A Usable Past: The Alberta Government's Use of Heritage During Times of Celebration

Abstract

The creation of a founding myth during times of celebration enabled the Alberta government to use heritage for its contemporary agenda. Although the myth was intended to be unifying, various divisions emerged such as a hinterland/metropolis dichotomy and a north/south divide. Combining the pioneering heritage with culture, the provincial government recognized the juxtaposition of the two yet was content for it to remain. Examining postwar Alberta’s use of the pioneer and his heritage, it becomes clear how important a myth can be to a government’s political rhetoric.