It’s no secret that beautiful nature-blessed St. Albert is a favourite destination in this neck of the woods.  Ranked by Maclean’s Magazine as the best city to live in Alberta, the friendly community is a top draw for families in warm weather with the famous St. Albert Farmers’ Market, International Children’s Festival and numerous arts, culture and sporting events.  But when the snow falls, the northern city shines during the darkest days of winter, with plenty of fun, interesting winter activities for all ages and especially those young at heart.

One of the must-see holiday attractions that kicks off the season in late November, is the popular St. Albert Snowflake Festival.  Started in 1997, the festival has grown over the years with an…

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With the holiday season in full swing, it seemed only fitting to bring some ‘holly’ to Holland & Associates. Thank you to our guest contributor, Holly Hunka with the home decor and lifestyle blog Chandeliers and Champagne, for sharing five easy tips to create a swoon-worthy Christmas table setting. 

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Can you believe it: only 20 days remain until Christmas! I’m in full-on festive mode over here, baking up a storm, blasting Wham!’s Last Christmas and enjoying the twinkling lights of our tree each night.

I love the ambience of our home over the holidays, making it my favourite time of year to entertain. While my husband is in charge of the turkey, I like to think I have an equally important job: preparing the cocktails and setting a table that…

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No matter how far your career takes you– there is just something about coming home and being recognized by a hometown crowd that makes hard work and sacrifice worthwhile.

On Saturday, November 17th, Jason Holland was recognized as the Sturgeon Hockey Club’s first inductee to the Hockey Walk of Fame, inside the town’s newly constructed Morinville Leisure Centre. 

With the Morinville Jets and St. Albert Merchant’s teams lined up on the blue line, Jason walked out onto the ice with a wave to the crowd as the Sturgeon Hockey Club unveiled a banner recognizing Holland’s lengthy hockey career. 

“It was a real honour to be back in Morinville and to be recognized,” says Holland. It was unexpected but a really nice gesture.  I have so many…

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A big thank-you to super mom, blogger and guest contributor this month Christine Bruckmann from Just Another Edmonton Mommy for partnering with us and for sharing her top tips for keeping your child’s lunch fun and sustainable this back to school season.

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I’ve always viewed September as my New Year's. The start of a new season, the start of a new school year, and the perfect time to commit to making some changes. This means that we are actively working to reduce our food waste and are embracing more litterless lunches.

If this idea overwhelms you just thinking about it, don’t worry I’m going through it all too. The time commitment, buying potentially expensive lunch boxes when my kids can’t even bring home a metal spoon, and the loss of…

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School’s out for the summer and somewhere between popsicle dyed tongues and lazy days in the sun, it’s almost inevitable that you could be hearing the “Mom, Dad I’m bored” mantra from your kiddos. We’ve put together some of our favourite ways to get the kids out, active and enjoying some family time this summer.  

Take a Hike 

We are so lucky here in Edmonton to have such a picturesque and expansive network of trails weaving in and out of the river valley and beyond. There are plenty of routes that are kid-approved, so lace up, slap on the sunscreen and wander away. 

Backyard Movie Night

This is the kind of activity that childhood memories are made of. Simply string up a sheet, pop some kettle corn and gather all the extra blankets and…

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As school lets out and we start planning how to enjoy this beautiful city of ours this summer, we turn our attention to some of the festivals that make our city such an incredible place to live! So kick back, relax and get your festival on!


Edmonton International Street Performers Festival 

July 5 - July 14, 2019

Taking place in the heart of the city - the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival, now approaching its 35th year, is known worldwide for its amazing artists and generous audiences. Since 1984, almost 4.75 million people have played in the streets and shared a laugh at StreetFest.


Whyte Avenue Art Walk 

July 5 - 7, 2019 

The Whyte Avenue Art Walk is an outdoor studio and gallery featuring hundreds of…

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When it comes to one of the most desirable neighbourhoods to live in Edmonton, the enchanting west end neighbourhood of Glenora stands out. An established oasis of tall canopied trees, lush landscapes and grand homes rich in history is mixed in with impressive modern architectural abodes to combine for a picture perfect image of living the best life.

A stone’s throw away from some of the city’s most popular trails and stunning sights along the River Valley, this community of over 3,500 residents, is close to the exceptional amenities, trendy restaurants and High Street boutique shops of 124th Street.  Glenora is bordered by 107 street to the north and 142nd Street to the west, where the up and coming spectacular West Block luxury residential towers…

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A big thank-you to super mom, blogger and guest contributor this month Christine Bruckmann from Just Another Edmonton Mommy for partnering with us and for sharing her top playgrounds to explore with the kids this summer.

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In Edmonton, there are so many great playgrounds for kids to explore. Whether it’s searching for new ones or going back to old favourites, they each have their own uniqueness. When I was asked by Holland and Associates to write about 10 of the best playgrounds in Edmonton, my park loving kids (and I) were definitely up for the challenge!


Castle Downs

A favourite for many families, you can find both a playground and spray park here. There is also plenty of green space, picnic tables, as well as bathrooms…

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Bright, Bold & with an Entrepreneurial Spirit.  That’s the perfect definition of Edmonton’s popular urban centric Westmount neighbourhood.   Located off Groat Road and minutes from the university and downtown, it includes the popular 124th Street area shops and restaurants with a mix of character homes that blends history with modern charm.

A community that consistently places in the top 5 neighbourhoods to live in the city, it’s where Ryan Lister calls home, and where he crafts specialty soaps on the side.  Ryan launched Westmount Soap Company a few years back and cleverly names each one after Edmonton neighbourhoods, like Oliver, Glenora and Summerside. His most popular bar of course happens to be the neighbourhood he lives in – Westmount – and…

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A big thank-you to plant lover and guest contributor this month Kimberly Wynn for partnering with us and sharing her top tips for creating an indoor house plant oasis.

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"Kim my plant is dying! How do I save it?"

"Kim, the leaves on my _________ are turning yellow - what do I do?"

"Kim, I have a black (or brown) thumb. Please help."

"Kim, what's the best plant for someone who forgets to water all the time?"

Messages I get all too often on Instagram DM. Although I don't call myself a plant doctor by any means, I have through trial and error, become somewhat of a plant whisperer. I truly believe everyone has a green thumb, but only some have unlocked the natural powers within! What's the secret? It's all about choosing the right…

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