Downtown and Wîhkwêntôwin at a glance
| Downtown | Wîhkwêntôwin (Oliver) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | The city centre, around the LRT hub | Just west of downtown: 110 Street to 124 Street, up to 105 Avenue, with the river valley to the south |
| Homes | Lofts to high-rise towers | Mostly apartment-style condos and rentals, in high-rise and low-rise buildings |
| Getting around | Capital, Metro and Valley Line LRT, plus the pedway | Jasper Avenue buses now, a Valley Line West stop on the way |
| Nearby | Rogers Place, the Royal Alberta Museum, City Hall | Jasper Avenue, 124 Street shops, Victoria Promenade |
About the name
The neighbourhood west of downtown was named Oliver in 1937. In 2024 City Council approved a new name, Wîhkwêntôwin (pronounced we-kwen-to-win), Cree for "circle of friends", which took effect on January 1, 2025. You'll still see "Oliver" in many listings and searches. It's Edmonton's most densely populated neighbourhood.
Getting around without a car
If LRT proximity matters to you, this is the part of the city where it's easiest to live without driving.
- LRT: the Capital and Metro Lines run underground through downtown. The Valley Line Southeast, opened November 4, 2023, runs 13.1 km from 102 Street downtown to Mill Woods. The Valley Line West will add a Wîhkwêntôwin/116 Street stop; the City expects construction to finish in 2028.
- The pedway: about 13 km of climate-controlled tunnels and walkways linking more than 40 downtown buildings and parkades and three of the five downtown LRT stations. Winter-city living, indoors.
- The funicular: free to ride since December 9, 2017, it links 100 Street, just south of the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, with Louise McKinney Riverfront Park.
- Bridges: the High Level Bridge and Groat Bridge take you to the University of Alberta and the south side.
When you tour a building, time the walk from its front door to the nearest station, and check whether the route can be done indoors.
The river valley on your doorstep
- Victoria Promenade, at Wîhkwêntôwin's western end, looks out over the river valley.
- Victoria Park, Victoria Golf Course and the Royal Glenora Club sit in the valley below.
- Louise McKinney Riverfront Park is a funicular ride down from downtown, and the river valley as a whole has more than 150 km of trails.
What's around you
- Rogers Place, home of the Edmonton Oilers and Oil Kings, opened on September 8, 2016, at the centre of the Ice District.
- The Royal Alberta Museum, north of City Hall, opened on October 3, 2018, and is the largest museum in western Canada.
- Jasper Avenue, Edmonton's main street, runs through Wîhkwêntôwin, and 124 Street along its western edge is lined with shops and restaurants.
The condo documents to read before you buy
In Alberta, a condo corporation must provide its key documents within 10 days of a written request, and it can charge a fee. Make your offer conditional on reviewing them, and leave enough days for the request.
In Alberta, a condo corporation must provide its key documents within 10 days of a written request. Read them before your conditions expire.
What to ask for, and what to look for:
- Consolidated information statement: any lawsuits or large demands against the corporation, the reserve fund balance, how contributions are set, known structural problems and any loans.
- Budget and annual financial statements: do the condo fees actually cover the costs?
- Reserve fund study and plan: Alberta requires a study at least every 5 years, looking 30 years ahead. Compare the big repairs coming with the money set aside.
- Board and general meeting minutes: repairs, disputes and any special assessment being discussed. A special assessment is a one-time charge to owners, often because the reserve fund fell short.
- Bylaws and rules: pets, rentals, renovations and noise.
- Insurance certificate and the standard unit description: what the corporation insures, and what your own policy needs to cover.
- Parking and storage: whether yours is titled, assigned or leased through an exclusive use agreement.
- Engineering and other professional reports, if the building has them.
Downtown or Wîhkwêntôwin: how to choose
Weigh the features, not the labels:
- Transit: downtown has LRT now; Wîhkwêntôwin gets its stop when the Valley Line West opens.
- Street life: downtown is the arena, museums and offices; Wîhkwêntôwin is Jasper Avenue and 124 Street shops and the river valley edge.
- The building matters more than the block: fees, reserve fund health, parking and rules vary a lot between buildings a street apart.
Condos for sale downtown Edmonton: how we help
Our office is on 124 Street, the street that forms Wîhkwêntôwin's western edge. We request and read the condo documents with you, compare fees and recent sales in the same building, and confirm how parking and storage are held before you firm up.