Book Publishers Association of Alberta

“Alberta is a puzzle, born in hope and anger,” William Thorsell writes in the introduction to this stunning new book by filmmaker and writer Tom Radford. Following the lives of his grandparents Peggy and Balmer Watt, Radford tells the story of two journalists who arrive in Edmonton the first day of the province’s life, September 1, 1905, as Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier announces Alberta as the great hope for “Canada’s Century” that lies ahead. But Albertans already have a contrary vision in mind, a government strong enough to challenge the constitution that binds them. Peggy and Balmer find themselves in the midst of a conflagration that will last a century — their marriage falls apart, their newspapers go bankrupt, and Alberta veers towards the
extremist politics of today.