Edmonton
The capital of
Alberta,
Edmonton is situated in the central parts of the province, on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River. Edmonton combines groovy neighborhoods, great galleries and museums that keep history alive, wilderness areas cutting through the cityscape, and the multicultural energies of its heterogeneous and vibrant population.
Fort Edmonton was established in 1795 on the northern bank of North Saskatchewan River. Originally serving as a trading post of Hudson’s Bay Company, Edmonton grew into a major agricultural and trading center during the 19th century. The fertile soils of the region attracted a growing number of settlers and in 1904, Edmonton was formally incorporated as a city. The following year Alberta joined the Confederation, and Edmonton was proclaimed the capital of the province. Today, the city is among the key economic centers in
Canada and a major hub for the
gas and oil industries. The city is known for its high tech industry, life science sector, cost effectiveness, expanding infrastructure, and
economic potential.
Major employers in the city are IBM, Matrikon, Canadian Western Bank, Intuit Canada, General Electric, Telus, and Stantec Inc, among others. Edmonton is also the home of several large shopping centers such as Westmount Centre, Edmonton City Centre, and West Edmonton Mall.
Edmonton is located at an elevation of 2192 feet, with a flat to rolling topography encompassing river valleys and ravines. North Saskatchewan River runs through the city and collects the waters of many creeks such as Blackmud Creek, Whitemud Creek, and Mill Creek. The vegetation of the region is typical for its semi-arid, dry continental
climate with extreme fluctuations in seasonal temperatures. The average daily temperature in July is 17.5 °C and drops to ?11.7 °C in January. The climate in Edmonton is fairly dry, and the average precipitation is close to 477 mm. The driest months are October, November, February and March, and July is the wettest.
In terms of demographics, the city proper has more than 730,000 residents, and a 9.6 percent growth was recorded in the period 2001-2006. The average age of residents is at 35.3 years, and children under the age of five constitute about 5.6 of the total population. Visible minorities in the
ethnic landscape of the city are English, Irish, Scottish, German, French, Ukrainian, and
Aboriginal.
‘Edmonton, the City of Champions’ offers diverse cultural and historic landmarks and a lively night life to the visitor. Black Dog Freehouse is a loud, cool, and cramped place and the locals’ favorite. The long bar is an excellent spot to grab a pint of beer and get to know the locals. Delvin’s Martini bar is among the more sophisticated establishments, inviting visitors to order a fruity cocktail and get shaken. Tourists who are keen to see live music, especially rock and roll, should not miss a visit to New City Suburbs. The night club stages themed nights and comedy nights that are quite popular with the college chaps.
Movie aficionados will enjoy watching first run and cult classics in the Princess Theater. Edmonton’s over 70 museums feature art collections, authentic artifacts and much more. The Royal Alberta Museum exhibits more than 10 million objects, including artifacts showcasing the
history and culture of Canada’s aboriginal tribes.