Earlier this month, BILD Edmonton Metro brought together 50 engaged residents for an exclusive tour of Edmonton’s most significant redevelopment sites — from Station Lands and Stadium Yards to Exhibition Lands and emerging districts like the Oilers Entertainment Group’s Fan Park and the Village at Ice District.
The theme? Think big. This insider look at the city’s most ambitious and large-scale urban projects showcased how sites are being transformed with the goal of making Edmonton more livable, sustainable, and economically vibrant.
Leading the tour were BILD Edmonton Metro’s CEO, Kalen Anderson, and Vice President, Jason Syvixay. They were joined by a panel of city-shaping leaders, including Elise Shillington from Cantiro, Erik Backstrom from the City of Edmonton, Mike Saunders from Qualico, Russell Dauk from Rohit Group, Stuart Ballantyne from OEG Sports and Entertainment, and Alan Donnelly from MLZ Creative. Throughout the tour, each speaker shared insights into the design strategies, community engagement approaches, and big ideas behind these transformative developments.
Creating Immersive Public Spaces
Station Lands — a $1.2 billion mixed-use development — was one of the first stops. Now entering its second phase, the project blends residential, commercial, and public space into a lively new hub downtown. With street-level retail, townhomes, apartments, and a major public plaza, the goal is to connect Edmontonians to a revitalized stretch of Jasper Avenue.
“We’re building a vibrant community in the heart of downtown – featuring green spaces for residents to enjoy pop-up music and performances, connect with neighbours, or simply relax,” said Senior Vice President of Qualico, Mike Saunders. “With the elevated bridge for sight-seeing and selfies, dog-friendly amenities, and seamless integration with nearby cultural and arts destinations, this is a place designed for connection, creativity, and community.”
Station Lands illustrates how redevelopment is no longer just about filling land, but about shaping identity and weaving culture, retail, and residential life into a cohesive whole.
More Than Just a Game: Housing and Community at Ice District
The tour explored the Village at Ice District, where the Oilers Entertainment Group is working to redefine the intersection of sports, entertainment, and urban living. New housing, student-oriented accommodations like The Switch, and enhanced public amenities are creating a district that is more than a destination for game nights or concerts.
“The Switch is an early marker of how private investment can spark a broader community,” noted Erik Backstrom, Senior Planner at the City of Edmonton. “It plants the seed for the next wave of development.”
The Village at Ice District poses the perfect symphony of land use, where sports and entertainment can meet urban living. With The Switch offering student-oriented housing and new amenities, the district is evolving into a dynamic live-work-play destination.
“We’re super proud of what we’ve done,” said President of the Oilers Entertainment Group, Stuart Ballantyne, reflecting on the project’s progress. “There’s not a lot of green grass park areas downtown, so this district will be a great space for people to gather.”
The Community Revitalization Levy was also a huge part of this, providing funding to public investments and key infrastructure and amenities, like Rogers Place and the Ice District, to boost downtown vibrancy and growth.
Public and Private Sector Collaboration on Full Display
At Exhibition Lands, the power of partnerships between public and private developers is on full display. These former industrial and underutilized site is now being redeveloped into mixed-use communities — a direct result of policy leadership and collaborative effort.
The project was first approved for residential and mixed-use zoning in 2021, construction is set to begin in late 2025. Challenges with deep-storm and sanitary servicing slowed initial progress, but shallow services will be finished by next year, unlocking the next phase of development.
A unique feature of Exhibition Lands is its collaborative model. “We’re developing a diverse mix of housing options that connect seamlessly to the natural beauty and openness of Borden Park,” said Elise Shillington, Senior Development Manager at Cantiro. “At the same time, we’re thoughtfully planning critical infrastructure, like sewer and drainage systems, to ensure long-term sustainability.
Rohit’s Stadium Yards area sat undeveloped for years and needed a partnership to get it off the ground – a partnership that came from Cantiro, Brookfield, and the City of Edmonton.
Rohit’s Executive Vice President of Income Producing Properties, Russel Dauk, also touched on the importance of developments like Stadium Yards, highlighting the perfect way to incorporate play with daily life, whether it’s by catching a game at Commonwealth Stadium across the street, visiting a coffee shop nearby, or just walking around the area and getting a sense of community.
“We brought this place to life through bold thinking and creative vision – and we were fortunate to work alongside the City of Edmonton as true partners, tackling every challenge with innovative solutions. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see more residents call this community home, in spaces designed to support thriving, prosperous lives,” said Dauk. “One of my favourite parts is the rooftops that offer a stunning skyline view of our downtown – a reminder of how far we’ve come.”
“These transformations reflect the City of Edmonton’s ongoing push to welcome more residents and revitalize underused spaces,” said Anderson, who helped shape major planning documents like The City Plan and the Infill Roadmap. “They underscore how far we’ve come — and how far we can go.”
Building Momentum: Smarter, Faster Development
The tour wrapped up with reflections on what’s next for Edmonton. Participants discussed how zoning updates, streamlined processes, and emerging tech — including automation of development permit applications — are making it easier and faster to build in Edmonton.
For industry professionals, like the one who were present on the tour, the priority is no longer just breaking ground, but accelerating velocity and ensuring that projects move from vision to reality quickly and efficiently.
“This is about setting the stage for the next generation of growth,” Anderson said. “Tours like this give us all a moment to pause and recognize the momentum we’ve built together.”
A new narrative is emerging — Edmonton is no longer hesitant about scale. It is embracing bold, collaborative redevelopment that prioritizes livability, culture, and community. The vision is clear: to create safe, livable, and transit-oriented urban villages where residents, workers, and visitors can thrive.
The future is bright, and Edmonton is just getting started.
Thank you to the Field Trip Presenting Sponsor, B&A Studios, and the Event Sponsor, Happy Planet Homes.
Written by Payton Phillips