Royal Alexandra Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Edmonton, Alberta, population 800,000, was established as a Hudson's Bay trading post in 1795. Named for Edmonton in London, England, the home of the HBC deputy governor, it was a fur trading centre until the area was opened up for settlement when the federal government purchased the land in 1870. Incorporated in 1892, it became an outfitting centre for prospectors heading for the Klondike during the Gold Rush of the late 1800's. When Alberta joined Confederation in 1905 Edmonton was chosen as the capital of the newly formed province. Located in the central area of the province, the city became the major base for the construction of the Alaska Highway during the Second World War. Edmonton's growth was rapid during the second half of the twentieth century due to the discovery of large oil reserves in the surrounding area. The Western Headquarters of the Canadian Land Forces (army) are located in Edmonton.

Kindly written and contributed by Mrs M J Ujimoto © 2009