princess Louise was also the wife of Sir John Campbell , who was the Governor General Of Canada from 1878-1883. Lake Louise was also named in honour of Princess Louise. GEOGRAPHY Main article: Geography Of Alberta Alberta is in Western Canada , and covers an area of 661,190 km&2 (255,287 mi&2). To the south, it borders the US state of Montana at a latitude of 49°N, or the 49th Parallel . To the east at a longitude of 110°W, it borders the province of Saskatchewan . At 60°N, it is bordered by the Northwest Territories . To the west, its border with British Columbia follows the line of peaks of the Rocky Mountains range along the Continental Divide , which runs northwesterly until it reaches 120° W, at which point the border follows this meridian to 60°N. With the exception of the southeastern section, the province is well watered. Alberta contains dozens of rivers and lakes ideal for Swimming , Water Skiing , Fishing and a full range of other Water Sports . There are a multitude of fresh-water lakes, each less than 260 km&2 situated in Alberta, and three of more considerable size. These three larger lakes are Lake Athabasca (7898 km&2), part of which lies in the province of Saskatchewan, Lake Claire (1436 km&2), which lies just west of Lake Athabasca in Wood Buffalo National Park , and Lesser Slave Lake (1168 km&2), which is well northwest of Edmonton . As Alberta extends for 1200 km from north to south, and about 600 km wide at its greatest east-west extent, it is natural that the climate should vary considerably between the 49th and 60th parallels. It is also further influenced by altitude, especially in the southwestern part of the province within the Canadian Rockies and adjacent areas directly to the east. Northern Alberta is mostly covered by Boreal Forest and has fewer frost-free days than southern Alberta, which is often semi-arid due to the summer heat and much lower rainfall. Western Alberta is protected by the mountains, and enjoys the warmth brought by winter Chinook Wind s, while southeastern Alberta is a generally flat, dry prairie with some hills, where temperatures are most extreme they can range from very cold (−35°C (−31°F) or lower in the winter) to very hot (38°C (100°F) or higher in the summer). Central and parts of northwestern Alberta in the Peace River region are largely Aspen Parkland , a Biome transitional between Prairie to the south and Boreal Forest to the north. After southern Ontario , Central Alberta is the most likely region in Canada to experience Tornadoes . Thunderstorm s, some of them severe, are frequent in the summer, especially in central and southern Alberta. The region surrounding the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor is notable for having the highest frequency of Hail in Canada, due to more intense cold downdrafts originating from the nearby Rocky Mountains occurring within thunderstorms. Overall, Alberta has cold winters, with a temperature average of about −10°C (14°F) in the south to −24°C (−12°F) in the north. In the summer, the average temperatures range from 13°C (55°F) in the Rocky Mountains to 19°C (67°F) in the dry prairie to the south-east. The northern and western parts of the province experience higher rainfall and lower evaporation rates caused by cooler summer temperatures. Alberta experiences a good amount of sunshine for its northern location, the east-central part of the province is one of the sunniest places in Canada with an average of over 2,500 hours a year. Alberta's capital city, Edmonton , is located almost in the geographic centre of the province, and most of Alberta's oil is Refined here. Southern Alberta, where Calgary is located, is known for its Ranching . Much of the unforested part of Alberta is given over either to grain or to Dairy Farming , with ranching predominantly a southern Alberta industry. In southeastern Alberta, where the Red Deer River traverses the flat prairie and farmland, are the Alberta Badlands with deep Gorge s and striking landforms. Dinosaur Provincial Park , near Drumheller, Alberta , showcases the badlands terrain, Desert Flora , and remnants from Alberta's past when Dinosaurs roamed the then lush landscape. Alberta is one of only two Canadian provinces to have no maritime coast (the other being the neighbouring province of Saskatchewan.) Largest municipalities and metro areas by population
