Whether you are a history buff looking to step back in time, a child wanting to work up a sweat or a couple needing a romantic night away from said child, there are plenty of hidden gems for tourists to check out in St. Albert.
If a tourist wants to see all the city has to offer, they might as well start near the beginning. St. Albert's heritage sites provide an informative look at what life was like for the earliest settlers of the area.
The Little White School in particular gives tourists a chance to see what it was like to be a student in Miss Marie Wolniewicz's and Mrs. Lillian Vague’s classroom when the school opened in 1948. Teachers dress up and role play to give an authentic experience.
“It's important to know that the school represents educational programming, and St. Albert, from the end of the last war to the present day,” Heritage Sites manager Merlin Rosser says.
“We run programs associated with the (present day) school curriculums, and those programs offer the kids the opportunity to come and participate in a class environment that's based on the 1948 environments.”
However, the classroom isn’t just for children.
“Everybody participates. You don’t come to our classes without participating,” Rosser says. “Our teachers are very strict and very stern.”
If a tourist wants some physical activity, Servus Credit Union Place has fitness, recreational and aquatic drop-in programs for all ages. The facility has three gym ports for sports like basketball, volleyball, badminton and pickleball, as well as a four-lane track around the area’s circumference. There is also an indoor playground, a skating rink and a pool with two water slides.
“What's unique to our facility is it’s a family facility. Some people might think it's just predominantly a fitness centre,” Servus Place manager Jack Ballash says.
“We have a lot of amenities under one roof, where people can come in and choose to do different things depending on what they want to do.”
There are also 27 outdoor skating rinks in St.Albert, including Lions Park. People will find the scenic paths of Millennium Park close by, and cross country skiing and snow shoeing are available at Riverlot 56.
For adults looking for a night out – perhaps complimented by music – LB's Pub offers an open stage on Tuesdays, karaoke on Thursdays and live bands on Fridays and Saturdays. The personable establishment has been a part of the community for 31 years.
“Some of our entertainers that started out here are in Nashville, like Aaron Goodwin,” LB’s Pub owner and manager, Linda Beier says. “Brett Kissel has been here several times when he was younger.”
In the past, the pub has primarily been a place for country and blues artists but it has expanded its genres more recently.
“Right now, the thing that’s going is the ’70s and ’80s bands. All that kind of music,” says 71-year-old Beier, who has also been known to get on stage with her husband and sons from time to time.
More information on local attractions can be found on the City of St. Albert website.
