Edmonton Neighbourhoods

Downtown

a world-class concert hall, the Francis Winspear Centre for music is home to the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.

Edmonton's downtown is a thriving arts, retail, business and government centre. Explore the vast variety of shops and restaurants. There are over 500 places to shop, 200 restaurants, including popular clubs and pubs, major hotels and a host of other attractions and services.

Getting around is made easy and comfortable in all weather with the extensive pedway system (above and below street level covered walkways) which connects the Þve major shopping centres as well as other key public buildings. More than 25 "Park in the Heart" lots offer easy and reasonably priced parking. The Light Rail Transit System and Edmonton Transit have many routes serving downtown to and from all points of the city.

Among Edmonton's landmarks are City Hall, featuring an eight-storey glass pyramid; the majestic blue Manulife Place, Edmonton's tallest structure at 36 storeys; the award-winning Canada Place with its copper-faced facade housing Canadian government ofÞces; and the historical, elegant Hotel Macdonald, built in 1915. Terraced on the north bank of the North Saskatchewan River is the Shaw Conference Centre, which hosts delegates from across Canada and around the world. Set on the banks of the river, and surrounded by 57 acres of parkland, is the Alberta Legislature, which was completed in 1912 on the site of the original Fort Edmonton.

Downtown plays host to The Works: A Visual Arts Celebration, Edmonton International Street Performers Festival, Jazz City concerts, Edmonton's Klondike Days, Downtown New Year's Eve Festival and many other major city events. Sir Winston Churchill Square, in the heart of the Arts District, is the focal point for many of these festivals and activities.

Arts District

The Street Performers Festival is one of Edmonton's popular downtown festivals.

Within steps of your downtown accommodation, in a four block area surrounding Sir Winston Churchill Square, some of Edmonton's most compelling concerts, theatre and visual arts can be discovered. Key landmark cultural institutions, both old and new, are located here, including The Edmonton Art Gallery, Alberta's longest running cultural institution and largest art museum. The gallery, located northeast of the square, exhibits some of the best contemporary and historical art from around the world. It also features The Gallery Shop with imaginative and artistic gifts, and the Art Rental and Sales Gallery.

The Citadel Theatre, set on the southeast corner of the square, is Edmonton's first and largest theatre company and presents a season of dynamic theatre. From classics to world premieres by the world's great playwrights, The Citadel is known for big productions with some of the best actors and directors.

The Francis Winspear Centre for Music, home to the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, is located east of the square. This stunning concert hall features a shoe-box shaped performance chamber reminiscent of 19th Century concert halls. It ofÞcially opened its doors in September 1997 and has since shown its tremendous acoustical abilities with concerts from symphonic to pop and country.

North of the square is Edmonton's City Hall, a distinctive building which opened in 1992. City Hall displays some outstanding work by Edmonton visual artists and continually entertains with community and civic events. Also located within Winston Churchill Square is the Stanley A. Milner Public Library, one of the country's busiest libraries. Tickets for most major sporting and cultural events in the city are available from TicketMaster, located in The Citadel Theatre, and at Tix on the Square (east of Sir Winston Churchill Square). The latter offers discounts on some same-day performance tickets.

Chinatown
Chinatown is divided into two areas. The "new" Chinatown runs eastward along 102 Avenue to 95 Street and south to Jasper Avenue (the Edmonton Chinatown Multicultural Centre is located here). Original Chinatown extends north on 97 Street from 105 to 108 Avenue. Here you'll Þnd the Pacific Rim Mall, restaurants and unique little shops fresh produce.

The impressive Chinatown Gate at 102 Avenue and 97 Street was built as a symbol of friendship between Edmonton and its sister city, Harbin. Don't forget to roll the ball in the lion¹s mouth for good luck!

Avenue of Nations
To the west is the area known as the Avenue of Nations, extending along 107 Avenue from 95 Street to 116 Street.

This neighbourhood features a diverse and dynamic spectrum of shops, services and restaurants representing the cultures of China, Vietnam, Italy, Ukraine, Poland, Japan and Latin America. Highlights include the Lunar New Year Festival, an annual celebration in the oriental tradition.

Old Strathcona

Trendy and unusual gifts can be found in Old Strathcona shops.

Historic buildings combine with youthful exuberance to make Old Strathcona one of the city's most popular neighbourhoods. Buildings in this area date back to 1891, the year the Þrst Edmonton-to-Calgary railroad arrived.

