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Edmonton International Airport (EIA/YEG)

itom987 said:
It is a strength that needs to be built upon
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Agreed! It would be nice to see some of the parkades converted to residential towers on the WEM site and maybe a second hotel.
I also like the development happening at River Cree -- to add to that I would love to see a permanent exposition in the Rossdale flats -- the WInPEx concept that I have mentioned so many times -- where the power plant is incorporated, where RE/MAX Field is expanded and roofed over with an operable structure (whereby it could not only accommodate baseball but would also allow for super-sized events like Pow-Wows, "Indian Rodeos", large-scale Ag shows, etc.). WInPEx would be a major European attraction, based upon my experience living in Europe -- it would definitely have a major positive effect on downtown. Even K-days could relocate to the river valley with outsized support for Edmonton's Summer and Winter festivals as a bonus.
 
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IanO said:
Oh, nothing against WEM, but we need to create more unique and fun reasons for folks to visit and drive YEG traffic.

Jasper, some major new investment and commitment to resorts between Hinton and the park gate etc.
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When we moved to Edmonton, we were amazed at seeing bison up close and personal at Elk Island National Park. I think there is an opportunity to Lobby the feds to invest more at Elk Island. It would be neat to develop paved bicycle loops, for instance, which would be low impact could be an attraction for the region.
 
What may attract tourists to Edmonton:
- WEM
- Old Strathcona (people always seem to forget about this for some reason)
- ICE District
- tallest building in western Canada
- summer festivals, especially the world-renowned Folk Fest
- Commonwealth Stadium (concerts, sporting events)
- Royal Alberta Museum
- Arts District (Winspear, Citadel)
- Alberta Legislature grounds
- river valley
- Hawrelak Park (just re-opened)
- O-day-min Park
- Coronation Recreation Centre (just re-opened)
- U of A, MacEwan, Norquest and NAIT campuses
- sports teams (Oilers, Elks, Riverhawks etc.)
- Elk Island National park
- Jasper National Park
- nearby lakes, beaches and resorts
 
Airboy said:
Found this today.
Porter Airlines has announced new service connecting Edmonton (YEG) and Vancouver (YVR) starting June 15, 2026
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I still have yet to see any official announcement on this, and it does not appear bookable on the website.
 
What may attract business travellers to Edmonton:
- oil and gas
- hydrogen
- gaming
- AI/ML
- start-ups
- finance
- healthcare
- education
- agriculture
- forestry
- telecommunications
- military
- provincial capital
- air and rail cargo
- retail
- food & beverage
 
Key Critical Minerals & Resources
  • Lithium: Alberta has some of the world’s largest lithium deposits located in underground brines within the Leduc formation, often accessed through existing oil/gas wells.
  • Uranium:Significant potential exists in the Athabasca Basin of northeastern Alberta, with 171 documented occurrences
    .
    • Vanadium & Rare Earth Elements (REEs): Key for batteries and high-tech applications, often associated with industrial byproducts.
    • Nickel, Cobalt, and Magnesium: Alberta hosts key refineries for these materials and has potential for further production.
    • Petroleum Coke: Can be used for synthetic graphite production, crucial for batteries.
      Government of Alberta
      Government of Alberta +5
Industry Strategy & Development
  • Fast-Track Approvals: Proposed legislation aims to accelerate the transition from discovery to production by reducing approval times for mining projects.
  • Regulatory Framework: The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) oversees both brine-hosted (e.g., lithium) and rock-hosted (e.g., uranium) minerals, with established guidelines for development.
  • Incentives: The government is exploring non-refundable processing tax credits and “flow-through share” tax incentives to attract investment.
  • Economic Strategy: The goal is to build on Alberta’s oil and gas expertise to create a, "responsible and sustainable" mineral sector, focusing on North American battery and technology supply chains.
    Alberta Energy Regulator
    Alberta Energy Regulator +2
Location of Resources
  • Northeastern Alberta: Known for uranium, vanadium, and rare earth elements.
  • Western/Central Alberta: Prime locations for lithium extraction from deep brine formations.
    Alberta Geological Survey
    Alberta Geological Survey +4
 
Gronk! said:
What may attract tourists to Edmonton:
- WEM
- Old Strathcona (people always seem to forget about this for some reason)
- ICE District
- tallest building in western Canada
- summer festivals, especially the world-renowned Folk Fest
- Commonwealth Stadium (concerts, sporting events)
- Royal Alberta Museum
- Arts District (Winspear, Citadel)
- Alberta Legislature grounds
- river valley
- Hawrelak Park (just re-opened)
- O-day-min Park
- Coronation Recreation Centre (just re-opened)
- U of A, MacEwan, Norquest and NAIT campuses
- sports teams (Oilers, Elks, Riverhawks etc.)
- Elk Island National park
- Jasper National Park
- nearby lakes, beaches and resorts
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These attractions are not going to bring in droves of tourists. Most of these are boring to attend. College, university campuses??? Are you kidding me?!
 
ABAviationFan said:
These attractions are not going to bring in droves of tourists. Most of these are boring to attend. College, university campuses??? Are you kidding me?!
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No. But our Fringe and "Heritage" Festival have potential. Here is the Edinburgh Fringe and Edmonton Fringe from ChatGPT

Attendance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has seen a dramatic trajectory over the last decade, reaching a historic peak in 2019 before being halted by the pandemic and subsequently stabilizing at a "new normal" slightly below those record highs. The following data tracks tickets issued (which includes both paid and free ticketed shows). Note that "total attendance" is often estimated to be higher when accounting for un-ticketed street performances.

Edinburgh Fringe Attendance by Year (2015–2025)​

YearTickets IssuedNotable Context
20252,604,404Attendance "stalled" with a slight 0.3% dip from 2024.
20242,612,913A strong post-pandemic year despite rising accommodation costs.
20232,445,609Continued recovery; ticket sales up roughly 11% from 2022.
20222,201,175The first full-scale return after the pandemic.
2021~400,000+A "hybrid" festival with limited in-person and online shows.
2020N/ACancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
20193,012,490All-time record. The first time the Fringe topped 3 million.
20182,838,839A then-record, showing 5% growth over 2017.
20172,696,884The 70th anniversary year.
20162,475,143Continued steady growth trend.
20152,298,090Marked the first time breaking the 2.2 million barrier.

The Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival has seen a roller coaster of attendance over the last decade—peaking in 2019, weathering a total shutdown and digital pivot during the pandemic, and recently roaring back to set a new all-time record in 2025. Attendance is typically measured in two ways: Ticket Sales (indoor shows) and Site Visits (the "outdoor" festival atmosphere). Here is the breakdown of the last 10 years.

Edmonton Fringe Attendance Snapshot (2016–2025)​

YearTicket Sales (Approx.)Site Visits (Approx.)Notes
2025138,500850,000+All-time box office record; record $1.47M to artists.
2024120,000+750,000+Strong post-pandemic recovery; $1.29M to artists.
2023114,632550,000First year back to "full scale" since 2019.
2022100,000+500,000Rebuilding year; focus on "Together We Fringe."
202135,000+VariableHybrid model (indoor/outdoor/digital) with capacity limits.
2020N/AN/ACancelled (Live event) due to COVID-19; digital-only.
2019127,000800,000+Previous all-time record; "Where the Wild Things Fringe."
2018125,000800,000Highly stable year with very strong outdoor turnout.
2017130,000800,000Set a then-record for ticket sales.
2016122,000850,000Peak year for outdoor site visits due to ideal weather.
 
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