River Valley News - Aug 28/25

Photo credit: Postmedia 2004

The Rise and Fall of Edmonton's Great Divide Waterfall

On September 1st, 1980 the Great Divide Waterfall on Edmonton’s High Level Bridge, created by artist Peter Lewis, flowed for the first time to mark Alberta’s 75th anniversary. The waterfall — funded to the tune of $100,000 in provincial anniversary money and $500,000 more in donations of time and equipment — created a carnival atmosphere amid the throng of spectators and officials gathered for the event.

“This is Edmonton Water’s finest hour,” said a jubilant Mayor Cec Purves who, with other civic officials, fired off flare guns as the waterfall began to flow. Thousands of people gathered in the river valley, whooping and cheering as they waited for the water to flow. Campfires dotted the bank of the North Saskatchewan River. Small boats and kayaks hovered under the bridge. One skeptical constable on duty said: “Isn’t this something. We don’t have a hospital east of 97th Street, but we’ve got a waterfall over the High Level Bridge.” It started with a trickle but within minutes, as the pressure in the pipes began to build, the waterfall streamed forth. 

The falls lasted in the city until 2009, when the city stopped running the waterfall over concerns the chlorinated water could be affecting the river below. In 2012, Edmonton city councillors considered upgrading the falls to meet environmental standards, but the equipment needed to de-chlorinate the water was deemed too expensive. The debate about restoring the waterfall was again raised in 2014; however, the city council voted to shut it down for good. Today, we are all very familiar with the High Level Bridge art installation added to the bridge in 2013. Called “Light the Bridge,” the piece contains 60,000 LED lights installed along the bridge, lit up in different colours each evening.

Photo credit: Macleans.ca

"Icy": A New Citizen Science Program for Glaciers

Science is all around us. It plays a part in getting us to work, powering our buildings, and making sure the food and water we consume is safe. Every day, researchers are working to improve our society and discover new things about the world in which we live. There are science projects and science experiments happening in your community that you can get involved in. Some may only be available at certain times of year or in certain areas, but with a little exploring you can find exciting ways to take part in science.

Parks Canada, British Columbia Parks, and the University of Waterloo’s GeoReach are launching “Icy”, a citizen science program that invites you to help monitor glacier changes! The program is rolling out in British Columbia and Alberta in two national parks and four provincial parks. More Parks Canada sites might participate in the future. Your photos will support vital scientific research, tracking glacial changes like retreat, thinning, and even disappearance.

Joining this initiative is a great way to support glacier and mountain ecosystem research while learning about the natural world. By taking regular photos of glaciers and surrounding areas, you’ll help track changes over time and uncover patterns like glacier recession. Your data will inform conservation efforts and help make decisions. By taking part in this initiative, you’ll also get access to the collected data, offering a chance to learn more about glaciers in your area!

Photo credit: Internet Archives

From Depression to Destination: Building the Miette Road

The Great Depression broke Canada. In the years following the stock market crash, its gross national product dropped twenty-five percent. Personal income in Alberta fell by forty-eight, farm wages by fifty. The value of farmland itself plummeted by forty percent, while nationwide unemployment rose to thirty. Everywhere dust hounded crops and fires plagued town. And yet, nothing was done. Cities, provinces, the Dominion, each squabbled, passing the buck from one party to the other. No-one wanted the responsibility — and price-tag — associated with Depression-relief.

Fortunately, J.B. Harkin’s Dominion Park Branch took a more proactive approach. Where all other levels of government saw the country’s increasingly radicalized unemployed as an unwanted problem, the Park Commissioner saw opportunity. If a series of work camps were erected across Canada’s national parks, he argued, these men’s unused labour could transform them into revenue-generating tourist attractions. “In return,” Eric Strikwerda writes, “the men would get three square meals a day, a warm bed, and a healthy, natural setting in which to wait out the hard times.”

