Culture of Alberta
Encyclopedia
Summer brings many festivals to the province of Alberta
. Edmonton
's Fringe Festival is the world's second largest after Edinburgh
's. Edmonton also hosts some of Canada's largest Folk Festivals, Multicultural Festivals, and Heritage Days (to name a few). Calgary is also home to Carifest, the second largest Caribbean
festival in the nation (after Caribana in Toronto
). These events highlight the province's cultural diversity and love of entertainment. Most of the major cities have several performing theatre companies who entertain in venues as diverse as the Arts Barns and the Francis Winspear Centre.
Both Edmonton and Calgary have quality symphony orchestras. Many performing venues exist throughout the province, notably Calgary
's Jack Singer Concert Hall and Edmonton's Francis Winspear Centre. The Northern Lights Theatre located at Keyano College in Fort McMurray
is known throughout western Canada for its quality performances and curriculum. Several well-known theatre artists got their start in an Alberta theatre.
Although Alberta lacks a preponderance of notable large art galleries, many small galleries which focus on local artists and artisans exist in the major centres. Canadian and northern Canadian art and crafts are notable in their popularity. Local sculptors, painters, weavers and many other artisans show original works throughout the province.
, whose curved designs lend Red Deer College
and other Alberta facilities a distinct flavour. Calgary is known for its New York- or Toronto-style glass-and-steel high-rises while Edmonton boasts many facades from the early 1900s. Sadly, many of the valuable historical buildings of both cities were destroyed in a 60's attempt to "modernize." However, Edmonton's extensive reconstruction of Fort Edmonton
, together with themed streets for period architecture (often including the original buildings) ensures that the past is alive and well in the city at Fort Edmonton Park
.
) in Canada. Of the schools of higher learning one cannot ignore the two major colleges, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
and Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
which produce annually thousands of qualified, ready-to-work graduates in disciplines as varied as 'Mechanical Technology' and 'Baking'. Alberta also is home to a number of Universities, including the University of Alberta( Ranked 59th in the world) as well as the University of Calgary, University of Lethbridge and Mount Royal University
and the CBC's Jake and the Kid are notables among many. For years, the TV program Viper was shot in downtown Calgary. Though it could be said that few films and television shows are filmed in Alberta compared to the rest of Canada, this is really a matter of finances and grants from the various provincial governments and can change on a whim or an election. Some notable oases in this desert are Banff
, a Rocky Mountain resort town that is home to the annual Banff World Television Festival, and the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology
in Drumheller
which has a remarkable collection of dinosaur
fossils found in the Alberta badlands.
is also important to Albertans. Millions of visitors come to Alberta each year just for the Stampede
and for Edmonton's Capital EX
(formerly called Klondike Days). Edmonton is also the gateway to the only Canadian route to the Yukon
gold field
s, and the only route which did not require gold-seekers to travel the exhausting and dangerous Chilkoot Pass
.
Visitors throng to Calgary for ten days every July for a taste of "Stampede Fever". As a celebration of Canada's own Wild West and the cattle ranching industry, the Stampede
welcomes around 1.2 million people each year. Only an hour's drive from the Rocky Mountains
, Calgary also makes a visit to tourist attractions like Banff National Park
something which can easily be done in a day. Calgary and Banff together host nearly 5 million tourists yearly.
Edmonton is Alberta's number one tourism destination in several key categories and Alberta's top-ranked metropolitan destination in other categories. Edmonton is the number one destination in overall person-visits to Alberta and the number one destination in person-visits from other provinces. Edmonton is also Alberta’s number one metropolitan destination for U.S. visitations and revenues.
population west of Ontario, most of whom live in the north of the province. As reported in the 2001 census, the Chinese
represented nearly four percent of Alberta's population and East Indians
represented better than two percent. Both Edmonton and Calgary have large Chinatown
s. Indigenous Albertans make up approximately three percent of the population.
The major contributors to Alberta's ethnic diversity have been the European nations. Forty-four percent of Albertans are of British
descent, and there are also large numbers of Germans, Ukrainians
, and Scandinavia
ns. Edmonton's August Heritage Festival brings together nearly four hundred thousand participants from over seventy cultures around the world living in or near the city.
and National Hockey League
teams. Soccer, rugby union
and lacrosse
are played professionally in Alberta. However, Alberta's last Pacific Coast League baseball
team, the Edmonton Trappers
, left the province (and Canada) after the 2004 season.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
's Fringe Festival is the world's second largest after Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
's. Edmonton also hosts some of Canada's largest Folk Festivals, Multicultural Festivals, and Heritage Days (to name a few). Calgary is also home to Carifest, the second largest Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
festival in the nation (after Caribana in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
). These events highlight the province's cultural diversity and love of entertainment. Most of the major cities have several performing theatre companies who entertain in venues as diverse as the Arts Barns and the Francis Winspear Centre.
