McKernan, Edmonton

McKernan
McKernan
Neighbourhood
	McKernan Location of McKernan in Edmonton
	Coordinates: 53°30′47″N113°31′16″W / 53.513°N 113.521°W
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
City	Edmonton
Quadrant	NW
Ward	papastew
Sector	Mature area
Area	Strathcona
Government
• Administrative body	Edmonton City Council
• Councillor	Michael Janz
Area
• Total	0.88 km2 (0.34 sq mi)
Elevation	670 m (2,200 ft)
Population (2014)
• Total	2,785
• Density	3,164.7/km2 (8,197/sq mi)
• Dwellings	1,439

Last updated September 29, 2024

McKernan is a neighbourhood located in southwest Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is named for John McKernan, a prominent businessman in the City of Strathcona whose parents' farm was located there beginning in the late 1870s. "Jack" McKernan (1870-1918) was the force behind the Princess Theatre, which still stands on Whyte Avenue.^[7] The McKernan-Belgravia LRT station is located in the west portion of the neighbourhood at the northwest corner of 114 Street and 76 Avenue, adjacent to neighbouring Belgravia. The community is near to both the University of Alberta and Old Strathcona.

History

The land that is now the neighbourhood of McKernan was sparsely settled for many decades, even after the first Euro-Canadians arrived in 1870s. Prior to their arrival, the area held a portion of the "hangers-on" that settled around Fort Edmonton. Robert McKernan paid $250 for the land that was "claimed" (by what process it was "claimed", is not clear at this point) by a frontier (probably Metis) businessman by the name of Emileau.^[10] Farms, such as the McKernan's, established in the 1870s were only gradually replaced by houses. The area was annexed by the City of Strathcona, and subdivision and development was proposed. However the 1912-1913 financial collapse ended these plans, and development progressed only in fits and starts until the 1940s brought mass changes.

The area encompassed McKernan Lake.^[11] This large slough, located south of 76 Avenue, was a popular summertime picnic and boating spot, and in wintertime was the site of many skating parties. From 1913 to 1948, the Edmonton Radial Railway's streetcar, nicknamed the Toonerville Trolley, ran from 82 Avenue south on 110 Street, then along 76 Avenue along the lake to the end of the line at 116 Street.^[12]

"Development of the area was delayed until McKernan Lake was drained during the 1940s." The bulk of residential construction in McKernan occurred in the first two decades following World War II. Residences in modern McKernan are a mixture of single-family dwellings and duplexes.^[13] Infill housing is replacing many of the original houses. Streets are still lined with American elm trees.

Demographics

In the City of Edmonton's 2014 municipal census, McKernan had a population of 2,785 living in 1,439 dwellings.^[6]

Transportation

McKernan is one of two neighbourhoods served by the McKernan/Belgravia LRT station. The station was officially opened on April 25, 2009, with regular service commencing on April 26, 2009.

Schools

McKernan School was opened in 1951 and offers both English and French immersion programs from kindergarten to Grade 9. As well, it is the only Edmonton Public school to offer a late French immersion program beginning in Grade 7, and the only Edmonton Public school to offer a Spanish bilingual program from Grade 7 to 9.^[14]

Parks

The community features three parks that include playground equipment and open spaces: McKernan Park, with a spray deck installed in 2012; Gowan Park, near McKernan School; and Charles Simmonds Park, which borders Belgravia. A small ‘pocket park’ is located at University Avenue and 112 Street, and is maintained by volunteers from McKernan and South Garneau.

Shopping and services

At the intersection of 76 Avenue and 115 Street, McKernan shares the convenience of a small neighbourhood commercial area with the adjacent Belgravia neighbourhood. This strip consists of three lots with two buildings, and the empty lot has been turned into a garden/green space with numerous large iron sculptures and many local prairie flora.

The corner building was built in 1948 of wood construction with stucco exterior, and consisted of two commercial bays on the main floor and three apartments on the second level. Originally, the southernmost bay was home to Rogers' drug store (the Rogers lived on the second floor) and the northernmost bay hosted Pridmore's Meat Shop. When the meat store closed down in the mid-1950s, the drug store took over the rest of the space and operated until 1976. The building was then sold to Monco Holdings Ltd., which has owned the property since then. Since 1976, the building has been home to various businesses including a Beauty Counsellor Franchise, the McPhee Workshop (a sewing and crafts studio), and a used bookseller/antiquariat called Belgravia Books & Treasures, which closed in 2012.

In 2005-2006, the building was renovated from a neglected and dilapidated state after three years of vacancy by the current main floor tenants: a locally owned coffee house, Gracious Goods Cafe.

