Edmonton History

By: Ryan Krawchuk  The Charles Camsell Hospital, originally a Jesuit college and then a military hospital, was Canada's largest "Indian hospital" from 1946-1973, where Indigenous patients, often forcibly removed from their homes, endured segregation, experimental treatments, and family separation. After its closure in 1996, the abandoned site gained a reputation for being haunted, fueled by its traumatic past, and became a symbol for urban explorers before its current redevelopment into a residential complex. The ongoing redevelopment and recent class-action lawsuit settlement highlight the struggle between urban renewal and acknowledging historical trauma, with a private developer funding a search for unmarked graves where the federal government refused, leaving unanswered questions about those who died there.

By: Ryan Krawchuk Once a glamorous 1930s movie palace, Edmonton’s Roxy Theatre has endured fire, closure, and rebirth to become a vibrant hub for live performance. Discover the full story of this west-end landmark’s rise, fall, and inspiring return to 124th Street.

By: Ryan Krawchuk Discover Edmonton's history at the Prince of Wales Armoury, a landmark blending military past and vibrant cultural life since 1915.

By: Ryan Krawchuk  Discover the soaring history of Edmonton City Centre Airport, from its pioneering flights to its transformative legacy. Uncover a chapter of our city's past that shaped its future.

By: Ryan Krawchuk  Discover the inspiring journey of Edmonton's General Hospital, from its roots as a humble medical facility founded by the Grey Nuns to its evolution into the modern Continuing Care Centre. Explore how this historic institution has mirrored and shaped Edmonton's growth, overcoming challenges with resilience and innovation. Join us in uncovering the enduring legacy of a hospital that's much more than a place of healing - it's a symbol of community spirit and a beacon of hope in the heart of Edmonton.

By: Ryan Krawchuk Bill Matheson, born on April 26, 1926, in Lethbridge, Alberta, was no ordinary weatherman. His forecasting career in Edmonton was like a breath of fresh, crisp air, with a high pressure of humour and a warm front of whimsy. For 23 years, he painted the airwaves with his sunny language and blustery style, making even the gloomiest forecasts a delightful spectacle.

By: Ryan Krawchuk  The Molson Brewery in Edmonton, Alberta, is a historic landmark that has played an important part in the brewing business in the province. The Molson Brewery, founded in 1786 by John Molson, is the oldest brewery in North America and Canada's second-oldest company [ 4 ]. The building has recently been classified as a municipal historic property and has undergone extensive restoration efforts  [ 1 ][ 3 ].

By: Ryan Krawchuk Discover the fascinating history of the Princess Theatre in Edmonton, from its early days as a cinema to its transformation into a performing arts centre.

10230 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta By: Ryan Krawchuk  This icon in the heart of downtown has been there for as long as I can remember. I can remember going there with my mother to buy my school clothes and supplies. The Hudson’s Bay Company Department Store is a three-story stone and granite building occupying an entire city block on the corner of Jasper Avenue and 102 Street NW. It holds a special significance to Edmonton because of its connection with the Hudson’s Bay Company (H.B.C.), without whom Edmonton would not have existed.

The High Level Bridge By: Ryan Krawchuk Possibly the most iconic landmark in Edmonton, the High Level Bridge was constructed to link the communities of Edmonton and Strathcona spawning the merger into the City of Edmonton in 1912. Its massive length (772.24 metres) covers 28 total spans, on a combination of concrete and steel piers, standing 47.55 metres above the North Saskatchewan River. Planning began in 1903, with the federal government requiring that the bridge was at least 150 feet above the waters of the North Saskatchewan River. Construction began in 1910, employing over 500 men, as part of the four great steel truss bridges constructed by the Canadian Pacific Railway in Western Canada before World War One.

10067 Jasper Avenue NW, Edmonton By: Ryan Krawchuk This theatre, replicated on a much smaller scale at Fort Edmonton Park in 2011, is one of my favourite places to visit in the City of Edmonton. Fort Edmonton Park is expected to re-open in May of this year, following a $165 million dollar improvement project, and I couldn’t be more excited.

By: Gary Dick, posted to an internal City of Edmonton website. If you thought 2020 was a wild ride, the early part of the 20th century was also a time of great social upheaval. Governments struggled to turn Alberta from the Wild West into a place of safety and civility. Women fought for the right to vote, to obtain an education, to work outside the home, and to be legally recognized as persons. During these years there was also a growing movement to ban the sale of alcohol.

By: Ryan Krawchuk Iconic on the landscape of Whyte Avenue is the Strathcona Hotel. You cannot help but notice this regal building if you travel through Old Strathcona in Edmonton.

By: Gary Dick, posted to an internal City of Edmonton website. In 1960 Edmonton was the site of the first civic planetarium in Canada.

By: Ryan Krawchuk As the NHL is about to start up again for the 2021 season, I thought it might be fun to look at how professional hockey started in our fair city.

By: Ryan Krawchuk Did you know that the City of Edmonton has had a monastery since 1925?

Winston Churchill said, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

By: Ryan Krawchuk What was life in Edmonton like during the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918?

By: Ryan Krawchuk If you lived in Edmonton for any small part of your life, especially if you lived in the north end of the city, you have heard about the Transit hotel. If you are over the agent of 40, you might even have some interesting stories to go with it; remember the gerbil races of the 90s?

A colourful time in Edmonton's history sees elephants stampede through the City.