Living in Edmonton
Edmonton, Alberta is a thriving urban centre and the fifth largest metropolitan area in Canada with a population of over a million. The parks, cultural attractions, sporting and recreational events, restaurants, nightlife, and most of all, the people, make Edmonton a friendly and exciting place to live.
Living in Edmonton includes all the perks that come with living in a large urban centre. If you are a sports enthusiast, you might enjoy going to an Oilers game or maybe catching a game or two with the Eskimos, Oil Kings or the Edmonton Rush lacrosse team. If you enjoy music, there are dozens of lounges and clubs close to campus, and Edmonton is a favourite stop for many world-class entertainers. If your tastes run towards the classical, you also have a great deal to choose from. On any weekend there is sure to be a performance from the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Edmonton Opera, or any one of over a dozen professional theatre companies.
Shopping in Edmonton is also great. You can check out West Edmonton Mall (one of the world's largest indoor malls with over 800 stores, a water park, and an amusement centre), Old Strathcona (an area close to campus featuring coffee shops, boutiques, bookstores, and a farmer's market), or one of our 26 shopping centres. If you enjoy eating out with friends, Edmonton boasts over 2,000 multi-ethnic restaurants!
The North Saskatchewan River valley borders the U of A's 89-hectare campus, providing students with immediate access to North America's longest system of urban parks and trails. When you need a break, the river valley is a great place for you to enjoy cycling, jogging, rollerblading, walking, or cross-country and downhill skiing. In and around the city, there are also dozens of public golf courses, community ice rinks, soccer fields, and swimming pools - all of them available to you as an Edmonton resident.
Edmonton's climate is characterized by dry winter air and moderate summer temperatures. When classes begin in the fall, days are generally warm. Winter days can be cold, but the dry air makes these cold temperatures less chilling than a comparable temperature with damp air. Spring weather can be quite variable - some days warm and wet, others windy and cool. Summer days are often warm, but the influence of the nearby Rocky Mountains ensures that the air always cools off at night. Alberta receives more hours of sunshine than any other province in Canada. Summer days are long, with up to 18 hours of daylight.
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