In the mid-2010s there was a coming-of-age ritual for the youth in St. Albert: crossing the trestle train bridge on foot. It was easier to do before the fences were put up, the current deterrent against teenage trespass, although I imagine that scaling the chain-link barrier is just another part of the story these days. The bridge, built in 1908, is made of weathered old beams that form pylons. The X patterns along its length leave a gap for river traffic and a footpath. Located at the northwestern corner of Lion’s Park, a green space that serves as the gateway between Millennium Park and St. Albert’s downtown, it connects to a trail system running through the John E. Poole Wetlands.
Stand underneath the bridge, on the threshold between the park and the trail, and you can hear the subtle creaks and groans — if the Sturgeon River moves fast enough, you might even catch water hitting a support pylon. When a train does pass over, its noise consumes everything and you’re reminded of the massive structure’s original purpose: in the early 20th century, it was part of the rail line connecting Edmonton and Slave Lake, providing the primary form of long-distance travel for people and goods at the time.
Ask people in Edmonton what their favourite part of the city is and often you’ll get the answer, “the river valley.” The North Saskatchewan is great, and I’ve spent many hours there, but the river valley of my youth is the Sturgeon in St. Albert.
St. Albert Place is your one-stop shop where you will find city hall, the public library, Arden Theatre and a handful of ceramics studios. An added bonus is the architecture — it was designed by multiple-award-winning-architect Douglas Cardinal. The building defies the straight-edged form of brick as a building material. Brick-built surfaces form curves along the length of the structure to create spires or balconies. Exterior staircases follow these curves and connect the balconies to the ground giving the building texture. The combination of curves, windows and layers could make this mid-century building a setting in a sci-fi movie (like something in the background on a similar-to-Earth-but-different planet in Star Trek: The Next Generation). This holds true inside as well; behind the glass windows and waterfall at the front of the building you’ll find a lowered conversation pit with seating and greenery. Two balconies in the space allow for the city administration offices above to receive natural light.
Neighbouring the post office a few streets away, you’ll find an eatery worth visiting. The interior is simple: pale yellow walls with a few framed pictures, black industrial roof with exposed pipes and ducts, concrete floor, a handful of two-person tables and more seating along the wood-topped bar. It’s back in the kitchen where the magic happens. Chances are you’ve had a burger from Jack’s Burger Shack, (the BBQ Crunch Burger did rank fourth in Edify’s Best Burger for 2026) but there’s something different about its original location. Laid-back Perron Street can get busy during the farmers market, but the quiet atmosphere makes it an ideal place to grab a bite and catch up with an old friend. If the weather’s nice, you can grab your burger to go and wander back over to the river valley and eat at a picnic bench.
Summer is a time for getting lost in a good book. My association between season and object was firmly cemented by the St. Albert Public Library’s summer reading program, located in St. Albert Place. Nearby there’s another bastion of books, just outside of downtown in the Riel industrial area. Bailey Books, with its red, white and brown shelves that hold books of every genre — the thick, colourful spines of science fiction from the 1970s, green leather-bound encyclopedias, mysteries of the normal and paranormal varieties as well as a plethora of local history and art collections. Tables and chairs invite you to stay and relax for a while, tchotchkes like a brass elephant sitting back on its hind legs or a gas lamp adorning table or shelf, makes you wonder what stories these everyday objects hold. Have an old book that’s been shown a little too much love? Well, you’re in luck, as Bailey Books specializes in book repairs and binding to bring old volumes back to life.
If you’re looking for a good burger, a good book or just a good old walk around, head over to St. Albert’s downtown and see what you can find.
