As the capital of Alberta and Gateway to the North, Edmonton is a bustling exciting city that offers its many visitors a wide variety of activities. Located on the 53rd latitude and a haven for summer and winter activities, Edmonton is also the gateway to Alberta’s many historical and recreational attractions.
Ever growing, visitors to the city can always discover something new in Edmonton’s renowned shopping, sports, arts, dining and recreation scenes as well as its world-class attractions and events. Edmonton is well known for having a full roster of cultural, art, music, theatre and sports festivals and as such is considered Canada’s Festival City. The host venue for the SCB Conference, the Shaw Conference Centre, is located in the heart of downtown Edmonton and offers a spectacular view of Edmonton’s river valley, the largest stretch of urban parkland in North America.
Edmonton, which traces its roots back to 1795, started out as a fur-trading outpost. Just over 100 years later, during the 1897 Klondike Gold Rush prospectors boosted Edmonton’s fortune as they stopped in Edmonton for supplies en route to the Yukon. Many would also make Edmonton their permanent home increasing the population to six times its previous size.
Today, Edmonton is home to over 752,000 residents and with its neighbouring communities comprises a metropolitan region that is home to slightly more than one million residents at 1.03 million. It is the capital of the province of Alberta, Canada’s sixth-largest city, and has the longest stretch of urban parkland in North America, which is 22 times larger than New York’s Central Park and eight times larger than Vancouver’s Stanley Park.
Edmonton is also one of Canada’s sunniest cities with about 2,300 hours of sunshine per year. In June, the city enjoys up to 17 hours of daylight per day.
(Source: City Forecast Committee, Edmonton Socio-Economic Outlook, 2006 – 2011, Greater Edmonton 2007 Economic Outlook).
Download the Meeting Information prospectus HERE (pdf)
To learn more about Edmonton, visit: www.edmonton.com/
To learn more about the great province of Alberta, visit: www1.travelalberta.com/en-ab/
The following special events are occurring in June and July 2010
| Improvaganza |
June 16-26 |
| The Works Art & Design Festival |
June 25 - July 7 |
| Feats - Festival of Dance |
June 26 - July 4 |
| Edmonton International Street Performers Festival |
July 9-18 |
| Calgary Stampede |
July 9-18 |
| Rexall Edmonton Indy |
July 23-25 |
| A Taste of Edmonton |
July 23 - Aug 1 |
| Edmonton’s Capital Ex Summer Celebration |
July 23 - Aug 1 |
| Blueberry Bluegrass & Country Music Festival |
July 30 - Aug 1 |
| Heritage Festival |
July 31 - Aug 2 |
THE NATION’S CULTURAL CAPITAL
With a thriving downtown arts district, a lively art, music and theatre scene, it is no wonder that Edmonton was named as a Canadian Cultural Capital for 2007. Emerging as the winner in the category for areas with a population of more than 125,000, the city received up to $2 million in funding towards special projects that celebrate the arts.
The Cultural Capitals of Canada awards recognize the achievements of communities that demonstrate an ongoing commitment to the arts and culture. Prizes are awarded for merit, for the quality of the proposed project and for the previous achievements of the candidate communities.
Cultural Highlights:
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Art Galleries: The Edmonton region is home to more than 60 art galleries. Twice a year, in the spring and fall, the Gallery Walk offers advertised, unguided events promoting the member galleries, all of which are within a nine-block walking distance. Located just west of the downtown core in the 124th Street area, the Gallery Walk is the first of its kind in Canada. It was formed in 1981 to promote art and artists of merit, focusing especially on work by Canadian artists.
Ballet: Alberta Ballet, which performs in Edmonton, in addition to Calgary, is Canada’s third-largest dance company. It consists of 26 classically trained professional dancers from Canada, Australia, Colombia, England, France, Japan, Spain, Taiwan, Ukraine and the United States. Edmonton performances are in the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.
Dance: Edmonton's only complete season of contemporary dance, presented by the Brian Webb Dance Company, is recognized as the largest dance season west of Toronto. Guest artists, meanwhile, do more than perform – they take part in workshops and artist talks.
Downtown Arts District: A revitalized Sir Winston Churchill Square anchors the Downtown Arts District. Redeveloped into a cultural centrepiece in 2004, the square has become an entertainment destination for more than one million visitors as it hosts a wide number of events and festivals throughout the year. On the square’s exterior boundaries, visitors will find the Art Gallery of Alberta, the Francis Winspear Centre for Music, the Citadel Theatre, and the main branch of the Edmonton Public Library.
