Toolkit
Meetings, Conventions & Business Travel
Annual Edmonton events offer unique attractions for conference/meeting delegates to attend while in the city. Some favorites include Farmfair International, and the Canadian Finals Rodeo. And as Canada's Festival City, there are over 30 annual festivals celebrated throughout the year in Edmonton, including the Edmonton Folk Music Festival and the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival. Fittingly, Edmonton was recently named Cultural Capital of Canada for 2007.
EDMONTON’S SHAW CONFERENCE CENTRE GOES GREEN
Edmonton’s Shaw Conference Centre (SCC) has undertaken a number of simple steps to reduce the ecological impact of hosting half a million guests annually and lighten the environmental footprint of operating a 200,000 sq. ft. facility in the middle of a thriving metropolis. Our staff, contractors, suppliers and clients are active partners in our many ongoing, environmental initiatives.As host to over 700 events annually, SCC is sensitive to the effects of our business operations on the environment. In recognition of our efforts to incorporate industry environmental best practices, SCC received “Go Green” certification from the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Canada in 2007.
EDMONTON FESTIVAL CITY IN A BOX
Edmonton Tourism’s Festival City in a Box is a program offered to association and executive planners.This award winning program was developed with the recognition that Edmonton’s renowned festivals are an integral part of selling the City of Edmonton and that they could be packaged up and contained in a box – ready to go. The intent is to influence the planner to choose Edmonton as host city for their next meeting, convention or event, and to weave a festival theme throughout.
Edmonton Festival City in a Box also provides a menu of suggestions to help integrate Edmonton’s vibrant festival theme throughout a convention or conference. The menu includes ideas to theme keynote addresses, breakout sessions, team building, entertainment, décor, catering and receptions around the festival brand which offers a highly engaging experience for the delegates – the program and its supporting menu is anchored on our site at festivalcity.ca. More comprehensive information within the menu is available on the site via a user name and password.
The menu is about presenting ideas for festival integration while still allowing the association or executive planner to put their own creativity into the event. It also includes the Edmonton Festival City Road Show, a multi-disciplinary arts showcase featuring some of Edmonton's best talent which may feature trapeze, dance, music and theatre performance! This show may be customized to suit a client’s needs based on budget, time constraints, etc.
The show has been produced at many local and out-of-market events reaching residents as well as national and international audiences. It was the featured entertainment for the Opening Gala of the Alberta Folklife Festival at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC (2006), at the infamous Spirit of Edmonton’s party for Grey Cup in Toronto (2007), and the Spirit of Edmonton party in Montreal (2008).
* Edmonton Festival City in a Box is presented by TransAlta and is trademarked.
Telephone: 780.426.4715
Website: www.edmonton.com/for-visitors/meeting-and-event-planners.aspx
MEETINGS AND CONFERENCE SPACE
There are over 50 venues in Greater Edmonton that offer flexible space suitable for events of all sizes.Mayfield Trade Centre: Located in Edmonton’s west end, minutes from West Edmonton Mall, the Mayfield Trade Centre houses 25,000 sq. ft. of event space, and an additional 18,000 sq. ft. in the attached Mayfield Inn & Suites.
Telephone: 780.484.0821
Website: www.mayfieldinnedmonton.com
Northlands: Northlands offers outstanding facilities to meet all event requirements from trade shows, to catering, to entertainment. They also offer on-site catering, marketing services, acres of parking, and complete show services. Space is found at Northlands’ Spectrum, AgriCom, Sportex, and Rexall Place.
Telephone: 780.471.7377
Website: www.northlands.com
Oasis Edmonton Conference Centre: Beautiful, newly built west end Conference/Educational Facility with magnificent marble interior and private grounds bring stunning elegance and sophistication to your conference, Presentation or Event. Offering three tiered and balcony seating for up to 855.
