Then & Now
Following St. Albert’s Southwest
Street Names Then & Now BY ROBERT MICHON
NAVIGATING ST. ALBERT’S roadways can be confusing
for newcomers who are used to a numbered grid. But there is a logic and order in the alphabetized groupings of streets that makes sense to long-time local residents. And while many streets are seemingly named only for their first letter and pleasant sound, there are interesting historical references hidden within our streets. Here are the origins of some of the names we see every day as we drive around town. This list covers the streets in the southwest quadrant of the city, everything south of the Sturgeon River and west of St. Albert Trail. Galarneau Place is named for Baptiste Galarneau, the first toll keeper of St. Albert’s bridge. The original bridge, which spanned the Sturgeon River, is said to have been the first bridge west of the Great Lakes. Garnett Drive is said to be named for Lieutenant Colonel Charles E. Garnett, a veteran of the Second World War and prominent businessman in St. Albert. Gate Avenue is named for André Gate, a citizen of St. Albert from 1959 to 1960. Gate was a horticulturist from France who served as director of St. Albert’s Parks Department. He was responsible for creating a greenhouse and tree-nursery program, which helped St. Albert gain its reputation as a botanical city. Gervais Road is named in honour of Hector Gervais, a world champion curler who was born in St. Albert in 1933. Grandin Road, as well as the entire Grandin community, is named after Bishop Vital Grandin. He was the first Bishop of 30 T8Nmagazine.com
Hector Gervais, Ray Werner, Ron Anton, and Wally Ursuliak at the Curling World Championship, 1961; Musée Héritage Museum.
St. Albert, serving from 1868 until his death in 1902. Grenier Place is named for Arthur and Maria Grenier, an early settler couple who were the original owners of Riverlot 35. Harriott Court is reportedly named for John Edward Harriott, representative of the Hudson Bay Company who served the area around Edmonton and St. Albert from 1834 to 1854. Holmgren Crescent is named for Bror Holmgren, a Swedish immigrant to St. Albert and co-owner of the Starkey Coal Mine. LeClair Way is named for John E. LeClair, St. Albert’s tenth mayor. Levasseur Road is named for Leon Levasseur, St. Albert’s fifth mayor who served a one-year term in 1911. Levasseur is remembered for stimulating business in St. Albert’s early days.
