Downtown Edmonton

Downtown Edmonton from the air

Downtown Edmonton (Alberta) is bounded by 109 Street to the west, 105 Avenue to the north, 97 Street to the east, 97 Avenue, 100 Avenue, and Rossdale Road to the south and Jasper Avenue to the southeast (the downtown core), though many people consider part or all of the surrounding neighborhoods to be part of downtown. The downtown core is bordered by the neighbourhoods of Oliver to the west, Queen Mary Park to the northwest, Central McDougall to the North, McCauley to the northeast, Boyle Street(Jasper-East) to the east, Riverdale to the southeast, and Rossdale to the south. Within the downtown core are five districts: the Commercial Core, Government Centre, Jasper-West, MacKay Avenue and Rice Howard Way.

Streets And Districts

Jasper Avenue

Jasper Avenue is the city's "main street". It starts at 82 Avenue in the east, running south east along the south edge of Boyle Street until it reaches the downtown core. It then runs due west throught downtown and the neighborhood of Oliver until it reaches 124 Street.

Rice Howard Way

The portion of 101A Avenue between 100A Street and 101 Street was closed to traffic, making it an open air pedestrian walkway. This area is called Rice Howard Way. Rice Howard way, along with the rest of 101A Avenue between 100 Street and 100A Street and 101A Avenue immediately to the north and south is known for its restaurants and cafes, many of which provide an outdoor dining experience during the summer months.

Rice Howard Way is located one block north of the Central LRT station.

Government Centre

Government Centre is located at the southwest corner of the downtown core and is the home of the Alberta provincial government. The most notable feature of this area is the Alberta Provincial Legislature and its surrounding parks and gardens. A pedway system running beneath the fountains in front of the legislature connect the legislature to government offices located in the historic Bowker Building and the Haultain Building. The pedway allows easy access to the Grandin LRT station located just west of the Government Centre. A pedway entrance at the north east corner of the legislature grounds provides access to the Government Centre transit centre.

It should be noted that federal government offices located in Canada Place on the east edge of the downtown core are not part of the Government Centre. Neither is the Edmonton City Hall and municipal government offices located around Churchill Square.

Population

The population of downtown Edmonton is still low when compared with other cities, despite major rejuvenation initiatives. As a result of a booming economy and development of major condominium and apartment projects, the population of the downtown core is rising steadily.

Downtown population from 1986 to 2005

Year	Female	Male	Total	Source
1986	2,170	2,880	5,050	Federal Census
1991	2,380	3,015	5,395	Federal Census
1996	2,205	2,925	5,130	Federal Census
2001	2,845	3,330	6,175	Federal Census
2005	4,216	4,811	9,027	Municipal Census

Light Rail Transit Service

Edmonton Transit System's light rail system runs beneath the downtown core, with one station at Churchill Square (Churchill Station), three stations along Jasper Avenue (Central Station, Bay Station and Corona Station) and one station at the government center (Grandin Station). From Grandin Station, the LRT continues south across the North Saskatchewan River to the University of Alberta. From Chruchill Station, the LRT travels north east towards Commonwealth Stadium and Rexall Place.

Education

There are several institutions providing educational opportunities in the downtown core.

The largest of these is McEwan College whose City Centre Campus is laocated along the northern edge of the downtown core between 106 Street and 111 Street, and between 104 Avenue and 105 Avenue. This site used to be part of an old Canadian National Railways rail yard that started redevelopment in the 1990s. Grant MacEwan College also operates the Alberta College Campus located near the southern edge of the downtown core on McDonald Drive.

The University of Alberta is redeveloping the site of the Bay building on Jasper Avenue between 102 Street and 103 Street. "The building will house TEC Edmonton, a jointly operated research commercialization centre presently located in the U of A's Research Transition Facility."

The City of Edmonton Public School Board operates a high school, Centre High, in the redeveloped Boardwalk and Revillon buildings.

The University of Lethbridge maintains a small Edmonton campus in a building on the south west corner of 108 Street and 100 Avenue near the Government Centre.

External Links

• University of Alberta Purchase of Hudson Bay Building

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