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St. Albert is located in Edmonton’s north-westernmost corner, with major throroughfares connecting the two. Though St. Albert’s borders are virtually indistinguishable from Edmonton’s, it is politically deemed a separate city. With a geographical area of just under 50 km squared and a population of over 61,000 and growing, it is a fraction of Edmonton’s size, yet encompasses all the amenities of, and proximity to, big city life.

Map showing Saint Albert’s proximity to Edmonton. Image Credit: nacha.ca

The surprisingly independent community has its own rich history separate from the development of Edmonton. Founded in 1861 by Father Albert Lacombe,2 the the small Métis community became the town of St. Alberta in 1904. It thrived, due to it’s proximity to Fort Edmonton, and become known locally as a popular resting point for journeying First Nations peoples on their travels. Agriculture, and specifically the construction of two important grain elevators, contributed significantly to the burgeoning economy.

St. Alberta, 1912. Image Credit: St. Albert Historical Network

Through it’s evolution from settlement, to Town, to City, St. Albert has developed a strong foundational infrastructure. The city has it’s own transit system, the renowned Sturgeon Community Hospital, a public school system, an Athabasca University satellite campus, and a municipal governing body comprised of a mayor and six city councilors. The city also has a blend of residential communities and major commercial areas, including St. Albert Centre, a premier shopping destination.

Just last year, MoneySense Magazine, published an article on the best places to live in Canada, and the top ranking city was none other than St. Albert, Alberta.  The ranking accounted for criteria such as employment rate, public transit, arts and culture, crime rates, and access to medical care. Here is the SHAW TV report on the article:

St. Albert has a noteworthy arts and cultural community, with thriving establishments like the Art Gallery of St. Albert, and St. Albert Place. For the more recreationally  inclined, the city is renowned for it’s Red Willow park trail system, the recently developed, Servus Credit Union Place.

St. Albert Place. Image Credit: AlbertDiary.ca

CLICK HERE to view available properties in St. Albert.

The communities of Dunluce, Oxford, and Kensington are prominent neighborhoods in Edmonton’s residential north-west.

The borders of Dunluce run from 127 Street to Castle Downs Road, and from 167 Avenue to 153 Avenue. As explained by the City of Edmonton, in the 1970’s the city expanded its northern borders in response to the rising population caused by the oil boom. It was during this expansion that the communities of Castle Downs, including Dunluce, legally became part of Edmonton.

Dunluce Treestand. Image Credit: City of Edmonton

The neighborhood is home to two elementary schools, as well as The Castle Downs Recreation Centre, a dry pond, and the Dunluce Treestand, and is therefore conducive to family living, and recreational lifestyles. The area has a very active community league and activities include dance, soccer, softball, Pilates, gymnastics, and even Spanish classes.

About half of the area is comprised of single-family dwellings while the remainder are a mix of apartments, duplexes, and few mobile homes. Just over sixty-percent of homes are owner occupied.

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Oxford falls to the west of Dunluce, sharing it’s 127 Street border. It sprawls as far west as 133 Street and from 167 Avenue in the north down to 153 Avenue. The neighborhood of Oxford is part of the larger Edmonton area the Palisades ASP (area structure plan), which was annexed to the city in 1982. It was just after this that residential development began, and was completed in 1999.

This scenic area is positioned around a large, central green space and a small water feature that functions as both an area amenity as well as a storm sewer.

Oxford, Edmonton. Image Credit: COCL

Oxford shares a community league with it’s southern neighbor, the community of Cumberland, which is heavily active in organizing youth recreation programs. Additionally they also organize educational and cultural events year-round.

Around ninety-percent of residences in the area are single-family dwellings, the remainder are duplexes, and overall the rental rate is around ten-percent.

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Kensington falls farther South than both Oxford and Dunluce, spanning from 137 Avenue and 113a Street, to 132 Avenue and 127 Street. Named after the trendy district in London, England, Kensington is a comparatively old neighborhood in the city’s north-west, it’s official annexation to Edmonton occurred in 1913.

The bulk of residential development didn’t occur until post-world war II and tapered off in the 1960’s. About sixty-percent of the area is single-family dwellings, followed by rental apartments, condominiums, and then duplexes. Around seventy-percent of residences in the area are owner occupied.

