Edmonton, Canada

Edmonton, Canada’s fifth largest city is the capital of Alberta. It is the most northerly large city in North America and is located on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River which winds through the heart of the city. Edmonton boasts one of North America’s largest urban parklands and is just four hours from the magnificent Rocky Mountains. It is the seat of the government of Alberta and houses the Alberta Legislative Assembly.

Alberta, Canada

Edmonton experiences a northern continental climatic weather pattern which is characterized by extreme seasonal temperatures. There are four somewhat distinct seasons: fall, winter, spring and summer. The winters, which typically last from November through April, are long and cold with typical temperatures hovering around -20°C, though temperatures below -30°C are not that uncommon. Summers, on the other hand, are absolutely wonderful; they are usually dry and comfortably warm, with temperatures ranging about 17°C. Winters are characterized by short days and long nights while summers are the opposite of this. Autumn and spring are invariably short, but the colour and beauty of autumn is breathtaking.

Life in Edmonton is not defined by its temperamental weather patterns. Whether you are interested in the arts, shopping, sports or cultural events, Edmonton has something to offer. It is home to the world’s largest shopping and entertainment complex, the West Edmonton Mall. The Francis Winspear Centre for Music, the Royal Alberta Museum, the Muttart Conservatory, Fort Edmonton Park, and the Valley Zoo are some of the attractions that nurture the cultural life of the city. The hip, trendy and youthful crowd usually let loose and party along the Whyte Avenue district, famous for its bars, clubs, cafes and boutiques. The city is also well known for its prolific hockey team, the Edmonton Oilers and its football team, the Edmonton Eskimos.

One of Canada’s leading educational institution, the University of Alberta calls Edmonton home. A centre for teaching and research excellence, the University of Alberta is host to a large population of foreign students, giving rise to the slogan “where the world meets”. Designated a smart city, Edmonton is also home to Grant McEwan Community College, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and Norquest College.

Recently, Edmonton has been honoured by the Federal Government of Canada with the title as “Canada’s Cultural Capital” in recognition of its commitment to the arts and culture. Edmonton hosts over thirty (30) festivals annually; as a result it has been nicknamed the “festival City”. Popular festivals include the Edmonton International Folk Music Festival, the Fringe Theatre Fest, Edmonton International Film Festival, the Global Visions Film Festival, Cariwest, Heritage days and the Street Performers Festival.

Cultural Heritage

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Modern Edmonton traces its history to the development of fur trading posts on the North Saskatchewan in the late 18th century. The first such fort was built by the Hudson Bay Company in 1795 to facilitate trading between the native inhabitants of the rugged prairie of central Alberta and the new settlers. Thus, for the Cree inhabitants of this land, the history of Edmonton dates back much further. From 1795 onwards, Edmonton experienced a series of booms and slumps, the most significant coinciding with the Klondike gold discovery and World War 1. The discovery of oil in 1947 heralded a new age of prosperity for this region, which continues today.

The 19th century saw Edmonton becoming the leading centre for fur trade while the 20th century was reliant on agriculture. The population grew slowly during this time, peaking during periods of boom. The discovery of oil powered an explosion in population density, making Edmonton one of Canada’s fastest growing cities. There was a six fold increase in population between 1941 and 1987. Today, Edmonton boasts a population of over seven hundred thousand (712,391), according to the city’s 2005 civic census, with the greater Edmonton area population being well over one million. The influx of people has resulted in Edmonton becoming one of Canada’s leading multicultural centres, a feature being celebrated annually during its Heritage Festival.