I'm not in Calgary, but in Alberta (zone 2) and Rose Glow has done wonderful here. Love it!
I got two Coppertina's and they are really pretty...great contrast on the leaves. Leafed out to the tips this spring with no dieback. (much, MUCH bigger than my diablo's)
Debbie

Rose Glow does well for me too. It's on the south side of the deck, and I even have a Stella d'Oro daylily beside it.....do great minds think alike or what?LOL I'd say the barberry is a medium grower, and this year had very little dieback, but the year before had quite a bit of dieback for some reason. It regained all that it lost last summer no problem though.

As for Coppertina, mine's new and has only survived it's first winter, but it's looking really good now, so I'm happy.

I am in Calgary, and I planted 3 Rose Glow Barberries last year. I do have a bit of die back this year, but overall they look good. Mine are not in full sun, but are in a rather sheltered spot beside an Annbelle Hydrangea. I don't see why you couldn't try them and see how they work for you. Can't comment on the growth, since they were just busy putting down roots last year.

Have one here in Calgary. I find mine slow growing, but then again I've only had it for two years. Last year, no die back. This year, a little bit (about two inches all around).

Thanks everyone for your feedback, I picked up both barberry & ninebark on the way home tonight. Will try to get them in the ground on Friday, it is suppose to rain all day Saturday. I'll be planting the barberry along the sidewalk so we'll have the opportunity to toss snow on them in the winter. They sure are spiky little things aren't they?! :)

BTW Janet, I saw your picture of the barberry in the gallery garden pics for the week of June 1. Very pretty!

I should say that even with the very wet weather we're having, my barberry has put on lots of new growth. In fact, I'd say it's doubled in size over the past two weeks!