Both Edmonton and Calgary have quality symphony orchestras. Many performing venues exist throughout the province, notably Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
's Jack Singer Concert Hall and Edmonton's Francis Winspear Centre. The Northern Lights Theatre located at Keyano College in Fort McMurray
Fort McMurray, Alberta
Fort McMurray is an urban service area in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo in Alberta, Canada. It was previously incorporated as a city on September 1, 1980. It became an urban service area when it amalgamated with Improvement District No. 143 on April 1, 1995 to create the Municipality...
is known throughout western Canada for its quality performances and curriculum. Several well-known theatre artists got their start in an Alberta theatre.
Although Alberta lacks a preponderance of notable large art galleries, many small galleries which focus on local artists and artisans exist in the major centres. Canadian and northern Canadian art and crafts are notable in their popularity. Local sculptors, painters, weavers and many other artisans show original works throughout the province.
Architecture
Architecturally, the province takes pride in the work of Douglas CardinalDouglas Cardinal
Douglas Joseph Cardinal, OC is a Canadian architect.Born of Métis and Blackfoot heritage, Cardinal is famous for flowing architecture marked with smooth lines, influenced by his Aboriginal heritage as well as European Expressionist architectureIn 1953, he attended the University of British...
, whose curved designs lend Red Deer College
Red Deer College
Red Deer College is a public comprehensive community college of approximately 7,000 students located in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. Established in 1964, RDC was built for a smaller semi-rural community but, in the four and a half decades since its founding, the city has grown into the third largest...
and other Alberta facilities a distinct flavour. Calgary is known for its New York- or Toronto-style glass-and-steel high-rises while Edmonton boasts many facades from the early 1900s. Sadly, many of the valuable historical buildings of both cities were destroyed in a 60's attempt to "modernize." However, Edmonton's extensive reconstruction of Fort Edmonton
Fort Edmonton
Fort Edmonton was the name of a series of trading posts of the Hudson's Bay Company from 1795 to 1891, all of which were located in central Alberta, Canada...
, together with themed streets for period architecture (often including the original buildings) ensures that the past is alive and well in the city at Fort Edmonton Park
Fort Edmonton Park
Fort Edmonton Park is an attraction in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Named for the first enduring European post in the area of modern-day Edmonton, the park is the largest living history museum in Canada by area...
.
Education
Alberta boasts one of the few successful and accredited distance learning universities (Athabasca UniversityAthabasca University
Athabasca University is a Canadian university in Athabasca, Alberta. It is an accredited research institution which also offers distance education courses and programs. Courses are offered primarily in English with some French offerings. Each year, 32,000 students attend the university. It offers...
) in Canada. Of the schools of higher learning one cannot ignore the two major colleges, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology is located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and provides technical training and applied education designed to meet the demands of Alberta's industries...
and Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
-Academics:SAIT Polytechnic offers two full baccalaureate degrees , four applied degrees, 66 diploma and certificate programs, 32 apprenticeship trades and 1,600 continuing education and corporate training courses....
which produce annually thousands of qualified, ready-to-work graduates in disciplines as varied as 'Mechanical Technology' and 'Baking'. Alberta also is home to a number of Universities, including the University of Alberta( Ranked 59th in the world) as well as the University of Calgary, University of Lethbridge and Mount Royal University
Media
Many films and some television shows have been shot in Alberta. Clint Eastwood's UnforgivenUnforgiven
Unforgiven is a 1992 American Western film produced and directed by Clint Eastwood with a screenplay written by David Webb Peoples. The film tells the story of William Munny, an aging outlaw and killer who takes on one more job years after he had hung up his guns and turned to farming...
and the CBC's Jake and the Kid are notables among many. For years, the TV program Viper was shot in downtown Calgary. Though it could be said that few films and television shows are filmed in Alberta compared to the rest of Canada, this is really a matter of finances and grants from the various provincial governments and can change on a whim or an election. Some notable oases in this desert are Banff
Banff, Alberta
Banff is a town within Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. It is located in Alberta's Rockies along the Trans-Canada Highway, approximately west of Calgary and east of Lake Louise....
, a Rocky Mountain resort town that is home to the annual Banff World Television Festival, and the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology
Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology
The Royal Tyrrell Museum is a popular Canadian tourist attraction and a leading centre of palaeontological research noted for its collection of more than 130,000 fossils....
in Drumheller
Drumheller, Alberta
Drumheller is a town within the Red Deer River valley in the badlands of east-central Alberta, Canada. It is located northeast of Calgary...
which has a remarkable collection of dinosaur
Dinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
fossils found in the Alberta badlands.
