Inducted as a Canadian province in 1905, Alberta was named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta (1848-1939). Located in western Canada, the province covers an approximate area of 255,287 mi². Alberta has a varied topography, with several small rivers and lakes dotting the landscape.

Due to the booming economy, Alberta’s population has seen a significant rise in recent years. As of 2005, the province’s population stood at approximately 3,306,359, 81% of which lived in the urban areas and the rest in the rural districts. Like the other provinces, Alberta too has its fair share of people from different ethnicities.

Because Alberta extends to over a thousand kilometers from north to south, it experiences a varying climate. Moreover, the geographic layout also influences the climate. The northern part of the province has a cold climate as compared to the southern area which has a semi-arid climate. Western Alberta enjoys moderate temperatures whereas the southeastern part is the most extreme, with freezing winters and hot summers.

Mild tornadoes, thunderstorms and hail are a common feature in the province. The northern and western parts of Alberta receive more rainfall than the rest of the region.

The economy of Alberta is the strongest of all provinces in Canada, supported by agriculture and technology, but primarily by the burgeoning petroleum industry. The Calgary-Edmonton Corridor is the most urbanized region in the province and one of the densest in Canada. In 2001, the population of the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor was nearly 2.2 million (72% of Alberta's population). It is also one of the fastest growing regions in the country.

Alberta’s economy mainly thrives on the production of conventional crude oil, synthetic crude, and natural gas. Polyethylene and Vinyl manufacturers are located in Red Deer and Edmonton, producing world class products that are exported.

Apart from the production of petroleum-based products, agriculture also holds an important place in the province’s economy. In addition to the production of wheat crops, Alberta also specializes in breeding of cattle for the consumer market and in beekeeping.