8 historic photos of Edmonton streets compared to today

Edmonton has spent decades tearing down and rebuilding parts of itself, but if you look closely, traces of the city’s past are still hiding in plain sight.

We dug up some pictures from the archives to find photos of Edmonton from decades past, and compared them with what those same places look like today. The snapshots show how much the city has changed, and how much of its character has stuck around.

The Capilano Motor Inn in 1972

And the swanky motel lobby

Located at 9125 50th St. NW, The King’s University (then College) purchased the Capilano Motor Inn, Alberta Liquor Control Commission building, and surrounding grounds in 1989 and conducted a massive retrofit of the existing structure. The building was dedicated in September 1993 as King’s permanent campus.

Here’s what it looks like today:

A dog sled and team from Whitehorse to Winnipeg, stopping in Edmonton, 1946

Here’s a similar view of the Legislature Building, but with a bit more pavement and parking spots.

Beverly IGA Foodliner, 1958

While IGA locations in Canada may be dwindling, the space it once occupied is now home to a No Frills, showing this spot has never stopped being a hub for the Beverly community.

Jasper Avenue, 1959

And this is what that same spot looks like today:

Capitol Theatre, 1927

You’re probably familiar with the Capitol Theatre at Fort Edmonton Park, but according to the Edmonton Historical Board, the original building stood at 10065 Jasper Ave. It was demolished in 1972, and the replica was built in 2011.

And this is what’s now in its place:

Seven Seas Restaurant, 1967

And here’s what that same building looks like now, home to places like The Wine Room, Pub 1905, Attia, and more.

Milner Building, 1959

This 12-storey office building is a prime example of mid-century modern architecture and is now undergoing a major transformation into a mixed-use space with residential units, bringing new life to the site.

Here’s what it looks like today:

High Level Bridge, 1925

And here is a modern-day shot of the bridge lit up for International Rare Disease Day, according to a shot uploaded in 2018.

What have you noticed that has changed the most about the streets of Edmonton over the years? Let us know in the comments.

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