Photo worthy viewpoints in the river valley
A favourite part of travel for many people is finding great views, maybe views you’ve seen shared on Instagram or the internet and capturing them with a camera to savour the memory forever. Of course, this year is not a normal time for travel, and maybe you’re left craving those views and Instagram-worthy spots.
The truth is, there is no better time to explore your own backyard. Edmonton’s river valley is home to a multitude of great views and vistas. River Valley Alliance staff, ambassadors and photographer friends have put together a list of some of the best viewpoints the river valley has to offer. See photos and locations at https://rivervalley.ab.ca/news/photo-worthy-viewpoints-in-the-river-valley/
Other side of Emily Murphy
Shortly after entering Emily Murphy Park, which sits on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River between Groat Bridge and the main campus of the University of Alberta, there is a dark grey statue of Emily Ferguson Murphy, who lived from 1868 to 1933.
In many ways this is a very conventional historical monument. It reminds present day citizens of the lead role she played as a member of the Famous Five, and their successful fight to have women declared “persons” in Canada and therefore eligible to serve in the Senate. Each of the Famous Five have a park named after them in Edmonton’s North Saskatchewan River Valley.
Like so many historical figures, the life of Emily Murphy is being re-examined and re-evaluated. Increasingly, historians have begun to shed light on her beliefs about racial superiority and eugenics. Since the 1980s, historians have shown how many first wave feminists like Murphy fought for equal rights for predominantly white women, or more precisely, white, educated, upper-class, Protestant women. Read more at https://citymuseumedmonton.ca/2020/10/21/the-other-side-of-emily-murphy/
Gold Bar park to Rundle park trail
This trail lets you enjoy two gorgeous footbridges over the North Saskatchewan River, with sweeping views both east and west, plus easy strolls in two well-treed parks. This walk could make a great adventure day for the whole family and dog. It is also a great bike ride.
For an extra long adventure, you could extend the route from Gold Bar park up the ravine to Tiger Goldstick park, or cross the Rundle footbridge to Strathcona Science park for further exploration.
Ainsworth Dyer Memorial Bridge is named after one of four Canadian soldiers who were killed in a friendly fire incident in Afghanistan. There is a monument to Dyer and his fellow soldiers once you cross the bridge.
At the Rundle park footbridge, turn around to head back the way you came, walk to the middle to get more river views, or continue onwards by crossing the bridge into Strathcona Science Park. Parking and directions at https://rivervalley.ab.ca/trail-treks/trail-trek-how-to-gold-bar-park-to-rundle-park/
This gull really likes French fries
There are many types of gulls in Alberta, but the most abundant is the ring-billed gull. There is one thing we all know about this gull; it really likes French fries. It is rare to see a fast-food restaurant without a pack of gulls in the parking lot, squabbling over food scraps.
The ring-billed gull is a strong, acrobatic flyer that has been known to snatch food from human hands while in flight. In addition to human food the bird eats earthworms, rodents, fish, bird eggs, and grains.
The ring-billed gull is a commuter, nesting along lake shores and open fields, and making its way in and out of the city daily. Like Canada geese, they fly together in groups in a V-formation. In the fall some of these gulls will still be seen in Edmonton into October or early November. Learn more at https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ring-billed_Gull/overview
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Sincerely yours,
Harvey Voogd
North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society
nsrivervalley@gmail.com
https://www.edmontonrivervalley.org/
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