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Table O F C O N T E N T S WELCOME 5 Mayor’s Welcome 10 Plan Your Visit 6 Discover Fort Saskatchewan 12 Meet Awesome Auggie 9 Visitor Information 14 Amenities Abound CULTURE & EVENTS LEISURE & LIFESTYLE 16 Community Events 2020 50 Recreation & Leisure 20 Sheep Grazing 52 River Valley Fun 22 Shell Theatre 55 River Valley Trail System 25 Farmers’ Market 56 Explore Our Parks 27 Movie Under the Stars 62 Fort Lions Campground 30 Spark the Holidays 63 Water Fun 33 Christmas Marketplace 65 Harbour Pool 34 Historic River Valley 66 Winter Fun 35 Tid Bits of Life 68 Dow Centennial Centre 36 Fort Heritage Precinct 70 Local Fairways 40 Historical Timeline 73 Go East of Edmonton 43 Art in Public Places 74 Elk Island National Park 49 Public Library LIST OF ADVERTISERS 78 Advertisers 3 Welcome 4 Mayor Gale Katchur Visitors are always welcome to the City of Fort Saskatchewan and we’re pleased you’ve chosen to be here. We want to share this wonderful place we’ve worked so hard to build! Fort Saskatchewan is a vibrant community with plenty of leisure, cultural, and recreational activities. While you’re here, my hope is that you’ll take the opportunity to explore and discover it for yourself. If you’re looking for a community where you can get some pampering and local shopping or dining, we’re pleased to provide those options. You can also discover our history, cul- ture, and beautiful setting along the North Saskatchewan River. You can always call us for more details, or check out the Visitor Information Centre at the Dow Centennial Centre, easily accessible from Highway 21. Whether you have travelled from near or far, I would like to personally thank you for taking the time to visit Fort Saskatchewan. I hope you will visit often. Sincerely, Welcome Mayor Gale Katchur 5 Discover FORT SASKATCHEWAN No other city started as a Fort on the North Saskatchewan River in 1875. No other city annually invites and celebrates grass-trimming sheep. And no other city offers the unique combination of traits that are quintessentially Fort Saskatchewan. Attend one of our many dynamic festivals and events and you’ll see how Fort Saskatchewan provides big city entertainment without the hassle. Keep in mind that any trip to Fort Saskatchewan is not complete until you’ve had a chance to visit our world-famous sheep! 6 FORTSASK.CA Call us at 780.912.2157 and we can help you plan a day trip or tell you more about the community. Be warned – you may want to visit more than once to take in all that we have to offer! Seasonal temperature Averages: About us... - 12.5°C January Population of + 4°C April Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta: + 17°C July 26,942 2019 Census + 5°C October AREA ANNUAL precipitation 4,812 Hectares 44.7cm of Rain 99.7cm of Snow ELEVATION 610 Meters Above Sea Level FROST FREE DAYS 109 Days/Year Latitude/Longitude 53º 43’ N Climate 113º 13’ W Fort Saskatchewan, has 4 seasons: 63 Days SPRING Average Hours of daylight per day: 111 Days SUMMER 12.32 hrs/day 70 Days AUTUMN (17 hrs/day in the summer) 121 Days WINTER 7 8 FORTSASK.CA Visitor INFORMATION W E ’ R E H E R E T O H E L P DOW CENTENNIAL CENTRE Monday-Saturday: 6:30 am to 8 pm The Dow Centennial Centre is open with modified hours. Closes at 5:30 pm We can’t wait to see you again soon. Dec 24th and Dec 31st Closed on New Year’s Day (Jan 1), For more information, please call 780-992-6400 Canada Day (Jul 1) and 8700 – 84 Street | [email protected] Christmas Day (Dec 25) WARDEN’s RESIDENCE If you head downtown, be sure to stop at the Fort Heritage Precinct. Let us know your interests and the staff will answer your questions and suggest activities that will engage your entire family. For more information, visit You’ll be able to find information about our historic site, shopping historycentre.ca districts and the sheep grazing schedule. 