St.Albert Street Names

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 And while many streets are seemingly named only for their first letter and pleasant sound, there are interesting historical references hidden within our streets.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.

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.

Gervais Road is named in honour of Hector Gervais, a world champion curler who was born in St. Albert in 1933.

Grenier Place is named for Arthur and Maria Grenier, an early settler couple who were the original owners of Riverlot 35.

Holmgren Crescent is named for Bror Holmgren, a Swedish immigrant to St. Albert and co-owner of the Starkey Coal Mine.

DID YOU KNOW?While many former residents of St. Albert share surnames with streets around the city, many of these name commonalities are just coincidences. Still, while there may have been no conscious effort by city planners to honour these citizens, these coincidences often push local researchers to investigate, adding to the city’s collective historical knowledge.