One of the most ambitious projects was building a road to the secluded Miette Hot Springs in Jasper National Park. For years, the springs were only accessible by a pony trail, but the Parks Branch aimed to transform it into a proper road for vehicles. Beginning in May 1930, workers toiled seasonally through difficult conditions, including heavy rains and harsh winters, to carve a 17-kilometer path. Despite a halt in funding in 1931 due to a new federal act, the project received renewed appropriations in 1932. By November 1933, the road was usable by vehicles, and its formal opening on June 1, 1934, was a success, attracting tourists and locals who had never been able to visit the springs before. Workers completed the final stages of the project by November 1934, after four summers of labor. The Miette Road not only became a popular scenic route but also provided over a million days of work for thousands of men during the darkest days of the Depression.

For the full story by Dane Ryksen go to https://www.forgottenedmonton.com/blog/miette-road.

Bear with Salmon 2014 by Dean Drever 

Location: Epcor Tower, Edmonton, Alberta

Comment or Contributions

Please note 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

River Valley News - Aug 21/25

Photo credit: City of Edmonton Facebook

A call to action: Protecting the future of the NSRV

The North Saskatchewan River Valley is more than just a scenic landmark; it's a vital ecosystem facing a critical legal test. Ansh Gulati, a law student working with the Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition (ERVCC), recently authored an opinion article in the Edmonton Journal that argues the City's new Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) falls short of providing the necessary protection.

One of the main concerns Ansh voices is the use of weak, non-binding language in the draft bylaw. He highlights the change from "shall" to "should" as a key shift that weakens the city's legal obligations to protect the valley. This subtle but significant change, along with a lack of clear guidance on environmental assessments and mitigation, could allow for development that harms the valley's biodiversity and ecological function.

The article emphasizes that true protection requires a robust and enforceable legal framework. It also calls for the bylaw to move beyond symbolic gestures and include meaningful, constitutionally mandated consultation with Indigenous communities. 

Ansh concludes that “Council must not approve a new river valley bylaw until these critical legal and structural issues are resolved. After all, a bylaw is the most binding form of municipal law. The need of the hour is a robust, comprehensive, and enforceable bylaw: one that tackles the current bylaw’s shortcomings and builds upon it in a substantive and meaningful way, from a legal perspective.”

Opinion: Edmonton's new river valley bylaw falls short

River Valley Alliance 2025 call for calendar submissions

The RVA is excited to announce the 2025 RVA Call For Calendar Submissions! They are seeking 13 stunning images to feature in their upcoming calendar—one for each month and a special one for the cover. To represent the diversity and beauty of our region, they need images from each of our six municipalities: Devon, Parkland County, Edmonton, Strathcona County, Fort Saskatchewan, and Sturgeon County. They are looking for a variety of seasonal shots, so whether it’s a frosty winter morning or a vibrant summer sunset, they want to see your best work!

For full details and submission guidelines visit 2025 RVA Call For Calendar Submissions - River Valley Alliance

Additionally, the River Valley Alliance offers a variety of events focused on outdoor activities and appreciating nature. The upcoming events for September 2025 include:

Youth and Family Geocaching Adventure: This event takes place on Saturday, September 13, from 10am to 12pm at West Rivers Edge Pavilion in Fort Saskatchewan. It is a geocaching event designed for youth and families.

Fall Medicine – Moccasin and Medicine Trail Walk Series: This guided trail walk is on Sunday, September 14, from 10am to 12pm.

Autumn Birding Walk – A Guided Birdwatching Experience: This guided birdwatching experience is on Sunday, September 21, from 9am to 12pm.

For a full list of events and registration details visit Events - River Valley Alliance

Photo credit: Operation Fruit Rescue Edmonton webpage

Operation Fruit Rescue Edmonton - Apple Cider Celebration

At Operation Fruit Rescue Edmonton (OFRE, pronounced “offer”), they’re all about building community through the simple act of harvesting fruit. Founded in 2009, their journey began with a passion for locally grown food and a commitment to ensuring that no fruit goes to waste. For over a decade, they’ve connected Edmonton’s fruit tree owners with eager volunteers, rescuing thousands of pounds of fresh produce that might have otherwise gone unpicked. 

