Edson

History

The town was founded as Heatherwood, but the name was changed around 1911 in honour of Edson Joseph Chamberlin, vice-president of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. In the 1950s, upgrading of Highway 16 caused a dramatic increase in private, commercial and industrial traffic. Today, the Yellowhead Highway carries some of the heaviest traffic flow in Alberta and has been declared the second Trans-Canada Highway. In the 1970s, a revitalized coal industry launched the Cardinal River Coal and Luscar Sterco mines in the area. In the 1980s, Pelican Spruce Mills (now Weyerhaeuser Canada) and Sundance Forest Industries (now Edson Forest Products a division of West Fraser Mills Ltd.) became two of Edson's major employers.

Geography

Edson lies in the McLeod River valley, immediately east of the Canadian Rockies foothills. The surrounding landscape consists of primarily taiga forest with sand hills and muskeg. The town is at an altitude of 925 metres (3,035 ft). Two provincial parks are west of Edson: Sundance Provincial Park along Sundance Creek and Obed Lake Provincial Park surrounding the three Obed Lakes.

Climate

Due to Edson's high elevation, the community experiences a subarctic climate.

Economy

The main industries that drive the local economy are resource-based: coal, oil, natural gas and forestry products.

By plane

• Edson AirportThere is no scheduled passenger flights. Edmonton or Calgary are options.

By car

• Edson has good connections via Highway 16, Highway 16 goes to Jasper and British Columbia and Edmonton.
• It is 192 km (119 mi) west of Edmonton along the Yellowhead Highway (16) and 10 km (6.2 mi) east of the intersection with Highway 47.

By train

• Edson station

  address: 5001-1st Avenue West
  This is a "sign post" station with no local services. The Canadian stops at the Edson railway station three times per week in each direction as a flag stop.

There is no public transport available in town, and it is advisable to bring a car.

• Galloway Station Museum and Travel Centre

  address: 223 55 South
  The Travel Centre offers a coffee bar, state-of-the-art barbecue, fully equipped kitchen and free wireless Internet access. The museum offers exhibits on Edson's history, including a general store, a blacksmith's shop, a still, a printing press, railway history, and Aboriginal history.

• Kinsmen Spray Park

  address: 7 Avenue and 48 Street
  Interactive outdoor playground with washroom facilities, plenty of green space, picnic tables, fire pits, and a dry and wet playground.

• The Boot Shop Saddlery & Western Wear

  phone: +1 780-723-6272
  address: 320 50 St
  Western apparel store.

• The Antique Place

  phone: +1 780-723-7888
  address: 5020 2 Ave
  Antique store

• The Olive Tree

  phone: +1 780-723 3600
  address: 4340 2 Ave

• Mountain Pizza & Steakhouse

  phone: +1 780-723-3900
  address: 5102 4 Ave
  Steakhouse, pizza, Greek.

• Comfort Inn

  phone: +1 780-723-7303
  address: 5517 4 Avenue

• Econo Lodge

  phone: +1 780-723-5505
  address: 5601 2 Avenue

• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites

  phone: +1 780-723-4011
  address: 4520 2 Avenue