Discover Edmonton

Photo:Edmonton Tourism

Welcome to Edmonton, Alberta’s capital city, where you’ll find culture, excitement, opportunity and an amazing array of activities during your visit, regardless of the season.

Shopping, sports, arts, dining and recreation — as well as world-class attractions and events — await you. You’ll find River City, as we often refer to ourselves, a host for your pursuits here. We’ve welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors over the years to mega-scale sporting events such as the 1983 World University Games, 1996 World Firefighter Games, 1996 World Figure Skating Championships, three CFL Grey Cups, the 8th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, the Canadian Figure Skating Championships, the 2005 World Masters Games, the 2008 IBAF World Junior Baseball Championships and the Rexall Edmonton Indy (which runs annually through 2010). Edmonton is no stranger to throwing a great party on a world-class level.

Folks in a festival frame of mind will discover a full roster of cultural, art, music, theatre and sports festivals – some 35 separate fairs – that grace our city annually. Each month brings one or more festivals to life; see for yourself why we’ve earned the designation “Edmonton Festival City.” Unique events here include Canada’s largest Fringe Theatre Festival (see page 59 to 66 for a complete festivals listing). Credit must be given to members of Edmonton’s rich and dynamic arts community for their celebrations and excellence in disciplines such as music, opera, dance, visual arts, literature and theatre, to name but a few.

Adrenaline-hungry sports fans will find thrills and entertainment with Edmonton’s high-calibre pro teams. From the Edmonton Eskimos (CFL football) and the Edmonton Oilers (NHL hockey) to our newer professional teams — the Edmonton Cracker Cats Baseball Club (soon to be renamed after an ownership change), the Edmonton Rush Lacrosse Club and Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL Hockey) — there’s always a big game to attend.

Diners hungry for taste delights will similarly find their ambrosia in our restaurant diversity. Whether you’re appetite lies in gourmet and fusion cuisine, or down-home meat-and-potatoes comfort food, Edmonton boasts a hearty menu of fine establishments: cafés and bistros, family diners, pubs, steak houses (serving top-of-the-line Alberta beef), as well as a wide range of internationally-inspired eateries and themed restaurants.

Shoppers will surely get their fix with Edmonton’s astounding retail possibilities — starring West Edmonton Mall as well as many diverse shopping malls, boutiques, warehouse-direct shops and one-of-a-kind stores. Even better, most international visitors benefit from the fact that Alberta has no provincial sales tax. If you’re an international traveller here on a tour package, the Canadian government may reimburse you for the federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) under its Foreign Convention and Tour Incentive Program. For more information, call 1-800-565-9353 or 1-902-432-5604.

If you’ve got that day-tripper gene and love the countryside, you’ll be pleased to learn that Edmonton serves as a gateway to Alberta’s many historical and recreational attractions. Only three hours from Jasper National Park, visitors can also ski in the Rocky Mountains, fly-fish in northern Alberta’s lakes, bird-watch at Elk Island National Park or simply marvel at the scenic beauty of our province.

The drive back to Edmonton is a breeze, as is getting around the city. Take in the modern cityscape as well as the natural, wooded areas along the river valley as you go. The romantic at heart will love the night-sky dance of the Northern Lights (aurora borealis), the shimmering curtain created by the sun’s rays of electrically charged particles as they react to Earth’s magnetic north pole. As mystical as it is beautiful, this phenomenon is but one of many pleasant surprises that await you in this city of wonders.

Enjoy your stay!