Downtown Edmonton is the
central business district
A central business district (CBD) is the Commerce, commercial and business center of a city. It contains commercial space and offices, and in larger cities will often be described as a financial district. Geographically, it often coincides wit ...
of
Edmonton, Alberta
Edmonton is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Alberta. It is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Central Alberta ...
. Located at the geographical centre of the city, the downtown area is bounded by 109 Street to the west, 105 Avenue to the north, 97 Street to the east, 97 Avenue and Rossdale Road to the south, and the
North Saskatchewan River
The North Saskatchewan River is a glacier-fed river that flows from the Canadian Rockies continental divide east to central Saskatchewan, where it joins with the South Saskatchewan River to make up the Saskatchewan River. Its water flows event ...
to the southeast.
Surrounding neighbourhoods include
Wîhkwêntôwin to the west,
Queen Mary Park,
Central McDougall and
McCauley to the north,
Boyle Street and
Riverdale to the east, and
Rossdale to the south.
The residents of Downtown Edmonton are represented by the Downtown Edmonton
Community League, established in 1999, which runs a
community hall
A community centre, community center, or community hall is a public location where members of a community gather for group activities, social support, public information, and other purposes. They may be open for the whole community or for a sp ...
at 100 Avenue and 103 Street.
The
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...
' home arena,
Rogers Place
Rogers Place is a multi-use indoor arena in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Construction started in March 2014, and the building officially opened on September 8, 2016. The arena has a seating capacity of 18,347 as a ice hockey, hockey venue and 20,73 ...
, is located in the north central part of downtown where it anchors the
Ice District mixed-used development for sports and entertainment.
Districts and streets
Arts District and Churchill Square

The arts district is in the eastern part of the core with many award winning institutions like the
Francis Winspear Centre for Music (home of the
Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) is a Canadian orchestra based in Edmonton, Alberta. As the professional orchestra of Alberta's creative capital city it presents over 85 concerts a year of symphonic music in all genres, from classical to co ...
) and the
Citadel Theatre.
Edmonton City Hall
The Edmonton City Hall is the home of the Edmonton City Council, municipal government of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Designed by Dub Architects, the building was completed in 1992. It was built to replace the former city hall designed by architect ...
is also located here with all these buildings facing onto Sir Winston Churchill Square. It is also the site of the new
Art Gallery of Alberta, which opened in early 2010, and the
Stanley A. Milner Library,
Edmonton Public Library's main branch.
Churchill Square (Officially "Sir Winston Churchill Square") is the main downtown square in
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Alberta. It is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Central Alberta ...
, and is the heart of the Arts District. The square plays host to a large majority of festivals and events in
Greater Edmonton. It is bordered on the north by 102A Avenue, on the west by 100 Street, on the south by 102 Avenue (Harbin Road) and on the east by Rue Hull (99) Street. In 2009, the portion of 102A Avenue that cut Churchill Square off from Edmonton's City Hall has been closed off to vehicular traffic as a way to better connect Churchill Square with the fountains and some festivities on the plaza at City Hall.
Government Centre

Government Centre is an informal district at the southwest corner of the downtown core and is the home of the
provincial government. The most notable feature of this part of downtown is the
Alberta Legislature Building and its surrounding parks, fountains, and gardens.
An underground pedway system connects the Legislature Building to several of the surrounding buildings, including the historic Bowker Building and the Frederick W. Haultain Building.
Federal government offices were housed in the Federal Building (renamed the
Queen Elizabeth II Building in 2022) at the north-east corner of Government Centre until they relocated to
Canada Place, at the east edge of downtown, in the 1980s. The Federal Building underwent a $356 million renovation completed in 2015 for provincial government offices and a new underground parking structure.
Transit service is provided by the
Government Centre Transit Centre near the Queen Elizabeth II Building and by
Government Centre station just to the west.
Jasper Avenue

Jasper Avenue is the city's "main street". It starts at 77 Street in the east, running south west along the south edge of
Boyle Street until it reaches the downtown core. It then runs due west through downtown and the neighbourhood of Wîhkwêntôwin until it reaches 125 Street. Jasper Avenue is a major public transit route as several of Edmonton's busiest bus routes travel along it. The LRT travels underneath Jasper Avenue between 99 and 110 Streets.
Jasper Avenue has no
street number but sits where 101 Avenue would otherwise be. Jasper Avenue is home to many of
Edmonton's oldest heritage buildings (for example the
Hotel Macdonald) and some of
Edmonton's tallest office towers, including
Canadian Western Bank Place and
Rice Howard Place; however, the presence of the former limits that of the latter, and many tall buildings are found just off Jasper where land is easier to obtain. Together with help from nearby streets like 100 Avenue, 104 Street, 101 Street, and 102 Avenue, the Jasper West area (west of 97 Street) is one of the major retail, living, commercial, and entertainment districts of the city.
