Picture this: it’s summer time in Edmonton, you’ve got family coming to visit, and they ask what there is to do while they’re in town. You took them to West Ed last time, they’re not really Jazz Fest people, and it’s hard to make a day out of kicking rocks off End of the World. That’s where ECAMP walking tours come in.
This June through August, we’ll be offering weekly walking tours about Edmonton history. They’ll have an ECAMP flavour: curiosity-driven, hands-on, seeing the whole city as a place to learn from. Our goal is to give locals and visitors a chance to learn about land, culture, and work here, and have fun doing it.
One tour will be focused on labour history stories downtown, from a local pemmican factory to famous strikes and railway workers. Expect scenic views of the North Saskatchewan river valley along the way.
The other tour will explore the histories of Ukrainian immigrants in Edmonton through the senses. You’ll see beautiful murals and churches, like the St. John the Baptist orthodox cathedral near Kingsway. You’ll learn about some of the artists, students, and labourers who helped build a community in Edmonton. And you’ll learn about some of the recipes, dance, and music traditions that people are keeping alive today.
You can get a sneak peek at these tours as part of Jane’s Walk YEG the first weekend of May. We’ll announce dates very soon.
And if you love this idea, consider applying to be one of our summer interpreters. We’re hiring two staff to lead these tours and facilitate other ECAMP programming from May through August. They’ll run our exhibit at K Days, table at community events, and develop their own future ECAMP tour. If you’ve got a background in history and you love public speaking, this might be the job for you. We’re hiring through the Canada Summer Jobs program, so check your eligibility (must be 30 or under) and apply here before March 27, 2025 at noon.
– ECAMP Coordinator Chris Chang-Yen Phillips