While I’m not familiar enough with rural Alberta to confirm all that you said, Evan, I agree that The Crash Palace is a fabulous book! And I want to add that Night Watch: The Vet Suite–especially the second and third novellas–portrays the life of rural veterinarians so powerfully, with details that capture all the care and the pain. While I don’t know any vets personally, I do know something about farmers and how they only call the vet as a last resort, which means that the stakes are high on every call. Night Watch is also an amazing book!! I highly recommend both!