Edmonton, Canada
Region: Alberta
Geographic Coordinates: 53.534400, -113.490000
Temperature Range: -50.0°C to 30.0°C (-58°F to 86°F)
Climate: Cold winters, mild summers, and frequent precipitation throughout the year.
Population: 1062643
Language: English
Edmonton is the capital city of Alberta, Canada, Located in the central region of the province. With a population of over one million people, It’s the second-largest city in Alberta after Calgary. Edmonton is renowned for its lively cultural scene, Breathtaking river valley and numerous festivals held throughout the year. West Edmonton Mall is one of the most famous attractions in Edmonton. It was once considered to be North America’s largest mall and boasts over 800 stores and services. The mall also features an indoor amusement park with roller coasters and water slides that are sure to delight visitors.
Other popular attractions include Fort Edmonton Park which showcases life in early 20th-century Alberta; Muttart Conservatory with its four glass pyramids that house different botanical gardens; and Elk Island National Park. The city has a thriving arts scene with many galleries and museums such as Art Gallery of Alberta and Royal Alberta Museum. Music lovers can enjoy concerts throughout the year at several venues including Rogers Place Arena which opened its doors to public in September 2016. Edmonton’s diverse population has contributed to a wide range of culinary options available throughout the city.
There are many local restaurants offering traditional Canadian dishes such as poutine but also international cuisine like Indian food at Guru Restaurant & Bar or Japanese sushi at Mikado Japanese Cuisine.
In addition to being home to many festivals such as K-Days (a summer fair), Taste of Edmonton (a food festival), Fringe Festival (a theatre festival) or Ice on Whyte Festival (an ice carving competition), Outdoor activities like hiking or biking along River Valley Trails – a network consisting more than 160 kilometers trail system through North Saskatchewan River valley – or skiing/snowboarding at Snow Valley Ski Club during winter months are also popular among locals. Overall, Whether you’re interested in shopping at West Edmonton Mall or exploring nature along River Valley Trails, There’s something for everyone in this vibrant city.
Its unique blend of cultural attractions, Outdoor activities and diverse cuisine make it a must-visit destination for anyone traveling through Alberta or Canada.
- West Edmonton Mall is one of the largest malls in North America, boasting over 800 stores, an indoor amusement park, water park and more.
- Fort Edmonton Park is a living history museum that showcases the history of Edmonton through various eras.
- Alberta Legislature Building is a beautiful Beaux-Arts style building that houses the provincial government.
- Muttart Conservatory consists of four glass pyramids that house a variety of plants from different climates around the world.
- Rogers Place is a state-of-the-art arena and home to the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers.
- Art Gallery of Alberta features over 6,000 works of art from Canadian and international artists.
- High Level Bridge Streetcar offers scenic views of downtown Edmonton while riding on a historic streetcar across the High Level Bridge.
- Elk Island National Park located just outside of Edmonton is home to bison herds and other wildlife, as well as hiking trails and camping opportunities.
- Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village is an open-air museum showcasing Ukrainian culture and heritage in Canada.
- Royal Alberta Museum showcases natural history exhibits including dinosaurs, indigenous peoples’ history exhibits along with contemporary art exhibitions.
- Oil and Gas: Edmonton is the center of Canada’s oil and gas industry, with many major companies having their headquarters in the city.
- Construction: Edmonton has a booming construction industry, with many new buildings being constructed each year.
- Agriculture: The surrounding area of Edmonton is rich in agricultural land, which supports a thriving farming industry.
- Healthcare: There are several large hospitals and healthcare facilities in Edmonton, making it an important hub for medical research and development.
- Education: With several universities and colleges located in the city, education is another major industry in Edmonton.
- Technology: The technology sector has been growing rapidly in recent years, with many startups and established companies setting up shop in Edmonton.
- Tourism: As the capital city of Alberta, there are many tourist attractions located within or near to Edmonton including West Edmonton Mall which used to be the largest mall on earth until 2004 when it was surpassed by South China Mall.
- Retail trade: There are numerous shopping centers located throughout the city that cater to both locals and tourists alike.
- Manufacturing: Manufacturing remains an important sector for employment opportunities particularly specializing on metal fabrication.
- Finance: With several banks having branches across different locations within the city as well as other financial institutions providing services around investments, insurance etc.
- The Hudson’s Bay Company established a trading post in Edmonton in 1795.
- The Klondike Gold Rush of 1896 brought thousands of prospectors through Edmonton on their way to the Yukon.
- In 1905, Alberta became a province and Edmonton was named its capital.
- The University of Alberta was founded in 1908.
