“A rich and bountiful country abounding in all kinds of animals.” -- Angus Shaw, 1795
“What is now the city of Edmonton was once a wilderness where Wood-Cree Indians roamed and hunted bountiful wild game. The area was part of Rupert’s land, governed under Charter until 1869 when the Company transferred it to Canada. The fur potential of the Edmonton Area attracted early French fur traders to the North Saskatchewan.”So begins a tape-bound volume entitled "A Brief History of Edmonton" that I found on a bookshelf in my grandfather's house. On the cover is a picture of an old map with land around the North Saskatchewan river divided into 26 long sections. The booklet has no author name or date of publication, simply the words "Planning Department of Edmonton" in small letters in the bottom corner. My guess is that it was published in the years between 1965 and 1970 (see the end of this section for how I made that determination); if so, it was published during an era of myth-making across Canada, the baby boom and the economic heyday of the post-WW2 period. It speaks not only to who we are, but to how we see ourselves and the stories we tell ourselves.
The story of raving in Edmonton is a part of the history of Edmonton, but it is also a story of conflicting attitudes, and conflicting morals. This slim booklet cited in this article was produced by the city, seemingly for the children of the city of Edmonton. It grants a valuable insight into those attitudes that shaped the city -- attitudes that are as much the venues for Edmonton raves as the warehouses and nightclubs.
In 1795, settlers built a pair of fortifications known as Fort Augustus and Fort Edmonton near the confluence of the Sturgeon and North Saskatchewan rivers. The area was called "Rupert's Land" according to this text, and it was administered by the Hudson's Bay Company, created by charter of the British Crown. Edmonton was named after a community near London, England, which was the birthplace of the Deputy Governor of the Hudson’s Bay Company.
The forts were abandoned and relocated four times because of the risk of attack and the original Fort Edmonton was destroyed by Blackfoot Indians. The final location in 1812 was chosen “because explorer David Thompson’s new route to Fort Vancouver passed conveniently nearby.” By 1821, Edmonton was “a major trading center on the North Saskatchewan River, supplied mainly by packhorse trains using overland routes.”
Note that this text explicitly draws attention to the fact that, “A dinner in 1825 might include buffalo, moose, whitefish, beaver’s tail and a potent home brew" (my emphasis).
In 1827-1830, Edmonton was relocated again due to the risk of flooding, to the present-day location of the Legislative Grounds. Missionaries arrived in the period from 1840 to 1852 and “contributed much to stimulate growth in the Edmonton area.” A mission was established at Lac St. Anne and Father Lacombe, "beloved Father Lacombe," established the St. Albert Colony in 1861.
In 1795, settlers built a pair of fortifications known as Fort Augustus and Fort Edmonton near the confluence of the Sturgeon and North Saskatchewan rivers. The area was called "Rupert's Land" according to this text, and it was administered by the Hudson's Bay Company, created by charter of the British Crown. Edmonton was named after a community near London, England, which was the birthplace of the Deputy Governor of the Hudson’s Bay Company.
The forts were abandoned and relocated four times because of the risk of attack and the original Fort Edmonton was destroyed by Blackfoot Indians. The final location in 1812 was chosen “because explorer David Thompson’s new route to Fort Vancouver passed conveniently nearby.” By 1821, Edmonton was “a major trading center on the North Saskatchewan River, supplied mainly by packhorse trains using overland routes.”
Note that this text explicitly draws attention to the fact that, “A dinner in 1825 might include buffalo, moose, whitefish, beaver’s tail and a potent home brew" (my emphasis).
In 1827-1830, Edmonton was relocated again due to the risk of flooding, to the present-day location of the Legislative Grounds. Missionaries arrived in the period from 1840 to 1852 and “contributed much to stimulate growth in the Edmonton area.” A mission was established at Lac St. Anne and Father Lacombe, "beloved Father Lacombe," established the St. Albert Colony in 1861.
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| This picture is worth well over 1,000 words, for it sums up the entire story of E-town. It is a picture of the first Protestant Missionary in northwest Canada, Revered Robert Terrill Rundle, who arrived in Edmonton in 1840, set up shop, and made himself a home here. Check out that wagging finger. Fast forward 100 years, and we're supposed to be surprised that Edmonton has a problem with kids running around all night, partying, taking drugs and wearing skimpy clothes? |
In 1862, Father Lacombe introduced the Red River carts, "which were a great aid in bringing people to Edmonton.” About this time, Edmonton experienced the economic run-off of the Klondike Gold rush as carts of “over-landers” traveled through Edmonton to gold fields in British Colombia. When the gold rush fizzled, many of these over-landers would return to settle on land near Edmonton.