Every apple tells a story—and during this three-weekend family apple celebration, you’ll help write the next chapter. From pedal-powered cider pressing to youth-friendly harvest workshops, OFRE’s fall festival connects kids, parents, and neighbours to the rhythms of food, land, and community.

Each event in the Apple Cider Celebration series offers something special. The first two weekends are community-focused cider pressing events—come press, taste, and connect. The final event is their grand finale: a full-day family celebration with the most hands-on workshops.

Apple Cider Celebration - Operation Fruit Rescue Edmonton

Photo Credit: Boreal chorus frog. Photo © A. Teucher

Vanishing Voices: The Disappearing Amphibians of Alberta

Amphibians are a unique classification of animals that often live double lives, partly in the water and partly on land. Alberta has three types of amphibians: frogs, toads, and salamanders. For 60 years, the AWA has worked to protect and preserve what makes Alberta unique: our wilderness and the rich complexity of biodiversity that comes with it. 

The AWA is still advocating for many of the same things they were at the beginning: the appreciation and protection of our wild spaces and wildlife as a public good, and more mindful development that takes ecological integrity into high regard.

Because of their sensitive skin and specific habitat requirements, amphibians are facing many new challenges due to human activity. Land-use changes, urban development and roadways, chemical additions to ecosystems, water pollution, extended periods of drought, and Chytrid fungus are all culprits in their declining numbers across the world, including right here in Alberta.

Amphibians often serve as indicator species within their habitats (think “canary in the coal mine”), revealing harmful changes in the environment early on. Protecting critical habitats and species helps ensure that all ecosystem services are preserved for the health and resilience of everyone. 

For this to happen, we must first remind ourselves to celebrate the sounds of a frog chorus just as we anticipate the calls of migratory birds in spring. For more information and to read the full article by Sara Heerema go to The Story of Alberta’s Abandoned Amphibians.

From Gold Dust to Green Space: The Story of Miner's Flat

Alice writes: Thank you as always for the newsletter! The article on prospecting in the most recent issue reminded me of this particular poem — it’s from a sequence about the river valley that appeared in my collection “The Occupied World.”

Flour gold

The spoon dredge

swirls mud into smooth batter

from the river’s round bowls.

It trawls the slurried beds

for flakes so light

they will float – a gold flour

sifted from sand.

The Gold Rush rises in the miners’ pans

like a loaf.

And the spoon dredge wants more

sweet cake

from the river’s cold oven.

Clover Bar. Gold Bar –

gravel ridges

thrust in the river,

licked like fingers.

Raft Race by Toti Lewis / EPL Stanley Milner 2nd Level

Stanley A. Milner Library ART GUIDE

Comment or Contributions

Please note 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

River Valley News - Aug 14/25

Bridging the Gap: New Footbridge Over NSR

Photo Credit: Elliott Knopp, CityNews

A new pedestrian bridge connecting Edmonton and Strathcona County has opened, completing a major link in a more than 100-kilometre trail system through six municipalities in the North Saskatchewan River valley. Located just north of the new Northeast River Valley Park, which opened in 2023, the bridge includes shared-use pathways, gathering areas at each end and two lookout points offering stunning views of the river and the surrounding valley. You can find out more about the trail network on the River Valley Alliance website.

The bridge from Edmonton’s 167th Avenue to Strathcona County’s Township Road 540 is a big win, but the City of Edmonton says there will still be some closures over the summer so crews can install canopies. To support the project, Strathcona County is also building additional amenities along Township Road 540, including a parking lot, portable washrooms and a multi-use trail connection.

