On the morning of June 16, representatives from across our city and province gathered to help us celebrate our groundbreaking ceremony for Phase 2 of Station Lands. After opening remarks from Senior Vice President, Qualico Properties, Mike Saunders, the crowd enjoyed optimistic opening remarks from Elder Clifford Cardinal from St. Paul. 

Elder Clifford commended all the parties involved for the bravery required to embark on any new project within the scope of Station Lands. His acknowledgements of the lands on which we are developing as well as his encouraging words for the vision behind the development, helped to set the tone for the morning. Elder Clifford’s remarks were followed by an energizing performance by the Chubby Cree drummers.  

Mike Saunders then took the stage to outline the vision for development. The two new towers will be the eventual home to more than 600 new members of this community and will be a strong and undeniable signal of new life and new energy for this important part of downtown. 

Mayor Sohi and David Shepherd, MLA, Edmonton-City Centre, also took to the stage to communicate the importance of the development from a municipal and provincial perspective. Both speakers echoed the importance of collaboration when it comes to city building, both in the way we acknowledge the land on which we’re building and how we come together with our neighbours and city partners to build toward solutions that positively impact everyone involved.  

Their remarks were followed by Dr. Holly Mah, Chair, Chinatown BIA, who spoke about the importance of the development as a neighbour to the city’s historic Chinatown. Chinatown is a vital element of Edmonton’s downtown, and Station Lands will help to bridge this community with the remainder of the core. 

The event culminated in a ceremonial groundbreaking in which David Shepherd, Dr. Holly Mah, Councillor Karen Principe, Mayor Sohi, and Mike Saunders planted their shovels in some earth to kick off phase 2 construction.