Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta, situated in the north…with a population of 1,016,000 (2005 est.). A resident of Edmonton is known as an Edmontonian.

At 684 km2, Edmonton is also one of the largest cities by area in North America…However, Edmonton also has the one of the lowest population densities in North America — about 67 times less than New York.

Edmonton serves as the northern anchor of the “Calgary-Edmonton Corridor”…is a staging point for large-scale oilsands projects …Edmonton is Canada’s second most populous provincial capital (after Toronto) and is known as a well-rounded cultural, government, and educational centre.

It plays host to a year round slate of world-class festivals, earning it the title of Festival City¹. Among these is included:

1) Edmonton’s Capital Ex (formerly the Klondike Days Exposition),

2) The Fringe (SEEBELOW) North America’s first and largest fringe event

3) Edmonton International Street Performer’s Festival

4) Edmonton Folk Music Festival

5) Cariwest

6) Canadian Finals Rodeo and many more.

It has also hosted many international events, including the 2001 IAAF World Track and Field Championships, the West Edmonton Mall Grand Prix, and the 2005 World Masters Games.

It is home to North America’s largest mall, West Edmonton Mall,

Canada’s largest historical park, Fort Edmonton Park, and North America’s largest collection of authentic eighteenth century ships-of-the-line. In 2004, Edmonton celebrated the centennial of its incorporation as a city in 1904.

via http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton%2C_Alberta

WORTHNOTING – O MAGAZINE (OPRAH) AUGUST 2005

• After a summer of successes for Edmonton, from the inaugural West Edmonton Mall Grand Prix to the World Masters’ Games, one of Edmonton’s favourite and best known festivals has also received a bit of star treatment. The August issue of O, the Oprah Magazine featured four of North America’s fringe festivals: New York, Philadelphia, Minnesota and Edmonton.

Although it’s a short piece, the article points out that the Edmonton Fringe is the oldest of the more than 25 festivals of this genre in North America.

“It’s simply the kind of publicity you couldn’t possibly buy,” says Miki Stricker, Edmonton Fringe Festival director. Indeed, even if the O magazine article doesn’t attract a horde of foreign tourists, it underscores this city’s importance—if not pre-eminence—in theatre.

http://www.edmontonians.com/Archives/Sept05archive/Sept05_more_civic_buzz.htm