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YYC benefits from a sleepy DeadEdmonton. Don't blame Calgary. Where are the attractions that have been built in the Edmonton area to attract tourists? Where are the big corporations that have filled downtown offices with high paying corporate jobs.
Some is our fault, some not. Many of those big corporations are based in YYC and given the high office vacancy there, some are probably struggling to fill the space they already have there so are probably not looking elsewhere now.

We don't have the mountains nearby so there is less opportunity to attract tourists, but Edmonton also doesn't seem to make much of an effort to attract tourists, mostly just relying on what has been done here for decades - the mall, certain festivals. It is getting a bit tired.
 
Found this today.
Porter Airlines has announced new service connecting Edmonton (YEG) and Vancouver (YVR) starting June 15, 2026
You sure?
I know Porter's expansion from Vancouver is pretty long rumoured, but I can't find any press release about this. You could be confusing it with YHU-YEG which was announced on Tuesday and also begins mid-June.
 
^bingo. When WEM is your largest attraction, it says a lot.

Fix this.

I don't think WEM being our largest attraction is a problem,. If it was in Calgary it would also be that city's largest attraction within its boundaries, wouldn't it?

It''s more about having a variety of different attractions, which we do. And we need to continue to grow those and add more.
 
I don't think WEM being our largest attraction is a problem,. If it was in Calgary it would also be that city's largest attraction within its boundaries, wouldn't it?

It''s more about having a variety of different attractions, which we do. And we need to continue to grow those and add more.
Yes, well Chinook Centre in Calgary is very popular too, although I feel they have made more effort to modernize it and Southgate here too than West Ed has. I actually prefer both to West Ed.

The problem is it also West Ed tends to be the default location for some things that in most other cities are located downtown. Now its no longer the largest and has been around a long time I feel it mostly just attracts nearby regional visitors who mostly drive here, not fly.
 
Yes, well Chinook Centre in Calgary is very popular too, although I feel they have made more effort to modernize it and Southgate here too than West Ed has. I actually prefer both to West Ed.

The problem is it also West Ed tends to be the default location for some things that in most other cities are located downtown. Now its no longer the largest and has been around a long time I feel it mostly just attracts nearby regional visitors who mostly drive here, not fly.

The city should try to continue to grow the attractions we have and work to attract more - WEM is a nice potential add on for people who may come/fly here for folk fest, concerts, sporting events, Fringe, playoff hockey, conventions etc.
Downtown needs more residents, which it is building towards along with students/workers. Also infill is adding a lot more people in closer proximity to dt, which gives dt greater potential.
 
Folks, WEM is a fantastic attraction than many cities wish they had. It is a strength that needs to be built upon. We have been constantly bashing it instead of improving it. We only have ourselves to blame for the state the city is in. At least lrt will be going there, which is a massive improvement. The truth will come out when the lrt opens.
 

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