Where Everybody Knows Your Name
User Story
By Janet LeBlanc
My family has lived in Edmonton for five generations, except for seven years when my husband was transferred for work. That transfer made me realize how much I loved Edmonton when we moved back. In Calgary, it took me over a year to meet my first neighbour. In Edmonton, I was greeted by four of my immediate neighbours before I had received the key to my new house. One offered me fresh coffee while I unpacked, another one brought me fresh flowers to adorn my hallway, yet another brought me Bernard Callebaut chocolates with a card detailing their names and phone number and, finally, my next door neighbour invited us to barbeque with them the next night. That is what Edmonton is all about!
It is a big city with a small town atmosphere where paths cross constantly from home, work or play. Where not only different cultures intermingle, but different classes as well. I grew up in the neighbourhood with Daryl Katz, went to the same school and played tennis together at our community courts. Our tennis group, which grew up in modest bungalows and lived ordinary, middle class lives, spawned lawyers, financial managers, accountants and the owner of the Oilers. Our school chums, friends and relatives come from all corners of the city because it really is just a small town.
Everyone seems to know everyone, especially in the west end where I hail from, not far from where my grandmother was 
born on the Simonson farm that covered the area that now spans 142 to 149 streets and MacKinnon Ravine to 107 Avenue; a place where my grandmother’s playground was the ravine. I think the reason Edmonton isn’t “on the map” is because we don’t want it to be. It is our best kept secret. We don’t need to flaunt it to be proud of it. There is no better place to call home. Five generations of my family can attest to that!
