Edmonton's economy is one of the most diverse in Canada. Major industrial sectors include a strong technology sector. Edmonton's reputation as one of Canada's premier research and education centers, this reputation has fueled the growth in the technology sector.
The river valley park system stretches through the entire city and is very beautiful! There are many, many paths and trails through the heavily forested river valley. You can walk or ride a bike from one end of the city to the other on paved paths that snake throughout the river valley. The city very spread out, and not filled with a maze of skyscrapers. The city is easy to get around in, with numbered streets and avenues. The ring road, Anthony Henday, makes getting from one end of the city to the opposite end very quick and easy compared to most large cities. Edmonton is home to many, many festivals that go all year long. We are famous for our Fringe Festival, a very large performing arts festival that happens in a very popular area of the city called Old Strathcona that is very near the University of Alberta and is full of small curio shops, restaurants, clubs, and bars. There are many other festivals, such as the Folk Fest, which happens in August, and brings together 2 days worth of folk music acts and is situated within the river valley overlooking our unique Muttart Conservatories. We also have a professional football team, Eskimos and an NHL hockey team Oilers, with a brand new big beautiful arena downtown in the famous Ice District. We have museums, and a brand new Art Gallery as well, along with The Citadel Theatre, for the performing arts downtown as well. There is a very large "Farmers Market" that is open every Saturday in Old Strathcona, a place where you can go and buy many of the local foods produced by farms and companies from around Edmonton, along with numerous other farmer's markets in many different neighbourhoods. Edmonton is an awesome city with the most friendly people as your neighbours.