''Although the city of Lloydminster has a total population of 23,632, it is not included on the list because the city straddles the Alberta- Saskatchewan border. Only 15,487 people live on the Alberta side, which would make it Alberta's 11th largest city.'' INDUSTRY Main article: Industry In Alberta Alberta is the largest producer of Conventional Crude Oil , Synthetic Crude , Natural Gas and gas products in the country. Two of the largest producers of Petrochemicals in North America are located in central and north central Alberta. In both Red Deer and Edmonton , world class Polyethylene and Vinyl manufacturers produce products shipped all over the world, and Edmonton's Oil Refineries provide the raw materials for a large Petrochemical industry to the east of Edmonton. The Athabasca Oil Sands (previously known as the Athabasca Tar Sands ) have estimated Oil reserves in excess of that of the rest of the world, estimated to be 1.6 trillion barrels (254 km³). With the advancement of extraction methods, bitumen and economical synthetic crude are produced at costs nearing that of conventional crude. This technology is Alberta grown and developed. Many companies employ both conventional Strip Mining and non-conventional methods to extract the Bitumen from the Athabasca deposit. With current technology, only 315 billion barrels (50 km³) are recoverable. Fort McMurray , one of Canada's youngest and liveliest cities, has grown up entirely because of the large Multinational Corporation s which have taken on the task of oil production. Another factor determining the viability of oil extraction from the Tar Sands is the price of oil. In 2005, record oil prices have made it more than profitable to extract this oil, which in the past would give little profit or even a loss. While Edmonton is considered the pipeline junction, manufacturing, chemical processing, research and refining centre of the province, Calgary is known for its senior and junior oil company head offices (unlike Edmonton, Calgary is not close to any large sources of oil). With concerted effort and support from the provincial government, several high-tech industries have found their birth in Alberta, notably the invention and perfection of Liquid Crystal Display systems. With a growing economy, Alberta has several financial institutions dealing with several civil and private funds. AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY Agriculture has a significant position in the province's economy. Over 5 million Cattle are residents of the province at one time or another, and Alberta beef has a healthy worldwide market. Nearly one half of all Canadian beef is produced in Alberta. Alberta is one of the prime producers of plains Buffalo (bison) for the consumer market. Sheep for Wool and Mutton are also Raised . Wheat and Canola are primary farm crops, with Alberta leading the provinces in spring wheat production, with other Grains also prominent. Much of the farming is dryland farming, often with fallow seasons interspersed with cultivation. Continuous cropping (in which there is no fallow season) is gradually becoming a more common mode of production because of increased profits and a reduction of soil erosion. Across the province, the once common Grain Elevator is slowly being lost as rail lines are decreased and farmers now truck the grain to central points. Alberta is the leading Beekeeping province of Canada, with some beekeepers wintering Hive s indoors in specially designed barns in southern Alberta, then migrating north during the summer into the Peace River valley where the season is short but the working days are long for Honeybee s to produce honey from Clover and Fireweed . Hybrid Canola also requires Bee Pollination , and some beekeepers service this need. The vast northern Forest reserves of Softwood allow Alberta to produce large quantities of Lumber and Plywood , and several northern Alberta plants supply North America and the Pacific Rim Nation s with bleached Wood Pulp and Newsprint . GOVERNMENT See also: Politics Of Alberta The government of Alberta is organized as a Parliamentary Democracy with a unicameral legislature and a bicameral government. Its Unicameral legislature -- the Legislative Assembly -- consists of 83 members. The bicameral nature of Alberta's government is represented by locally elected municipal and school government which is not a third order of government but is separated from the (primary) provincial government. As Canada's head of state, Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state for the Government of Alberta. Her duties in Alberta are carried out by Lieutenant Governor, Norman Kwong. The government is headed by the Premier , Ralph Klein , who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Government of Alberta. As is always the case in a parliamentary system of government, the Premier is a Member of the Legislative Assembly, and he draws all the members of his Cabinet from among the Members of the Legislative Assembly. The City of Edmonton is the seat of the provincial government -- the capital of Alberta. The province's revenue comes mainly from the taxation of oil, natural gas, beef, softwood lumber, and wheat, but also includes a tax on corporate and personal income, gaming revenue, and Grant s from the Federal Government primarily for Infrastructure projects. Albertans are the lowest- Tax ed people in Canada , and Alberta is the only province