Rice Howard Way
Rice Howard Way comprises 100A Street between Jasper Avenue and 102 Avenue and 101A Avenue between 100 Street and 101 Street. The portion of 101A Avenue between 100A Street and 101 Street was closed to traffic, making it an open-air pedestrian walkway. The rest of Rice Howard Way is open to vehicular traffic. Rice Howard Way has a few prominent office towers like Rice Howard Place and some restaurants.
Rice Howard Way's southern edge (100A Street at Jasper Avenue) has an entrance to the
Central LRT Station.
Warehouse District and 104 Street

The Warehouse District is between Jasper Avenue and 104 Avenue and between 103 Street and 109 Street. During the first decade of the 20th century, the
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), originally the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England Trading Into Hudson’s Bay, is a Canadian holding company of department stores, and the oldest corporation in North America. It was the owner of the ...
began selling its land holdings in this area, and businesses were quick to move in. Between 1909 and 1914, no fewer than two dozen warehouses were constructed.
In the later part of the century, warehouses closed and the buildings were redeveloped into commercial enterprises.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the
Gay Alliance Toward Equality (GATE) had its location on 104th Street, where they provided services to the local community and acted in a political advocacy role. The street was also host in the same period to the Flashback club, a
gay bar
A gay bar is a Bar (establishment), drinking establishment that caters to an exclusively or predominantly lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ+) clientele; the term ''gay'' is used as a broadly inclusive concept for LGBTQ+ communi ...
that is being featured in an upcoming film.
In the late 1990s lofts were created in these former warehouses. In recent years, the area has seen a revival, with new lofts and condos being constructed or proposed, along with many designer shops.
The area also included Canada's first urban-format
Sobeys Urban Fresh, flanking the curved Birks building as the entrance to 104 Street at Jasper Avenue, serving the residential population until its closure in 2014.
104 Street (in between Jasper Avenue and 104 Avenue) is the main street in the Warehouse District and features shops, restaurants, cafés and a variety of services. The area is also known for
loft
A loft is a building's upper storey or elevated area in a room directly under the roof (American usage), or just an attic: a storage space under the roof usually accessed by a ladder (primarily British usage). A loft apartment refers to large ...
s in old warehouses. The street is very dense, and saw new projects completed in 2009 and 2010 (
Icon I and II) with the construction of the Fox Towers condo complex at the northwest corner of 104 Street and 102 Avenue.
In 2016, Michael Phair Park, located in the Warehouse District was named after former City Councillor
Michael Phair
Michael Albert Phair (born August 1950) is a Canadian politician, who served on Edmonton City Council from 1992 until 2007. He was the first openly gay elected politician in the province of Alberta
Alberta is a Provinces and territories of ...
, in celebration of his political career, and community advocacy, as well as in acknowledgment of his many contributions to the
LGBTQ2S+ community.
Ice District and Rogers Place
The Ice District is located between 101 and 104 Street to 103 and 106 Avenue. It is a $2.5 billion
mixed-use
Mixed use is a type of urban development, urban design, urban planning and/or a zoning classification that blends multiple uses, such as residential, commercial, cultural, institutional, or entertainment, into one space, where those functions ...
sports and entertainment district being developed on of land in Downtown.
When completed it will be Canada’s largest mixed use and entertainment district.
A new arena named
Rogers Place
Rogers Place is a multi-use indoor arena in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Construction started in March 2014, and the building officially opened on September 8, 2016. The arena has a seating capacity of 18,347 as a ice hockey, hockey venue and 20,73 ...
, for the
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...
, was approved in early 2013 and construction of the arena started in March 2014.
It was named Rogers Place in December 2013 with an agreement from
Rogers Communications
Rogers Communications Inc. is a Canadian communications and media company operating primarily in the fields of wireless communications, cable television, telephony and Internet, with significant additional telecommunications and mass media ass ...
for 10-year naming rights deal.
It opened in September 2016.
Phase One started after the Ice District announcement 2014–2016. It has A new Office tower, and attractions along with Rogers Place.
Edmonton Tower, Winter Garden, and
Grand Villa Casino Edmonton, are expected to open in 2016.
The
MacEwan LRT Station was opened in September 2015.
The next Phase X will is from 2017–2020.
This includes
Stantec Tower,
and the
JW Marriott Edmonton Ice District & Residences expected to open in 2018.
Other projects include; A public plaza, future residences, and retail attractions, such as a Rexall pharmacy,
Cineplex UltraAVX & VIP Cinemas, and grocery shopping centres. Opening throughout the 2017–2020 phase.
