Ritchie is a residential neighbourhood in south east Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is named for Robert Ritchie, the original owner of the Ritchie Mill and former mayor of the City of Strathcona.[7] The population of Ritchie enjoy good access to the nightlife of nearby Old Strathcona and the Mill Creek Ravine.

Ritchie
Neighbourhood
Ritchie is located in Edmonton
Ritchie
Ritchie
Location of Ritchie in Edmonton
Coordinates: 53°30′43″N 113°28′59″W / 53.512°N 113.483°W / 53.512; -113.483
Country Canada
Province Alberta
CityEdmonton
Quadrant[1]NW
Ward[1]papastew
Sector[2]Mature area
Area[3]Strathcona
Government
 • MayorAmarjeet Sohi
 • Administrative bodyEdmonton City Council
 • CouncillorMichael Janz
Area
 • Total
1.25 km2 (0.48 sq mi)
Elevation
672 m (2,205 ft)
Population
 (2012)[6]
 • Total
4,194
 • Density3,355.2/km2 (8,690/sq mi)
 • Change (2009–12)
Increase11.5%
 • Dwellings
2,561

The neighbourhood is bounded on the north by Whyte Avenue, on the south by 72 Avenue, and on the east by the Mill Creek Ravine. The west boundary, south of 79 Avenue runs along 100 Street. North of 79 Avenue, the west boundary runs along 101 Street and 102 Street. Whyte Avenue provides good access to the University of Alberta. 99 Street, which passes through the neighbourhood, provides good access to the downtown core.

The community is represented by the Ritchie Community League, established in 1922, which maintains a community hall and outdoor rink located at 98 Street and 77 Avenue.[8][9]

Ritchie Hall, September 2011

Demographics

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In the City of Edmonton's 2012 municipal census, Ritchie had a population of 4,194 living in 2,561 dwellings,[6] an 11.5% change from its 2009 population of 3,761.[10] With a land area of 1.25 km2 (0.48 sq mi), it had a population density of 3,355.2 people/km2 in 2012.[5][6]

Residential development

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Development in the area began in 1891 with the development of the rail line that went along the Mill Creek Ravine and across the Low Level bridge.[11]

According to the 2001 federal census, almost one in four (24.4%) of the residences in Ritchie were built prior to the end of World War II. Another one in three (35.6%) were built between the end of the war and 1960. One in ten (10.8%) were built during the 1960s and one in ten (9.5%) were built during the 1970s. One in eight (13.0%) were built after 1990.[12]

The most common type of residence in the neighbourhood, according to the 2005 municipal census, is the single-family dwelling. These account for three out of every five (60%) of the residences in the neighbourhood. Another one in three (32%) are rented apartments and apartment style condominiums in low-rise buildings with fewer than five stories. Most of the remaining residences are duplexes[13] (4%) and row houses (3%). Just over half of the residences (55%) are owner-occupied while the remaining 45% are rented.[14]

Population mobility

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The population of Ritchie is comparatively mobile. According to the 2005 municipal census, approximately one in five (19.6%) residents had moved within the previous twelve months. Another one in four (24%) had moved within the previous one to three years. Only two out of every five (42.4%) residents had lived at the same address for at least five years.[15]

Schools

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There are three schools in Ritchie:

  • Escuela Mill Creek School is an elementary International Spanish Academy operated by the Edmonton Public School Board (EPSB).[16] The school was built in 1946 and became a bilingual Spanish-only school in 2007. A replacement school building was approved in 2014, with construction of the $11.5 million replacement building adjacent to the original building starting in October 2017.[17][18]
  • École Joseph-Moreau is a French Catholic junior high school operated by the Greater North Central Francophone Education Region No. 2. École Joseph-Moreau is housed in what was formerly the EPSB's Ritchie Junior High School.[19] The school opened in 1913, with extensions built in 1954, 1956, and 1975,[20] The original 1913 building is only used to house the complex's boiler system.[20] The EPSB school was closed in 2008,[21] and the francophone school board leased the building in 2009, purchasing it in 2016. A $15-million project announced in March 2017 will replace the original building and is expected to house 500 students by 2020. This will be the first new francophone school building in Edmonton.[20]
  • The Learning Store on Whyte is a small outreach program for high school students operated by the EPSB. [22]

Ritchie Market

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In spring of 2017, a collaborative community building called Ritchie Market opened on 96th Street and 76th Avenue.[23] This unique space houses several local business including a cafe, butcher, a restaurant, and a brewing company.[24]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "City of Edmonton Wards & Standard Neighbourhoods" (PDF). City of Edmonton. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 7, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
  2. ^ "Edmonton Developing and Planned Neighbourhoods, 2011" (PDF). City of Edmonton. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 6, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
  3. ^ History of Annexations (Map). City of Edmonton, Planning and Development Department.
  4. ^ "City Councillors". City of Edmonton. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Neighbourhoods (data plus kml file)". City of Edmonton. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
  6. ^ a b c "Municipal Census Results – Edmonton 2012 Census". City of Edmonton. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  7. ^ From the neighbourhood description in the City of Edmonton map utility Archived 2006-09-02 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "Ritchie Community League". Ritchie Community League. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  9. ^ Kuban, Ron (2005). Edmonton's Urban Villages: The Community League Movement. University of Alberta Press. ISBN 9781459303249.
  10. ^ "2009 Municipal Census Results". City of Edmonton. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  11. ^ "2016 Federal Census Neighbourhood Profiles" (PDF). 2016. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  12. ^ 2003 Federal Census, Period of Construction, Occupied Private Dwellings
  13. ^ Duplexes include triplexes and quadruplexes.
  14. ^ 2005 Municipal Census, Dwelling Unit by Structure Type and Ownership
  15. ^ 2005 Municipal Census, Length of Residence
  16. ^ "Escuela Mill Creek School". Edmonton Public Schools. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  17. ^ French, Janet (27 September 2017). "Mill Creek school replacement plans unveiled". Edmonton Journal.
  18. ^ "Mill Creek School Replacement". Government of Albert. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  19. ^ "Historique". École Joseph-Moreau. Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord. 2012. Archived from the original on March 22, 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  20. ^ a b c French, Janet (31 March 2017). "For sweltering students, new Edmonton francophone junior high is welcome news". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  21. ^ "Public school board votes to close Ritchie, Woodcroft". CBC News. 26 March 2008. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  22. ^ "Learning Store on Whyte". Edmonton Public Schools. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  23. ^ "CBC: Ritchie Market set to transcend the ordinary".
  24. ^ "Ritchie Market Website".
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