IV.

Economy

Edmonton, which describes itself as “The Gateway to the North,” is the transportation and distribution center for an area reaching to the Arctic Ocean. It is also an important center of government, defense, and other public services, and has the largest concentration of heavy industry in Alberta. The Edmonton region is rich in forest and energy resources, including coal, oil, natural gas, and huge oil sands deposits. The main industries are oil refining and oil field services; the manufacture of fertilizer, plastics, and petrochemicals; brewing; meatpacking; metal fabrication; and nickel refining. In recent years, Edmonton has become an advanced research center specializing in oil sands technology and pharmaceuticals.

Edmonton is situated strategically where the Yellowhead Highway, one of two main routes across western Canada, meets highways leading south to Calgary and north to Alaska. It is served by the Canadian National Railway (for which it is the western Canadian headquarters), the Canadian Pacific Railway, and several Canadian and United States airlines. Edmonton has a light-rail transit (LRT) system, which was the first of its kind in Canada, as well as an international airport and three smaller, special-purpose airports.