Question
I would like to add something, or query your response to the care of Alberta Spruce being kept in a shed forthe winter.
I am a forester in Northern Alberta and all ofthe roots here freeze in the winter. The root mats of Boreal spruce ( Picea Glauca and Picea mariana) are very shallow rooted. In most cases only between the LFH and the soil layer except from the largest roots.
Also I would be very cautious as to planting anything from Alberta in NJ as it is so far out of range that performance may be quite poor.  

Answer
I really do not remember this question. But If you are talking about growing trees for timber I would generally agree that their performance as far as growth would not be as good when a species is moved out of its natural range. But in a yard situation it may do great since the freezing of the soil will not be a severe as in Canada. In general most species can be moved South but not North. Temperature is one factor but also the amount of moisture and the length of the growing season maybe others.