Inside the Independence Movement in Canada’s Oil-Rich Alberta

Separation proponents edge closer to holding a referendum.

Pumpjacks draw out oil and gas from wellheads surrounded by Canola fields near Cremona, Alta., in a file photo. The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh

CALGARY/DIDSBURY, Canada—The Canadian province of Alberta is known for its oil rigs, cowboys, cattle runs, and strong traditions. Like Texas, these features have shaped Alberta’s unique history and culture.

Here, endless prairies roll toward the rugged Rockies, and a spirit of resilience pulses through both the land and its people, fueling a desire for more autonomy from the federal government.