Telephone: 780.451.9227
Website: www.oasisedmontonconferencecentre.com
Shaw Conference Centre: Located in the heart of downtown Edmonton, the Shaw Conference Centre is Alberta's largest conference facility with 200,000 sq. ft. of usable function space, including the addition of Hall D - a glass-enclosed space offering up to 1,200 guests an incredible 270-degree view of Edmonton's river valley, the largest urban park in North America. There is also an 82,000 sq. ft. hall divisible into three separate spaces, and 23 meetings rooms.
Telephone: 780.917.7610
Website: www.shawconferencecentre.com
University of Alberta Conference Centre and Telus Centre for Professional Development: The University of Alberta Conference Centre offers numerous meeting facilities to accommodate intimate gatherings or world-class conferences. The Telus Centre for Professional Development employs state-of-the-art learning and communication technology to offer learners maximum flexibility, efficiency and effective access to learning resources (48,000 square feet / 4,320 square meters).
Telephone: 780.492.6057
Website: www.ualberta.ca/conferenceservices
UNIQUE SPECIAL EVENTS VENUES
Alberta Aviation Museum: In addition to the over 30 aircraft on display, the Alberta Aviation Museum has four meeting rooms, and can accommodate groups up to 600 people in the Main Hall.
Telephone: 780.451.1175
Website: www.albertaaviationmuseum.com
Art Gallery of Alberta: The new Art Gallery of Alberta (open since January 31, 2010) is an 85,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility and a premiere presentation venue for international, Canadian and Aboriginal art, education and scholarship. Designed by Randall Stout Architects, Inc. of Los Angeles, the building is itself a work of art. Located in the heart of Edmonton’s Downtown Arts District on Sir Winston Churchill Square, the gallery secures Edmonton’s reputation as a world class city and centre for visual art.
Telephone: 780.422.6223
Website: www.youraga.ca
Citadel Theatre: This downtown facility, home of one of Canada's most acclaimed theatre companies, will accommodate up to 700 people for a function.
Telephone: 780.426.4811
Website: www.citadeltheatre.com
Devonian Botanic Garden: The Devonian Botanic Garden provides a unique and beautiful setting for group. The Garden has several year-round and seasonal facilities available for rent to the public, from intimate gatherings to large groups of up to 200.
Telephone: 780.987.3054
Website: www.devonian.ualberta.ca
Fort Edmonton Park: Situated in Edmonton’s river valley, and just 15 minutes from downtown, Fort Edmonton Park can service groups from 10 to 450, or more than 1,000 in an outdoor experience. Chose a period building as a meetings or special event venue, or book the entire park for an evening. Complement the event with costumed historical interpreters, horse-drawn wagons or a ride on the 1919 steam train.
Telephone: 780.496.7381 (Bookings); 780.442.5311 (General information); 780.496.8771 (Media inquiries only)
Website: www.fortedmontonpark.ca
Francis Winspear Centre for Music: Edmonton's world-class concert hall can accommodate up to 2,000 people for cocktail parties, receptions, corporate functions, fashion shows, dinners, meetings and speakers.
Telephone: 780.429.1992
Website: www.winspearcentre.com
Muttart Conservatory: The Conservatory is one of the City’s finest facilities for any event including dinners, theme parties, cocktail parties, fashion shows, wedding ceremonies and receptions, evening meetings, open houses, etc. All four pyramids are open for the duration of your function.
Telephone: 780.496.4996 (bookings); 780.442.5311 (General information); 780.496.8771 (Media inquiries only)
Website: www.muttartconservatory.ca
Royal Alberta Museum: The Royal Alberta Museum hosts up to 200 guests for a sit-down dinner or 12 to 1,000 people for a cocktail/gala event. The museum also features a 400-seat theatre that provides a perfect setting for video conferencing.
Telephone: 780.453.9108
Website: www.royalalbertamuseum.ca
Telus Centre of Science – Edmonton: The Telus Centre of Science - Edmonton accommodates groups from 10 to 250 people in the individual venues, and up to 2,000 people throughout the facility. Venues including the IMAX Theatre, Margaret Zeidler Star Theatre, and the Exhibit Galleries can be booked for special functions and presentations.
