Listen bro, if you want to wheel in Alberta then keep in mind there is not the black earth mud like back home, so like said earlier a bogger rig is not in tune with the type of wheeling we do here. Try to imagine a mix between the grand canyon and Ontario landscape. and the land does not regenerate at all like back home either. a rut this year will be a bigger one next year and so on.
you want a rig the will get you good clearance, easy to find parts and you enjoy how it feels. There is nothing wrong with auto if thats your thing, many people hate on them because, well this is the internet and they can. I love em, but prefer to have more control over my shifting and engine breaking so I run Standard.
so get what you like and run it, build some friends in the community and well read the rules and follow them and hit up a run to see if it is your thing, if not look around for another club.
cheers