Alberta’s Capital Region River Valley Park
Creating a legacy… for generations to come
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4. Capital City Centre
From the City of Edmonton’s Groat Road to Dawson Bridge
The bustle of downtown urban life meets the quiet of the river valley in this portion of the Capital Region River Valley Park. One of the most prominent symbols of Alberta — the Legislature Building — would be surrounded by world-class grounds befi tting the province of Alberta. Linkages would be in place with the soon to be expanded Royal Alberta Museum, historic Government House, the Shaw Conference Centre, and Edmonton’s downtown. Restaurants and other establishments will welcome people from across the region, especially the growing number of people living in Edmonton’s downtown and tourists from across Canada and around the world. This level of enhancement would provide added vibrancy to the downtown segment of the Capital Region River Valley Park and continue to act as a catalyst for renewal of Edmonton’s downtown.
River Valley Factoid
Fort Edmonton soon became a major supplier of York boats on the river, as in due course, the fur traders switched from canoes to York boats to haul their goods. Eighteen men in York boats could haul a load that it took forty men to carry in canoes. Most boatmen were Orkney Islanders or Métis, and their working pace was cruel. The colorful sashes that they wrapped around their waist – characteristic of the “voyageurs” – gave the men essential support while they lifted 40 kg packs. Strangulated hernia was the most common cause of death among the voyageurs.