The rivalry started in 1905 when Edmonton became the capital of the province instead of Calgary. That friendly banter or “The battle of Alberta,” continues today in hockey, football and frankly anything else. As a Calgarian I should do the “we are better than them” bit but I can’t. Edmonton shines in ways that makes it an emerald surrounded by wheat fields and ranches.
Edmonton has a ribbon of lush forest and parks meandering with the mighty North Saskatchewan River as it slices through the city. I love it down in the valley. It’s 22 times larger than New York’s Central Park and km long, making it the longest continuous park in North America! Both sides of the river host natural and urban parks, trails, golf courses, pools, lakes and activities, making it a huge draw for anything from walking a dog to competing in triathlons. When I run down there it feels like I’m the only person there even though there are close to a million people just over the ridge.
Okay, it’s true. I am jealous that Edmonton is the capital. They have the grand legislative buildings that I love visiting. Taking tours of the Ledge is a must-do for any Albertan, but it’s also a great place for visitors to get a quick history of Alberta. If you go, make a point of asking the tour guide to stop on the fifth floor where the waterfall is. There isn’t really a waterfall, it’s an acoustical illusion created by the sound of the main floor water feature bouncing off the dome ceiling.
The best part about Edmontonians is their love for the arts. They host so many festivals that the city is nicknamed the Festival City. From the Ice on Whyte Festival with giant ice carvings in January to the Interstellar Rodeo of Folk and Rock music to Shakespeare, poetry, pride and even a raft race down the river – the festivities never stop.
My favourite time to visit is during the Edmonton International Fringe Festival in mid-August in trendy Old Strathcona. It’s rated as second in the world, right behind the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, bringing in over 800 performers, with 200 shows during the 10-day event. With 18 hours of summertime daylight, we catch a play or two, then enjoy a pint at one of the many pubs along Whyte Avenue, before the sun even thinks of setting.
I’d be in trouble if I didn’t mention WEM, as in the West Edmonton Mall. This shopping mall is so big it easily holds an amusement park with rollercoasters, the world’s largest indoor wave pool and water park, a regulation size hockey rink and mini golf. Oh, and there are over 800 stores to shop at. It’s a destination of its own. You can stay onsite at the Fantasyland Hotel with 120 themed rooms, from romantic to whimsical. Stay there to sleep in an igloo or on the back of a pickup truck. We stayed in the western room, with bunkbeds for the kids, that looked like an old jail.
Edmonton is a scenic drive to Jasper National Park and Wood Buffalo National Park, where herds of bison roam free. The mountains in Jasper and the bison in Wood Buffalo are larger than life and photogenic.
It really is the people in Edmonton that make it such a great place. They created a vibrant community that they are happy to share. Even with Calgarians.
For more information and inspiration, see explore-canada.co.uk
