Edmonton’s Wîhkwêntôwin neighbourhood high on national livability list

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Edmonton’s Oliver area — renamed Wîhkwêntôwin, Cree for “circle of friends,” in February — is one of the top three neighbourhoods for livability across the country, a new RE/MAX real estate report shows.

The central Edmonton area was listed as one of the top three most “livable” neighbourhoods in Canada, the others being Calgary’s Downtown West End and Winnipeg’s Daniel McIntyre area, said the livability report released by RE/MAX this week.

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“A lot of people moving here are renting, and so they choose that central lifestyle location. I mean, it’s so amenity-rich,” said John Carter, an Edmonton RE/MAX broker and owner, of the top Edmonton neighbourhood.

Livability, or the “the external qualities that make a place feel like home,” includes “proximity to work, easily walkable, access to green spaces and parks, proximity to health or medical services, low-density neighbourhoods, proximity to public transit,” and, most importantly, affordability, the report said.

More than 80 per cent of those responding to the Leger survey commissioned by RE/MAX said they like their neighbourhoods, appreciating their quality of life and livability. Respondents’ preferences were used in conjunction with analytics company Local Logic to generate a list of neighbourhoods.

What people value

Wîhkwêntôwin’s proximity to restaurants, farmers markets, the river valley and the Downtown neighbourhood helped it top the national list, Carter said.

Such attributes fit lifestyle preferences shaping consumer choice in the housing market, with health and wellness being a priority, the report said, noting the best neighbourhoods are “overwhelmingly situated within Calgary, Edmonton and Montreal.”

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Affordability was the most important factor for 44 per cent of respondents, and Edmonton’s relative affordability helped to elevate the city’s standing.

Neighbourhood safety, a top priority for 10 per cent of respondents, is a new addition to the report’s livable factors. A previous livability report was conducted in 2020.

Carter believes realtors can be key to helping buyers navigate purchasing homes in neighbourhoods they will feel most safe in.

“You want someone that really works relocation and understands your needs, and there (are) probably areas you don’t even know exist that would be great for your family,” Carter said.

Walkability, amenities and transportation options are Wîhkwêntôwin hallmarks — factors other areas of Edmonton can emulate.

“This is what people actually value,” Carter said.

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