PROFILE City EDMONTON Live All Year
trading post, today it is perhaps best known as a gateway to the Rockies and as Canada’s Festival City. This is a destination where visitors
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are welcomed as friends. It has great entertainment options and a cosmopolitan vibe, while its position – nestled into the curves of the North Saskatchewan River – means the great outdoors is right on its doorstep and access to Canada’s most iconic attractions is easy. The city has a really thriving arts and
cultural sector and has previously been designated Canadian Capital of Culture. Sell it as a city on the edge of nature and it’s a genuinely compelling combination.
WHERE IS IT Edmonton is in the province of Alberta in western Canada, and is located between Jasper National Park, in the Canadian Rockies, and Elk Island National Park, in central Alberta. Many Brits use it as a convenient gateway to The Rockies but booking in for a few
22 SPRING 2011 • SELLING CANADA
dmonton is the capital of Alberta and is a destination which knows how to party. Once a small
days in the city before heading onwards will reap some additional rewards.
GETTING THERE Edmonton is easy to get to as Edmonton International Airport is Canada’s fastest growing passenger airport and boasts non-stop connections from 50 national and international destinations. From the UK, Air Canada (
www.aircanada.com) runs daily flights from Heathrow to Edmonton year round and Air Transat (www.
airtransatholidays.co.uk) operates weekly from Gatwick from May to Oct.
WHERE TO STAY Edmonton has over12,000 guest rooms ranging from major brands to trendy boutique properties, motels and a hostel. Most UK operators to Canada include stopovers in Edmonton and among the most popular are Westin Hotel, Matrix Hotel, Hotel Mettera and Union Bank Inn. There are also Holiday Inn, Best Western and Sheraton options. The city’s most famous and oldest hotel is the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, but for something quirky suggest Fantasyland
Hotel, with themed rooms, situated in the West Edmonton Mall.
WHAT’S THERE? Edmonton is a cosmopolitan urban destination offering a wealth of cultural attractions as well as parks, great shopping and visitor attractions. It is perhaps best known for the West Edmonton Mall – said to be the world's largest entertainment and shopping venue – featuring over 800 stores and services, over 100 restaurants and cafes, and nine world-class attractions, from Galaxyland, the world’s largest indoor amusement park to Deep Sea Adventure, the world’s largest indoor lake with a replica of Christopher Columbus’ ship, the Santa Maria! But beyond the Mall, Edmonton offers
much more. The Old Strathcona part of the city, for example, is well worth a look. This is a designated Provincial Historic Area, as well as an arts district, with a popular year-round Farmer’s Market, eight theatre companies performing out of four venues, and a thriving night life. It was named one of the five best shopping districts in
"Edmonton is a gateway to some of Canada's most stunning natural wonders but its own eclectic line-up of attractions means clients should defi nitely stopover in the city and explore before moving on."
From left: Making a splash with a river tour in Edmonton; the colour and fun on the annual Fringe Festival; and the Art Gallery of Alberta
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