Whether you’re from Edmonton, moving there, or a tourist curious about the city, we listed some cool facts about Edmonton below. Let’s dive right in!
1. Edmonton is the 5th largest city in the country by population.
Edmonton is known as the city with the fifth-largest population in Canada. Check out this table to see the country’s top 5 cities ranked by population.
2. Edmonton is the capital city of Alberta!
In 1905, Alberta officially became a province and the next year, Edmonton was designated as its capital.
3. As for the temperature, the lowest temperature ever recorded in Edmonton history is −49.4°C and the highest was 37.2°C. What a huge difference!
On January 19 and 21 in 1886, Edmonton’s temperature hit −49.4°C (−56.9°F), the lowest ever recorded temperature. The highest temperature ever recorded was 37.2°C (99°F) on June 29, 1937.
4. People from Edmonton are called Edmontonians!
If you’re wondering what a native or inhabitant of Edmonton is called, know that they’re usually referred to as Edmontonians.
5. We get a LOT of sun.

Get your sun hats out! One of Canada’s sunniest cities, Edmonton gets over 2,299 hours and 321 days of bright sunshine annually.
It’s the perfect place to enjoy outdoor activities and take advantage of the weather.
6. Fun fact for the Back to the Future fans: Michael J. Fox is an Edmontonian (plus other famous actors)!

Image from YouTube
If you remember the 1985 American science fiction film “Back to the Future” and its lead, Marty McFly, you’ll be interested to know that the actor who plays Marty is from Edmonton. Canadian-American retired actor, Michael J. Fox, gained popularity in the 1970s.
Michael J. Fox led a very prominent career, having won 5 Primetime Emmy Awards, a Grammy, four Golden Globe Awards, and 2 Screen Actors Guild Awards. He was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2000.
Other famous actors from Edmonton include Nathan Fillion, Tommy Chong, Niall Matter, and Jill Hennessy.
7. Edmonton plays a crucial role in the country’s oil industry.
It’s well known that Alberta’s oil industry is very important to Canada’s economic development. Edmonton is actually the regional logistical and service hub for the sector, playing a huge part in the industry’s success.
It is the closest major center to Alberta’s oil sands. Edmonton is known as a good strategic base for many industries supporting gas and oil industries.
8. Our local hockey team is named “The Edmonton Oilers”.
Since Edmonton is known as the country’s oil capital, they named the local professional ice hockey team “The Edmonton Oilers”. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League since they’re members of the Pacific division of the Western Conference.
9. The Edmonton Oilers enjoyed a winning streak in the 1980’s.

Image from NHL.
Speaking of the Oilers, they won the seasons from 1983-1990. The Oilers also have 5 Stanley Cup championships under their belts.
10. Edmonton is home to a giant cowboy boot.

Image from One Stop Biker Shop
This giant boot has become an Edmonton icon. It was initially built to promote a boot factory called the Western Boot Factory when it was constructed in 1989.
The boot is four stories tall (39’4”), 9 feet wide at the top, and 16 feet long at the sole. It weighs 40 tons and is made of fiberglass.
Plus, it even lights up at night. It’s certainly worth a visit when you come to town.
11. We hold a lot of festivals. Edmonton is known as the festival city.

Edmonton holds over a hundred festivals in a year. So if you’re into that, then the city is a must-visit for you.
There’s the Bikeology Festival for cyclists that has races, food, and all kinds of programs. We also have K-Days, an annual 10-day exhibition.
We’re the home of the largest Fringe Festival in North America called the International Fringe Festival as well. It brings together over 800+ performers for a fantastic show you don’t want to miss.
These are just some of the many festivals here in the city.
12. Edmonton has the biggest mall in Canada – the West Edmonton Mall.
West Edmonton Mall opened on September 15, 1981, and is the largest shopping mall in North America to be found outside of the US. Since then, it has become a popular tourist attraction.
It used to be the biggest mall in the world from 1981-2004.
It was inspired by traditional bazaars of Persia where shopping and entertainment are all in one place. It was once known as the largest mall in the world.
At 5.3 million square feet, it’s as big as a small city. They have over 800 stores, different attractions, two hotels, restaurants, retailers, and entertainment.
It’s a great place to bring kids because they have an indoor amusement park, water park, ice rink, underground aquarium, a pirate ship, and a mini-golf course.
13. We’re rat-free!

