Urban Growth: 1905-1913

Between 1904 and 1912 there were bursts of exceptional growth, during which Edmonton grew very rapidly, causing real estate speculation. This boom, and the requisite increase in prices, made many of Edmonton's early pioneers wealthy.

Historical Context

The early 1900s were a period of growth and expansion, both for a new province and its new capital city. Edmonton was incorporated as a city on October 8, 1904 with a population of 8,350. A factor in the increasing population can be attributed to Edmonton being named the capital of the newly inaugurated province of Alberta in 1906. By 1911, there were almost 25,000 people in Edmonton, which was mostly a result of continued agricultural immigration to the areas surrounding the city. With the establishment of the University of Alberta in 1908, the establishment of Edmonton as a political and academic centre would be cemented in history.

Land speculation, fuelled in part by the Metis Scrip system, allowed for easier settlement for newcomers and real estate development. Immigrants brought experience in building with concrete and steel to the brickyards and mills. Downtown development moved westward along Jasper Avenue into the Hudson's Bay Reserve, and Boyle Street was supplanted as the new urban centre.

Edmonton was at the height of its prosperity in 1912 when the HBC decided to sell the remainder of its land. In the same year, Edmonton amalgamated with the City of Strathcona and continued its southern expansion towards the former Papaschase Reserve lands. As a result, the city's boundaries expanded in all directions, including south of the North Saskatchewan River for the first time. In 1913, Edmonton’s prosperity was clearly evident with the completion of many major building projects including the Alberta Legislature Building, Robertson Presbyterian Church, and the High Level Bridge.

Effects on Architecture

These prosperous years had a profound effect on Edmonton’s architecture. An increase in personal incomes and additional investment from the new province allowed for greater architectural experimentation and therefore more ornate buildings because the strong local economy could provide larger budgets.

From Ontario and the British Isles came the traditional English styles, such as Tudor/Queen Anne and Edwardian. American influences included less ornate styles, such as Foursquare houses and Chicago commercial buildings. There were also European influences in the grandiose Beaux Arts, Gothic Revival and Renaissance Revival buildings constructed at the time. The erection of these permanent structures collided with the presence of Indigenous people, often located in and around the Rossdale flats area.

In 1909 the City implemented a bylaw to regulate the construction, alteration, repair and inspection of buildings. To ensure the safety of citizens, this extensive document described the type of construction required for specific types of buildings in different fire zones.