Edmonton is Alberta’s capital
The city of Edmonton, Alberta’s capital, holds significance for various reasons. It serves as a housing essential administrative offices, the legislative assembly and hub for government institutions and agencies like Government of Alberta, Canadian Armed Forces, and Department of National Defense. Its central location within Alberta ensures accessibility for residents.
Furthermore, Edmonton offers a vibrant urban experience amidst wilderness, boasting 18 hours of summer sunlight and picturesque winter snowfall. Its renowned bakeries, coffee shops, breweries, and restaurants add to its charm. With a welcoming community and diverse population, Edmonton provides an ideal environment for newcomers from the US to settle, making it a compelling destination.
Edmonton is home to the biggest shopping mall in North America
Edmonton’s West Edmonton Mall reigns as North America’s largest shopping destination, spanning over 5.3 million square feet with 800 stores and services, including major retailers and boutique shops like Simons, Zara, and Sephora. With an array of attractions such as the World Waterpark and Galaxyland, locally run shops, such as Samson Native Gallery, West Edmonton Mall offers a unique shopping and entertainment experience, drawing millions of visitors annually.
It stands as the pinnacle of shopping and entertainment with incredible retailers. Edmonton’s strategic location, economic vitality, the future West Edmonton LRT Station, and WEM’s continuous growth and innovation cement its status as the biggest shopping mall in North America.
With over 50 festivals annually, Edmonton is known as Canada’s festival city
With over 50 festivals annually, Edmonton fosters community engagement, creativity, and tourism, embracing diversity and promoting artistic expression. This vibrant festival culture earns Edmonton the well-deserved title of Canada’s festival city. It lives up to its name, with a plethora of festivals happening year-round.
From North America’s largest Fringe Theatre Festival to celebrations of Indigenous culture at the Dreamspeakers Film Festival, there’s something for everyone. The Northwestfest & Rainbow Visions Film Festival showcases documentary films, while the UFest Edmonton Ukrainian Festival brings Western Canada’s largest multi-day Ukrainian celebration to Borden Park.
Downtown Spark lights up the streets with art installations, musical performances, and food trucks, while the International Children’s Festival transforms downtown St. Albert into a carnival playground.
The city has an abundance of green spaces, offering over 160 km of trails and pathways
Edmonton has an abundance of green spaces, offering over 160 km of trails and pathways, and stands as North America’s largest urban park. It provides residents and visitors alike with a variety of opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling and jogging. The city’s commitment to preserving and enhancing these green spaces reflects its dedication to sustainability and environmental stewardship, contributing to a high quality of life.
Edmonton’s River Valley Trail System showcases the city’s natural beauty, with popular sections like Canadian Rockies, Jasper National Park, Louise McKinney Riverfront Park and Terwillegar Park. Other notable trails, such as Mill Creek Ravine and Whitemud Creek Ravine, offer serene escapes from urban life, while iconic landmarks like the Fort Edmonton Footbridge and Terwillegar Park Footbridge provide picturesque crossings over the river valley.
It is one of Canada’s sunniest cities
Edmonton receives approximately 2,299 hours of bright sunshine annually, making it one of Canada’s sunniest cities. During the summer, Edmonton can enjoy up to 17 hours of daylight, enhancing its appeal for outdoor activities and events. Situated in Alberta, Edmonton benefits from a semi-arid continental climate with low humidity, ensuring abundant sunshine throughout the year.
This sunny weather contributes to the city’s vibrant atmosphere and makes it an inviting destination for residents and visitors alike. Furthermore, Edmonton’s favorable climate supports industries such as tourism, outdoor recreation, and agriculture, further enhancing its allure as a desirable place to live, work, and explore.
Edmonton offers more affordable home prices compared to larger cities like Vancouver or Toronto
Edmonton’s real estate market witnessed notable growth in median sale prices for various property types in the first quarter of 2024. Single detached homes hit a new record median sale price of $460,000, marking an 8.2% year-over-year increase. Townhouse and row units also reached a new high at $277,500, reflecting a 15.7% rise compared to the previous year.
Apartment units saw a modest uptick, with a 3.8% year-over-year increase to $176,500. As of March 2024, the average cost of buying a property such as residential houses in Edmonton sits at $385,900 marking a 4.5% increase from the previous year.
Despite these increases, Edmonton maintains its reputation for affordability compared to larger cities like Vancouver or Toronto. This affordability, coupled with the city’s unique qualities, continues to attract homebuyers and investors alike, making Edmonton an appealing choice for real estate investment or finding a comfortable rental home.
CREA (March 2024) & CREA (April 2024)
The city is considered a gateway to the north
Edmonton is considered the “Gateway to the North” due to its strategic location and transportation infrastructure, which facilitated its transformation into a vital transportation hub. With the emergence of railways, roads, oil and gas pipelines, and an international airport in the early 1900s, Edmonton became a key transportation center connecting northern regions.
Today, Edmonton is a key hub for transporting goods, resources, and people to northern communities, mining sites, and remote areas. As the service center for the oil industry and the petrochemical hub of western Canada, it supports northern development. With its extensive network of transportation routes and logistical infrastructure, Edmonton plays an important role in connecting northern regions with the rest of the province and the country.
Conclusion
Moving to Edmonton from the US presents both pros and cons to consider. On the positive side, Edmonton offers a strong job market, particularly in industries like oil, along with a relatively low cost of living compared to many US cities. The city boasts a vibrant cultural scene, with over 50 festivals annually, and abundant green spaces, including extensive trails for outdoor recreation.
However, Edmonton’s harsh winter weather and limited public transportation may pose challenges for some. Overall, Edmonton is a welcoming community with a diverse population, making it a compelling destination for those seeking affordability and quality of life.
To learn more about the paperwork required, check out this article, 7 Things to know and do before moving from the U.S. to Canada.
Are you planning to move, soon? Check the best long-distance movers in Edmonton.
