Alberta This Week

Since I don't really feel like Utah is my "home" even after living here for 5 years, it is important for me to feel more connected to Alberta, my real home. One of my favorite things to help make home feel a little closer is to listen to the CBC podcast "Alberta This Week". It is basically an NPR-like collection of the last week's most interesting stories and I like to listen to it as I do yard work.

Today's made me feel that endearing love of home that comes from being raised in an area that most of the world thinks of as backwards.

One story focussed on how Calgary's housing boom is raising costs of living throughout the province to the point that people are moving to remote villages to get decent prices (like $400,000 for a house on a lot that takes up a full city village block).

The mayor of the village they featured was excited for their real estate market because home sales had soared to record highs (about one per month). He was also excited that community resources like the rec center and curling rink would be used more frequently with the influx of out-of-towners.

And here's my favorite part... This settlement has a population of fewer than 500 people and they have a curling rink. I suppose Canadians' priorities are occasionally a little obvious.