Am I a Local?

What is it about a person's appearance that instigates another person to geographically profile where you are from without even knowing you?

A few weeks ago at the CCMA's in Edmonton I was riding the elevator with this woman who I struck up a conversation with pretty much as soon as she got in the elevator. Within 30 seconds, she asked me if I was from Alberta. We continued to chat as we walked through the lobby and out onto the street where we went our separate ways. As I continued on my way, I began to analyze the conversation and found it interesting that she asked if I was from Alberta. She could have asked if I was from Edmonton, or generically asked where I was from, yet she chose that specific question. Did I not look like I was from Alberta, and if so, what constitutes looking like you're not from there? I grew up in Alberta, so it's not like I dress like I'm from Europe. Do I have an accent? It was one of those things that made me go hmmmmm.

Then on Saturday I was hosting a Songwriter's workshop in Regina. During intermission, I struck up a conversation with a gentleman who again, within a minute of us talking, asked if I was a "local". Again, this made me raise my eyebrows with amusement. Yes I was there with a handful of Toronto people as guests, but among them, you'd think being from Saskatchewan, I would stand out as being from here. What defines the profile of a "local"? Apparently I don't fit the profile.

I'm going to assume I've assimilated a Hamilton accent and leave it at that. Otherwise I'm going to drive myself crazy trying to figure out why prairie people think that this prairie chicken isn't from here.

Tia