Like many Edmontonians, work brought Gary St. Amand and his family to the city originally. They arrived from Flin Flon, Man. 15 years ago — the sense of community has kept them here.
“Edmonton has treated us well in so many ways but what stands out most to me is the fact that not once did we ever feel like we were outsiders here,” says St. Amand.
Today, St. Amand is the CEO of Spirit North, a non-profit founded by Olympian Becky Scott that encourages Indigenous youth to get involved in sports and play. It provides Indigenous youth with access to culturally relevant sport and play, engaging them, free of charge, in outdoor activities.
So it’s fitting that St. Amand’s favourite thing to do in the city is an outdoor activity. He loves to play disc golf — specifically at Rundle Park. Its 18 holes are considered some of the best in the city.
“Edmonton has done a remarkable job of setting up some great disc golf courses that are free to use and can be played with the purchase of a few discs from one of our local vendors,” says St. Amand. “It is such a great and accessible activity that is healthy and addictive in the best way possible.”
If there’s anything to be gleaned from this series: we Edmontonians love food and we love being outdoors. When we’re not slurping noodles or lingering over brunch, we’re taking scenic strolls, stopping at dog parks and snapping pictures at river valley vistas. Delve into this year’s list of Edmontonians’ favourite things — with best-loved picks from a variety of noteworthy locals who span the arts, business, sports and non-profit realms — to help build your own summer bucket list. And if you can’t make it beyond your backyard, you can at least follow this foolproof formula and enjoy something tasty in the sunshine.