in Canada without a provincial Sales Tax (though residents are still subject to the federal sales tax, the GST ). Alberta's municipalities and school jurisdictions have their own governments which (usually) work in co-operation with the provincial government. Alberta's elections tend to yield results which are much more conservative than those of other Canadian provinces. Alberta has traditionally had three political parties, the , from 1905 to 1921; the United Farmers Of Alberta , from 1921 to 1935; the Social Credit Party, from 1935 to 1971, and the currently-governing Progressive Conservative Party, from 1971 to the present. As is the case with many western Canadian provinces, Alberta has had occasional bouts of separatist sentiment. Even during the . In the 2004 Provincial Election , held in November, the Progressive Conservative Party was re-elected as a majority government (62 Members), the Liberal Party of Alberta was elected as the Official Opposition (16 Members), the New Democratic Party elected four Members, and the Alberta Alliance Party , running to the Right of the Conservatives, won one seat. See also: List Of Alberta Premiers , List Of Alberta General Elections EDUCATION As with any Canadian province, the Alberta Legislature has (almost) exclusive authority to make laws respecting education. Since 1905 the Legislature has used this capacity to continue the model of locally elected public and separate school boards which originated prior to 1905, as well as to create and/or regulate universities, colleges, technical institutions and other educational forms and institutions (public charter schools, private schools, home schooling). K-12 The first schools in what is now Alberta were parochial, that is, they were organized, owned and operated by Church clergy, missionaries, or authorities, both Roman Catholic and Protestant. A nominal fee was often charged for the attendance of students at these schools, and the fee was more often waived, as an act of charity or as an act of proslytizing, or as an act of local solidarity. The first "free" school (which would now be called a public school) in what is now Alberta, was established in the hamlet of Edmonton, in the Northwest Territories, in early 1881. The school was established before the Northwest Territories had a Territorial Assembly, and before there was any law for the Territory respecting schools, or local government, or local taxation. The people of the hamlet of Edmonton elected trustees to govern the establishment and operation of the school, and submitted to an informal local taxation entirely on the basis of local solidarity. Between 1883 and 1905 a system of education developed in Alberta by which Public Education was available in every community once the local population initiatied its introduction; and Separate School Education could be provided subsequently, provided certain conditions were met. This system, by which public education was to be universally available and separate school education available under certain conditions, was the system which the federal government of Sir Wilfrid Laurier enshrined in the constitituion of Alberta (the Alberta Act ) in 1905. There are forty-two public school jurisdictions in Alberta, and seventeen operating separate school jurisdictions. Sixteen of the operating separate school jurisdictions have a Roman Catholic electorate, and one (St. Albert) has a Protestant electorate. In addition, one Protestant separate school district, Glen Avon, survives as a ward of the St. Paul Education Region. The City of Lloydminster straddles the Alberta/ Saskatchewan border, and both the public and separate school systems in that city are counted in the above numbers: both of them operate acccording to Saskatchewan law. The most recent significant development in the governance of education in Alberta has been the emergence of francophone education authorities in response to the adoption of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982). There are five francophone authorities in Alberta. In the south a public francophone authority and a separate francophone authority share co-terminous boundaries. In the north there are three authorities which provide both public and separate school education. The francophone authorities, together, cover the province, but they are not required to provide francophone education from place to place, except where numbers warrant, and it is the responsibility of the board of the authority to decide whether numbers warrant. For many years the provincial government has funded the greater part of the cost of providing K - 12 education. Prior to 1994 public and separate school boards in Alberta had the legislative authority to levy a local tax on property, as supplementary support for local education. In 1994 the government of the province eliminated this right for public school boards, but not for