As I get set to celebrate the second anniversary of my move from B.C. to Alberta later this month, there are many aspects of this province that I have wholeheartedly embraced.
It might not be the obvious answer, but one of the things I like best is the weather, particularly the amount of sunshine that beams down on this part of the world. Give me cold and clear over mild and wet any day, although I must admit that my exuberance is tested when the mercury dips to some ungodly temperatures on occasion over the winter.
I like the idea that owning a single-family home doesn’t mean you’re going to be house poor for your entire working life. I like that “Hey” is considered a formal greeting in many circles. I also like that you’re not allowed to use Okotoks’ expansive trail network unless you’ve got a friendly greeting for everyone you come across; OK, so maybe there’s not a civic bylaw mandating neighbourliness, but there’s no denying that it’s contagious out there.
It might sound silly, but one of the other things I like best about Alberta is that jeans are appropriate attire for pretty much any occasion, and how that ‘Casual Friday’ has been expanded to include any day of the week. I recognize that wardrobe requirements tend to be relaxing everywhere but I enthusiastically endorse Alberta’s collective decision not to banish denim to just an extended weekend.
The more I see people in various settings throughout the community, the more I come across them proudly sporting their jeans. From community leaders to political figures, there’s a sea of blue wherever you look, and I couldn’t be happier about it.
When I attended former Calgary Flames legendary trainer Bearcat Murray’s memorial service in late June, I made sure to leave the jeans at home for fear it would be inappropriate at such an occasion, but even there I saw people wearing them.
Last week we ran a photo of Highwood MLA RJ Sigurdson and Deputy Mayor Rachel Swendseid offering their best wishes to two teens on their way to the national fast pitch championships in Montreal. Both politicians happened to be wearing jeans, as were the two girls by the way.
The week before that I saw a photo on Foothills MP John Barlow’s Twitter feed of three Conservative caucus members discussing fertilizer reduction policy with Saskatchewan agricultural groups. Barlow and Regina MP Warren Steinley both had jeans on, although former Conservative leader Andrew Scheer, the third MP in the photo, opted not to go that casual.
Perhaps I shouldn’t be using politicians as my fashion role models, but their style is indicative of a wider population that has genuinely embraced a more relaxed approach. I know it's emboldened me to go into the closet and pull out a pair of jeans most mornings.
The fact they’re comfortable, and can also be dressed up or down depending on the occasion, makes them a versatile choice, but for far too long they’ve been limited to the margins, only allowed to make an appearance outside of the 9-to-5.
That’s not the case anymore, at least not here, which is one of the things I love about Alberta.
