A lesson on ice: hockey, asymmetry, and the paradox of Canadian unity

In late May, I came across an article in the New York Times by Vjosa Isai and Matina Stevis-Gridneff, boldly titled *"In Canada province, a bid for secession. With referendum plan, some Alberta residents vent their frustration"*. The title left little room for interpretation: in Alberta – the resource-rich engine in Western Canada – talk of secession and demands for greater autonomy have once again taken center stage.