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The Art Gallery of Alberta is Alberta’s longest running cultural institution, with a growing collection of more than 5,000 works of art, including historical and contemporary paintings and sculptures by Canadian and international artists. Currently undergoing a major renovation and expansion program, a striking new 85,000 sq. foot facility is expected to open in early 2010. Designed by renowned Los Angeles architect Randall Stout, this signature building will become a downtown landmark and promises to be one of the leading influences in visual culture in Western Canada.
The Francis Winspear Centre for Music is a 1,900-seat concert hall that features the largest concert organ in Canada. Designed with acoustical needs in mind, it is home to the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, a 56-piece professional orchestra that is one of Canada’s foremost orchestral ensembles. Since its inaugural concert in 1920, the ESO has played with the world’s greatest artists including Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Ben Heppner, Frederica von Stade among others. During the summer, the ESO goes outdoors with its annual outdoor festival, Symphony Under The Sky.
The Citadel Theatre is Canada’s largest regional theatre and the only classical theatre in western Canada. Its three stages, the Maclab, Rice and Shoctor are adjacent to the Lee Pavilion, which houses an indoor waterfall and lush exotic plants.
TIX on the Square in Churchill Square is the place to find discounted same-day performance tickets as well as tickets to a wide variety of upcoming shows.
Folk Connection: Folkways Records,which began in a small New York City office in 1948, set out to document and preserve people’s music from around the world. Moses Asch, Folkway’s founder, would come to develop a connection with Edmonton’s University of Alberta and the city’s lively folk music scene. A complete set of the Folkways recordings at the University of Alberta, the Moses and Frances Asch Collection of Folkways Recordings, now provides a crucial reference for world music study and research.
Opera: Edmonton Opera,established in 1963, is a regional opera company recognized as a leader in the production and promotion of innovative, challenging and audience-driven opera. Beverly Sills made her Canadian operatic debut in the Edmonton Opera performance of LUCIA di LAMMERMOOR and today the opera company performs in the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.
Theatre: With distinguished drama programs at the University of Alberta or the demanding visual and performing arts programs at Grant MacEwan College, Edmonton has become home to 20 theatre companies and dozens of acting co-ops. Alternative, collective, community based, improvisation and dinner theatre are just part of what a theatre lover will find in this city. Eight theatre companies can be found in the historic Old Strathcona district.
GATEWAY TO THE CANADIAN ROCKIES, ALBERTA'S NORTH & NATURE
Edmonton, home to a massive river valley and park system, is a great starting point for tourists who love to experience the outdoors. The gateway to Jasper National Park and the majestic Canadian Rockies, the city also offers access to stunning botanic gardens, Alberta's northern lakes and a variety of wildlife in their natural habitat.
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Edmonton's River Valley: Nature in the middle of the city. North America's largest urban park, stretching along Edmonton's river valley, encompassing 7,340 hectares (18,348 acres), is 22 times larger than New York's Central Park. It's also eight times larger than Vancouver's Stanley Park. Residents and visitors enjoy year-round access to more than 22 major parks and 150 kilometres of trails for walking, jogging, bike riding, picnicking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
John Janzen Nature Centre: In the heart of Edmonton's River Valley, the John Janzen Nature Centre is a focus for programs, events, exhibits and information to help raise awareness and understanding of nature in an urban setting. In addition to interactive exhibits, there are also two self-guided interpretive nature trails.
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Botanical Beauty: Four spectacular glass pyramids means paradise can be found at the Muttart Conservatory – from a jungle setting to a desert oasis see the wonders of the plant world no matter what the temperatures are outside. Just west of Edmonton, the Devonian Botanic Garden consists of 80 acres of display gardens and 110 acres of natural areas. Part of the University of Alberta's Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Home Economics, it's Canada's most northerly botanic garden. Special features include the Kurimoto Japanese Garden, an extensive alpine garden, a native people's garden, a sensory and healing garden and much more.
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Kalyna Country: Canada's largest eco-museum, home to more than 40 designated informal natural areas, is three times the size of Prince Edward Island and located just outside of Edmonton.
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Elk Island National Park: Second only to Africa's famed Serengeti for wildlife viewing, the park, established in 1906, is Canada's first federal wildlife sanctuary for large mammals. Less than an hour from Edmonton, Elk Island National Park is home to large herds of plains bison, wood bison, deer, elk, moose, and a variety of smaller mammals (including beavers) along with some 230 bird species. The Living Waters Boardwalk is a favourite activity for children. Nature walks and camping are other popular family activities.
