Liv Real Estate Blog

Edmonton, Alberta is a unique city that has managed to combine many great aspects of community and togetherness that small towns offer, with all the convenience of big city services. Sure, it can get a bit cold in one of the world's most major northern cities, but it is a place marked by activity, friendliness, opportunity, and a great fabric of cultures. Winter or summer, night or day, Edmonton has a lot of offer those who call it home. Read below for a list of the five best things about living in Edmonton.

1. Easy Access to Nature via the River Valley

The River Valley is basically Edmonton's crown jewel. It is easy to forget that not many other cities in North America have such easy access to nature, or such an elaborate trail system. The River Valley is the largest urban park in North America (22 times larger than Central Park in NYC) and is a beautiful resource for Edmontonians in every age group. It is a great way to stay active, no matter the season, and a cheap and easy way to unite neighbours and families to create memories.

2. A Community Based Lifestyle

Edmonton is a city known for the multitude of community resources made available to residents. They offer everything from sports leagues to community centres to cooking lessons, and everything in between. The City of Edmonton works hard to make sure residents can be involved in lifelong activity and learning. Not only this, but residents below a certain income level are eligible to receive access to these resources for free or at a deeply discounted rate.

3. Long Summer Days

One thing people inevitably miss if they leave Edmonton are the long summer days that residents enjoy. The benefit of Edmonton being so far north is that the sun sets very late in the summer, allowing lots of time for BBQs, patios, and outdoor fun. These beautiful and long summer days are a treat after what can sometimes be a long winter, and, if given the choice, many Edmontonians will gladly tell you they don’t mind the winter as long as they get to keep their long and gorgeous summer nights. Don't forget about those Northern Lights that often make an appearance!

4. Vibrant Cultural and Arts Community

Edmonton works hard to support the arts and cultural community. With festivals like Fringe Theatre Festival, the Street Performers Festival, and the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, and establishments like the Art Gallery of Alberta, and SNAP Gallery, Edmonton is constantly trying to support those in the city with an artistic flare.

5. Amazing Community Spirit

Edmontonians are known for being a family. Through being involved in youth sports, business, and neighbourhood mixers, Edmontonians develop a strong bond with each other that is noticeable when compared to other, larger cities. We pride ourselves on looking out for each other, whether it be shovelling the neighbour's drive or stopping to help with directions. This community spirit makes Edmonton a place for small businesses to thrive. In fact, the "City of Champions" slogan has nothing to do with sports teams; it originated in 1987, in the aftermath of the Black Friday incident where a tornado tore through Edmonton, then mayor Laurence Decor gave the city the moniker of “City of Champions” in response to the outstanding effort the cities citizens showed coping with the disaster.

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