Qualico Celebrates Grand Opening of Edmonton’s First Major Roadway Named in Cree

Edmonton, AB – Qualico Communities Edmonton celebrated National Indigenous Peoples Day last week with the grand opening of Maskêkosihk Trail, Edmonton’s first major roadway to be named in honour of the Cree First Nations.

Previously known as 23 Avenue and Garden Valley Road, the 2-kilometre roadway was renamed in 2016, where Qualico Communities is building two new communities in the Riverview development: The Uplands at Riverview and Rivers Edge.

The event was started with a Treaty 6 land acknowledgment, a blessing by Cree Elder Marvin Ward, and included performances by the River Cree Drummers and Maskêkosihk Dancers. Dignitaries attending the event included Chief Billy Morin and other leaders from the Enoch Cree Nation, as well as Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi, Councillor Sarah Hamilton, and many contractors, consultants, and staff that participated in the development project.

Maskêkosihk is the Cree word meaning the “lands of medicines” or “the people of the lands of medicines,” depending on how you say it.  Renaming this significant roadway in honour of the Cree First Nations is a show of respect and acknowledgment of the history of the land.

“Just like the North Saskatchewan River was once an important for the Treaty 6 people, Maskêkosihk Trail is now the main artery connecting all current and future residents of Riverview to the City of Edmonton to the East and to the Enoch Cree Nation, our neighbours’ to the West,” said Brad Armstrong, Vice President of Community Development at Qualico Communities.

Calling community development a great collaboration, Brad thanked the many different people that had contributed to the development of Maskêkosihk Trail and the communities that are being built around it.

Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said that he hopes the new road name will cause the public to reflect on Indigenous communities that have lived here for centuries.

“I hope that this curiosity will lead to further learning of Indigenous cultures, bring inter-cultural dialogue and collaboration, and ability to learn from each other, and make efforts to repair the past to build a better, more collaborative future for all of us,” said the Mayor.

Maskêkosihk Trail divides the communities of The Uplands at Riverview to the north and Rivers Edge to the South.

The popular community of the Uplands at Riverview is currently in its tenth phase of development and offers homebuyers a wide variety of home types to choose from. The community also boasts 8.5 kilometers of trails, an inclusive playground, and many nearby amenities.

Last year, Qualico Communities broke ground on Rivers Edge, which will host 4,350 homes once all phases of the community are complete. The community will border the future Big Island Provincial Park, providing easy access to hiking, trails, and The North Saskatchewan River.