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Blackfoot Recreation Area: Renowned as the winter home of Canada's largest cross-country ski festival, The Canadian Birkebeiner Ski Festival, the Blackfoot Recreation Area's charms don't melt away with the snow. The 24,000-acre provincial recreation area offers 171 kilometres of equestrian, hiking and cycling trails on the rolling Cooking Lake Moraine with trails wandering through aspen parkland, meadows, bogs and spruce forests. The diverse habitat is home to an amazing variety of wildlife including coyotes, deer, elk, fox, moose and porcupines. Birdwatchers enjoy trekking through the undisturbed woods on hunts for unique species. Access to Blackfoot's extensive trail loop system begins at four staging areas dotted around the park – each offers warm-up shelters, washrooms, picnic tables and fire pits. Three backcountry shelters are also provided in the park, which is open year-round.
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Jasper National Park: Celebrating its centennial in 2007, Jasper National Park is the largest and most northerly Canadian rocky mountain national park. The Sunwapta Falls, Mount Edith Cavell, and the Columbia Icefield Glacier Experience are just some of the scenic highlights this region offers. Jasper National Park is 370 kilometres (192 miles) west of Edmonton.
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Strathcona Wilderness Centre: Enjoy hiking, canoeing or bird watching and explore 500 acres of parkland on the shores of Bennett Lake, east of Edmonton, near Sherwood Park. The centre has trails for exploring willow-lined shorelines, beaver crossings and Bennett Lake. A boardwalk takes you right into the black spruce bog. Groups and families can rent the modern pine lodge, bunkhouses and campgrounds for social events, retreats and camp.
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Valley Zoo: Located in Edmonton's River Valley Park System, the Valley Zoo, established in 1959, is home to more than 100 exotic, endangered and native species.
CANADA’S FESTIVAL CITY
Edmonton hosts more than 30 festivals throughout the year that celebrate arts, culture and sports. Throughout the summer festivals are held for blues, bluegrass, folk, jazz and symphonic music. Winter festivals focus on ice sculptures, skiing and skating. In-between, there’s something for everyone. From the Canadian Finals Rodeo to the Freewill Shakespeare Festival – and five distinct arts festivals that focus on art, design, storytelling and film – you’ll find it all in Edmonton, Canada’s Festival City!
A few select Festival highlights:
Edmonton's Capital EX: Edmonton's oldest festival, which received a new name and makeover in 2006, is a summer event including international entertainment, chuckwagon races, and a midway full of carnival fun
Edmonton Folk Music Festival: One of the world’s leading Folk festivals, the Edmonton Folk Music Festival is a four-day outdoor music extravaganza that attracts more than 80,000 music lovers. Situated in Gallagher Park in Edmonton's scenic river valley, the festival offers an eclectic mix of music for all tastes.
Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival: Second only in size to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edmonton’s Fringe attracts 500,000 visitors each summer and some 1,000 performances. With 100 per cent of revenue generated from ticket sales returned directly to the artists themselves the Edmonton Fringe attracts performers from across Canada, the United States, Africa, Austria, Australia, Bulgaria, Great Britain, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Sweden, Taiwan, and Central and South America.
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Heritage Festivals: Celebrations of over 60 cultural backgrounds can be found in a variety of heritage-oriented festivals: these include brilliant Ukrainian dance troupes that have burst forth from Edmonton to thrill audiences around the world; the pounding beat of the Cariwest parade; native filmmakers sharing their remarkable visions at Dreamspeakers Film Festival, and the three-day world village of the Edmonton Heritage Festival, a stunning multicultural showcase.
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For even more information on Edmonton’s festival connection, please check out the Edmonton Festival City website at www.festivalcity.ca
MAJOR ATTRACTIONS & EVENTS
Edmonton offers a diverse range of attractions and experiences for travellers of all ages. Here’s a sampling of some to put on your must-see visit list.
Historic Charm
Fort Edmonton Park: Canada’s largest living history museum features more than 70 period buildings – from four different eras in time – on 58 acres of land. Experience life as if you were in the Hudson’s Bay Company fur-trading fort in 1846 or see what it was like to actually be on the streets in 1885, 1905 or 1920. Ride a steam train, streetcar or horse-drawn wagons. A historical reproduction of a 1920s midway also includes a carousel with 32 hand-carved and hand-painted horses, and midway rides, giving new meaning to the term old-fashioned fun. You can also dine or stay overnight 1920s style on site at the Hotel Selkirk.
Musée Heritage Museum: Discover the history of one of the oldest communities in Alberta. Built in 1861 by Father Albert Lacombe and his Métis helpers, the original log chapel and the Mission Hill Historic Site in neighbouring St. Albert provide an insight into the past of the Canadian West.
