97 Street Explained

97 Street
Former Names:Namao Avenue[1]
Alternate Name:Heroes Boulevard
Maint:the City of Edmonton
Length Km:12.1
Direction A:South
Terminus A:Jasper Avenue
Junction:107A Avenue, 111 Avenue, 118 Avenue, Yellowhead Trail, 137 Avenue, 153 Avenue, 167 Avenue, Anthony Henday Drive
Direction B:North
Terminus B:City Limits
Location:Edmonton

97 Street is a major arterial road in north Edmonton, Alberta. It is used to take vehicles in and out of Downtown Edmonton to the city's northern suburban neighbourhoods and to the region's main military installation, CFB Edmonton. North of Yellowhead Trail (Highway 16), it is designated as part of Highway 28.

The road has existed in some form since Edmonton was a small agricultural community. At its southern terminus it connects with Jasper Avenue, early Edmonton's main street, at the location of the Edmonton Convention Centre and Canada Place the main federal government offices in Alberta since 1988 and the former site of the Alberta Hotel. Proceeding north, 97 Street passes the Francis Winspear Centre for Music, and the Law Courts, as well as the Chinatown gate in Chinatown and Little Italy. Like all early roads in eastern Edmonton, Namao Avenue as it was called, ran at a slight angle to a true north–south line, being more NNW-SSE. During later development (north of 110A Avenue) it switches to a straight north–south course.

The neighbourhood along the west side, between 137 and 153 Avenues, Griesbach, used to be designated for homes for the families of the base. This has since been redeveloped by the Canada Lands Company. 97 Street is still used as the Canadian Forces parade to the base upon return of duty of the troops. A portion of 97 street between 137 Avenue and Anthony Henday Drive has been given the honorary name, " Canadian Forces Trail" and was approved in 2018, the proposal submitted by Ward 3 City Councillor Jon Dziadyk. This has prompted the light standards being tied with yellow ribbons and the street nicknamed Heroes Boulevard. This honorary name was the idea of local dentist Randy Crowell as a tribute to all past and present members of Edmontons' military family. 10,000 names were gathered through radio media outlets and presented to City Hall in support of the Heroes Boulevard tribute.

Neighbourhoods

List of neighbourhoods 94 street in order from south to north.[2]

Major intersections

This is a list of major intersections, starting at the south end of 97 Street.[2]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Naming Edmonton: from Ada to Zoie, (ed.) Merrily K. Aubrey, University of Alberta Press, Edmonton (Alta.), 2004, Edmonton Historical Board, Heritage Sites Committee. p. 228
  2. http://maps.edmonton.ca City of Edmonton map utility