Urban communities
Edmonton and Calgary are Alberta’s two major cities, complemented by several other urban centres spread throughout the province.
Edmonton – Alberta’s capital city
Edmonton is the capital city of Alberta and home to the province’s Legislative Assembly. The greater Edmonton region has a growing population of more than one million people. Known as Canada’s festival city, Edmonton is renowned for its cultural events, thriving arts community and scenic river valley.
Edmonton hosts many festivals and celebrations, including:
- Edmonton International Fringe Festival, North America’s largest and longest-running alternative theatre festival
- Servus Heritage Festival, a premier showcase of Canada's vibrant multicultural heritage
- Global Visions Film Festival, an annual documentary film festival that focuses on social issues
Edmonton is home to West Edmonton Mall, North America’s largest entertainment and shopping centre. Edmontonians are also proud supporters of their National Hockey League team, the Edmonton Oilers and their Canadian Football League team, the Edmonton Eskimos.
A diverse economy and low taxes and operating costs make Edmonton a great place to do business. Northern Alberta’s abundance of natural resources is responsible for much of the growth in the past and is expected to continue contributing to our growth well into the future.
Calgary – Alberta’s metropolitan centre
Calgary is nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in southern Alberta. This thriving metropolis of more than one million people offers outdoor adventure and unspoiled wilderness that is only an hour’s drive away in the Canadian Rockies. Calgary was ranked the world's cleanest city by Mercer Quality of Living in a survey published in 2007 by Forbes magazine.
Calgary is the largest metropolitan area between Toronto and Vancouver. Economic activity in Calgary is centered on the petroleum industry, with agriculture, tourism and high-tech industries also contributing to the city's economic growth.
Greater Calgary is home to 64 golf courses, six ski resorts, four professional sports teams including the Calgary Stampeders football team and the Calgary Flames hockey team, and several amateur sports teams and social clubs
Calgary also holds many major annual festivals, which include:
Alberta's other centres
Alberta’s other large cities include:
- Lethbridge, 216 km (134 miles) south of Calgary.
- Medicine Hat, 293 km (182 miles) southeast of Calgary.
- Red Deer, halfway between Calgary and Edmonton.
- Fort McMurray, 439 km (273 miles) northeast of Edmonton.
- Grande Prairie, 456 km (283 miles) northwest of Edmonton.
Discover Alberta’s urban centres using our interactive map.
Date Updated: Oct 25, 2010
RDP:1251
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