The middle building was built in the mid-1950s with a concrete foundation and cinder-block wall construction. It was originally home to Purpur's Groceries, which operated as a full grocery until the Bateman's IGA opened a few blocks down 76 Avenue in McKernan. The store was renamed to Sunlight Foodland and operated as a neighbourhood convenience store until its closure in 2003. The back portion of the building was home to the Beaver Flats Pottery studios.

A small commercial strip on 76 Avenue between 112 and 113 Street has hosted an independent pharmacy since the 1950s; it has been operating under the name Maurice Pharmacy since 1970. An Italian restaurant, Enzo's on 76, opened next door in 2013. Another building on the site housed the Bateman's IGA and The Edmonton Bookstore for many years, and was later a site for the Edmonton Catholic Schools' alternative high school program.

Related Research Articles

Bonnie Doon is a neighbourhood in south-central Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The well-known Mill Creek Ravine Park forms its west boundary. The Bonnie Doon shopping mall is on its east boundary.

McKernan/Belgravia station is an Edmonton LRT station in Edmonton, Alberta. It is served by the Capital Line, and is the least used station on the LRT system. It is a ground-level station located on 114 Street at 76 Avenue.

Downtown Edmonton is the central business district of Edmonton, Alberta. Located at the geographical centre of the city, the downtown area is bounded by 109 Street to the west, 105 Avenue to the north, 97 Street to the east, 97 Avenue and Rossdale Road to the south, and the North Saskatchewan River to the southeast.

McCauley is an ethnically diverse inner city neighbourhood in Edmonton, Alberta, undergoing revitalization. It is named for Matthew McCauley, the first mayor of Edmonton, and is located just to the north east of the Downtown core. McCauley is known as the home of religious buildings in a small area, as well as being a large venue for the 1978 Commonwealth Games.

Belgravia is a residential neighbourhood located in Edmonton, Alberta. It is located southwest of the University of Alberta main campus. Named after the Belgravia area of 19th-century London, the neighbourhood was once the southern terminus of the Edmonton Radial Railway. The McKernan/Belgravia LRT Station is located adjacent to the neighbourhood at the northwest corner of 114 Street and 76 Avenue in neighbouring McKernan.

Strathearn is a roughly triangular shaped residential neighbourhood in south central Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Most of the development in Strathearn dates to the 1940s and 1950s.

Windsor Park is a south central neighbourhood in the City of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is located immediately to the west of the University of Alberta north campus and overlooking the North Saskatchewan River valley to the north, west, and south west. It shares a short boundary with the neighbourhood of Belgravia to the south.

Garneau is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the city of Edmonton, Canada. Prior to 1912, it was part of the City of Strathcona. It is named after one of its first inhabitants, Laurent Garneau, a former Manitoba Métis rebel and Hudson's Bay Company employee who with his wife and family settled there around 1874.

Lynnwood is a residential neighbourhood in west Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is near downtown, the University of Alberta, MacEwan College, and West Edmonton Mall. It became a part of Edmonton when the Town of Jasper Place amalgamated with Edmonton in 1964.

Parkallen is a residential neighbourhood in south Edmonton, Alberta, Canada located just to the east of the University of Alberta farm and the Neil Crawford Centre. Most of the neighbourhood development occurred after the end of World War II with eight out of ten residences constructed by 1960 according to the 2005 municipal census.

Strathcona is a residential neighbourhood in south central Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is a part of, and should not be confused with, Old Strathcona, although much of the Strathcona neighbourhood is in Old Strathcona. The neighbourhood overlooks both the North Saskatchewan River and the Mill Creek Ravine.

Duggan is a residential neighbourhood in south Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The neighbourhood is "named for John Joseph Duggan (1868-1952), an early businessman and mayor of the town of Strathcona and the City of Strathcona. He is remembered by the Duggan House on Saskatchewan Drive, the Duggan School and the Duggan Bridge.

Allendale is a residential neighbourhood located in south west Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The neighbourhood is named for the Allen family, who owned a farm there. It was annexed by the City of Strathcona in 1907.

Bellevue is a smaller residential neighbourhood located in north east Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The neighbourhood overlooks the North Saskatchewan River.

Ritchie is a residential neighbourhood in south east Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is named for Robert Ritchie, the original owner of the Ritchie Mill and former mayor of the City of Strathcona. The population of Ritchie enjoy good access to the nightlife of nearby Old Strathcona and the Mill Creek Ravine.

King Edward Park is a residential neighbourhood on south east Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The neighbourhood was originally annexed by Edmonton in 1912.

