Hello everyone,
Edmonton, city of champions, city of workers, the only place that we think of Wayne Gretzky playing hockey. The population of Edmonton is 900,000 but if you add in the GEA (Greater Edmonton Area) it increases to approximately 1.3 million. Which quite surprised me because I thought Edmonton would be much smaller than Calgary. There is quite the friendly riveraly between these two cities though.
Edmonton is in the valley of the North Saskatchewan River and is in the middle of the province and is also the capital of Alberta. In 1794 there were two trading posts established, one by the Hudson Bay Company called Old Fort Edmonton and the other being established by North West Fur Company called Old Fort Augustus. In 1807 both forts were destroyed by the Blood Indians and the rebuilt forts were the beginnings of Edmonton. During this time the majority of the population was Aboriginal and Metis but with the Canadian Pacific Railway arriving in 1891 the population exploded. Especially when the Klondike Gold Rush came in 1897. After World War 2, the first oil refinery was established at the Leduc Oil Field in 1948 and today there is something called the "Oil Fields" that has this city exploding again.
To me though, it will always be home of Wayne Gretzky.
With love and thanks,
M.J.
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Hi MJ:
I really love the history lesson of each city you are visiting, must be an interesting book.
The railway is so much a part of the historical settlement in this area. It was the only way to travel great distances back then. Enjoy your short train trip to Vancouver. It has a much more relaxing pace than flying there in a few hours, enjoy the scenery, rivers and mountains. In 1972 I travelled by train from Newmarket, Ontario to Chiliwack, B.C. Three and a half looooong days each way. An experience I've never repeated.
Yes, Edmonton and Wayne Gretzky go together like peas and carrots..
Love, Sylvia
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