Our Place: Changing the Nature of Alberta

In this rich essay collection, Van Tighem, a former superintendent of Banff National Park whose writing on conservation and wildlife (Bears Without Fear, etc.) has won the Journey Prize for Fiction, tackles difficult questions of how to preserve Alberta’s wild landscapes and environment in the face of demand for its abundant natural resources, particularly oil. The book’s subtitle references the ecological changes Alberta’s wilderness has undergone since European settlers arrived, as well as the changing nature of residents’ views on conservation. Van Tighem wants Albertans to preserve and respect their province’s nature, protecting it from agriculture and resource extraction. The essays span three decades and are organized into 10 sections, each with a theme such as “Grass and Sky” and “Caring People.” Van Tighem’s prose is poetic: “June mornings were filled with birdsong and the hum of fecund life—living music; an organic symphony of place and being”). It’s a joy to read, and whether Van Tighem is discussing forest management, the role of humans as stewards of the land, or Alberta’s policies towards predator control, he is always eloquent and convincing. (May)