Kensington Elementary School. Image Credit: EPSB

Kensington, through primarily residential, is home to an elementary school, medical offices, and some small commercial developments that have cropped up on the corners of it’s main thoroughfares. These include small shops, restaurants, and other amenities.

CLICK HERE to view Kensington homes for sale.

The burgeoning communities of Canossa, Chambery, and Elsinore are three of Edmonton’s newest residential areas, located in the north-west, found just south of the Anthony Henday. These small areas were previously used for agricultural purposes and have now been appropriated for residential use within less than two decades. Their northern location and access to thoroughfares make them a popular in-town location for personnel of the CFB (Canadian Forces Base) located just north of Edmonton.

The borders of Canossa reach from 121 Street to 112 Street, and from just south of the Henday to 167 Avenue. Construction on this purely residential area began in the 1990’s, with around 80% of the residences constructed as single-family dwellings and the remainder as duplexes and row houses. Canossa is considered to be an entirely owner occupied area.

Canossa Treestand. Image Credit: Edmonton.ca

A unique area feature is the Canossa Treestand, a patch of deciduous forest with an open grass meadow which accommodates for a diversity of plant species and wildlife. According to the City of Edmonton,

“This treestand provides foraging habitat and cover for many bird species and small mammals…there are also possibilities of viewing species that are less common in more urbanized areas, such as white-tailed deer and coyote.”

As is convention in Castle Downs, this subdivision was named after a famous Castle, Canossa Castle in Bologna, Northern Italy, which still stands today.

CLICK HERE to view homes for sale in Canossa

Chambery falls to the East of Canossa, carrying on from 112 Street to 105 Street. This area’s residential overhaul began slightly later than Canossa, and though the bulk of construction occurred in the early 2000’s, development continues presently.

Named for the Chateau de Chambery in France, the elegant houses in this upscale neighborhood attempt to exude the same luxury of French countryside estates. Around 644 dwellings make up this community, and while this number may seem small, the area has more than doubled in size since it’s 300 dwellings in 2005.

Chambery Residence. Image Credit: Yegishome.ca

Future development plans include two parks and recreational areas along with a central school. In attempt to maintain the residential feel of the neighborhood, there are no plans for commercial development to date.

CLICK HERE to view properties for sale in Chambery

Elsinore falls easternmost of the the three carrying on to 97 Street. It’s southern border lies around 174 Avenue and extends north to the Henday. Slightly older than Canossa and Chambery, Elsinore slowly began development after 1985. The comminuty is named after Elsinore Castle in Denmark, which was interestingly the central location in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Elsinore Pathway System. Image Credit: Yegishome.ca

The city has taken advantage of a pipeline corridor running through the neighborhood, to create a park and pathway system with a unique water feature, and many of the residences back on to this scenic green space.

Predominantly owner owner occupied single-family dwellings, just less than 20% of the residences are duplexes or row houses.

CLICK HERE to view homes for sale in Elsinore.

The communities of Garneau, Strathcona, and Bonnie Doon neighbor each other from West to East, all bordering 82 Avenue to the north. Known to be exceptionally vibrant and culturally rich areas of Edmonton they are always trendy spots to visit, and make for lively neighborhoods to live in. With easy access to south-side amenities, the University of Alberta campus, and river valley and ravine trails, there’s something for everyone.

Garneau runs along 82 Avenue from 107 Street to 112 Street, spanning to it’s northern border of Saskatchewan Drive. Formerly a community in the city of Strathcona, it was adopted by Edmonton in 1912, making it one of the oldest south-side communities. Garneau takes it’s name from an original inhabitant of the time, Laurent Garneau, a consort of Louis Riel and successful trader with the Hudson’s Bay Company.

Garneau is notable for the trendy shopping district of Whyte Avenue; dotted with boutiques, cafes, and a plethora of nightlife venues. In the summer months it is a bustle of activities and festivals, when shoppers flood the sidewalks, and cafes and bars open their patios.

Whyte Avenue at night. Image Credit Travel Alberta

Garneau properties are comprised mostly of rental units predominantly occupied by Univerisity Students living in the hi-rise apartments so popular to the area. There is also a mix of single family dwellings, and homes considered Heritage Sites by the City of Edmonton.

