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 peoples lives and careers, and the relationship between individuals and the places named for them.