Photo credit: City of Edmonton
William Hawrelak Park Welcomes Visitors Back This March
The City of Edmonton is excited to announce that the iconic William Hawrelak Park will officially reopen on March 13, 2026. Following a comprehensive three-year rehabilitation project that began in 2023, the park has been modernized to ensure it remains a premier gathering space for generations to come.
The Legacy of William Hawrelak
As the gates reopen, we look back at the park’s namesake. William Hawrelak served as Edmonton’s mayor for three separate terms between 1951 and 1975. A polarizing yet undeniably influential "builder" mayor, Hawrelak oversaw the city's massive post-war expansion. While his career was marked by both significant controversy and populist success, his most enduring legacy was preserving this 136-acre site—originally called Mayfair Park—as a public green space. In 1975, it was renamed in his honour, cementing its status as the "living room" of Edmonton’s River Valley.
What’s New at the Park?
The rehabilitation addressed critical utility and facility infrastructure while introducing several exciting upgrades for visitors to enjoy:
Lakefront Promenade: A beautiful new way to experience the water’s edge.
Modernized Pavilion: Updated facilities and refreshed gathering spaces.
Enhanced Accessibility: Fully paved perimeter paths and multi-use trails designed for people of all ages and abilities.
New Playground: Upgraded equipment for families to explore.
Year-Round Recreation: Improved spaces for walking, biking, snowshoeing, and winter picnics.
March 13, 2026: Park officially reopens for casual use (walking, biking, picnics).
May 30, 2026: Grand Opening Celebration for the Rehabilitation Project.
June 1, 2026: Picnic site bookings and major festivals/events officially return.
While the park will be open starting in mid-March, visitors may notice some minor "finishing touch" work and commissioning activities as crews finalize the project. We look forward to seeing the community return to this cherished green space!
February in the RV: Community, Conservation, and Connection
Join Edmonton's Winter Bike to Work Day on Friday, February 13: Hit free pop-up pit stops (7-9 AM, 3:30-5:30 PM) along river valley routes like Groat Bridge and High Level, hosted by Councillors Stevenson, Rutherford, and others—warm drinks, treats, no registration needed. For more information, head to: Winter Bike to Work Day
Discover how plants endure Edmonton's harsh winters and detect spring at the Edmonton Native Plant Society's guided walk—exploring adaptations like antifreeze sugars and dormancy in river valley species. Join on Sunday, February 15, 12–2 PM at Emily Murphy Park. For more information and to register, visit the ENPS website at enps.ca
Join the River Valley Alliance's Community Engagement Committee (CEC) for a relaxed February CEC Winter Walk through Laurier Park on Saturday, February 21, from 1:00–3:00 PM—a 5 km mostly flat loop. Dress for the weather and consider ice cleats/spikes if the trails are icy. For more information and to register, go to: rivervalley.ab.ca/events/february-cec-walk-through-laurier-park/
Join New Grocery Movement at Earth’s Refillery Co-op on February 26 for a donation-based screening of Anna Kuelken’s documentary Insecure, followed by a panel discussion on food inequality in Edmonton. Doors open at 6:00 PM for this community-centred event exploring how local collective action can transform vulnerable food systems. NGM presents: Insecure, a documentary film screening on food security in Edmonton
Photo credit: birdscanada.org
The CMMN and the Flight of Northern Alberta’s Birds
The Canadian Migration Monitoring Network (CMMN) is a collaborative effort between bird observatories, Birds Canada, and the government to track the population trends and health of over 200 bird species. By conducting standardized daily counts during migration, the network provides essential data on species that are difficult to monitor in their remote northern breeding grounds.
In Northern Alberta, two key stations play a vital role in this research: the Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory (LSLBO) and the Beaverhill Bird Observatory (BBO). LSLBO, located within the Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park, is the northernmost station in the network and serves as a critical monitoring point for boreal-nesting songbirds as they funnel through the narrow corridor between the lake and the Marten Mountains.
Further south but still integral to northern monitoring, the Beaverhill Bird Observatory near Tofield is the oldest research station in Canada. It focuses on the diverse bird populations moving through the Beaverhill Natural Area, a designated Important Bird Area. Both stations offer unique opportunities for the public to witness bird banding firsthand, providing a window into the complex migratory journeys that connect Alberta’s wilderness to the rest of the hemisphere.
Photo credit: Emmanuel Pocsidio Facebook
The Rosy Red Winter Visitor
The Pine Grosbeak is a standout winter visitor in Edmonton, easily recognized by its large, robin-sized frame and the striking rosy red plumage of the mature males. These birds are members of the finch family and are considered an "irruptive" species, meaning they travel in small, social groups based on the availability of food sources like spruce-fir forest seeds and berries.
In backyards, Pine Grosbeaks are known for their calm demeanour and frequent visits to feeders to eat sunflower seeds and suet. They require larger hopper or platform feeders to accommodate their size and are often seen eating snow for hydration during the colder months. Despite being a common sight in Alberta winters, their populations have seen a significant decline of approximately 70% since 1966, making every backyard sighting a special event. Fun Facts about Pine Grosbeaks
Feedback - Plastic Pollution Concerns: Brushing vs. Blading
https://albertaviews.ca/plastic-blues/
Hello. I am from Nanton, where I undertook a campaign to stop the town from using the plastic bristle sweeper on our pathways, streets and sidewalks. My article "Plastic Blues," Alberta Views, December, 2023, was shortlisted for an Alberta Magazine Award, 2024. It illustrates how difficult it is to get these polluting machines off the streets, despite petitioning every level of government multiple times, despite the consequences to the environment.
You will be pleased to learn, it was worth my persistence. I spent four years walking the entire town, collecting kilograms of these sticks (each of which weighs almost nothing), during all seasons, since they don’t magically disappear, making presentations to Town Council, writing letters and this article…Finally, the Town of Nanton stopped using the bristle machines The Mayor quietly told me, “It was the right thing to do.” Private contractors still use the small sweepers, but I only occasionally find one or two orange sticks. On the big sweepers, they fall off in clumps. They are attached to the steel roller with hot glue. Makes sense in cold weather, right? I heard every excuse under the sun as to why the machines were necessary, but suddenly I noticed fewer bristles needing to be collected and thrown in the trash, as they cannot be recycled. Now I spend my time enjoying the pathways, rather than picking up sticks.
As we all know, plastics do not break down in the environment but rather persist as microplastic which has now been found in breastmilk and in human heart. There is no reason to use these machines. What did they do previously, to clean the bridges? That was my question in our town, and it’s been answered: return to blades. Keep insisting and don’t give up.
Lise
Nanton, Alberta
The River
Artists: Carla Rae Taylor, AJA Louden, Dana Belcourt, Matthew Cardinal, and community collaborators
Location: University LRT Station (near HUB Mall)
Spanning seven landings of the stairwell, “The River” is a vibrant mural that flows through the University LRT station, honouring the local landscape and its animal inhabitants. Created during iWeek 2018 with community input, the piece transforms a functional transit space into a welcoming corridor that celebrates the rich history and ecological spirit of the North Saskatchewan River.
Comment or Contributions
Please note that articles may not reflect the position of NSRVCS. River Valley News is meant to be a clearinghouse for the variety of opinions and ideas about Edmonton’s River Valley.
Email river valley photos, event information, comments, or questions to nsrivervalley@gmail.com.
Forward this link to anyone you think may want to sign up for this newsletter https://www.edmontonrivervalley.org/newsletter-signup