Alberta’s magazines gather diverse voices, stories, and perspectives in each issue. Chances are good that if you have an interest, there’s a magazine for that. We’re highlighting some recent “hidden gems”—stories from magazines, and about topics, you might not otherwise encounter.

Grains West is a quarterly farming publication funded by Alberta Grains and dedicated to topics of interest to the province’s grain farmers. You might not consider yourself to be their target audience, but the magazine tackles issues that impact us all. Take for example “Trumps Trade Assumptions” by Neil Townsend about the unpredictable outcomes of U.S. policy changes: “Most commentary about Trump’s victory has neglected a key reality: politics has been omnipresent in agricultural trade for centuries. Some would argue that politics, in fact, is the key variable determining agricultural trade flows.”

In “Bridging Communities” by Pearl Nkomo, The Scene Calgary introduces readers to Dave Richards (aka Deva Dave), owner of Deva Dave Salon & Boutique: “I have been successful in creating a space where men and women can walk in, nervous, confident, unsure, cautious, and leave feeling confident, reassured, safe. That’s what it means to me, having the space that anybody can come into from any background.”

The Griff, MacEwan University’s student publication, looks at “how dimming access to dark skies influences the interactions between the aurora borealis and the people underneath them” in “Human interactions with the aurora borealis are changing as light pollution grows” by Rebecca-Lynn Reeves and Ian Smyth. They share the unique perspectives of Cree artist George Littlechild and nature photographer Shane Turgeon, among others, while also explaining the science behind the fascinating night sky phenomenon. 

In “Knives out” from Urban Affairs online magazine, Steven Sandor shares how Edmonton “looks to be the first major city in Canada to regulate the sales of knives in convenience stores.” In response to outcry from at-risk communities, the bylaw has been designed to ensure that convenience stores would not be able to sell knives, but with an exception for the sale of basic cutlery.  

If you’re looking for a feel good story, spend a couple of minutes reading “Snowman” by Debbie McRae for Western Horse Review, about a horse that was purchased for $80 on his way to a slaughterhouse and became an international show jumping champion: “…as he was unloaded, the snowflakes glistened on his white coat. It was then that a little child whispered, ‘He looks like a snowman.’ The name stuck.”