Today, the authentically restored buildings along and around Whyte Avenue (82 Avenue) house an array of attractions, shops and restaurants. Close to the University of Alberta, this district caters to a young crowd with fashion-forward shops, new and used bookstores and craft and gift shops displaying the works of local and international artists and artisans.

Sip an espresso in one of the outdoor cafés; browse through the selection of delicacies and crafts at the Old Strathcona Farmers' Market, or enjoy local talent in the many live theatres and music venues.

Old Strathcona is a community that loves to play and takes pride in inviting everyone to participate. The Silly Summer Parade on July 1, the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade and the Fringe Theatre Festival in August are among many entertaining events.

University of Alberta
Alberta's first premier, A.C. Rutherford, was instrumental in establishing the University of Alberta back in 1908. Today the U of A has a student, faculty and staff population of over 40,000 people and has established an international reputation in fields such as diabetes and viral research, plant biotechnology, chemistry, cosmology and English Literature.

There are over 90 buildings on the beautiful 93-year-old, 88-hectare campus. Among the landmarks are the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, ofÞcially opened in 1957 as a gift from the Province of Alberta to commemorate Alberta's 50th anniversary. The fan-shaped facility is home of Alberta Ballet and Edmonton Opera as well as professional theatre companies.

The nearby Universiade Pavilion (locally known as the Butterdome due to its distinctive yellow colour) was built as a sports venue for the 1983 World University Games.

The University of Alberta opened in 1908.

The $650 million Walter C. Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre has some of the most technically-advanced medical and research facilities in the world.

The year 1995 marked the opening of the new teaching and performance venue, The Timms Centre for the Arts, home to the Studio Theatre Company of graduating Department of Drama students. Another landmark is the Housing Union Building, or HUB Mall. Built in 1972, its unique design, incorporating housing and retail space, received worldwide attention. It continues to be a popular gathering place for students, staff and visitors. Open for tours is Rutherford House, the restored home of Alberta¹s Þrst premier.

River Valley

Edmonton's River Valley Parks are a wonderful place to visit.

You don't have to leave the city or even travel out of downtown to get back to nature. One of Edmonton's greatest attractions is the North Saskatchewan River Valley. Winding through the centre of the city, this lush park system provides a natural corridor for all-season recreation and relaxation.

This is the longest expanse of urban parkland in Canada, encompassing over 7,400 hectares of breathtaking sites, golf courses, nature trails, attractions, and 97 kilometres of multi-use trails for cycling, jogging or a leisurely stroll.

Escape the hustle and bustle of the city with a walk through this area lush with natural beauty. In winter, enjoy cross country or downhill skiing, snowshoeing or tobogganing.

You don't have to leave the city to get back to nature. Many scenic walking tours are available from downtown.

On a hot summer day, the river valley is the perfect site for a hike, bike, run or picnic. The headquarters for river valley fun and adventure is the River Valley Centre. The Centre's friendly staff will be pleased to provide you with a selection of maps, brochures and many suggestions for your excursion into Edmonton's ribbon of green. Call (780) 496-7275.

More wonderful ways to tour the river valley include jet-boating or canoeing on the North Saskatchewan River.

124 Street / High Street

The Historic Gibbard Block, located on 112 Street, is home to LaBohéme restaurant, antique and curio shops.

Major attractions west of the city centre include the Provincial Museum of Alberta, Edmonton Space & Science Centre and world famous West Edmonton Mall. Old Glenora, the area surrounding the Provincial Museum, is one of the city's oldest, most sought-after residential areas. Elegant early-1900s brick mansions and huge two-storeys line Wellington, Tweedsmuir and St. George's Crescents and Connaught Drive. These gracious homes, many with river valley views, sell from $250,000 to over $1 million.

Edmonton's historic 124 Street Area encompasses ten blocks from 110 Avenue south to Jasper Avenue and the High Street Mall development, a block west at 102 Avenue and 125 Street. This area, formerly known as Edward Street, was once the city's preeminent shopping destination. Today, many of the buildings have been restored and the area is now home to the largest concentration of art galleries in the city. On a cultural note, area venues

The High Street shopping area in central Edmonton houses many unique shops.

host both Jazz City International Music Festival and Pick of the Fringe events. The area galleries have formed the Gallery Walk Association and present special events to introduce their exhibitions.

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