The city of St. Albert is located just northwest of Edmonton on the Sturgeon River. The city is bounded by Villeneuve Road to the north, Anthony Henday Drive to the southeast, and Ray Gibbon Drive and Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park to the west.
The settlement of St. Albert was founded in 1861 by Father Albert Lacombe. Lacombe built a log chapel on Mission Hill for his ministry to the Cree and Metis. The settlement was incorporated as a village in 1904 and was granted town status in 1962. St. Albert became a city in 1977. In 2012 St. Albert had a population of 60,994, making it the second-largest city in the Edmonton Capital Region.
Residents can enjoy over 70 kilometres of walking trails connecting the parks and along the Sturgeon River, as well as more than 1,100 acres of green space. The Red Willow park trails connect parks and residential areas throughout the city. The Fountain Park and Grosvenor pools have pools, tennis and racquetball courts, and children’s play areas. Built in 2006, Servus Credit Union Place offers an aquatic centre, twin hockey rinks, two soccer fields, two basketball courts, a running track, and other features.
The schools in St. Albert operate under St. Albert Public Schools and Greater St. Albert Catholic Regional Division No. 29. There are also two French immersion schools from the North Central Francophone School Board.
The city has several attractions, including the Arden Theatre, the Art Gallery of St. Albert, the St. Albert Public Library, and the 18-acre St. Albert Botanic Park.
St. Albert is known for its Aboriginal background. For that reason, some of the downtown street signs are written in English, French, and Cree. St. Albert’s Grain Elevator Park, Musée Héritage Museum, and Little White School offer historical insight into the early 1900s. The Father Lacombe Chapel, the oldest building in Alberta, is now a Provincial Heritage Site.
The city has a variety of events that residents can attend, like the Outdoor Farmers’ Market, which is the largest outdoor farmers’ market in Western Canada. The Northern Alberta International Children’s Festival is among the longest-running children’s festivals in North America. The Cheremosh Ukrainian Dance Festival, hosted by the Cheremosh Ukrainian Dance Company, is also held every spring.
Residents have easy access to Edmonton via Highway 2, Anthony Henday Drive, and St. Albert Transit’s commuter routes.
St. Albert was originally named after Saint Albert of Louvain, Bishop of Liege, by Bishop Alexandre-Antonin Taché.
Source:YEGishome.ca
