Alberta

In Canmore, town bureaucrats have had years where they processed permits for more than $200 million in new construction, much of it for condos and hotel condos aimed at second homeowners living in Calgary or further away.

Perhaps more importantly, Lethbridge has taken significant steps to promote a surprisingly diverse economy in a city once anchored by coal mines and farming.

Fort Mac's break may be over ( July 2009): Oiltown planners got busy when slowdown finally freed up space and time for infrastructure work Change in the air ( June 2009): Drumheller's new radio station just the latest sign of more upbeat economy in t