If you’re looking for a place to live and a home to buy in Edmonton, you should take a look at Glenora Community. By touring the area, you will soon find that it’s been around longer than most of the residential areas in the city; in fact, many of the houses which are well-kept were built in the early 20th century. Groat Road which was named after the first property owner makes up the eastern boundary while the McKinnon Ravine and river valley create the southern border. The western perimeter is 142nd Street, and 107th Avenue makes up the northern boundary. Because the area is highly sought-after by new residents, property costs are higher than those in the surrounding area. However, if you’re looking to live in a stylish residential area in Edmonton, Glenora Community is the place to settle. In spite of its current elegance, it must be said that Glenora had humble beginnings that all hinged on the fortitude of a grain peddler, James Carruthers.
Learning from the Past
After Carruthers purchased the land, he immediately saw its great possibility of becoming a flourishing residential community. The only challenge, however, was the McKinnon Ravine which obstructed the city of Edmonton from the area now called Glenora. After a few short years, Carruthers made a contract with the leadership of the city to construct a bridge between the city of Edmonton and Glenora as long as the city facilitated public transport through streetcars in the new residential area he had built. That very bridge is now part of what makes up 102nd Avenue and helped significantly to get in the necessary building materials for those first new homes to be built.
Government House, which was built in the early 1900’s, is one of the biggest historical attractions. One of the first structures to be erected in the area, this was the manor home of the lieutenant governor of Alberta. The Graenon, constructed shortly after Government House, was the 3,152-square-foot estate home of Peggy O’Connor Farnell who wrote the Glenora Historical Book; this unique volume documented the many developments and changes of Glenora Neighborhood.
Entertainment in the Glenora Community
There are many places to see in Glenora, but one that has proven interest for both families and individuals is the Royal Alberta Museum where there are various displays to be experienced such as a fossil exhibit, a historical display of the Levi Strauss industry in the area as well as one that depicts the lifestyles of the native inhabitants of Glenora; this is the all-time favourite for the children because there are teepees they can enter and explore to see what a local home was like so long ago. Other displays which appear on and off in the museum include various writers of children’s books who perform live readings as well as the exciting dragon presentation. Other attractions to see on the museum’s property include Government House, Abstract Fountain as well as the Ksan Totem Pole.
If you’re a lover of nature, you’ll really enjoy Glenora as there are a plethora of parks throughout the area. Besides Faith Clifton Alan McDonald Memorial Park and Alexander Circle, there’s also the Glenora Park and the McKinnon Ravine Park just to name a small amount. Not only is the area rich in history and the beauty of the great outdoors, the Glenora Community League is great at planning events for friends and families to take part in together – such as riding bikes on the North River Valley Trail or golfing on the Victoria Golf Course.
Education and Schools in Glenora
There are a variety of schools in Glenora to meet your children’s educational needs such as the Glenora Elementary and Westminster Junior High which belong to the Edmonton Public School System. There are also private schools such as the The Progressive Academy as well as the St. Vincent Catholic Elementary which is connected to the Edmonton Catholic School System.
The Glenora Community League
The Glenora Community League is simply a group of residents who are committed to seeing to the needs and concerns of the residents as much as possible. The group not only sees to community projects such as building playgrounds, but they also plan many social events throughout the year such as the Glenora Champaign Brunch which is held at the Royal Glenora Club. Sports such as basketball, baseball and tennis are enjoyed by families while little ones take part in the preschool activities. For an extremely low fee, residents can gain membership to the Glenora Community League which grants access to the Edmonton Community League skating rink as well as the Grant McEwen Pool.
Members are also permitted to use the community hall for a very low price. The cost of membership amounts to little more than a dollar a month for individuals and is money well spent. The Glenora Community League is constantly inviting residents into membership because it recognizes the benefits that unity can bring to a neighborhood. Anyone who lives in Glenora is welcome to be a part of the group.
Shopping in Glenora
The commerce of Glenora is divided into three segments: 124th Street, Jasper Avenue and 102nd Avenue. Restaurants, cafes and small businesses line these strips, but residents are just a short distance away from the bigger shopping opportunities in Edmonton where more than 400 shops are available.
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