The particular observation was made by P.J. Crown:
"At 5:15 on December 23, 1995 I was traveling west to Canmore from Calgary Alberta. In the North West sky I say a brilliant flash of light that lit up the sky and the ground. It was followed by a streak of orange like a trail, and apparently fell to the ground. "
There are two possibilities:
The Ursid Meteor shower was due on December 22 or there abouts. You may have seen a "bolide" associated with this meteor shower. It would have come from the North and traveled westward in its track. However, you could also have seen a 'sporadic bolide' having nothing to do with the Ursids.
You might also have seen part of a man-made satellite reentering the earth's atmosphere. There is a lot of space junk up there which comes down now and then. Much of it launched by the Soviets into polar orbits.
Personally, I think you saw a bolide! Congratulations, it is rare to observe a bolide, but when you do you almost always have a good show!