- In 1915, the first transcontinental telephone line was completed at the Alberta Legislature Building in Edmonton.
- William Hawrelak Park was named after William Hawrelak, who served as Mayor of Edmonton from 1951 to 1959 and again from 1963 to 1965.
- Wayne Gretzky played for the Edmonton Oilers from 1979-1988 and helped lead them to four Stanley Cup championships during that time period.
- In December of 1987, West Edmonton Mall opened as the largest shopping mall in North America at that time with over six million square feet of retail space and over eight thousand parking spaces.
- Mark Messier played for the Oilers from 1979-1991 and helped lead them to five Stanley Cup championships during that time period.
- Don Iveson became Mayor of Edmonton in October of2013 after serving as a City Councillor since October of2007.
- Royal Alberta Museum
- Art Gallery of Alberta
- Muttart Conservatory
- Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village
- Fort Edmonton Park
- Alberta Legislature Building and grounds
- Telus World of Science
- John Janzen Nature Centre
- Edmonton Valley Zoo
- West Edmonton Mall (largest mall in North America)
- The Edmonton Oilers is a professional ice hockey team that was established in 1972. They have been victorious in five Stanley Cup championships and have had many prominent players throughout their history, including Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, and Connor McDavid.
- The Edmonton Eskimos is a professional Canadian football team that was founded in 1949. They have won an impressive 14 Grey Cup championships and have boasted many legendary players on their roster, such as Warren Moon and Mike Reilly.
- FC Edmonton is a professional soccer team that was established in 2010. They play in the Canadian Premier League and have experienced some success during their brief tenure.
- The Edmonton Rush were a professional lacrosse team that played from 2005 to 2015 when they relocated to Saskatoon to become the Saskatchewan Rush.
- The University of Alberta’s athletic teams are known as the Golden Bears (men’s) and Pandas (women’s). They compete at the highest level of Canadian university athletics and have claimed numerous national championships across various sports over the years.
- Edmonton Folk Music Festival
- Edmonton International Street Performers Festival
- Taste of Edmonton
- Cariwest Caribbean Arts Festival
- Heritage Festival of Multiculturalism
- Ice on Whyte Festival
- Silver Skate Festival
- Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Festival
- The Works Art & Design Festival
- Edmonton Fringe Theatre festival
- Alberta beef: Edmonton is known for its high-quality beef, and there are many restaurants that serve delicious steaks such as The Keg Steakhouse & Bar, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, and Hardware Grill.
- Ukrainian food: With a large Ukrainian population in the city, there are many authentic Ukrainian restaurants like Uncle Ed’s Ukrainian Restaurant and Cafe Mosaics.
- Indigenous cuisine: Edmonton has a rich Indigenous culture and cuisine with restaurants like Sage Restaurant at River Cree Resort & Casino and Maskêkosak Kiskinomâtowikamik – Bear Hills Café offering traditional dishes.
- Craft beer: Edmonton has a thriving craft beer scene with breweries like Blind Enthusiasm Brewing Company, Situation Brewing Company, and Yellowhead Brewery.
- Italian food: There are many Italian restaurants in the city including Corso 32, Uccellino Restaurant, and Cibo Bistro.
- Vietnamese food: There are several excellent Vietnamese restaurants in the city such as Pho Hoan Pasteur Noodle Soup House and King Noodle House Pho Hoang Minh.
- Vegetarian/vegan options: For those looking for vegetarian or vegan options there is The Clever Rabbit Vegetarian Cafe or Padmanadi Vegetarian Restaurant among others.
- William Hawrelak Park is a popular destination for picnics, festivals, and events. Visitors can also enjoy the lake by renting paddle boats or taking a swim.
- Fort Edmonton Park is a living history museum that showcases recreated buildings and exhibits from Edmonton’s past.
- Muttart Conservatory is a botanical garden with four pyramids that display plant life from different climates around the world.
- Elk Island National Park offers hiking trails, camping sites, and wildlife viewing opportunities just outside of Edmonton.
- The River Valley Parks System spans over 160 kilometers along the North Saskatchewan River and provides visitors with hiking trails, biking paths, picnic areas, and more.
- West Edmonton Mall is North America’s largest mall with an indoor amusement park, waterpark, ice rink, mini-golf course and more!
- Kinsmen Sports Centre offers indoor pools for swimming lessons or recreational use as well as fitness classes such as yoga or spin cycling classes.
- Snow Valley Ski Club provides skiing lessons for beginners to advanced skiers alike.
- Telus World of Science is an interactive science center that hosts exhibits on technology & science.
- Edmonton Corn Maze is a seasonal attraction featuring a corn maze along with other activities like hayrides & pumpkin patches.
