Replying to Touring : How to get started?

I did a quick search and didnt come up with the info that i need. Let me start by saying that I have interest to get into touring the slack country and maybe eventually when i feel comfortable enough some back country. The problem I am having is that the people I ski most with are not really into the idea of touring so much it seems, and more than half of them are snowboarders which can also lead to problems with touring. The snowboarders have no interest in getting split boards or anything of the likes. The info im looking for is there a good way to get started with learning how to tour or getting my one other skiing friend into touring? My girlfriend wants to go snowshoeing around some hilly areas, Personally I think its a good way to get used to skinning but I thought I would ask you guess for some advice. Right now my touring rig would be 186 moment night trains and I would have to get some trekkers because they have some deadbolt 18's mounted on them right now. The biggest concern I have with learning how to tour is there is no one locally in edmonton to really ask it seems, its too far away from easy access backcountry it seems. If you guys have any tips or suggestions it would be awesome because I have no local source of information it seems and taking the step to buy all the gear is hard when you dont know if you will ever get to use it.