Edmonton In Our Own Words

by Linda Goyette, Carolina Jakeway Roemmich, Keith Turnbull (Foreword)

Linda Goyette and Carolina Roemmich have tapped Edmonton's collective memoir, through the written record, the spoken stories and the vast silences. All of the people who ever lived at this bend in the North Saskatchewan took part in creating the city we know as Edmonton. Through traditional Indigenous stories about the earliest travellers along the bend in the river, diaries, archival records and letters of 19th century inhabitants and the recollections of living residents who talk about the emerging city, Edmonton's history is told using the words and stories of the people who have called this city home. Citizens with diverse viewpoints speak for themselves, describing important events in Edmonton's social, political and economic development. The official publication of the City of Edmonton's Centennial, Edmonton In Our Own Words includes many never seen before photographs from private collections, historic maps and a timeline of Edmonton's history. Imagine a conversation between Edmonton's past inhabitants and its living citizens. What would we tell the rest of the world about our place on the map? What stories would we tell with tears in our eyes, or laughter, or pride? In Edmonton In Our Own Words, experience the personal stories of eyewitnesses and descendants explaining, arguing, crying, scolding, laughing and interrupting one another in a city's evolving conversation with itself as Edmonton celebrates its past and future.

504 pages, Paperback

First published April 17, 2001

Reviews

[Brandon Gould · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a fantastic read! a really lovely collection of historical moments in the the history of the city. I found it really interesting due to my line of work. very glad to have read it. would love to get a copy to add to my collection.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been contracted to do a writing project and I have to do a lot of reading about certain subjects right now. So I'm going to be plowing through many books to held me learn some background.

This book outlines the history of Edmonton. There's an overview, and then each section has excerpts from people written "in their own words". The author did many interviews with living people and ancestors of Edmonton's historical figures to supplement the book.

I LOVED this book and learned a lot about Edmonton. I'd recommend it to anyone who has ties to the city. It's not a hard read.