There is something quintessentially Western Canadian that distinguishes and separates living in this region from all other parts of Canada. But what does it mean to be Western Canadian ? What meanings do the terms the West and being a Westerner invoke? To answer these questions, the authors lay out a variety of approaches and unique research initiatives, with a novel focus on the following: - small urban centres - rural education - regional representations and identities - theatre - literature and film - visual representations, and - quality of life issues Informed by the contributions of noted Canadian academics, the ten varied works in this collection cumulatively offer a unique panoramic understanding of Western themes.