Money Sense’s yearly rankings of the best places to live in Canada saw Edmonton leap up the rankings from 31st to 8th overall, and in the top-three amongst big cities along with Calgary and Ottawa.
One of the reasons that the city moved up so quickly is the Riverbend region and the neighborhoods that make up the immensely popular area including Brookside, Falconer Heights, and Ramsey Heights.
Originally created in 1972, Riverbend makes up a significant portion of Edmonton’s famed River Valley. Not only are the views overlooking the North Saskatchewan River spectacular but so too is the massive natural grounds which are major part of Edmonton’s “Ribbon of Green.” This initiative resulted in over 27,000 acres of parkland would remain within the city, giving Edmonton the largest amount of parkland per resident in Canada.
Riverbend’s neighborhoods are among Edmonton’s best yet well within the most-affordable and stable housing costs. The houses in the region are some of the most stylish ones in the city yet won’t break the budget for most people, whether they are first-time homeowners or a family looking for something bigger.
Several other factors weigh in as you compile a list of reasons as what has gone into making Riverbend’s status as a first-class region:
*Several of Edmonton’s top elementary, junior high, and high schools are situated within Riverbend. The schools are in excellent overall condition and the students produce some of the best grades in the entire province.
*In recent years, commuting in and out of Riverbend has become infinitely better. The communities in Riverbend are now easily accessed by the Henday Freeway along with Whitemud Trail. Improvements have been made in public transportation with increased bus routes and the expansion of the light rail transit. All of these improvements have made it much easier for residents to quickly reach such notable areas as Whyte Ave and the University of Alberta, West Edmonton Mall, and Downtown.
*Riverbend neighborhoods are widely regarded as some of the safest in Edmonton with low crime rates.