Telephone: 780.452.9100
Website: www.edmontonscience.com
TransAlta Arts Barn: Located in the heart of Old Strathcona’s Theatre District, the TransAlta Arts Barn is a flexible facility that can host events for up to 400 people, or create an intimate atmosphere for 25 or less. The Westbury Theatre is a multiform space able to seat 315 in theatre or lecture style or 200 in cabaret style.
Telephone: 780.448.9000
Website: www.fringetheatreadventures.ca
West Edmonton Mall: The scope and scale of West Edmonton Mall allows event organizers to customize event packages to meet specific needs and desires – ranging from an authentic menu for a Hawaiian Luau in the balmy World Waterpark to a Western party with hay bales and barbecued Alberta Beef in Galaxyland Amusement Park, to an intimate candlelit reception onboard the replica of the Santa Maria ship.
Telephone: 780.444.5200
Website: www.westedmontonmall.com
TRANSPORTATION
Edmonton is an easy city to get around in, whether you choose public transportation, car rentals or taxis. Most streets in the city are built on a grid system, with Avenues running east-west and Streets going north-south. Edmonton’s popular public and visitor transportation options include:
Edmonton Transit System (ETS): ETS began when the Edmonton Radial Railway traveled its first streetcar route along 21 kilometres of track in the fall of 1908. That fateful trip went up Jasper Ave. and passed through the downtown core. With a population of 18,500, and a modest four car fleet, Edmonton earned the unique distinction of the first prairie city with a public streetcar system. The first motorized bus route began in mid 1932, and the streetcar era was officially over as of 1951.
Today, Edmonton Transit's fleet encompasses over 800 diesel and trolley buses, and covers more than 150 routes, including a Light Rail Transit (LRT) system. ETS also offers transportation to persons with disabilities, called the Disabled Adult Transit Service (DATS).
Edmonton's Light Rail Transit provides fast and convenient service for passengers traveling to or from the Northeast, Downtown, Government Centre and University areas of the City. The LRT is powered by electricity and carries over 42,000 passengers on an average day. Free commuter parking is available at Clareview, Belvedere and Stadium LRT Stations.
Website: www.edmonton.ca
High Level Bridge Streetcar: Service over the High Level Bridge began in 1913. Ride a refurbished 1921 streetcar across the North Saskatchewan River, the highest river crossing by streetcar in the world. Take a ride back into history on the High Level Bridge Streetcar, traveling from Old Strathcona (103 Street and 85 Avenue) to the Jasper Terminus (just south of Jasper Avenue/west of 109 Street). Stops include 107 Street, 90 Avenue and 97 Avenue.
Summer service begins on the May long weekend and continues to the September Labour Day weekend. Extended service is provided during the Edmonton International Fringe Festival.
Telephone: 780.437.7721
Website: www.edmonton-radial-railway.ab.ca
Ride the EDDIE: Alberta’s first and only hop-on, hop-off tour bus. If you are in Edmonton for the first time or are planning a return visit, the EDDIE Bus provides the best introduction to Edmonton’s major attractions. Enjoy the sights on the EDDIE, one of Edmonton Transit Systems’ (ETS) low floor buses which are also wheelchair accessible. You can hop on and off as often as you wish and stay as long as you want at each attraction. The EDDIE runs seven days a week during the summer with 18 stops to Edmonton's major attractions, historical sites and shopping areas.
Telephone: 780.496.8400
Website: www.eddiebus.com
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Kelly Bertoncini
Travel Media Relations Manager, External Relations
780.969.0481
kbertoncini@edmonton.com
Bin Lau
Director of Communications, External Relations
780.969.0463
blau@edmonton.com
Jenifer Christenson
Executive Director, External Relations
780.917.7890
jchristenson@edmonton.com
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