Since the 1950’s the whole province of Alberta is known to be free of rodents. In fact, most residents probably have not seen one.
Rats can be very harmful since they consume and spoil food products, damage electrical wiring and buildings, and cause diseases. Edmontonians are even required to report any sightings of a rat to the Animal Care and Control Center by dialing 311.
14. We’re home to the second-largest number of hoofed animals in the world.

Head on over to Elk Island National Park and get to see a bison in person. As we mentioned, it has the second-largest number of hoofed animals worldwide (Serengeti’s currently #1).
They have over 750 bison and are known as the country’s biggest completely enclosed park.
15. We have the most parkland per capita than any other city in the country.
If you love the great outdoors and enjoy camping, hiking, and nature walks, you will love Edmonton. The Edmonton River Valley Park system has 20 different parks that are 22 times the size of Central Park when combined – amazing, right?
16. We have the country’s largest planetarium.
The Margaret Zeidler Star Theatre at Telus World of Science is the country’s biggest planetarium. It has a dome that’s about 23 meters and can seat 235 people.
You’ll also be amazed by the 10K resolution. You can check out the different programs here.
You can find the planetarium at 11211 142 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5M 4A1, Canada.
17. During winter time, you can usually see the Aurora Borealis.

Aurora Borealis or northern lights are dancing waves of light that look majestic. Viewing them is definitely an experience.
And…you can see them in Edmonton! You can check this real-time monitor to know if there might be aurora visible in the city on a day-to-day basis.
18. Public schools in Edmonton offer a Mandarin bilingual program for kids in kindergarten up to 12th grade – the only one of its kind in North America!

The English-Chinese (Mandarin) Bilingual Program allows students within the Edmonton Public School system to learn Chinese and English languages and to learn more about Chinese culture within its engaging and rigorous curriculum.
It is accomplished from kindergarten to high school graduation and done during regular school hours. This program was established by the Edmonton Chinese Bilingual Education Association from 1982 up to 1983.
The city is one of the few centers of excellence in the country for understanding Asia and its culture and language.
19. Cold-FX was invented in Edmonton.
The popular cold and flu medicine, Cold-FX, was co-developed by Dr. Jacqueline Shan in Edmonton. So remember this fact when you take the medicine during flu season.
20. We have Canada’s largest living history museum.

Calling all history buffs – Fort Edmonton Park, also simply known as “Fort Edmonton” is a famous attraction and is the largest living history museum in Canada by area.
They have the Indigenous Peoples Experience which was made through deep conversations with over 50 indigenous elders, educators, historians, and other community members. You’ll get to see and appreciate stories, art, and text from these people.
They also have the 1846 fort, 1885 street, 1905 street, 1920 street, and other exhibitions. There are even wagon and pony rides that are a big hit for kids.
21. Our High-Level Bridge Streetcar is the tallest of its kind worldwide.

We have an amazing and historic streetcar here at Edmonton where you can take in beautiful views and learn about the early days of the city.
The refurbished trolley car was used in the early 1900s and journeys across a hundred-year-old High-Level Bridge. It’s a great way to go from downtown Edmonton to Old Strathcona.
22. We LOVE breweries here.

Edmonton has more than 23 breweries, so if you love craft beer you’d love it here. If you’re curious about the breweries, here’s a list of some of the best places and where to find them:
23. The Commonwealth Stadium is known as the largest open-air stadium in all of Canada.

Image from Edmonton CA
Sports fans, you’d love to know that the largest stadium in the country can be found here. Commonwealth Stadium is an open-air stadium found in McCauley neighborhood.
It can seat over 56,302 people and is used for football games, athletics, rugby, soccer, and even concerts.
24. The Edmonton Elks, previously known as the Edmonton Eskimos, changed their name because it was politically incorrect.
Last year, the CFL franchise dropped their former name and changed it to “Edmonton Elks” because “Eskimos” is politically incorrect due to it being a derogatory term for Inuit.
25. If you’re a fan of the Oilers, check out the statues of Wayne Gretzy downtown.

Image from CTV News
If you go downtown, you’ll see statues of Wayne Gretzy, who led the Oilers to victory quite a few times. If you’re a hockey fan, this is something you shouldn’t miss.
That concludes our compilation of facts from Edmonton! Did we miss any cool facts?
Let us know!