Edson

Welcome

Welcome to our community. We hope the information contained within this profile is useful. If additional information is required, please contact our representative from the "Key Contacts" section.

Area Overview

The Town of Edson was named after Edson J. Chamberlain, General Manager of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad, in 1911. The town was incorporated in the same year. Today, Edson has a population of 8,365. Edson has a full range of recreational facilities, excellent health care services, a high quality education system, and a vibrant business sector that serves all of the shopping needs of the local residents.

Edson serves a trading population of approximately 14,000 people. Edson is strategically located on Highway 16 - the Trans Canada Yellowhead Route and benefits from the private, commercial and industrial traffic. The Trans Canada Yellowhead Route carries some of the heaviest traffic flow in Alberta, and has been officially declared the second Trans Canada Highway. Approximately 18,000 vehicles pass through Edson daily.

Community Services

Municipal
Town of Edson
605 - 50 Street,
Box 6300
Edson, Alberta
T7E 1T7
Tel: 780-723-4401
Fax: 780-723-3508

Administration Utilities
[water, sewers]
Public Library
Recreation Provincial
Attorney General- Provincial Court Alberta
Opportunity Company Economic Development
Environment Land Reclamation
Family & Social Services
Forestry Lands & Wildlife
Health
- Mental Health Clinic Labour
- Client Services Division Medical Examiner
- Coroner Motor Transport Services Division Motor Vehicle Division Property Management Division Public Works, Supply and Services Solicitor General Transportation and Utilities Federal Employment & Immigration Canada Environment Canada Canada Post Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Community Lifestyle

Recreation
Recreational facilities in Edson include an indoor swimming pool with a waterslide, 8-sheet curling rink, 18-hole golf course, 2 indoor ice arenas, 4 outdoor ice arenas, 2 tennis courts, 12 baseball diamonds, Vision Park [21 Ball Diamonds], 2 cross-country ski trail systems, hiking trails, a movie theatre, mini-golf/driving range, public library, 2 craft centres, bowling alley/indoor mini-golf facility, art room, rodeo/gymkhana grounds, shooting/archery range, fitness & racquetball club, weightlifting club, snowmobile areas and numerous lakes and rivers for canoeing & fishing. There is also a theatre for performing arts, and 2 local museums.

The Edson Friendship Centre offers a variety of programs and services to the community. Some of their initiatives include a Computer Based Learning Centre, recreational activities and cultural programs, and services for seniors, women and youth. The Family Life Improvement Program, Family Support Worker, and Family in Need Programs offer services to those who may be experiencing difficulty in their lives.
Contact the Edson Friendship Centre
[Tel: 403-723-5494].

Nearby campgrounds include Club No Jack Campground, East of Edson R.V. Resort, Edson Lions Park Campground, Edson Rest Area, Fickle Lake, Hornbeck Creek Provincial Recreation Area, Little Sundance Creek, Long Lake Campground, Minnow Lake, Bear Lake Campground, Willmore Recreation Park and Wolf Lake.

Community Organizations
Locally-based community groups include the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks [BPOE #87], Edson & District Chamber of Commerce, Edson Kinette Club, Edson Kinsmen Club, Edson Lioness Club, Edson Lions Club, Edson Masonic Lodge, Edson Rotary Club, Edson Shrine Club, Independent Order of Oddfellows K40 Club, Knights of Columbus, Ladies Auxiliary to the Canadian Legion, Order of the Eastern Star, Order of the Royal Purple, Royal Canadian Air Cadets, Royal Canadian Army Cadets, Royal Canadian Legion Joe Wynne Br. #51, and the Welcome Rebekah Lodge #45. The F.S.C.C. Community Resource Directory, available from the Town Office, lists the numerous Recreation and Social Clubs in Edson, as well as the various Service Clubs and Services for Seniors.

Religious Services
Churches and church organizations in Edson include the Anglican Church Women, Bethel Pentecostal Tabernacle, Catholic Women's League, Church of Christ, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Community Service System - Edson Branch, Edson Alliance Church, Edson Ministerial Association, Edson United Church, Edson United Church Women, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Women, Hospital Chaplaincy Program, Jehovah's Witnesses, New Hope Family Fellowship, Edson Baptist Church, Edson-Peers Christian Reformed Church, Edson Christian Women's Lunch Club, Edson Mennonite Church, Sacred Heart Catholic Parish, Seventh-Day Adventist Church, St. Andrew's Russian Orthodox Church, and the St. Catherine's Anglican Church.

