Any pics of the whole plant including the leaves? Looks most like a Pulsatilla to me (included within Anemone by some authorities), but hard to be sure without the leaves and calyx.
Is this another blinking name change. Pulsatilla vernalis..syn Anemone Vernalis. Anemone vernalis - Wikimedia Commons
Unlikely to be P. [A.] vernalis as that is a European species; check out P. [A.] occidentalis and P. [A.] patens, which are both native in Alberta. @ Silver Surfer - yes. Depends on whether Anemone is treated in a narrow sense (in which case, Pulsatilla is a separate genus, but some other "traditional" Anemone species like A. hupehensis also need to be split out into separate genera), or a broad sense (in which case, it includes Pulsatilla, but A. hupehensis remains an Anemone).
@hiking Pat , Anemoni pulsattilla is found in Canada and the North West Territories. Canadian Wildlife Federation confirms this. My earlier thoughts of Anemone vernalis is not found here, so the above is now my suggestion.
The Flora of North America (which treats them in a broad genus Anemone) accepts only Anemone occidentalis and Anemone patens var. multifida in their treatment of former Pulsatilla species. Of these two, your pics match Anemone occidentalis much better.
Anemone occidentalis is a species of montane to subalpine, which I've never seen with hints of pink or purple in the petals. These are prairie plants, Anemone patens var. multifida also know as the prairie-crocus and the provincial flower of Manitoba.
This is Anemone multifida var. multifida This is Anemone patens var. multifida in Flora of North America @ efloras.org (and notice the list of "old" / synonymous scientific names that go with it) I don't know if all of the instability surrounding Anemone and Pulsatilla has been settled, but you've photographed a prairie-crocus for sure!
Westerner here .... I agree w Daniel above. I see lots of these in certain secret south-facing spots in Jasper AB area. Generally spring Easter time before the natural grass greens up. Is there a difference between mountain version and prairie version ?
