Your Alberta

Edmonton is the capital of the province of Alberta, the second largest metropolitan area west of Toronto, and the fifth largest city in Canada. It’s historical roots date back to 1785 when the Hudson’s Bay trading post known as Edmonton House, was established.

Edmonton’s role in Canada is as a major transportation and supply centre. It has lush natural areas and also houses the longest stretch of parkland in Canada, the North Saskatchewan river valley park system.

The discovery of oil in Leduc turned Edmonton into the Oil Capital of Canada virtually overnight. Within a decade, the city had became one of the largest in Canada. Today, the energy industry remains the city’s number one economic mainstay. The amount of crude oil processed in Metro Edmonton each day could change the oil of every car in Canada!

Attractions
The world famous West Edmonton Mall is an adventure! Perhaps the only mall to feature an amusement park, exploration of the depths of the sea, a splash in a giant wavepool or a glide on the same ice used by the Edmonton Oilers. There is a hotel built in for visitors, and the mall itself is magnificent. At almost 500,000 square metres, West Edmonton Mall is the largest indoor shopping and entertainment complex in the world. Alberta’s most poular tourist attraction features over 800 stores and services, not to mention over 110 restaurants and kiosks.

Fort Edmonton Park contains a display of history you can experience as if you were there. You can see and interact with Edmonton’s history at the 1846 fort and on the streets of 1885, 1905, and 1920.

Edmonton’s Chinatown is a marvelous place to spend a day. The magnificent Chinatown Gate welcomes visitors to the hub of the Chinese community. The gate was constructed to symbolize the friendship between Edmonton and its sister city, Harbin.

The Devonian Botanic Garden is a horticulturalists dream featuring collections of living plants and fungi. The collections are made up of native Alberta species and specimens of botanical, horticultural, historical, medicinal, and geographic significance collected worldwide.

Economy
Greater Edmonton is one of Canada’s strongest metropolitan economies. A strong energy sector and heavy spending in construction projects has spurred economic expansion that is improving prosperity.