Reynolds Alberta Museum: More than 350 vehicles, over 70 vintage aircraft and another 1,000 pieces of agricultural equipment celebrate the spirit of the machine. This world-best facility, south of Edmonton in Wetaskiwin, is also home to Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame. And be sure to check out the 1929 Duessenberg Model J automobile – the only one in a public collection in Canada.
Rutherford House Historic Site: Experience the warmth and charm of a beautiful 1911 brick mansion. Once the home of Alberta’s first premier, Alexander Rutherford, Rutherford House now offers guided tours, afternoon tea and light lunches.
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Ukrainian Cultural Historical Heritage Village: Catch a glimpse of what life was like for Ukrainian immigrants between 1892 and the 1930s at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village. Just 25 minutes east of Edmonton along Highway 16, the village was established in 1971. Costumed role-players re-create the lives of pioneers and bring history alive on a site that includes more than 30 restored heritage buildings.
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Museums & Company
Did you know that Edmonton’s Royal Alberta Museum is one of Canada’s five most popular? But it’s just one of many attractions to choose from during a trip to Edmonton:
Alberta Aviation Museum: See nearly a quarter century of aviation in Western Canada at The Hangar on Kingsway where you’ll find detail perfect re-creations of some of the most significant aircraft in Western Canadian aviation history.
Alberta Legislature Building: Adjacent to downtown Edmonton, find one of Western Canada’s best remaining examples of classic, ornate architecture. Free, informative guided tours start at the Interpretive Centre & Gift Shop on the Alberta Legislature Grounds.
Royal Alberta Museum: The Royal Alberta Museum takes visitors on a journey through time and space to explore the human and natural history of western Canada. Wild Alberta takes visitors on a journey across Alberta’s diverse landscapes and is a centre for environmental education. The Natural History Gallery features spectacular minerals and gems, dinosaurs, saber-toothed cats and mammoths! The Bug Room offers visitors the opportunity to meet some of the biggest insects in the world – alive and up close. The Syncrude Gallery of Aboriginal Culture tells a story spanning 11,000 years, tracing an extraordinary history from the arrival of the Ice Age to the present day. Film, sound, light, more than 3,000 artifacts and Aboriginal interpreters combine to bring the story of the First Peoples to life.
TELUS World of Science® – Edmonton:Home to Canada’s largest planetarium, the TELUS World of Science® – Edmonton also has six exhibit galleries and two theatres, including an IMAX. All are part of this interactive science centre which has a mission to motivate people to learn about and contribute to science and technology. The Body Fantastic, Mystery Avenue, The Greens' House, Space Place, Explorer Gallery housing rotating exhibits, and DiscoveryLand all put a new spin on learning about the world we live in for both children young and old.
Additional Suggestions:There are many more museums of interest worth checking out such as the Alberta Railway Museum, the C & E Railway Museum, Canadian Petroleum Discovery Centre (Leduc No. 1 Oil Derrick), Edmonton Public Schools Archives & Museum, John Walter Museum, Loyal Edmonton Regiment Museum, Multicultural Heritage Centre and Oppertshauser Gallery, Strathcona County Heritage Museum, Telephone Historical Centre, Ukrainian Canadian Archives & Museum of Alberta and the Ukrainian Museum of Canada.
Urban Delights
Enjoy some of the distinct pleasures that give Edmonton’s its unique feel:
Old Strathcona: The historic hub of Edmonton, Old Strathcona dates back to 1891 when the Calgary and Edmonton Railway completed its tracks to the south side of the North Saskatchewan River. Today, this revitalized neighbourhood, with a section of Whyte Avenue designated a Provincial Historic Area, contains many diverse elements and special events. Enjoy the feel of a small town along Whyte Avenue with unique shops, heritage buildings, brick sidewalks, several theatres, and a thriving social scene – there are more than 100 coffeehouses, restaurants and pubs to choose from. Just off Whyte, you’ll find a busy Farmer’s Market with exceptional choices in fresh food that is open on Saturdays year-round.
West Edmonton Mall: Much more than a mall, West Edmonton Mall boasts world-class attractions and is described as the greatest indoor show on earth. Spanning the equivalent of 48 city blocks, there are more than 800 stores and services, over 100 eating establishments, along with nine outstanding attractions (Galaxyland, an indoor amusement park; a National Hockey League-sized skating rink and the World Waterpark among others). You’ll also find the Fantasyland Hotel that is known for its unique themed rooms, a casino, a dinner theatre, movie theatres and an IMAX 3D venue on site.
