Dried Out: Prohibition in Alberta

In 1915, Alberta embarked on a social experiment that would impact the lives of all Albertans: Prohibition.  A century after the repeal of prohibition in 1923, the Provincial Archives of Alberta presented Dried Out: Prohibition in Alberta. The exhibit explored how temperance, one of the great progressive crusades of the early 20th century, took root in Alberta.  The moral and political crusade to ban alcohol would have unintended consequences, both good and bad. It spurred the push for women’s suffrage, lead to the creation of the Alberta Provincial Police, and prompted experiments in direct democracy. But it would also lead to people flouting the law at all levels of society, which would shape politics, policies, and communities for years to come.