Click here to view properties for sale in Garneau.

With Whyte avenue shopping spilling over into Strathcona, one of Edmonton’s oldest conversions, the area maintain a freshness and vibrancy as a major cultural center for Edmonton’s arts community. The area is home to the Edmonton Arts Barns which houses the popular Old Strathcona Farmer’s Market as well as the Fringe Theatre Company, not to mention the scores of restaurants, coffee shops, and boutiques running along Whyte Avenue.

Old Strathcona Farmer’s Market. Image Credit where.ca

The former city and it’s many communities were incorporated into Edmonton in 1912, and this area in heart of Strathcona maintained it’s original name. Like Laurent Garneu, Lord Strathcona was an important figure in the Hudson’s Bay Company.

Strathcona neighbors Garneau to the East, picking up where it leaves off at 107 Street and continues until it’s natural border ending at the Mill Creek Ravine. It too spans 82 Avenue to Saskatchewan drive, meaning a majority of its boundaries lead to scenic river valley walking trails. Around three-quarters of the residences in this area are apartment style buildings, mostly rentals, while the remainder are comprised of single-family dwellings, row houses, and duplexes.

Click here to view Strathcona properties for sale.

Bonnie Doon neighbors Strathcona on the eastern side of Mill Creek Ravine, carrying on until Connors Road/83 Street. Interestingly, the land was named for Premier Ruthorford, but rather than taking his name his Scottish heritage was honoured; the name Bonnie Doon recalls the “pleasant, rolling countryside” of Scotland.

Bonnie Doon is home to Edmonton’s exciting French quarter, La Cité Francophone, a cultural centre for the Francophone community of Edmonton. Including the University of Alberta’s Campus Saint-Jean, and the trendy Cafe Bicyclette, where you can comfortably order your latte in English or in French.

Cafe Bicyclette, Campus Saint-Jean. Image Credit University of Alberta

Bonnie Doon has a more residential feel to it, as the bustling livliness of Whyte Avenue tapers off a few blocks before the ravine. There are more owner occupied residences of the area, which is comprised of more single family dwellings. It centers around the convenience of Bonnie Doon Shopping Centre, providing all the necessary amenities for living in the area.

Click here to view properties in Bonnie Doon.

Just outlaying Edmonton’s original core, is the area of Westmount. It’s 1910 boundary establishment makes this neighborhood one of the city’s oldest and most established. A strong history of growth and development contributes to the cultural richness of the area and it’s vibrant community spirit.

Westmount Homes. Photo Credit: Avenue Magazine

Westmount has some of the most desirable real estate in the city, with an abundance of appealing  character homes. Over 25% of it’s residences were constructed prior to the end of World War II. The strong sense of historical pride in this area can be seen in these immaculately maintained, period houses.

Bordered by thoroughfares of 111 avenue, Stony Plain Road, Groat Road and 121 Street, this neighborhood has all the charm of downtown living without, well, actually living downtown. It’s cornerstone is the bustling 124 Street, dotted with cafes, boutiques, art galleries, and the newly popular 124 Street farmer’s market (open Thursdays in the spring and summer).

Reflecting the liveliness of Westmount is the younger community of Meadowlark Park.  Though it wasn’t established as a community until much later, it has certainly made up for lost time in it’s short but interesting history. Now this neighborhood, with an increasingly youthful demographic, is notable for it’s young families and abundance of children being raised in the area.

The Edmonton neighborhood originally belonged of the town of Jasper Place, and at the time lay far outside the city limits. However, as Edmonton continued it’s rapid expansion, many smaller towns became absorbed into the metropolis. In 1964 Jasper Place became one o f these annexed locations, including of course, it’s small area of Meadowlark.

Located in the west end of the city, the community spans from 156 Street and 87 Avenue to 163 Street and 95 Avenue, just a stones throw from West Edmonton Mall, the Valley Zoo, and the vast network of the river valley trail system, ideal for it’s young families and those with on-the-go lifestyles.

Jasper Place Library

Meadowlark is known for strong involvement in it’s community league, including year round fundraising, fitness programs, and children’s recreation programs. The flagships of Meadowlark Shopping Centre and the beautifully renovated Jasper Place Library branch showcase the recent economic growth of the area.