Station Lands
Station Lands will be a multi-use development in downtown Edmonton. It is being built in a 9.15-acre (37,030 m
2) site north of
CN Tower
The CN Tower () is a communications and observation tower in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Completed in 1976, it is located in downtown Toronto, built on the former Railway Lands. Its name "CN" referred to Canadian National, the railway co ...
once occupied by the
old Canadian National rail yard. Expected to be completed in 2019 to 2022, it will include four high-rise towers,
a multi-story public plaza, and podium space. There will be 2.5 million square feet (230,000 m
2) of office, retail, hotel, and residential space. The total cost of the project is estimated to be . On December 7, 2007, it was announced that EPCOR Utilities Inc. has entered into a 20-year lease to become the anchor tenant of Tower A (renamed
EPCOR Tower
Epcor Tower is an office tower in Downtown Edmonton, downtown Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The tower is capped by two spires that are capped with four flagpoles each. When the spires were taken into account, it was the tallest building in Edmonton f ...
), a commercial office tower that was completed in 2011.
Demographics
As of the 2019 Edmonton Municipal Census, there were 12,423 people living in Downtown Edmonton. As of 2016, there were approximately 92,735 jobs in Downtown Edmonton.
Education

There are several institutions providing educational opportunities in the downtown core. The largest of these is
MacEwan University whose City Centre Campus is located along the northern edge of the downtown core between 105 Street and 112 Street, and between 104 Avenue and 105 Avenue. This site used to be part of an
old Canadian National rail yard that started redevelopment in the 1990s. MacEwan University also operates the Alberta College Campus located near the southern edge of the downtown core on McDonald Drive.
The
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta (also known as U of A or UAlberta, ) is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It was founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta, and Henry Marshall Tory, t ...
has redeveloped the site of the Bay building on Jasper Avenue between 102 Street and 103 Street as Enterprise Square (2008). "The building will house TEC Edmonton, a jointly operated research commercialization centre presently located in the U of A's Research Transition Facility." The opening of Enterprise Square marks the University's 100th Anniversary and first presence north of the river since it was founded in 1908. Enterprise Square also houses the University's Alumni Services, Faculty of Extension programs, and a U of A Bookstore.
The
Edmonton Public School Board operates a high school, Centre High, in the redeveloped Boardwalk and Revolution buildings.
NorQuest College
NorQuest College is a publicly funded, post-secondary institution in Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Alberta. It is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the c ...
is located between 107 Street and 108 Street at 102 Avenue and provides upgrading and diploma services.
Historic buildings
McKay Avenue School is an important historical building located in downtown Edmonton. Named for Dr. William Morrison MacKay, a doctor with the
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), originally the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England Trading Into Hudson’s Bay, is a Canadian holding company of department stores, and the oldest corporation in North America. It was the owner of the ...
and Alberta's first doctor. Construction began in 1904 when the cornerstone was laid by the
Governor General of Canada
The governor general of Canada () is the federal representative of the . The monarch of Canada is also sovereign and head of state of 14 other Commonwealth realms and resides in the United Kingdom. The monarch, on the Advice (constitutional la ...
,
Lord Minto. The building was named a provincial historic resource in 1976. Due to declining enrollments, the school was closed in 1983. Today, the building has a new lease on life, and is the home of the
Edmonton Public School Board Archives and Museum. In addition to its educational role, the building was also used by the
Alberta Legislature
The Alberta Legislature is the unicameral legislature of the province of Alberta, Canada. The legislature is made of two elements: the lieutenant governor of Alberta, lieutenant governor (representing the King of Canada),. and the Legislative A ...
during 1906 and 1907, when the legislature's first two sittings were held here. The 1881 Schoolhouse, an older wood frame building and Edmonton's oldest school, is located on the same site.
History of McKay Avenue School
Retail
Edmonton City Centre (formerly Eaton Centre and Edmonton Centre) is a two part shopping mall with over 170 services on 102 Avenue. It is anchored by Winners, Shoppers Drug Mart
Shoppers Drug Mart Inc. (colloquially Shoppers; named Pharmaprix in Quebec) is a Canadian retail pharmacy chain based in Toronto, Ontario. It has more than 1,300 stores in ten provinces and two territories.
The company was founded by pharmacist ...
and Landmark Cinemas
Landmark Cinemas Canada LP. is a Canadian cinema chain. Based in Calgary, Alberta, Landmark operates 36 theatres with 299 screens, primarily in Ontario and western Canada. Its holdings include much of the former Empire Theatres chain which it ac ...
. It has four office towers (using the mall as a podium), plus a Delta
Delta commonly refers to:
* Delta (letter) (Δ or δ), the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet
* D (NATO phonetic alphabet: "Delta"), the fourth letter in the Latin alphabet
* River delta, at a river mouth
* Delta Air Lines, a major US carrier ...
hotel. When Edmonton Centre and the Eaton Centre became one in the late 1990s after the demise of Eaton's, a newer and larger pedestrian skyway was built to connect the two malls which also contains a number of shops. Also in the late 1990s (after the malls became one), the mall received a makeover itself.
Transportation
Edmonton Transit System's light rail system runs beneath the downtown core, with one station at Churchill Square ( Churchill LRT Station), three stations along Jasper Avenue ( Central, Bay/Enterprise Square, and Corona) and next to the Legislature ( Government Centre). From Government Centre station, the LRT continues south over the North Saskatchewan River
The North Saskatchewan River is a glacier-fed river that flows from the Canadian Rockies continental divide east to central Saskatchewan, where it joins with the South Saskatchewan River to make up the Saskatchewan River. Its water flows event ...
to three University of Alberta
The University of Alberta (also known as U of A or UAlberta, ) is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It was founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta, and Henry Marshall Tory, t ...
stations (University
A university () is an educational institution, institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several Discipline (academia), academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly ...
, Health Sciences
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to health sciences:
Health sciences – those sciences that focus on health, or health care, as core parts of their subject matter. Health sciences relate to multiple a ...
, and South Campus), as a part of the South extension. From Churchill Station, the LRT travels northeast towards Commonwealth Stadium
Commonwealth Stadium is an open-air, multi-purpose stadium located in the McCauley, Edmonton, McCauley neighbourhood of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It has a seating capacity of 56,302, making it the largest open-air stadium in Canada. Primarily ...
and Northlands Coliseum. A second LRT line, the Metro Line, connecting to MacEwan University, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Kingsway Mall, and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) is a public polytechnic and applied sciences institute in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
NAIT offers approximately 120 credit programs leading to degrees, applied degrees, diplomas, and certifica ...
(NAIT), opened in 2015. A third line, the Valley Line, connects downtown to Mill Woods
Mill Woods is a residential area in the city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Located in southeast Edmonton, Mill Woods is bounded by Whitemud Drive ( Highway 14) to the north, 91 Street to the west, 34 Street to the east, and Anthony Hend ...
, and , the Valley Line's west phase is under construction.
The Edmonton Pedway
The Edmonton Pedway system is a pedestrian network connecting office buildings, shopping centres, and parkades in Downtown Edmonton, downtown Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It consists of approximately of year-round climate-controlled Underground ci ...
is a pedestrian skywalk system that consists of bridges
A bridge is a structure built to span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or railway) without blocking the path underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, which is usually somet ...
and tunnels
A tunnel is an underground or undersea passageway. It is dug through surrounding soil, earth or rock, or laid under water, and is usually completely enclosed except for the two portals common at each end, though there may be access and ve ...
connecting various buildings and LRT stations in the downtown area.
A heritage streetcar
Heritage streetcars or heritage trams are a part of the efforts to preserve rail transit heritage. In addition to preserving street-running rail vehicles, heritage streetcar operations can include upkeep of historic rail infrastructure. Working ...
line operates during the summer months from Jasper Avenue to Old Strathcona over the High Level Bridge.
Surrounding Neighbourhoods
Surrounding neighbourhoods include Central McDougall to the north, McCauley to the northeast, Boyle Street to the East, Rossdale to the south, Wîhkwêntôwin to the west, and Queen Mary Park to the northwest. Downtown Edmonton is bounded by 105 Avenue in the north and 97 Street in the east. Its southern boundary is defined by River Valley Road directly south of the Legislature
A legislature (, ) is a deliberative assembly with the legal authority to make laws for a political entity such as a country, nation or city on behalf of the people therein. They are often contrasted with the executive and judicial power ...
, 97 Avenue, Bellamy Hill, and McDougall Hill. Its western boundary is 111 Street north of Jasper Avenue
Jasper Avenue is an arterial road in central Edmonton, Alberta, and is the city's main street. Jasper Avenue has no official street number but is aligned with 101 Avenue with the majority of its length. Jasper Avenue is a major public transi ...
and the alley between 109 Street and 110 Street south of Jasper Avenue.
See also
* List of neighbourhoods in Edmonton
* List of tallest buildings in Edmonton
* Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues
References
External links
Downtown Business Association
Downtown Edmonton Directory
Downtown Edmonton Community League
Edmonton Public School Board Archives and Museum
{{Edmonton neighbourhoods
Neighbourhoods in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Alberta. It is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Central Alberta ...
Tourist attractions in Edmonton