When my husband and I moved to Alberta, my plan was for it to be a two-year stop. During those first years, 
we went to some of the province’s most stunning sites – Waterton, Banff, the Frank Slide and along the Bow River in Calgary – and we started to discover the hidden gems in our own southern city and its gorgeous coulees. With each passing month, I fell more and more in love with the province and its people, its spirit and, I must confess, its sunshine.
Twelve years later, we are still here. We have explored farther afield in the province – to places like Writing-on-Stone, Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump, Dinosaur Provincial Park and more – but know we still have so much more to see. The people we have met continue to inspire and stimulate us in our work and lives. Alberta has worked its magic on us – as it has done for so many over the recent and distant past.
This spring issue of Wider Horizons focuses on Alberta and what can be said to be the true Alberta advantage: the province’s diversity of landscape, people, industry and culture. So many of Lethbridge College’s graduates came from or are making their mark in the province, and you can read about their exciting work and lives here (whether it involves travelling with the RCMP’s Musical Ride or roasting some of the best coffee in town). This issue also showcases some of the spectacular scenery to be found in the southern end of the province, including a historic homestead outside of Warner where a remarkable philanthropist was born and the Milk River basin where Environmental Sciences students learn about the oldest inhabitants of this land as they study geology and paleontology. At the heart of all of the stories and photos in this issue is the college’s Alberta-focused vision, which is to lead and transform education in the province we call home.
The vast diversity of what Alberta has to offer is astounding. I remember returning from our first visit to Writing-on-Stone about eight years ago and hounding our friends with the question of why they didn’t insist we visit there sooner. It was so spectacular, so rich in history and so moving, I told them. These wise friends, who had called the province home for a longer period of time, simply replied that there are just so many spectacular, rich and moving places in Alberta. I am confident you’ll be delighted with whatever direction you pick.
We hope you enjoy this Alberta issue of Wider Horizons – and as always, if you’d like to comment on a story or photo or suggest a story for a future issue, just drop us a note at [email protected].
Cheers,
Lisa
P.S. We are looking for feedback from our readers and want to know what you think about Wider Horizons in general and our Alberta issue in particular. If you have a few minutes, please take the short survey found at learn.lc/whspringsurvey15. Your responses will help us
better serve you and our readers around the world. And, as a small way to thank you for your time and thoughts, we’ll enter your name into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate from Tim Hortons or Starbucks if you complete and submit your survey before June 1, 2015. Thanks!