10006 – 100 Avenue | 780.998.1783 [email protected] 9 Plan your visit D A Y T R I P I D E A S T O H E L P P L A N Y O U R A D V E N T U R E There is so much to do in Fort Saskatchewan. You can enjoy so much of what our community has to offer while maintaining physical distancing. Stay safe and have fun exploring your city! You can also check out pages 16-21 for some great event ideas. SPRING SUMMER • Take a leisurely walk along 99 Ave • Visit the Chamber of Commerce Farmers’ downtown. The cherry blossoms Market and visit our local sheep in Peter T. will brighten your day. Ream Historic Park. • Take a guided tour of the Fort Heritage • Apply sun screen and enjoy some outdoor Precinct. Become familiar with specific eras games – Frisbee, soccer, softball, tennis, of the City’s history. basketball… you name it. • Enjoy walking, biking, or rollerblading on • Row your boat, canoe or kayak on the our 73 kms of trails. North Saskatchewan River. • Visit the greenhouse and garden centres for • Cast your line and catch some fish along cheerful inspiration. our riverbanks. • Explore our 73 kms of trails by walking, biking, or roller blading. • Fish at the Fort Lions Community Fish Pond. • Take in a round of golf at a local fairway or driving range. • Book a guided tour at the Fort Heritage Precinct or visit the many Pokestops and Pokemon Go gyms onsite. • Have a picnic in Turner Park, overlooking the North Saskatchewan River. FALL ALL YEAR • Take some family photos with the beautiful • Enjoy great cuisine at a unique local trees and fallen leaves found in all restaurant. municipal parks. • Browse locally-owned and unique shops. • Book a guided tour at the Fort Heritage Precinct. • Seek and find geocache sites throughout the City and river valley. • Explore our 73 kms of trails by walking, biking, or roller blading. • Exercise and socialize at the 15 hectare off-leash dog park that has fabulous • Take a stroll through the Alberta Lottery obstacles and separate area for large and Fund Art Gallery. small pets. • Explore the numerous unpaved trails at • Admire public art on display around the City. West River’s Edge. • Visit the private local art galleries in our WINTER beautiful downtown. • Cross Country Ski on the 13 kms of • Peruse the latest heritage exhibit at the Fort community trails, including classic tracks Heritage Precinct. and skating lanes. (Fortsasknordic.ca) • Toboggan down one of our many hills. Search toboggan at fortsask.ca. * Be sure to check with local businesses and • Get rosy cheeks at the festively lit snow organizations to verify modified opening bank rinks and boarded rinks. hours before you visit. 11 YOU Need to meet Awesome Auggie It’s hard to resist a character as warm, wonderful, and woolly as Auggie — Fort Saskatchewan’s charming mascot. Auggie’s job is to make sure everyone who crosses his path feels that they are part of the Fort Saskatchewan flock. No matter how big or small you are, feel free to give this cuddly sheep a friendly hug, or a high five. Since his arrival 25 year ago, Auggie links Fort Saskatchewan’s lively past with our vibrant present! His full name is Augustus, after Fort Augustus, the North West Company fur trading post built here in 1795. Keep up to date with Auggie’s happenings via www.fortsask.ca, or his Twitter @AuggieFtSask. He will still be there to support all virtual events! Auggie tweets! Follow Auggie (@AuggieFtSk) on Twitter to keep up-to-date on happenings in #FortSask 12 Auggie FORTSASK.CA 13 Amenities ABOUND URBAN LIVING Fort Saskatchewan is the perfect mix of convenient urban living in a safe, welcoming community with proverbial small town charm. It means all of the amenities of a big city can be enjoyed at a comfortable and relaxed pace. Our major retail outlets and our unique downtown boutiques offer shopping for every taste and style. At the Dow Centennial Centre, fun and entertainment are brought together under one roof with a full-service recreation centre and a performing arts theatre. 14 FORTSASK.CA EXPERIENCE NATURE The Fort offers beautiful, family-friendly neighbourhoods complete with parks, playgrounds and an extensive trail system including beautiful river valley trails. With more than 529 hectares of parks, open spaces and recreational areas and a heritage prairie nature reserve, Fort Saskatchewan is a destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. W H E T H E R Y O U ’ R E L O O K I N G T O S H O P O R D I N E , E X P E R I E N C E H I S T O R Y A N D C U L T U R E , O R S I M P L Y E N T E R T A I N Y O U R S E L F A N D H A V E F U N , E V E R Y T H I N G Y O U N E E D I S H E R E EXPLORE DOWNTOWN Visit Downtown Fort Saskatchewan to enjoy a movie, bowling, pubs, and an array of specialty shops and restaurants.