Yeah but you're in Alberta. Most N.Amer backpackers never get within 500 miles of a grizzley. The story in the lower 48 is much different. You were just on Vancouver Island and were fully aware of the abscence of brown bears.

Also, circumstances regarding both brown and black bears obviously vary, depending on the rare population nodes, or local infestations.

Mainly within their respective ranges, neither bear is commonly encountered. But there are certainly exceptions.

It's important not to lump the two species together. I'm not saying just go and pet the rabid racoons, but I'd definitely yell and scream (with caution) at a black bear, and be much more circumspect around browns. As we know, they are not the same.