where you find Oil money, you will find ass holes raking it in. Calgary has a lot of oil money. I've heard that Edmonton has a pretty cool music scene, but other than that, and maybe a ride up the Ice fields Pkwy (Hwy 93,AB) I would almost say that you should just kind of skip all of Alberta.
If you're hitching through AB, take Hwy 3. It runs SW from Medicine Hat AB, to Hope BC, Its much, much quieter then the transCan but people will be much more likely to pick you up. In Medicine Hat go to the dream center for some soup and a shower. Hwy 3 will take you right through the heart of the Kootenays. If you love weed, then you probably would want to check this place out! Just don't drink the cool-aid.