While in Alberta, plan a stopover in Edmonton! It is definitely a must-see spot in the province. A significant cultural center in Western Canada, it retains the traces of a rich past, including that of the first French Canadians. Today, its rich and active francophone culture attracts and delights visitors year-round!
So here are topincanada.ca tips from Alberta’s must-haves, if you’re wondering what to do in Edmonton.
Discover Alberta’s francophone art
What’s the first thing to do in Edmonton? Discover its rich Francophone cultural and artistic life! Multi-talented artists are waiting for you to share colourful moments!
1. Theater, the central discipline of the Francophonie
While all the arts play an important role in francophone life in Alberta, theater plays an important role. The Franco-Albertan arts community has been gathering around this living art form since the 19th century. While French theater classics such as Molière are still represented here, in recent decades we have also witnessed the development of a full-fledged Franco-Albertan theater.
During your visit to Alberta, plan to attend one of the performances of UniThéâtre, the only Franco-Albertan theater company. A humble status that does not prevent it from being very successful, some of its plays having conquered audiences beyond the borders of the Canadian province.
2. A lively musical culture
If you’re a music lover, Edmonton has some great Alberta activities in store for you! Music is another important artistic discipline in Alberta’s francophone cultural life. With its many festivals and musical springboards organized throughout the year, the province offers to see, and especially to hear its local talents.
During one of the many springboards and festivals organized by the province, such as the Edmonton Song Festival, discover the “musicians of the land” and expose your ears to the Francophone sounds of Western Canada!
3. Take a tour of the Cité francophone
Not far from downtown Edmonton, the Cité francophone d’Edmonton is a structure that plays a key role in the development and outreach of the Francophone community in Alberta.
Both a cultural venue and a community space, it brings together on its modern premises some thirty businesses and organizations, all of which are committed to revitalizing and promoting the local Francophonie.
When one wonders what to do in Edmonton, nothing beats a visit to this unusual and lively place. Stroll through its contemporary premises, where you will find, among other things :
The weekly market and its seasonal products,
The café-restaurant La Bicyclette, where you can enjoy a delicious meal made with local ingredients,
Spaces dedicated to exhibitions and artistic and cultural events such as the Flying Canoe Volant, a festival of francophone, Alberta and Métis culture that is particularly popular!
Go back in time by visiting historic sites
During your stay in Edmonton, one of Alberta’s francophone heritage centers, it is only natural to discover the emblematic places of the French fact in Alberta and Canada.
4. Explore Fort Edmonton Park
So take the time to explore Fort Edmonton Park, located on the banks of the Saskatchewan River that runs through the city. Here, you can learn about the history of the Hudson’s Bay Company, a key player in Canada’s westward expansion, but also discover reconstructions of the city’s streets at different times.
5. Saint-Albert and the French-speaking pioneers
Continue to explore the past of Edmonton and its surroundings by walking through the villages of St. Albert, Morinville and Legal. These villages preserve the traces of the first French settlers in Alberta, including the church and presbytery in Morinville, which are listed in the Alberta Heritage Directory.
