Discovery Series Ornament – Edmonton

The Discovery Series Ornament Edmonton is a fresh release for a dynamic Canadian city known for its vast river valley, thriving arts scene, and role as Alberta’s capital.

Edmonton emerged as a fur trading post in 1795 when the Hudson’s Bay Company established Fort Edmonton along the North Saskatchewan River. The settlement grew slowly until the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897-1898 made Edmonton a gateway for prospectors heading north, while the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1891 spurred development. Edmonton became the capital of the newly formed province of Alberta in 1905, chosen over rival Calgary for its central location. The discovery of oil at Leduc in 1947 transformed Edmonton from a regional center into a booming city, with petroleum wealth funding rapid expansion and modernization.

– River valley cuts through Edmonton’s heart, with the North Saskatchewan River creating North America’s largest urban park system spanning over 100 miles of interconnected trails and green spaces. The river valley offers hiking, biking, skiing, and nature experiences within city boundaries. This natural corridor defines Edmonton’s geography and provides recreational escape from urban life.

– High Level Bridge spans the North Saskatchewan River as an iconic steel railway bridge completed in 1913, connecting Edmonton’s south side to downtown. The distinctive black trestle bridge carries trains, a streetcar line, and pedestrian traffic high above the river valley. The structure stands as a historic landmark and engineering achievement central to Edmonton’s development.

– The High Level Bridge Streetcar is a seasonal historic tram that runs across Edmonton’s High Level Bridge, connecting Old Strathcona and downtown. It offers views of the North Saskatchewan River valley while preserving a piece of the city’s early transit history. Operated by volunteers, the streetcar is both a tourist attraction and a working reminder of how Edmonton once moved.

– Edmonton is known as Canada’s Festival City because it hosts more than 30 major festivals each year, many of them outdoors. Events like the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival and Heritage Festival attract visitors from around the world. The city’s long summer days and strong arts community help sustain its year-round festival culture.

– Pie à la mode refers to a slice of pie served with ice cream, a dessert popular across North America. While it is not uniquely tied to Edmonton, the dish appears frequently at local diners, bakeries, and festival food stalls. In this context, it reflects Edmonton’s comfort-food culture rather than a specific historical landmark.

– Elk inhabit the forests and river valleys surrounding Edmonton, with these majestic ungulates occasionally venturing into city parks and neighborhoods. The North Saskatchewan River valley provides wildlife corridors where elk and other animals thrive within urban boundaries. These impressive creatures connect Edmonton to the wilderness that exists just beyond city limits.

– Evergreen forests surround Edmonton with boreal forest characteristic of northern Alberta, featuring spruce, pine, and poplar trees. These forests extend into the river valley and city parks, bringing wilderness into the urban environment. The evergreens define the northern landscape and provide year-round greenery even in winter.