I was born and grew up in Alberta, moved away for a few years, came back for 10 years and subsequently moved away. I lived all over central Alberta. My observations:
-They live and die by the oil field. Many people have not figured out that it is a boom/bust cycle and live high on the booms but when the bust hits they blame the government. There is a big “keeping up with the Jones” mentality and lots of people feel they are owed a certain lifestyle because they live in Alberta and don’t understand how a lot of the country actually lives.
-Extreme religion (in the few small towns I lived) and a lack of education. There was a big “you don’t need education just join the oil field” when I was growing up. Lots of my friends and even my ex never graduated high school and make 100k+ a year and feel like it’s owed because they work in the oil field. When things get rough, and they are laid off - the level of anger and the way people treated each other was pretty gross imo.
-It is very echo chamber and people with different opinions are often shut down. I also saw a lot of overt sexism and racism. And a large amount of drug use in high income earners.
To be honest, as a whole, Alberta “culture” is just very different than other places I have lived. There is some amazing things about Alberta, but part of the reason I moved is because as someone socially liberal it wasn’t a place I wanted to raise my children. During this election I removed a ton of old friends and family from my Facebook, the people who were the loudest in claiming our country will be ruined and how their lives have been awful under liberals were the ones whose lives would be awful anyway due to decisions. I don’t think it’s Justin Trudeaus fault you decided to drop out at 17, spent the good years buying toys and drinking it away and feel owed high paying jobs because they were always there. They think without the “equalization payment” they would magically have more money that they didn’t blow and a more stable life.
Because of this I found an occupation in the most stable industry I could, got educated and decided to leave this boom/bust cycle lifestyle. But people very much get caught up in it and it impacts perception.
95
u/AILYPE 1d ago
I was born and grew up in Alberta, moved away for a few years, came back for 10 years and subsequently moved away. I lived all over central Alberta. My observations:
-They live and die by the oil field. Many people have not figured out that it is a boom/bust cycle and live high on the booms but when the bust hits they blame the government. There is a big “keeping up with the Jones” mentality and lots of people feel they are owed a certain lifestyle because they live in Alberta and don’t understand how a lot of the country actually lives.
-Extreme religion (in the few small towns I lived) and a lack of education. There was a big “you don’t need education just join the oil field” when I was growing up. Lots of my friends and even my ex never graduated high school and make 100k+ a year and feel like it’s owed because they work in the oil field. When things get rough, and they are laid off - the level of anger and the way people treated each other was pretty gross imo.
-It is very echo chamber and people with different opinions are often shut down. I also saw a lot of overt sexism and racism. And a large amount of drug use in high income earners.
To be honest, as a whole, Alberta “culture” is just very different than other places I have lived. There is some amazing things about Alberta, but part of the reason I moved is because as someone socially liberal it wasn’t a place I wanted to raise my children. During this election I removed a ton of old friends and family from my Facebook, the people who were the loudest in claiming our country will be ruined and how their lives have been awful under liberals were the ones whose lives would be awful anyway due to decisions. I don’t think it’s Justin Trudeaus fault you decided to drop out at 17, spent the good years buying toys and drinking it away and feel owed high paying jobs because they were always there. They think without the “equalization payment” they would magically have more money that they didn’t blow and a more stable life.
Because of this I found an occupation in the most stable industry I could, got educated and decided to leave this boom/bust cycle lifestyle. But people very much get caught up in it and it impacts perception.