University Avenue is a discontinuous street in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, partially an arterial road and partially a residential street. It was established in the 19th century along the south edge of a series of farm lots west of the yet-to-be-incorporated town of Strathcona, causing it to run parallel with the North Saskatchewan River to the north. The farm lots later became the University of Alberta campus, which was established in 1908. In the mid 20th century, University Avenue was permanently segmented as part of traffic calming measures, including disconnecting the eastern section with 114 Street, extending Joe Morris Park, and extending the grounds of Our Lady of Mount Carmel school.

The Strathcona Library, one of the oldest libraries in Alberta, completed in 1913, was the first library erected in the City of Edmonton. Nevertheless, the Strathcona Library does have a complex background as to its historical status within the Edmonton Public Library system. It is located on 104th Street, a block off of Whyte Avenue in the heart of Old Strathcona. Situated next to Wilbert McIntyre Park, the iconic Old Strathcona Gazebo, and the year-round Old Strathcona Farmer's Market, the Strathcona Library is often a central gathering area for much of the local community. During the annual Edmonton International Fringe Festival in the surrounding area, the Strathcona Library often hosts a large booksale to help shift aging and excess material from Edmonton Public Library's circulation.

References

1 2 "City of Edmonton Wards & Standard Neighbourhoods" (PDF). City of Edmonton. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 3, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
↑ "Edmonton Developing and Planned Neighbourhoods, 2011" (PDF). City of Edmonton. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 4, 2013. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
↑ History of Annexations (Map). City of Edmonton, Planning and Development Department.
↑ "City Councillors". City of Edmonton. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
↑ "Neighbourhoods (data plus kml file)". City of Edmonton. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
1 2 "Municipal Census Results – Edmonton 2014 Census" (PDF). City of Edmonton. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
↑ Monto, Tom. Old Strathcona Edmonton's Southside Roots, Crang Publishing/Alhambra Books, Edmonton, p. 22
↑ "Our facilities". McKernan Community League. Archived from the original on September 8, 2017. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
↑ Kuban, Ron (2005). Edmonton's Urban Villages: The Community League Movement . University of Alberta Press. ISBN 9781459303249.
↑ Edmonton Bulletin, April 22, 1882, p. 1, 3 Often his name is mentioned as "Emla" but that appears to be a mistake.
↑ Martell, Kathryn; Dammeyer, Henry (2001). "Lost Creeks and Wetlands". Environmental Research and Studies Center. University of Alberta . Retrieved 2016-08-18.
↑ Faulkner, Les. "The Toonerville Trolley" in The Best of the Strathcona Plain Dealer, Old Strathcona Foundation/Pioneer Press, Edmonton, 1999. p. 79
↑ "City of Edmonton Maps". City of Edmonton. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
↑ "McKernan School: Alternative Programs". Edmonton Public Schools. Retrieved January 27, 2015.

External links

Surrounding neighbourhoods

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[wardsnbhds-1] 1 2 "City of Edmonton Wards & Standard Neighbourhoods" (PDF). City of Edmonton. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 3, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2013.

[sectors-2] "Edmonton Developing and Planned Neighbourhoods, 2011" (PDF). City of Edmonton. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 4, 2013. Retrieved February 13, 2013.

[AnnexationMap-3] History of Annexations (Map). City of Edmonton, Planning and Development Department.

[councillors-4] "City Councillors". City of Edmonton. Retrieved February 13, 2013.

[nbhds-5] "Neighbourhoods (data plus kml file)". City of Edmonton. Retrieved February 13, 2013.

[2014population-6] 1 2 "Municipal Census Results – Edmonton 2014 Census" (PDF). City of Edmonton. Retrieved January 27, 2015.

[7] Monto, Tom. Old Strathcona Edmonton's Southside Roots, Crang Publishing/Alhambra Books, Edmonton, p. 22

[8] "Our facilities". McKernan Community League. Archived from the original on September 8, 2017. Retrieved October 12, 2017.

[9] Kuban, Ron (2005). Edmonton's Urban Villages: The Community League Movement . University of Alberta Press. ISBN 9781459303249.

[10] Edmonton Bulletin, April 22, 1882, p. 1, 3 Often his name is mentioned as "Emla" but that appears to be a mistake.

[ERSC-11] Martell, Kathryn; Dammeyer, Henry (2001). "Lost Creeks and Wetlands". Environmental Research and Studies Center. University of Alberta . Retrieved 2016-08-18.

[12] Faulkner, Les. "The Toonerville Trolley" in The Best of the Strathcona Plain Dealer, Old Strathcona Foundation/Pioneer Press, Edmonton, 1999. p. 79

[13] "City of Edmonton Maps". City of Edmonton. Retrieved October 12, 2017.

[mcksch-14] "McKernan School: Alternative Programs". Edmonton Public Schools. Retrieved January 27, 2015.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]