separate school boards. Since 1994 there has continued to be a tax on property in support of K - 12 education; the difference is that the mill rate is now set by the provincial government, the money is collected by the local municipal authority and remitted to the provincial government. The relevant legislation requires that all the money raised by this property tax must go to the support of K - 12 education provided by school boards. The provincial government pools the property tax funds from across the province and distributes them, according to a formula, to public and separate school jurisdictions and francophone authorities. In addition to the property tax collected, the provincial government allocates money, each year, from the General Revenue Fund, for the support of K - 12 public and separate school education. In the case of the money drawn from the General Revenue Fund, it is also used to provide full financial support for Charter Schools , a type of public school that does not charge tuition (and receives the same funding per student that a public district school would receive). Private Schools and Homeschooling receive some funding, but parents will pay a substantial portion of the cost. Public and separate school boards, charter schools, private schools, and home schoolers all follow the Program of Studies and the curriculum approved by the provincial department of education (Alberta Education). Public and separate schools, charter schools, and approved private schools all employ teachers who are certificated by Alberta Education, they administer Provincial Achievement Tests and Diploma Examinations set by Alberta Education, and they may grant high school graduation certificates endorsed by Albera Education. Since 1994 all boards with a civil electorate (public, separate, francophone) are funded almost entirely by the provincial government. School boards may, and many do, allow the school administration to levy fees for books and special materials, special programs or services, etc. Such fees range from $20.00/student/year (more or less) to $750.00/student/year. Current issues for K - 12 (civil electorate) education in Alberta include, but are not limited to: # the balance of power between school board trustees and the province # the level of funding, which school boards tend to feel is inadequate # disputes between the school boards and the province, over ownership and control of schools and local facilities; # issues over who locally elected school boards, and their employees, are accountable to Charter schools, private schools, and home schooling each have their own issues. Approximately 595,000 students are educated in Alberta. Post-secondary Alberta's oldest and largest university is Edmonton's . Students may also receive government loans and grants while attending selected private institutions. There has been some controversy in recent years over the rising cost of post-secondary education. In 2005 , Premier Ralph Klein made a promise that he would freeze tuition and look into ways of reducing schooling costs. So far, no plan has been released by the Alberta government. TRANSPORTATION Alberta has over 180,000 km of , west of highway 2, known as "the cowboy trail," and Highway 21 , east of highway 2. Alberta has two main east-west corridors. The southern corridor, part of the Trans-Canada Highway system, enters the province near Medicine Hat , runs westward through Calgary, and leaves Alberta through Banff National Park . The northern corridor, also part of the Trans-Canada network but known alternatively as the Yellowhead Highway ( Highway 16 ), runs west from Lloydminster in eastern Alberta, through Edmonton and Jasper National Park into British Columbia . On a sunny spring or fall day, one of the most scenic drives in the world is along the Icefields Parkway , which runs some 300 km between Jasper and Banff, with mountain ranges and glaciers on either side of its entire length. Urban stretches of Alberta's major highways and Freeway s are often called ''trails''. For example, Highway 2 is Deerfoot Trail as it passes through Calgary, Calgary Trail as it leaves Edmonton southbound, and St. Albert Trail as it leaves Edmonton northbound toward the city of St. Albert . Visitors from outside Alberta often find this disconcerting, accustomed as they are to the notion that a trail is an unpaved route primarily for Pedestrian s. Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Medicine Hat, and Lethbridge have substantial mass transit systems. Edmonton and Calgary also operate light rail vehicles. Alberta is well-connected by air, with international Airport s at both Edmonton and Calgary. Calgary's airport is the larger of the two, and is also the fourth busiest in Canada. It is a hub airport for a significant proportion of the connecting trans-border and international flights into and out of central Canada. There are over 9000 km of operating mainline railway, and many tourists see Alberta aboard Via Rail or Rocky Mountain Railtours . CULTURE Main article: Culture Of Alberta Alberta is well known for its warm and outgoing friendliness and Frontier spirit. Summer brings many festivals to the province. Edmonton's Fringe Festival is the world's second largest after Edinburgh 's. Alberta also hosts some of Canada's largest folk festivals, multicultural festivals, and heritage days (to name a few). Calgary is also home to Carifest , the second largest Caribbean festival in the nation (after Caribana in Toronto ). These events highlight the province's cultural diversity and love of entertainment. Most of the major cities have several performing theatre companies who entertain in venues as diverse as Edmonton's Arts Barns and the Francis Winspear Centre . Alberta also has a large ethnic population. Both the Chinese and East Indian communities are significant. According to Statistics Canada , Alberta is home to the second highest proportion (two percent) of Francophones in western Canada (after Manitoba ). Many of Alberta's French-speaking Residents live in the central and northwestern regions of the province. As reported in the 2001 census, the Chinese represented nearly four percent of Alberta's population and East Indians represented better than two percent. Both Edmonton and Calgary have Chinatown s and Calgary's is Canada's third largest. Aboriginal Albertans make up approximately three percent of the population. The major contributors to Alberta's ethnic diversity have been the European nations. Forty-four percent of Albertans are of British and Irish descent, and there are also large numbers of Germans , Ukrainians , and Scandinavia ns. Both cities heavily support first-class Canadian Football League and National Hockey League teams. Soccer , Rugby Union and Lacrosse are also played professionally in Alberta. Tourism is also important to Albertans. A million visitors come to Alberta each year just for Calgary's world-famous Stampede and for Edmonton's Klondike Days . Edmonton was the gateway to the only all-Canadian route to the Yukon Gold Field s, and the only route which did not require gold-seekers to travel the exhausting and dangerous Chilkoot Pass . Visitors throng to Calgary for ten days every July for a taste of "Stampede Fever". As a celebration of Canada's own Wild West and the cattle ranching industry, the Stampede welcomes around 1.2 million people each year. Only an hour's drive from the Rocky Mountains , Calgary also makes a visit to tourist attractions like Banff National Park something which can easily be done in a day. Calgary and Banff each host nearly 5 million tourists yearly. Alberta is an important destination for tourists who love to Ski and Hike ; Alberta boasts several world-class Ski Resort s. Hunters and fishermen from around the world are able to take home impressive Trophies and Tall Tales from their experiences in Alberta's wilderness. DEMOGRAPHICS Alberta has enjoyed a relatively high rate of growth in recent years, due in large part to its burgeoning economy. Between 2003 and 2004, the province saw high birthrates (on par with some larger provinces such as is the most urbanized area in the province and one of the densest in Canada. Many of Alberta's cities and towns have also experienced very high rates of growth in recent history. Population of Alberta since 1901 Racially and ethnically, the province is predominantly Caucasian . 88.8% of the population is either white or Aboriginal (Aboriginals represent a fairly small proportion of this percentage, however). This number is significantly smaller in many of the cities, particularly Calgary and Edmonton which are home to a much larger number of visible minorities. Visible Minorities Most Albertans identify as Christian s. Nevertheless, many people in the province observe other faiths or do not profess to a religion at all. Alberta has a somewhat higher percentage of Evangelical Christians than do other provinces. Conversely, Alberta also has the second highest percentage of Non-religious residents in Canada (after British Columbia). The Mormons of Alberta reside primarily in the extreme south of the province. There are Temples in both Cardston and Edmonton. Many Alberta Mormons descend from Mormon Pioneers who emigrated from Utah around the turn of the 20th century. Alberta also has a large Hutterite population, a communal Anabaptist sect similar to the Mennonites , and a significant population of Seventh-day Adventists in and around the Lacombe area due to the presence of the Canadian University College . Many people of the Hindu , Sikh , and Muslim faiths also make Alberta their home; one of the largest Sikh Temples in Canada is located just outside of Edmonton. Religion
