Edmonton
INTRO
Some people call it "The Festival City", others prefer to consider it as "The Oil Capital of Canada". But the truth is that no matter how we nickname it, Edmonton remains an elaborated and prosperous city, noted for its blooming economy, recreational parklands and fertile soils.
City Profile
City: Edmonton
Country: Canada
Area: 684.37 km2
Population: 1,034,945
Mayor: Stephen Mandel
Language: English, French
LOCATION
Being the second largest city in Alberta, Edmonton is located in its geographical centre, bordered by the prairies to the south and the boreal forest to the north. Set along the banks of the North Saskatchewan River, on some of the most fertile lands in Canada, Edmonton is the agricultural, industrial and distributional centre for the province and the major gateway to Northern Canada.
TIME TO VISIT
The best time to appreciate Edmonton is during the summer, between June and August. This time of the year is marked by many festivals and the city gets filled with excitement and celebration. Generally, Edmonton has a northern continental climate that can be roughly described with chilly winters, moderate summers and short and variable spring and autumn. The average temperatures during the summer days are around 20 degrees Celsius. Occasional tornadoes, hail and thunderstorms are characteristic of this region but less typical than the southern parts of the country. Devastating weather conditions occur quite rarely. Winters in Edmonton are rather cold with average temperatures frequently falling below minus 10 degrees Celsius.
POPULATION
Edmonton is the country's second most populous provincial capital with over a million inhabitants in its metropolitan area. It has been recorded that the number of people living in the region has increased with about 10% for the last years. Five minority groups can be distinguished among the native population and those include Chinese, Aboriginal, South Asian, Black and Filipinos. Other ethnic groups comprising smaller percentages of the citizens can also be found. The official language here is English but there is a francophone minority that speaks French as a first language.
DISTRICTS
Generally, the city is separated into five basic regions: Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest and West end. Each of these regions includes many neighbourhoods that are mainly residential districts.
- Northwest region comprises of eight distinguished neighbourhoods, one of which is the central downtown area where most of the city's everyday life is concentrated
- West end also consists of several separate districts but the main one is West Edmonton Mall district where the famous West Edmonton Mall is situated.
- Northeast
- Southeast
- Southwest
SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS
When talking about Edmonton there are several places that have almost become symbolic for the city. Here are those top tourist destinations in the city:
- West Edmonton Mall was the world's largest mall when it opened in 1981. Today, it is probably the biggest attraction in Edmonton and still the largest mall in North America. The mall includes the world's largest indoor amusement park, the largest indoor water park, one skating ring, a driving range, mini golf course, a bar district and a luxurious hotel. In addition to that, shopping buffs will find it a paradise as it features around eight hundred shops and services. The complex has a lot a bit for everybody, no matter what your tastes and preferences are. http://www.westedmall.com
- Fort Edmonton was originally built by the Hudson Bay Company some 200 years ago as a fur trading post. Today, it is the largest historical park in Canada depicting what life used to be like in Canada during its exploration. Besides the port, the park has three streets that correspond to three different eras in Edmonton's history: 1885 Street, 1905 Street and 1920 Street. Other highlights of the park include Canada's first mosque, a restored old hotel that you can stay at, some historic explanations on the natives culture and background and the history of the city's very foundations. http://www.ftedmontonpark.com/
- Muttart Conservatory is right in the middle of downtown Edmonton and is worth visiting if not for the outstanding flower exhibition, for the exquisite pyramids that house them. The four pyramids are home to plants that live in different climatic conditions: arid, tropical, temperate and those who change seasonally. It is possible to buy plants either for the house or for the garden that have been perfectly taken care of at the conservatory. If you are not a flower fan, however, you can just go inside and have a coffee at the cafe surrounded by the natural beauty. www.edmonton.ca/muttart
- The Legislative Building was built in 1912 and as almost all legislative buildings in Canada its impressive architecture is worth seeing. Surrounded by fountains, gardens and lawns, the building is home to the provincial government and occupies the area of the original Fort Edmonton. This is the site of the annual celebration of the Day of Canada. Organized tours inside the building are available so one can acquire some useful information on the history of the Edmonton and its government. http://www.assembly.ab.ca/visitor/Tour/index.htm
- Jasper National Park is probably the best place to escape from the concrete walls of the urban life and to indulge in the land of wildlife and natural splendor. It is the largest Canadian rocky mountain park. Mountain lakes, glaciers, snowy peaks and canyons are among the many offerings that the Rockies have for its visitors. If you love nature and hiking, this is definitely the place for you. http://www.jaspercanadianrockies.com/
AIRPORT
As the major gateway to North Canada, Edmonton has one international airport that is the 5th busiest one in Canada by passenger traffic. It is easy to reach from the United States, Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean and Japan.
- Edmonton International Airport is situated south of Edmonton in Leduc County. Public transportation from the airport to the city is not available but there is a shuttle service for $15 that operates from and to the airport while passing through several major hotels in Edmonton. Taxis can also be found outside the terminal but the cost is between $40-$45. If you plan on staying longer, the best option is to hire a car straight from the airport. Many car rental companies are situated there. More info at: www.edmontonairports.com/
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
Public transportation in Edmonton is very well arranged, allowing several options to choose from.
- Buses, ETS are very reliable and go through almost the entire city. Tickets cost $2.25 for adults and $2.00 for youths. The ticket is good for an hour an a half, which allows you to transfer to another bus without paying again.
- Light Rail, LRT, is a fast means of transportation but it doesn't cover many destinations. The rail is the best option when travelling within the downtown limits as it is free.
- Renting a car is another efficient way of moving around Edmonton. Note that the speed limits have to be considered as there are cameras that monitor for speeding.
- Taxis are readily available in Edmonton. Prices begin at $2.50 for the first 210 metres and charge additional $0.20 for every next 210 metres.
HISTORY
The initial settlement of the Edmonton region took place some 3000 years ago. It was not until the beginning of the 18th century though that the name Edmonton occurred on the maps. In 1795 Fort Edmonton was established in order to serve one of the two fur trading companies in the region before they merged into one single company. The fort was named after the English hometown of the deputy's governor at that time. In 1904 Edmonton was chosen as the capital of Alberta and quickly expanded on both sides of the river. Due to the fertile soils and the nearby oil-rich lands, Edmonton became the agricultural and economic centre of the province. The city's population grew rapidly as many people came by during the Gold Rush movement and the subsequent oil boom. After a devastating tornado in 1987 a period of economic recovery followed. Today, Edmonton is still a leading city in the county's oil industry and continues to expand its prosperity.
CITY LINKS
- Edmonton Journal: A Daily Newspaper in English: http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/index.html
- Edmonton Travel Guide: http://www.epictrip.com/Edmonton-travel-l123028.html
- Jacksonville Official Website: http://www.edmonton.ca/portal/server.pt
UNIVERSITY LINKS
- University of Alberta: http://www.ualberta.ca/
- The King's University College: http://www.kingsu.net/Default.aspx
- Concordia University College of Alberta: http://www.concordia.ab.ca/
- Taylor University College and Seminary: http://www.taylor-edu.ca/