Shopping Sensations: If shopping is a passion, Edmonton is your destination. Both Old Strathcona and West Edmonton Mall are two excellent shopping meccas, each with a selection of exclusive and one-of-a-kind stores and well-known retailers to choose from. While no shopper should miss either, other local gems to consider are the High Street area (minutes from the downtown core) where you’ll find distinctive jewellery, giftware, home decor and fashion items, or Chinatown – a great place for specialty items and fresh produce markets.
Other hot spots to consider: South Edmonton Common, Canada’s largest power centre with big-box stores to fill the needs of any shopping list; and downtown Edmonton where Edmonton City Centre transforms three city blocks into a retail destination of more than 170 stores and services. Adjacent to Edmonton City Centre are Commerce Place and Manulife Place, where you’ll find a selection of high-end retailers such as Escada and Holt Renfrew.
Cuisine
Greater Edmonton is home to a wide dining selection with more than 3,500 restaurants. Many of these restaurants mirror the diversity of more than 50 ethnic groups. Many of these feature regionally-inspired menus while Alberta’s world famous beef is a star attraction for restaurant-goers. Alberta specialty products will also be found on Edmonton menus including locally grown bison, beef, deer, elk, deer, lamb and pork. Fresh fruits and vegetables from area growers along with the province’s world-renowned honey are also worth savouring. Some culinary highlights include:
A Taste of Edmonton, held every summer, provides culinary delights from the city’s leading restaurants.
Edmonton Heritage Festival is an annual opportunity to sample the ethnic foods from more than 50 different cultures in an unmatched outdoor experience.
Dine Alberta pairs Alberta chefs with local producers each September to create a series of unforgettable dining experiences with the spotlight on locally grown products. A provided passport is your guide to finding these sizzling regional flavours.
Downtown Dining Week, held in March, promotes the downtown area’s best restaurants.
FARE, otherwise known as Food and Restaurant Entrepreneurs, puts some of the city’s top independent restaurants – known for helping to give Edmonton its unique flavour – at the forefront.
Festival of Fine Chefs is an annual culinary experience where Edmonton restaurants get to showcase their gastronomic talents to more than 1,300 people. All foods featured are Alberta grown or processed in Alberta.
RATED FOR DIFFERENT
Edmonton and its neighbouring communities are home to a number of unique attractions that are sure to make your trip even more memorable. When visiting consider adding the following to your itinerary:
A Waterfall higher than Niagara Falls? Yes. Edmonton’s Great Divide Waterfall is 210 feet high (about 24 feet higher than Niagara Falls). The High Level Bridge, which connects downtown Edmonton to the city’s south side, contains a waterfall that sends approximately 11,000 gallons of water out per minute for a distance of 300 feet along the exterior expanse of the bridge. The man-made waterfall, which is turned on for holiday weekends, cascades into the North Saskatchewan River.
Ride the High Level Streetcar (spring through fall) and enjoy a trip from the top deck of the world’s highest streetcar bridge – the High Level Bridge – built in 1912.
West Edmonton Mall’s Fantasyland Hotel features 12 different theme rooms for guests to stay in including: African Safari, Arabian, Canadian Rail, Hollywood, Igloo, Polynesian, Roman, Truck, Victorian Coach, Sports, Waterpark and Western.
For a little vacation quirkiness, Edmonton also offers the Silly Summer Parade, Old Strathcona Ghost Tours and the Mount Pleasant Cemetery Tour. Other different events include The Stroll of Poets, The Sourdough Raft Race and during Christmas check out Candy Cane Lane, a small community that goes all out to decorate their houses with colourful light displays and unique decorations.
Edmonton’s impressive Chinatown Gate was built as a symbol of friendship between Edmonton and its sister city, Harbin, in the People’s Republic of China.
Some of the world’s biggest roadside attractions can be found in the scenic countryside northeast of Edmonton. Find the world’s largest Easter egg (pysanka) in Vegreville; the biggest mallard duck in Andrew; giant mushrooms in Vilna; the largest pyrogy in Glendon and an oversized sausage in Mundare. You’ll also find the world’s first UFO landing pad in St. Paul.
Mural, mural on the wall, which is the biggest one of all? Both Stony Plain, just west of Edmonton, and Legal, north of Edmonton, feature outdoor art walks focusing on more than a dozen impressive murals depicting the history of each area.
To learn more about Edmonton, visit: www.edmonton.com/
To learn more about the great province of Alberta, visit: www1.travelalberta.com/en-ab/