HISTORY Main article: History Of Alberta The present province of Alberta, as far north as about 53° north latitude, was a part of Rupert's Land from the time of the incorporation of the Hudson's Bay Company ( 1670 ). After the arrival in the North-West of the French around 1731 they settled the prairies of the west, establishing communities such as Lac La Biche and Bonnyville . Fort La Jonquière was established near what is now Calgary in (1752). The North-West Company of Montreal occupied the northern part of Alberta territory before the Hudson's Bay Company arrived from Hudson Bay to take possession of it. The first explorer of the Athabasca region was Peter Pond , who, on behalf of the North-West Company of Montreal, built Fort Athabasca on Lac La Biche in 1778. Roderick Mackenzie built Fort Chipewyan on Lake Athabasca ten years later in 1788. His cousin, Sir Alexander Mackenzie followed the North Saskatchewan River to its northernmost point near Edmonton, then setting northward on foot, trekked to the Athabasca River , which he followed to Lake Athabasca. It was there he discovered the mighty outflow river which bears his name -- the Mackenzie River -- which he followed to its outlet in the Arctic Ocean. Returning to Lake Athabasca , he followed the Peace River upstream, eventually reaching the Pacific Ocean , and so being the first white man to cross the North American continent north of Mexico . The district of Alberta was created as part of the North-West Territories in 1882. As settlement increased, local representatives to the North-West Legislative Assembly were added. After a long campaign for autonomy, in 1905 the district of Alberta was enlarged and given provincial status. FAUNA AND FLORA Fauna The three climatic regions ( Alpine , Forest , and Prairie ) of Alberta are home to many different species of animals. The south and central prairie was the land of the bison, its grasses providing a great pasture and breeding ground for millions of Buffalo . The buffalo population was decimated during early settlement, but since then buffalo have made a strong comeback, and thrive on farms and in parks all over Alberta. Alberta is home to many large Carnivore s. Among them are the Grizzly and Black Bears , which are found in the mountains and wooded regions. Smaller carnivores of the Dog and Cat families include Coyote s, Wolves , Fox , Lynx , Bobcat and Mountain Lion (cougar). Bighorn Sheep.]] Herbivorous , or plant-eating animals, are found throughout the province. Moose and Deer (both mule and white-tail Varieties ) are found in the wooded regions, and Pronghorn Antelope can be found in the prairies of southern Alberta. Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goat s live in the Rocky Mountains. Rabbit s, Porcupine s, Skunk s, Squirrel s, and many species of rodents and reptiles live in every corner of the province. Alberta is fortunate in that it is home to only one variety of venomous snake, the prairie Rattlesnake . Central and northern Alberta and the region farther north is the nesting-ground of the migratory birds. Vast numbers of Duck s, Geese , Swan s, and Pelican s arrive in Alberta every spring and nest on or near one of the hundreds of small lakes that dot northern Alberta. Eagle s, Hawk s, Owl s, and Crow s are plentiful, and a huge variety of smaller seed and insect-eating birds can be found. Alberta, like other Temperate regions, is home to Mosquito es, Flies , Wasp s, and Bee s. Rivers and lakes are well stocked with Pike , Walleye , White Fish , Rainbow , Speckled , and Brown Trout , and even Sturgeon . Turtle s are found in some water bodies in the southern part of the province. Frog s and Salamander s are a few of the Amphibian s that make their homes in Alberta. Flora ]] In central and northern Alberta the arrival of spring brings the prairie anemone, the Avens , Crocus es, and other early flowers. The advancing summer introduces many flowers of the Sunflower family, until in August the plains are one blaze of yellow and purple. The southern part of Alberta is covered by a short grass, very nutritive, but dries up as summer lengthens, to be replaced by hardy perennials such as the Buffalo Bean , Fleabane , and Sage . Both yellow and purple Clover fill the roadways and the ditches with their beauty and aromatic scents. The trees in the parkland region of the province grow in clumps and belts on the hillsides. These are largely Deciduous , typically Birch , Poplar , and Tamarack . Many species of Willow and other shrubs grow in virtually any terrain. On the north side of the North Saskatchewan River evergreen forests prevail for hundreds of thousands of square kilometres. Aspen Poplar , Balsam Poplar (or Cottonwood ), and Paper Birch are the primary large deciduous species. Conifer s include Jack Pine , Rocky Mountain pine, Lodgepole Pine , both white and black Spruce , and the deciduous conifer Tamarack . SEE ALSO Family Law Act EXTERNAL LINKS
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