In 1868, Reverend John McDougall wrote:
Edmonton stands for the great centredom of the great Saskatchewan country – the centre in religion, government, commerce, and transportation. Within the four walls of yonder little fort, and within its wooden bastions large business is conducted, and far-reaching measures are planned.Around this time (1871), fifty North-West Mounted Police under the direction of Colonel Jarvis arrived in Edmonton “to provide law and order.” Although no details are given, it is noted that Father Lacombe would “save Fort Edmonton from destruction by the Blackfoot” that year. Emily Murphy (one of the famous five suffragettes, on the one hand, and author of the anti-drug tract The Black Candle on the other) arrived around this time. McDougall Church, which still stands in Edmonton not far from the centre of downtown, was built in 1871.
In the next few years, the whole region was "opened to settlement" when the Hudson’s Bay steamship Northcote began operating on the North Saskatchewan river. In 1876, mail service was established; 1880 saw publication of Edmonton’s first newspaper, the Bulletin, and telegraph service was introduced.
Treaty 6, concluded in 1876-1877, ensured that the Cree Indians would “give up their interest in land around Edmonton [...] settling on a reserve set aside at Bear Hills (Hobema).” Local Indians had been decimated by smallpox the decade before, and in 1870, “the last great war between the Crees and the Blackfoot was fought." Edmonton consequently became more attractive to settlers. In the 1880’s, Edmonton would experience a minor real-estate boom as the C.P.R considered potential routes for a new rail line West. "Trading stores, churches and some industry appeared.” Edmonton’s population reached 300 people and stagecoach service was established to Calgary. By this time, six steamboats operated on the North Saskatchewan, servicing the coal, lumber, agriculture, and fur industries; there was also a brick factory.
Jasper Ave, less than 100 years before the start of our story and less than 100 metres from the future site of the Rev.
From 1901 to 1905, “the Canadian Northern built a railway down the valley of the River and Mill Creek connecting Edmonton with the C.P.R. system” leading to a great increase in arrival of immigrants from the East. Edmonton reached a population of 5,000 and was incorporated as a city in 1904. Its first bylaws provided money for water and sewage installations, and soon after, the city purchased the telephone system from a private company.
In 1905, the province of Alberta was formed, with Edmonton designated as its capital. The University of Alberta, located in Strathcona, was established in 1906; construction of the provincial legislature began in 1907. The population of the city topped 31,000. The first city transit begins -- the Radial Railway with 12 miles of track.
In 1912, Edmonton and Strathcona amalgamated, for a combined population of 53,611 in an area of 40 square miles. In 1914, the population reached 72,516, “marking the peak of the second land boom.” In this year, the High Level, Dawson and 105 Street bridges were completed. In 1912, North Edmonton was added to the city, and Calder was added in 1917. “This period also witnessed the consolidation of the downtown area and construction of many major buildings. A street numbering system was adopted.
From 1915 to 1938, the population in Edmonton dropped due to diminished economic conditions. The Canadian Northern Mainline, from Winnipeg to Vancouver through Edmonton, was built “opening up rich agricultural areas east of Edmonton.” Edmonton and Fort McMurray were connected by rail in 1916. Use of natural gas began in 1923. By 1941 Edmonton had recovered from the depression and work began on the Alaska highway, establishing Edmonton as a “gateway to the North.”
In 1947, the discovery of oil (“black gold”) at Leduc, south of Edmonton, “triggered a period of rapid growth and a new prosperity. Edmonton became “the oil and gas capital.” Population quadrupled between 1939 and 1965 and industrialization increased beyond expectation.”
According to the text, in 1965, “Edmonton, with a population of 373,000, is Western Canada’s refining and petro-chemical centre, and one of the West’s leading industrial, resource, research and educational centres.”
The text stops at this point -- probably, it was published just after the last recounted events, and made its way onto my grandfather's shelf via children who were educated in public schools from about 1965-1975.
Ravers, what additional significant events are required to carry us forward to the start of our story, which is approximately 1990 in Edmonton?
And more importantly, what events need to be left out in order to continue the same narrative arc, and the construction of the same Edmontonian myths?
The story of raving in Edmonton is in part the story of myths -- myths about who we are, myths of what is right and wrong, myths about what is dangerous and who is supposed to protect us.... The brief history of Edmonton presented here can give us a hint what are some of those myths.
I would love to hear from Edmonton ravers about what myths they feel are important to carry us forward to those first nights at Dance Factory and Flashbacks.
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