Hospitality
Accommodation
Aries Motel
Best Western
High Road Inn
Black Gold Inn
Castle Motel
Cedars Motel
Commodore Hotel
Foxwood Inn & Suites
Guest House Inn & Suites
Mini Hotel
Moose Creek Hotel
Odyssey Motor Inn
Park Avenue Motel
Summerland Inn
Summit Motel
Sundowner Inn
Super 8 Motel
Totem Motel

Restaurants
A & W
Bean There Dunk That
Blue Jay Cafe
Boston Pizza Branch
Inn Restaurant
Castle Restaurant
Comodore Restaurant and Pizza
Dairy Queen
Ernie O's Restaurant and Pub
Golden Honey Reastaurant
Kentucky Fried Chicken
Legends Pizza & Family
Restaurant Li's
Restaurant MacDonalds
Mountain Pizza and Steakhouse Ltd.
Panago Pizza
Polar Bear Pizza
Quizno's
Royale Pizza
Smitty's Family Restaurant
Subway
Tim Hortons
Wendys

Economic Base

Resources available locally include coal, clay, sand/gravel, oil and natural gas, timber, and fish. The Town's growth has been based on the rich natural resources in the region. Initially, the railroad provided access to the rich Alberta Coal Branch, and in the 1930's, coal from the Branch was being distributed to Canadian and world markets.

In the 1960's, petroleum and related industries added to the prosperity of the Edson district. In addition, the coal industry was revitalized in the 1970's, with the launching of 2 mines in the area.

More recently, the forestry industry has been another major employer in the area. Agriculture is also an important mainstay in the surrounding region. In the future, the area's natural resources are expected to remain major contributors to the Edson economy.

Economic Facts

Products available locally include forest products, straw, hay, cereal grains, dairy products, cattle, poultry, horses, sheep, hogs, honey, seed potatoes and vegetables.

Major Businesses Products/Services
Luscar Sterco [1977] Ltd.
Mining Weyerhaeuser
Canada Forestry
Sundance Forest
Industries Forestry
Trans Canada Oil and Gas
Linford Foods
IGA Food/Groceries
Canadian National Railway
Railway Transportation
Extra Foods Food/Groceries
Johnson & Herbert Construction
Construction Services

Financial Institutions
Alberta Treasury Branch
Bank of Nova Scotia
Canadian Imperial
Bank of Commerce
Edson Savings & Credit Union
Royal Bank of Canada

Emergency Services

All of Edson's Emergency Services are served by the 911 number.

Fire Protection
Edson is served by a volunteer fire department
[Tel: 780-723-3100].

911 Police Services
Edson is served by a local detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police [RCMP]
[Tel: 780-723-8800].

911 Ambulance Services
24-hour ambulance service is available within a 30 mile radius of Edson
[Tel: 780-723-3137]. 911

Health Care

Edson has a hospital with 50 active beds and a nursing home with a 50-bed capacity.

Other medical services include 8 doctors, 1 surgeon, 1 part-time gynaecologist, 4 dentists, 1 denturist, 1 part-time optometrist, 2 chiropractors, 2 full-time and 1 part-time physiotherapists, 1 medical clinic and 1 health unit.

Facilities for senior citizens include a senior citizen's lodge with a 55-bed capacity.

Key Contacts for Business Development

Municipal
Town of Edson
605 - 50 Street,
Box 6300
Edson, Alberta
T7E 1T7
Tel: 780-723-4401
Fax: 780-723-3508

Greg Pasychny
Mayor

Clarence Joly
Town Manager
clarencej@townofedson.ca

Edson & District
Chamber of Commerce
5433 - 3 Avenue
Edson, Alberta
T7E 1L5
Tel: 780-723-4918
Fax: 780-723-5545

Provincial (Updated May 2006)
Ivan Strang
Member of the Legislative Assembly [MLA]
West Yellowhead

Constituency
Constituency Office
P.O. Box 7859
505 - 50 Street
Edson, AB
T7E 1V9
Phone: (780) 723-3601
Toll Free: 1-800-661-6517
Fax: (780) 723-2915
west.yellowhead@assembly.ab.ca

