Why Live in St. Albert?

Perched along the banks of the Sturgeon River is the city of St. Albert, the second-largest city in the Edmonton Capital Region.

Originally Métis land, the town of St. Albert was founded in 1861 by Father Albert Lacombe, who built a chapel on what is now known as Mission Hill. Today, Father Lacombe Chapel still stands atop Mission Hill, an iconic building connecting St. Albert with its small-town history. In 1904, St. Albert officially became a town, and by 1906 the Canadian Northern Railway had reached St. Albert. A reproduction of the original CN station can be seen today at the St. Albert Grain Elevators Park.

In the centre of downtown is St. Albert Place, its unique architecture a nod to the gentle twists and turns of the adjacent Sturgeon River. The heart of the community, St. Albert Place houses the St. Albert Public Library, Musée Héritage Museum, the Visual Arts Studio Association, and Arden Theatre, as well as St. Albert City Hall. Each year St. Albert Place is host to the International Children’s Festival, attracting some 40,000 visitors who come to enjoy music, dance, and theatre performances from around the globe. In May, a lively parade through downtown St. Albert kicks off the start of the Kinsmen Rainmaker Rodeo, an annual event with concerts, a midway, and rodeo events.

Western Canada’s largest outdoor farmers’ market can be found in St. Albert’s Perron District, where visitors flock each Saturday from April through October to shop for fresh fruits and veggies and handmade arts and crafts. Boasting a rich arts scene, the Perron District is also home to a painters’ guild, writers’ guild, and the Art Gallery of St. Albert.