A Walk Through Time - Edmonton's History

Transport yourself back to 1850-1970's - you wont see this in your average history book!

A tour of some lesser known sites in Edmonton will provide you with a glimpse into the region’s history.   Learn about the transformation of the city and region from a commons valued by Metis and First Nations people to one that served the private property interests of Euro Canadian settler families.  The dispossession of land and resources, which occurred in the Edmonton region, is similar to that experienced in many other parts of Canada. Recognition of the wrongs that occurred during this period, and repatriation of areas such as the Rossdale Flats, are fostering reconciliation.

 
 
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Devonian Botanical Garden Tour
Environmental Education and Research never smelled so good
The University of Alberta's Devonian Botanic Garden is a stunning 240-acre property located southwest of the City of Edmonton, with cultivated gardens and plant collections, and an extensive nature trail system. The Garden was established in 1959 and includes the beautiful Kurimoto Japanese Garden; a Tropical Showhouse with exotic butterflies; Temperate and Arid Showhouses; alpine, herb, rose, peony, lilac and lily collections; a Heritage Garden; Native Peoples Garden; trial beds and more.  The Garden is an award-winning visitor attraction, a research site, and home to year-round adult and children's education programming, join a 4 hour lunch and tour of the gardens.
 
 
Particip-action and Green Spaces
Get a little sweaty..
Edmonton has the largest network of connected urban green space of any city in North America! This green network is well used and a celebrated resource for those of us living in the city.  If you are seeking some particip-action on the one day field trip, we are offering a mountain bikes tour ​with an introduction to urban planning and the city's green spaces by Edmonton City Planners.
 
 
Oil Sands and the Commons
Welcome to Refinery Row
Where does the oil come from, how is it processed and where does it go from Edmonton? Who benefits and who is on the margins? For those who can't make the full trip to Fort McMurray, there is much to learn about the impact of the oil sands within the city limits. Get a local tour by watershed planners, First Nation leaders, petrochemical representatives, and farm families living in industrial heartland of Alberta.
 
 
Elk Island National Park
… where the Buffalo still roam...
​Located less than an hour away from Edmonton, Elk Island National Park protects one of the most endangered habitats in Canada, the wilderness of the aspen parkland. This beautiful area is home to herds of plains bison, wood bison, moose, deer, and elk. Also boasting over 250 species of birds, the park is a bird watcher's paradise.   Canoes rentals are available and there are a number of walking trails that allow you to explore the beauty of this national park. 
 
 
River Valley Ecological Tour
by our own "Nature Nut"
John Acorn is an internationally known scientist, author and broadcaster whose passion and knowledge of the natural world has earned him the name “The Nature Nut”. John teaches courses on biodiversity, environmental communication and protected areas in the Department of Renewable Resources here at the University of Alberta. He is always keen to share his knowledge and love of the Edmonton River Valley. Join him and local ecology students on guided walk through North America's largest urban greenspace.
 
 
What is water worth in Alberta?
Get an inside look at water politics in Alberta
​Watershed stewardship groups take community-level action to safeguard our resources. These groups are community, volunteer-based partnerships and actively engaged in environmental stewardship of Alberta's watersheds. Representation of from different sectors including First Nations, agriculture, NGOs, municipalities and other forms of local government set common goals to achieve shared outcomes. But the politics around managing, monitoring, using and conserving water are challenging, particularly in drought prone regions of the province and areas affected by resource development. 
 
 
Paddling in the Parkland
… row, row, row your boat...
The North Saskatchewan River is a glacier fed river with headwaters in the Canadian Rockies; it flows east through Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba eventually emptying into Lake Winnipeg. Around the Edmonton area, the North Saskatchewan is a wide, relatively calm water way offering beginner level paddling opportunities (Guided by professional paddlers). Get a different perspective of the river valley in and around Edmonton - there is no better way than from on the river itself.
 
 
Ethnobotany Workshop and Tour
Traditional medicines and local business
There are many different plants native to Alberta's prairie and boreal regions - learn more from specialists at Mother Earth Essentials about they have built a local, sustainable business that supports traditional plant use and products that are grounded in Aboriginal culture and teachings. Get your hands a little dirty with a visit to their harvest areas and take home a soap or lotion of your own design.
 
 
Prairie Urban Farm
Where did you put the shovel?
What do you know about urban agriculture? Prairie Urban Farm is a one-acre, mixed crop, community food system in the University of Alberta's South Campus. The goal is to demonstrate an alternative, regenerative way of growing food within the city. Dr. Debra Davidson will lead the tour and highlight how we can achieve greater food security and environmental sustainability in our own backyards.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15th Biennial Global Conference 
International Association for the Study of the Commons 
 
 
Treaty Rights and the Commons
"as long as the rivers flow…"
Edmonton is located in the traditional territory of Treaty #6 First Nations and the Metis Nation of Alberta.  A visit with local First Nations communities outside the city of Edmonton, will educate you about Treaty rights, provide a valuable cultural experience as well as challenge you to think about some of the social, economic and environmental issues faced by Indigenous peoples in Canada.
 
 
 
 
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Ukranian Cultural Heritage Village
What was Alberta like 100 years ago?
Alberta has a unique history of settlement from eastern Europe. The Ukranian community celebrates their role in this history at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, an open-air museum where costumed role-players recreate the life of early Ukrainian pioneers that settled in east central Alberta from 1892-1930. Explore more than 30 relocated and restored structures including a burdei (sod house), a one-room school, grain elevator, blacksmith shop and three churches of Eastern Byzantine Rite.
 
 
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One Day Fieldtrips 

 
 
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Community-based Monitoring 
Sorting through ecological variability and change - its kind of messy.
Get your hands a little dirty during this field trip. You will learn some background on what community-based monitoring has become so important to First Nations in Alberta - get overview of methods used for monitoring changes in water quality, quantity and flow in oil sands region. Participants will visit a site on the North Saskatchewan River to hear from local First Nations representatives and monitors about some of the work going on in the province - don't wear your stilettos. 
  
 
 
Royal Alberta Museum and the Art Gallery of Alberta

Edmonton's Royal Alberta Museum is a favorite amongst visitors and locals alike! Explore the natural and cultural history of Alberta at one of Canada's most popular museums! Then head over the Art Gallery of Alberta that will be featuring PopShow and DaveandJenn: No End.