Quality of Life

Alberta's Industrial Heartland and surrounding areas offer an exceptional quality of life for residents. The municipalities are a blend of rural landscapes and urban settings, providing a diverse range of activities, facilities, and lifestyles.

Education

Schools in the area are well equipped to offer quality education and a range of course options. All of the municipalities have schools that begin at kindergarten, and at least two schools each that extend to grade twelve. Post secondary options are endless in Edmonton, with world class institutions such as the University of Alberta, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), Grant MacEwan College, and more. Communities surrounding Edmonton such as Sherwood Park and St Albert also have satellite locations of various other post secondary schools.

Parks and Recreation

Recreation enthusiasts have an abundance of choices, including nearby Elk Island National Park, wilderness areas, lakes, downhill skiing, sand dunes, and sporting fields. Multi-use recreation facilities in Sherwood Park, Fort Saskatchewan and other surrounding communities offer ice arenas, indoor fitness tracks, performing theatres, and more. One of the area’s most valuable recreation resources, the North Saskatchewan River, runs through or borders all five municipalities in Alberta's Industrial Heartland, creating kilometers of beautiful trails and dozens of scenic parks. 

Health Care

State-of-the-art medical facilities combined with smaller rural hospitals and health units provide quality health care to Heartland municipalities. Adding to the current facilities, the region will soon enjoy two brand new hospitals – Strathcona County and Fort Saskatchewan. Health care is accentuated by numerous physiotherapy clinics, x-ray clinics, dentists, optometrists, and fitness facilities. Additionally, Edmonton has several world class health care centers including the University of Alberta Hospital, Stollery Children’s Hospital, Royal Alexandra Hospital, and the Cross Cancer Institute.

Festivals and Events

There’s no shortage of celebrations and activities, regardless of the season. Almost all communities host events for Canada Day, New Year’s Eve, Remembrance Day, and other significant holidays. Country Soul Stroll, an award winning “u-drive” agri-tour through the countryside includes over 40 sites in the surrounding area. Residents and visitors alike also take in rodeos, town wide garage sales, festivals, livestock shows, trade fairs, theatre performances, and more.