Historic Walks of Edmonton: Ten Easy Walks to Points of Historical Architectural Interest

Sandy Campbell is a reference librarian in the Science and Technology Library at the University of Alberta.

As you read through this book, you have the sense of walking alongside
Kathryn Ivany as she shares with you her enormous personal knowledge of
Edmonton’s architecture. At 364 pages, this is really an architectural
history, rather than a walking guide—and therein lies the
contradiction. While it is cast in the form of a walking guide, with
route maps and stops, it is much too ponderous to be a good walking
guide. Nonetheless, one can sense Ivany’s overflowing enthusiasm for
Edmonton’s architectural history in the fact that she even describes
the architecture of buildings that no longer exist.

To really appreciate this book (which is full of technical
terminology), one would have to have significant patience or knowledge
of architecture. For example, here is Ivany’s description of the very
plain name sign at the top of the Union Bank Inn: “The flat roof is
capped with a large entablature on which the architrave frieze bears the
name of the bank ‘inn’ below the tin cornice decorated with
modillions.”

While Ivany does provide a glossary, the words “entablature,”
“architrave,” and “frieze” are not defined. Even if they were, a
walking guide that requires that you look up three or four words in a
sentence is too complex for general enjoyment. It would make more sense
as part of a short course in architectural appreciation.

All the walks are substantial, ranging from about 12 to 30 blocks. Most
of the walks do not end up near where they started, so you need to
include a hike back to your vehicle or bus stop when calculating the
time required. In an unusual twist, the last tour is of the Edmonton
Cemetery. Here, too, Ivany describes the art and architecture of the
monuments, as well as the histories of the people.

Overall, this is a well-researched, fact-dense work.