The $38.6-million project was funded 50 per cent by the River Valley Alliance, with the remaining cost shared equally by the City of Edmonton and Strathcona County. “It doesn’t really just put this region on the map, it puts Alberta on the map, it puts Canada on the map. Worldwide, people do travel to destinations just like this trail,” said Kristine Archibald, the executive director of the River Valley Alliance. The River Valley Alliance says the final piece of a complete river valley trail is a 25 km gap tying the town of Devon to southwest Edmonton, which is still waiting to be completed.

New footbridge finally connects Edmonton and Strathcona County | Urbanized

New river valley footbridge connecting Edmonton to Sherwood Park opens to the public

Bioblitz & Blooms: A Day for Pollinators at Smith-Blackburn Homestead

Photo Credit: Edmonton Area Land Trust website

Want to make a hands-on difference for nature in your backyard? The Edmonton & Area Land Trust needs your help! A few of their upcoming events haven't gained the number of people they were hoping for, and August is a critical month for managing invasive plants. In particular, the Smith Blackburn Homestead Bioblitz and Weeding needs more hands.

The Smith Blackburn Homestead is a unique property located just east of Elk Island National Park, in a region recognized by UNESCO as the Beaverhills Biosphere Reserve. This land is comprised of deciduous forest, dominated by Trembling Aspen and Balsam Poplar, and underlain with Raspberry and Beaked Hazelnut. The landscape is dotted with wetlands containing willows, asters and cattails. 

This ecosystem combination allows birds, such as Great Blue Herons, Soras, Common Loons and Common Yellowthroat, to nest, raise their young and thrive. Other species living in this space include the Black Bear, Deer, Moose, Beaver, Wood Frogs, Canadian Tiger Swallowtail butterflies and many more.

The established pollinator garden is under pressure from invasive weeds. In order to help the pollinators the garden was established for, EALT needs some help reducing the presence of invasive plants.

The volunteer activity will be focusing on removing the white cockle, thistle, and other weeds that have found their way into and around the garden. The event will occur on Saturday, August 16, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. To register, click the link below:

https://signup.com/go/aEoCGqj

From Gold Dust to Green Space: The Story of Miner's Flat

Photo Credit: Provincial Archives of Alberta B5287

Mining of placer gold and platinum in the Edmonton area preceded the discovery of gold in the Klondike by more than 40 years, and continues today with small, hobby operations. Placer gold was first discovered in the North Saskatchewan River valley in the 1850s by prospectors moving into British Columbia's Cariboo area via Edmonton.

In 1867, 175 prospectors, known as the 'Overlanders', left Eastern Canada passing through Edmonton on their way to the Cariboo gold fields. About a third stayed in Edmonton to try their luck in the Fort Edmonton area and settled on Miner's Flat. Prospectors set up their tents and sluices in the area in the hopes of finding gold in the silt banks along the North Saskatchewan River.

On a good day in low-water stages, miners claimed they could recover 0.5 ounces a day, all of it as fine flakes, called flour gold associated with fine, black sand - there are no nuggets in the North Saskatchewan River. The black, heavy-mineral-bearing sand was panned to concentrate the gold, and then the gold was dissolved with mercury to concentrate it further.

Gold mining in the Edmonton area peaked between 1895 and 1907, with some 300 miners working the bars 100 km upstream and downstream of Edmonton. Larger steam-powered dredges enabled miners to extract up to 2 oz. of gold per day. In the last two years of operation, about 7500 troy oz. of gold were extracted, but profits were marginal and miners left to join the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush.

After the miners left, the City of Edmonton purchased the land coined ‘Miner’s Flat' in 1907. Although a powerplant was initially planned, the area was designated as parkland in 1910. It was named Laurier Park after a visit to Edmonton by Sir Wilfred Laurier.

Parts of the area were mined for gravel and later used as a waste disposal site, but in the early 1960s the area became home to the Storyland Valley Zoo. In the late 1980s, the City suggested the name be amended to Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park.

Edmonton Geological Society - Field Guides

Mountain Scene, No. 4 by Jennifer Bushman, City Hall

Edmonton Arts Council | Mountain Scene, No. 4

Comment or Contributions

Please note 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