Edmonton Alberta |Towns & villages, Economy, Cost of Living, & Job Opportunities

This article is for those who might be interested in getting important information about Edmonton Alberta, either for a geographical study or for the purpose of travelling. Read this article to explore more about the state.

Edmonton is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta’s central region.

The city traces its roots back to the North American fur trade and the early days of the Canadian Pacific Railway. See Catering Jobs in Canada.

You can enjoy a hands-on experience with the city’s colourful past at the unique living history museum of Fort Edmonton Park or by taking a walk around some of the older districts.

Why People Move to Edmonton Alberta

People move to Alberta for several reasons. They include:

  • Lower cost of living
  • Affordable real estate
  • Faster commute time
  • Less traffic
  • Stunning views
  • Outdoor recreational activities
  • Job opportunities
  • Outdoor recreational activities

DEMOGRAPHICS OF EDMONTON

Name of Edmonton inhabitants (demonym)Not available
DateCurrent valueClassed by Region/Country
Population932 546 inhabitants2 / 5
Population density in Edmonton1 360,9 pop/km² (3 524,7 pop/sq mi)

Cheapest Places to Live in Edmonton Alberta

Are you relocating to Edmonton Alberta? You need to locate places where cost of living is not too high. The list below shows the ten cheapest locations to live in Edmonton Alberta:

1. Lloydminster

2. Medicine Hat

3. Grande Prairie

4. High River

5. Cold Lake

6. Stony Plain

7. Lethbridge

8. Red Deer

9. Camrose

10. Sylvan Lake

The Economy of Edmonton, Alberta

Edmonton is proud to be one of the fastest-growing economies among the large Canadian cities. It also has the fifth-highest Gross Domestic Product of all Canadian cities.

Since 96% of Canada’s oil reserves are in Alberta, Edmonton’s economy naturally focuses on the petrochemical industries. Oil supply and services, as well as technology research and development, ensure Edmonton’s prosperity.

The top industries in Edmonton are:

  • Oil and gas
  • Energy
  • Manufacturing
  • Tourism
  • Financial Services
  • Technology.

Major Employers in Edmonton

Edmonton is home to major employers across a variety of industries. Some of the top employers in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region are:

  • Alberta Health Services
  • Alberta Motor Association
  • IBM
  • General Electric
  • DynaLIFE
  • BioWare
  • Telus
  • Lilydale
  • Afexa Life Sciences Inc.
  • West Edmonton Mall
  • University of Alberta.

Edmonton’s Education System

Edmonton offers a diverse education system for people of all ages. Children have the choice to go to public, catholic or French immersion elementary and high school.

A private school is also a possibility. The city also offers an array of post-secondary education programs through many excellent colleges and universities. See Banking Jobs in Canada.

Elementary and High School Education

Kindergarten and grades 1-12 in Edmonton are provided by three publicly funded school boards (districts).

The largest one is Edmonton Public Schools. It is one of the few Alberta jurisdictions that require all students to study a second language for six years – between Grade 4 and 9.

This school board offers bilingual programs in Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), German, Hebrew, Spanish and Ukrainian. They also offer courses in Cree, French, Japanese, Punjabi and American Sign Language.

The Edmonton Catholic School District operates 84 schools. They offer English as a Second Language (ESL) programs as well as bilingual programs to children of immigrants and to international students.

Students in bilingual programs receive 50% of their instruction in the chosen language in kindergarten or grade one and 35% at the secondary level. 

The Edmonton Catholic School District also offers French Immersion Programs and French as a Second Language courses.

The Greater North Central Francophone Education Region No.2 is the largest French-language school board in Alberta.

Post-Secondary Institutions

Edmonton has highly respected universities, technical institutes, and colleges. The University of Alberta is a Top 5 Canadian university and one of the Top 150 in the world.

It’s also one of the leading engineering institutes in Canada and the largest research institution in the province. And more than 38,000 students are enrolled in over 200 undergraduate and 500 graduate programs. 

Other universities in Edmonton are Athabasca University, Grant MacEwan University, Concordia University College of Alberta, The King’s University College, and the Edmonton campus of the University of Lethbridge.

The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) offers more than 200 credit programs. Other post-secondary institutions include NorQuest College and Yellowhead Tribal College.

Technology and biotech sectors are closely tied to Edmonton’s research and education centres. Leaders in research are the University of Alberta, Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures, and the National Institute for Nanotechnology.

Conclusion

Edmonton is the capital of Alberta and the second-largest city in the province. It lies on the North Saskatchewan River and in the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region. It is unique because it is an urban centre surrounded by wilderness.

The city has roots dating back to the 1700s. In 1875, Fort Edmonton was established. And, it was in 1904 that the city was incorporated.

Over the years the city has grown rapidly and merged with several surrounding towns, including Strathcona, North Edmonton, West Edmonton, Beverly, and Jasper Place. 

Because of the massive oil, gas and oil sand reserves in Alberta, Edmonton is called the “Oil Capital of Canada”. It is also referred to as The Festival City of Canada because of the events held in the city year-round. 

Its growth, job opportunities, low Alberta taxes, and ethnically diverse population make this city an attractive destination for immigrants from across the world.

Other important features of Edmonton Alberta are as follow:

Weather: 14°C, Wind N at 16 km/h, 48% Humidity 

Population: 981,280 (2017) United Nations

Mayor: Amarjeet Sohi

Local time: Monday 06:27

Neighborhoods: West Edmonton, Downtown, North Edmonton, MORE

Adjacent municipal districts: Leduc County, Parkland County and Sturgeon County

Adjacent Specialized municipality: Strathcona County

I hope you have seen vital information in this article. If you have any other questions kindly make use of the comment section below.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *