It was an important event on the Canadian Tour and its predecessors until 1999 when it endured a brief hiatus after losing its main sponsors.

[1] Although tournament organisers, Alberta Golf, state that the Alberta Open was first played in 1935,[2] the origins of the tournament can be traced back further, with an open championship being introduced to the Alberta Golf Association provincial tournament week in around 1912.

Originally a one-day 36-hole event played during the provincial tournament week alongside the amateur championship, the Alberta Open became a separate 72-hole tournament in 1937.

[3] In response to not attracting as many big-name players as hoped, in 1953 prize money was substantially reduced and the tournament was cut to 54-holes.

[4] As the Canadian Tour established itself in the late 1980s, the Alberta Open was again extended to 72-holes in 1988.