Edmonton and its people have got to stop feeling so insular. Hinton is an exceptional stopover -- Edson perhaps a little less so but with great potential also. Whitecourt has exceptional natural beauty with the Athabasca and McLeod Rivers converging on the town. As Edmonton grows in population I think a spillover effect on the towns in all directions surrounding the City will begin to have a positive growth and development outcome for the smaller centres. Being of the aged variety, I can remember back when Red Deer was little more than a convenience stop between the Big E and the small c -- it has blossomed into a City in its own right with lots to see and do and with its neighbors, Lacombe and Sylvan Lake, both adding to the character development of the region. Alberta is a beautiful Province and one of Canada's most diverse in terms of geological and geographical makeup. It really is a special place.
