City officials in Edmonton are making a concerted effort to demonstrate that downtown is a safe and vibrant place to visit, launching the Turn Up Downtown campaign featuring more than 1,000 free events over the next seven months.
Campaign Launch at Michael Phair Park
The initiative officially kicked off on Friday at Michael Phair Park, with a three-piece band providing a lively backdrop. The campaign aims to draw more people to the city centre through a diverse array of activities, including free games, music performances, and fitness classes.
Cheryl Probert, president of the Downtown Edmonton Community League, expressed optimism about the increased foot traffic and praised recent updates to the Edmonton Police Service's community policing approach. "We're seeing a lot more presence on the street, it's creating a sense of safety," she said. "The more people from outside of the core come down here, the better off the whole city is."
Summer Event Highlights
Among the planned events are Salsa and Tai Chi lessons at Churchill Square, family-friendly games at O-day’min Park, the Downtown farmer's market, and live music performances throughout the city centre. A complete list of events is available on the city's website.
Focus on Fundamentals
While the campaign emphasizes fun, some stakeholders stress the importance of addressing basic downtown issues. Cheryll Watson, chairwoman of the Downtown Revitalization Coalition, welcomed the initiative but highlighted the need for consistent maintenance and cleanliness. "The same focus and urgency needs to be applied to the fundamentals that shape people's day-to-day experience — cleanliness, safety, accessibility, and the overall condition of public spaces," she said. "Festivals can attract people downtown, but the basics determine whether they return."
Akanksha Bhatnagar, executive director of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, echoed these sentiments, calling for greater investment in beautification and cleanliness. "You can't have all these events downtown and then there's nowhere to park and there's garbage everywhere," she noted. "We're already having a hard time getting people to come here, so how can we up our cleanliness standards?"
Parking and Economic Activity
Mayor Andrew Knack addressed parking concerns, stating that downtown has enough capacity to accommodate an Oilers playoff game. He pointed to an increase in daytime economic activity following mandates for some government employees to return to offices, though the city's unionized workers have secured work-from-home arrangements in their collective agreement. With contract negotiations approaching next year, Bhatnagar urged the city to begin discussions with the union about returning to the office.
The Turn Up Downtown campaign represents a significant effort to revitalize the city centre, but its long-term success may depend on balancing entertainment with essential services and infrastructure.
