6. Location. Location. Location.

Edmonton has an awesome arts and culture scene and great parks and schools.

Edmonton is the capital city of Alberta with a population of over 999,000 in the metro area. Residents enjoy no provincial sales tax and the lowest provincial tax in Canada. With an unemployment rate of only 5.1%, the economy is booming and offers Edmontonians a great standard of living. Compared to other major cities in Canada, such as Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto, Edmonton has the lowest cost of living. Although Edmonton is a large city, it is made up of a number of smaller communities who take pride in their city. With many festivals and events, as well as our beautiful river valley, Edmonton is truly a great place to raise a family and work.

Edmonton excels in education at every level. Parents and students can choose from a wide range of schools (public, Catholic, francophone & multi-lingual, charter, private) and unique and innovative educational programs (home education, online/virtual schools, outreach and alternative programs). Our post-secondary institutions are some of the top in North America, and the world. Our schools work with EPS to ensure students have positive role models and the skills they need to grow into productive and balanced adults. Our school resource program is one area where this partnership is excelling. School Resource Officers provide safety, security and prevention in schools and participate in school events and teams.

Edmonton is Canada's "Festival City," offering a wealth of places to visit and activities to enjoy. Sold-out concerts and annual music and cultural festivals bring the city together throughout the year. Edmonton is also home to world-class galleries and museums, and boasts over 1,600 restaurants for every taste and culture. And one more ‘little’ fact — Edmonton is home to the second largest mall in the world, West Edmonton Mall.

If you are a sports fanatic, you would know our sports teams are top notch! The Edmonton Oilers and Edmonton Eskimos are widely known for their accomplishments and great players. The city really gets behind the teams and the games are exhilarating. Be part of the excitement year round with CFL football, NHL hockey and PCL baseball, as well as several local and collegiate teams in basketball, hockey, lacrosse and more.

Our scenic river valley and beautiful parks provide a diverse range of recreational opportunities. There are 22 river valley parks for picnicking and enjoying the beautiful summer weather. There’s a reason they call it Sunny Alberta! If you enjoy cycling, jogging or walking, Edmonton has 48 kilometres of scenic trails along the North Saskatchewan River valley, which can also be enjoyed at water’s edge via boat, kayak, canoe or the majestic Edmonton Queen riverboat.

Edmonton is approximately a three-hour drive to the beautiful Rocky Mountains; Jasper, where you can participate in seasonal activities such as skiing, camping, hiking, sightseeing and more. We also have beautiful lakes and camping in and around Edmonton for that weekend get-a-away.