Tourism
TourismTourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
is also important to Albertans. Millions of visitors come to Alberta each year just for the Stampede
Calgary Stampede
The Calgary Stampede is an annual rodeo, exhibition and festival held every July in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The ten-day event, which bills itself as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth", attracts over one million visitors per year and features one of the world's largest rodeos, a parade, midway,...
and for Edmonton's Capital EX
Edmonton's Capital EX
Edmonton's Capital EX, formerly known as Klondike Days or K-Days, is an annual 10-day exhibition held in Edmonton, Alberta, usually near the end of July. In recent years it has attracted between 700,000 and 800,000 visitors each year...
(formerly called Klondike Days). Edmonton is also the gateway to the only Canadian route to the Yukon
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
gold field
Gold mining
Gold mining is the removal of gold from the ground. There are several techniques and processes by which gold may be extracted from the earth.-History:...
s, and the only route which did not require gold-seekers to travel the exhausting and dangerous Chilkoot Pass
Chilkoot Pass
Chilkoot Pass is a high mountain pass through the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains in the U.S. state of Alaska and British Columbia, Canada. It is the highest point along the Chilkoot Trail that leads from Dyea, Alaska to Bennett Lake, British Columbia...
.
Visitors throng to Calgary for ten days every July for a taste of "Stampede Fever". As a celebration of Canada's own Wild West and the cattle ranching industry, the Stampede
Calgary Stampede
The Calgary Stampede is an annual rodeo, exhibition and festival held every July in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The ten-day event, which bills itself as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth", attracts over one million visitors per year and features one of the world's largest rodeos, a parade, midway,...
welcomes around 1.2 million people each year. Only an hour's drive from the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
, Calgary also makes a visit to tourist attractions like Banff National Park
Banff National Park
Banff National Park is Canada's oldest national park, established in 1885 in the Rocky Mountains. The park, located 110–180 kilometres west of Calgary in the province of Alberta, encompasses of mountainous terrain, with numerous glaciers and ice fields, dense coniferous forest, and alpine...
something which can easily be done in a day. Calgary and Banff together host nearly 5 million tourists yearly.
Edmonton is Alberta's number one tourism destination in several key categories and Alberta's top-ranked metropolitan destination in other categories. Edmonton is the number one destination in overall person-visits to Alberta and the number one destination in person-visits from other provinces. Edmonton is also Alberta’s number one metropolitan destination for U.S. visitations and revenues.
Ethnic diversity
Alberta also has a large ethnic population. Both the Chinese and East Indian communities are significant, and Alberta is home to the largest FrancophoneFranco-Albertan
The Franco-Albertans are an extended community of French Canadians or French-speaking people living in Alberta. They are centred in the Bonnie Doon area of Edmonton, and there are tens of thousands of Franco-Albertans living in communities such as Legal north of Edmonton, Bonnyville, Plamondon, and...
population west of Ontario, most of whom live in the north of the province. As reported in the 2001 census, the Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
represented nearly four percent of Alberta's population and East Indians
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
represented better than two percent. Both Edmonton and Calgary have large Chinatown
Chinatown
A Chinatown is an ethnic enclave of overseas Chinese people, although it is often generalized to include various Southeast Asian people. Chinatowns exist throughout the world, including East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Americas, Australasia, and Europe. Binondo's Chinatown located in Manila,...
s. Indigenous Albertans make up approximately three percent of the population.
The major contributors to Alberta's ethnic diversity have been the European nations. Forty-four percent of Albertans are of British
English Canadian
An English Canadian is a Canadian of English ancestry; it is used primarily in contrast with French Canadian. Canada is an officially bilingual state, with English and French official language communities. Immigrant cultural groups ostensibly integrate into one or both of these communities, but...
descent, and there are also large numbers of Germans, Ukrainians
Ukrainian Canadian
A Ukrainian Canadian is a person of Ukrainian descent or origin who was born in or immigrated to Canada. In 2006, there were an estimated 1,209,085 persons residing in Canada of Ukrainian origin, making them Canada's ninth largest ethnic group; and giving Canada the world's third-largest...
, and Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
ns. Edmonton's August Heritage Festival brings together nearly four hundred thousand participants from over seventy cultures around the world living in or near the city.
Sports
Both cities brag of their first-class Canadian Football LeagueCanadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
and National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
teams. Soccer, rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
and lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
are played professionally in Alberta. However, Alberta's last Pacific Coast League baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team, the Edmonton Trappers
Edmonton Trappers
The Edmonton Trappers were a minor league baseball team in the Pacific Coast League, ending with the 2004 season. Home games were played at Telus Field in downtown Edmonton, Alberta, Canada....
, left the province (and Canada) after the 2004 season.