Legislature Office
#612 Legislature
Annex 9718 - 107 Street
Edmonton, AB
T5K 1E4
Phone: (780) 415-0986
Fax: (780) 415-0951

Alberta Economic Development
Cathy Goulet,
Regional Director
cathy.goulet@gov.ab.ca

Christine Lockhart,
Information Officer
chris.lockhart@gov.ab.ca
 111 Provincial Building
111 - 54 Street
Edson, Alberta
T7E 1T2
Tel: 780-723-8229
Fax: 780-723-8240

Federal (Updated May 2006)
Rob Merrifield
Member of Parliament [MP]
Yellowhead Constituency

Parliamentary Address
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Telephone: (613) 992-1653
Fax: (613) 992-3459
E-Mail: Merrifield.R@parl.gc.ca

Constituency Address
119 - 50th Street,
PO Box 7887
Edson, Alberta
T7E 1V9
Telephone: (780) 723-6068 1-800-268-7117
Fax: (780) 723-5060
TTY:
E-Mail:
5023 - 50 Avenue,
P.O. Box 1495
Whitecourt, Alberta
T7S 1P3
Telephone: (780) 706-2067
Fax: (780) 706-2085
TTY:
E-Mail:

Location

The Town of Edson is located in the Yellowhead County, on Highway 16. It is 199 km west of Edmonton, 163 km east of Jasper, and 453 km northwest of Calgary.

Strategically located in Alberta

Post Secondary Education

Adult education is available from the Edson Further Education Council.

Edmonton-based post-secondary institutions such as The University of Alberta, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology [NAIT], and Grant MacEwan College are available.

Taxation

	Residential/Farmland	Non-Residential
2006
Municipal Tax Rate	6.6647	15.8908
Education - Alberta School Foundation Fund Tax Rate	3.5879	5.5518
Education Opted Out Tax Rate	3.5879	5.5518
Seniors Lodge Accommodation Tax Rate	.2974	.2974

Mill Rates [1999]

Residential - Public 14.76
Residential - Separate 15.26
Non-Residential - Public 25.82
Non-Residential - Separate 25.61

Transportation

Air Service
The Edson Airport has all-weather facilities and a 1,825-metre runway. Alpine Helicopters, Skyline Helicopters and Thebacha Helicopters provide charter service. The nearest commercial and air freight services are at Edmonton International airport.

Rail Service
Canadian National Railways provides freight service to Edson. Spur trackage is available. In addition, VIA Rail provides passenger rail service to Edson.

Highways
Connecting highways are Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway) east-west, Highway 47 south, and Secondary Highway 748 north.

Trucking Firms (not all firms are listed)
Grimshaw Trucking; Formula Transport; Ro-Don Transport Byers Transport; Swanberg Bros.Trucking Steve's Trucking; Kos Corp Oilfield

Transportation
Bus Services
Local bus service is available from Legion Bus, Senior Citizen Bus, Beaupre Bus Service and Dicken's Transportation.

Greyhound Bus Lines provides regularly scheduled inter-community service.

Couriers and Taxi's

Greyhound Courier Express, Loomis Courier, Purolator Courier, Mustang Taxi, Edson Taxi

Utilities

Electrical
Power Fortis
Alberta
310-9473

Natural Gas
Atco Gas
5130 - 1 Avenue
Edson, Alberta
T7E 1S9
Tel: 780-723-4050

Yellowhead Gas
Co-op Ltd. [Rural areas]
Box 7230
Edson, Alberta
T7E 1V5
Tel: 780-723-6085

Telephone
Telus Communications Inc.
Tel: 310-2255

Water Supply
Water is supplied by the Town of Edson.

Waste Management
Residential garbage is collected weekly, while commercial and industrial garbage is collected by contract agreement.

Rainbow Waste, based in Edson, provides this service.

Population

Total Population 1991-2001

Edson Population by Age Group (2001)

Education Statistics

Edson Highest Level of Schooling 2001

Labour Force

Edson Labour Force By Industry - 2001

Income

Family Expenditure

Edson Family Expenditures (1996)

Building Permits

Total Housing Starts

Value of Building Permits

Dwellings

Projects

Summary of Projects in Edson as of September 2006

Value of Projects by Sector (as of September 2006)

Largest Projects in Edson as of September 2006