Department Organization
Community Recreation and Culture enhances the livability and vibrancy of the city by providing places and opportunities for all Edmontonians to gather, connect, recreate and celebrate.
This branch is responsible for a diversity of options to enhance livability for all Edmontonians through recreation and sports infrastructure and equipment, nature, events, programs/activities, community collaboration and support. Edmontonians can support and grow their wellness and community through physical recreation, cultural and art activities and programs, major attractions, sports partnerships, river valley recreation and attracted events and cemeteries.
Some examples include: 19 City recreation centres, five outdoor pools, 23 river valley parks, three golf courses and one driving range, green shacks, multiple arenas, festivals, events and attractions. Attraction facilities include but are not limited to the Edmonton Valley Zoo, Muttart Conservatory, John Janzen Nature Centre, John Walter Museum, City Arts Centre, as well as Commonwealth Stadium. The City also offers helpful services through its 7 cemeteries.
Community Standards enhances a livable city by supporting safe properties and a civil urban society that meets the standards and expectations of communities. This is accomplished by the identification of standards, together with the education, compliance and, where necessary, enforcement initiatives required to uphold them.
They work with Edmontonians and visitors to promote understanding and adherence to bylaws, coordinate service delivery, operate and maintain parks and enhance the urban forest.
Community Standards helps keep our public spaces and neighbourhoods clean, safe and welcoming by promoting awareness of our bylaws and enforcing them when necessary.
Peace Officers
Our dedicated Peace Officers are on duty across the city each and every day. This includes Animal Care and Control Officers who reunite lost pets with their families, Transit Peace Officers patrolling stations across the transit network and Park Rangers who protect and help to maintain our river valley and urban forest.
Local Initiatives
Through programs like the Problem Properties Initiative and Capital City Clean Up, we contribute to healthier and cleaner neighbourhoods. Specialized teams, such as the Encampment Response Teams and Community Outreach Transit Teams, collaborate with partner organizations and mutual aid groups to support our vulnerable communities by compassionately connecting them to essential resources.
Municipal Enforcement Officers
Our Municipal Enforcement Officers (MEOs) play a key role in maintaining community standards by responding to bylaw concerns, including enforcing parking bans and other regulations that help keep our city safe, accessible and well-managed for all Edmontonians.
By actively engaging with the community, educating residents and enforcing City standards, we ensure that Edmonton remains a safe and welcoming city for everyone.
Edmonton Fire Rescue Services provides emergency response services to the Edmonton Metropolitan Area, serving more than one million residents across over 780km2, with over 380,000 building structures.
Through the protection of life, property and the environment, Fire Rescue Services improves the livability of all Edmontonians. The provision of internationally-recognized frontline fire rescue services, fire prevention programs and public education make the city a safer and healthier place.
Along with 31 fire stations and five support buildings strategically located throughout the city, Edmonton Fire Rescue Services has approximately 1,300 employees, including frontline firefighters, emergency communications specialists, fire prevention officers, emergency management officers, and technical and administrative staff.
Social Development helps make Edmonton a safe, welcoming, and connected city. We work on big challenges that affect people’s lives, like housing, safety, and fairness. We create plans, build partnerships, and invest in programs that help people feel included and supported in their communities. Our work focuses on prevention, long term change, and making sure all residents have the chance to succeed.
We lead the Community Safety and Wellbeing Strategy, which brings together work from across the City to address complex societal challenges. The strategy is built around seven pillars that focus on anti-racism, reconciliation, equitable policies, wellbeing, safe and inclusive spaces, pathways in and out of poverty, and crime prevention crisis intervention. Together, these efforts help the City focus on root causes and build better systems that support long term community wellbeing.
Affordable Housing and Homelessness and the Housing Action Team help ensure that all Edmontonians can find the housing they need in the neighbourhoods they love. We make it easier to build all types of housing and provide City-owned land and construction grants to affordable housing providers. We also work to make sure that there are services available to residents that are struggling with homelessness, or at risk of losing their housing.
Through Community Investment, we support local organizations that deliver programs and services to help people before they are in crisis. We provide funding, build relationships, and help strengthen the capacity of the nonprofit sector. These investments, in community and relationships make life better for residents and help keep communities strong.
Our Neighbourhood Services team works in all 291 neighbourhoods across the city. We help people build connections, lead projects, and take action on local priorities. This creates a stronger sense of belonging and helps neighbourhoods grow together.
The Indigenous Relations Office leads the City’s work with Indigenous Peoples. We support Indigenous-led municipal response plans and frameworks and help staff include Indigenous ways of knowing and being in their work. This helps the City take real steps toward reconciliation and build respectful relationships.
We support Safe and Healthy Communities by focusing on prevention, inclusion, and local partnerships. We work closely with residents,community groups, and partner organizations to reduce risk, respond to local issues, and ensure Edmontonians have the supports they need. This helps improve trust, reduce harm, and make communities feel safer for everyone.
Together, these six areas make life better for residents and help Edmonton grow as a fair, safe, and caring city.