St Albert Attractions

The town of St Albert is a drive of only minutes north-west from Downtown Edmonton. Situated on the Sturgeon River, it is today all but continuous with the Albertan capital. The original settlement of St Albert evolved from a mission station founded in 1861 by Father Albert Lacombe, around which swiftly grew up the largest Métis community in the Canadian west. It acquired civic status in 1904, and until 1912 was the seat of a Catholic bishop. The best views of the town are from the simple whitewashed wooden chapel built by Father Lacombe (open Victoria Day-Labor Day daily l0am-6pm). The former cathedral stands next to it, and the history of the town is documented in the St Albert Heritage Museum, a few paces downhill.