Edmonton skyline
(photo: Travel Alberta)

Inside The West Edmonton Mall
(photos © UK Gay News)

Not just a shopping mall!

GAY LINKS

ALAS, THE ROOST IS NOW
CLOSED.  THE OWNERS
PLAN TO REOPEN IN A
NEW LOCATION SOON

Edmonton, Alberta
North America Telephone Area Code:  780 (001 780 from UK)
(Currency mentioned on this page is Canadian Dollars, with approx UK Pounds)
XE.com Personal Currency Assistant for current conversions

Updated February 25, 2008

In 2005 Edmonton celebrated its centenary. 

The capital of the province of Alberta is certainly "gay friendly", though it does not have the "buzz" of Vancouver or Toronto.  Situated in the northern Prairies, the city is famous for its sports (the Oilers ice hockey, the Eskimos Canadian football and Aviators football/soccer), the West Edmonton Mall (the world's largest shopping mall) and almost a million friendly residents who love a party. And if you wonder what the glass Pyramids are doing in Edmonton, they house the tropical gardens!

The city hosted to the 2004 Women's Baseball World Cup and the 2005 World Masters Games.

Suburban Edmonton boasts the world's largest shopping mall (15 minutes to the west from downtown).  The West Edmonton Mall makes the Metro Centre in Newcastle (UK) look like a "corner store".  In addition to the 800 shops, there are 26 cinema screens (including an I-MAX), and indoor "lagoon" leisure pool, a 3-D Cinema Ride ("Come in, if you dare"), Galaxyland Amusement Park and much more.  Several hotels are contained within the complex.

Climate:  Edmonton's climate is temperate with four distinct seasons. Snow cover in winter from November through mid-March. Summers are generally dry and sunny. Average temperatures range from 17 C in the summer months to –15 C in the winter months (but can get colder!) - one winter night when UK Gay News was in the city, the temperature fell to the magical minus 40 degrees, that's the temperature where "C" and "F" are the same.

Edmonton Tourism,  Economic Development Edmonton, 9797 Jasper Avenue.
( 424-9191. Visitor Information Centre is in the Shaw Conference Centre,   Website. 

Have you anything to say about Edmonton?  Perhaps you have knowledge of one of the listing below and would like to give your view.  Send us an email and we will include your thoughts

Unless stated, prices to not include GST or other local taxes

Gay Information
(Pride: June)

Exposure - Edmonton's Queer Arts & Culture Festival.  Nov. 23 - Dec. 1, 2007.  See the Festival website for full details.

Community

  Gay and Lesbian Community Centre of Edmonton,  Suite 45, 9912 106th Street. ( 488-3234
Website.  Open Monday to Friday 7pm to 10pm (office opens 1.30pm to 5.30pm).

  Edmonton Pride Week Society website

Local Gay Magazines

  Times.10 Magazine,  #402, 10175-114 Street.  ( 415-5616.  Website
Print edition has closed - and the website has undergone a lot of changes.

Hotels

Comfort Inn & Suites, ***  Downtown.  10425 100th Avenue.  ( 423-5611.  Hotel website
Reasonably-priced downtown hotel that gives good value.  Usual facilities in the rooms, including modem ports. Complimentary continental breakfast.  Double room from around $95 (£48) - internet rate (price/currency conversion correct Nov. 2007).

Econo Lodge,  4009 Gateway Blvd.  ( 438-7979.  Website
Budget hotel giving exceptional value for money.  Rooms have all the usual facilities and include free local telephone calls. Some rooms available with two queen beds and maximum occupancy of 5 persons.  Located 8km (5miles) south of Downtown on the road to Calgary/Edmonton International Airport 20km (12 miles).  Public transport to/from downtown (bus) very close - one change - 40 minutes.  Rooms $76.50 (£38.50) - internet rate.  (price/currency conversion correct Nov. 2007)

Fantasyland Hotel, ****  West Edmonton. 17700 87th Avenue.  ( 444-3000.  Hotel Website
This must be one of the Seven Hotel Wonders of the World!  Located in the West Edmonton Mall, Fantasyland has rooms ranging from "superior" at the bottom end to "luxury theme" at the top end.  Rooms per night from around $250 (£125) a night for a "superior" to $340 (£170) for a "luxury theme" room (price/currency conversion correct Nov. 2007).

  Northern Lights, Postal address: PO Box 515, Main Post Office, Edmonton, AB, T5J 2K1   ( 483-1572.  Website
A gay owned and operated small bed and breakfast with three charming guest rooms. Located close to West End Mall, and 15 minutes drive from downtown.  Year-round rates are $70 (£35.25) for a double or $60 (£30.25) for a single. (price/currency conversion correct Nov. 2007)

Clubs/Bars

  The Roost, 10345 104th Street.  ( 426-3150.  Website
THE ROOST PULLED DOWN THE SHUTTERS FOR THE LAST TIME IN THE EARLY HOURS OF JANUARY 1, 2008.  It is planned to reopen at another location. Arguably, it was one of the best gay night clubs in the world - certainly the best that UK Gay News has visited.  The reason for the closure is that the building in 104th street was sold.

Glosterguy (England) writes:  This has to be one of the world's most friendly clubs - yes, the natives are friendly.  And you don't have to take out a bank loan to have a good time.  A pitcher of Canadian beer, I swear  much more than two pints, cost less than a pint in England. You don't die of thirst waiting to be served at the bar, either.  The hamburgers in the snack bar were superb when I visited.  Yes, my passport opened the door ... "Her Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State requests and requires ..." actually means something here. I found out later that the guy running the "box office" is an ex-pat Brit.

  Boots 'n' Saddle,  10240 106th Street.  ( 423-5014

Bookshops/Video

The Front Page, 10556 Jasper Avenue.  ( 426-1206
Open Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm (Saturdays 10am to 6pm)

Saunas/Bathhouses

  Down Under, 12224 Jasper Avenue.   ( 482- 7960.  Website
A well-managed sauna that has been in business since 1998.  Open 24/7.  Prices for a locker vary from $6-13 ( £2.50 - £5.30) depending on time of day.  A single room is from $9 to 19.50 ( £3.70 - £8).  Prices are for up to 12 hours.  Usual facilities.  Prices quoted include tax.

Glosterguy (England) writes:  Down Under is spotlessly clean.  And their prices are so good compared with those in England.  The only problem was that the entrance, on Jasper Avenue, was hard to find.

  Steamers,  9668 Jasper Avenue.  ( 422-2581
Open 24/7

  SteamWorks, 11745 Jasper Avenue.  ( 451 5554.
Recently opened.