About

About 'I Heart Edmonton'

When I started this blog back in the summer of 2009, Edmonton was a vastly different place than what it is now. Ask anyone who has lived here for at least a decade and they'd likely agree with me. In fact, I had started this blog because I was sick and tired of hearing people - both locals and visitors - put down my hometown, calling it names like "Deadmonton." I wanted to prove to these people (and perhaps myself, too) that Edmonton was so much more than just the Oilers and the mall. By the way, if you've lived here long enough, you know what I mean when I say "the mall." 

Edmonton's stunning river valley

I tend to tell people that I believe the new Art Gallery of Alberta - which opened shortly after I started 'I Heart Edmonton' - was a sort of catalyst for the transformation of our city. It is a world-renowned cultural hub that has spurred interest and investment (mostly) in our downtown, a kind've ripple effect that has taken on a life of its own. Edmonton's downtown has rapidly become a bustling centre of economical and social growth, especially around the Ice District and its anchor, Rogers Place

With this blog, I want to capture the transition of Edmonton and the people who luckily call it home, and it's been quite the experience so far. In such a short period of time, even the attitudes of Edmontonians has changed substantially. These days, I hear people talking about how proud they are to live here, or how excited they are about some new project popping up in town, or about why they think Edmonton is a special place that we're more than happy to brag about to out-of-towners. There's been a shift, no doubt, and this blog has been there for the entire ride. 

The Art Gallery of Alberta in downtown Edmonton


I hope you will continue to read what I write, and enjoy it too, and I will do everything I can to offer articles and stories and photos that you want to read and see, because there's no shortage of competition out there. Feel free to comment or send me a message about anything you see or read on this blog, or would like to see. Thank you once again for your commitment, and I hope you'll stick around for the ride. #yeglove



About Me

Me & my camera

My name is Emil Tiedemann, and I love Edmonton! It's my hometown, where I was born and raised, and where I'm sure I will die one day in the far, far off (I hope) future. Since 2009, I've been happily promoting and celebrating what Edmonton has to offer...and trust me, it's an endless mission. In the meantime, I myself have discovered soooo much about Edmonton; its talent, its places, its history. I'm very proud to be a part of a city like this. 

Outside of this blog I'm an avid amateur photographer who'd love to spend his golden years snapping pics of foreign lands. I enjoy movies, travelling, writing, reading, zombies, and spending precious time with my amazing family and friends, of course. I'm also a big fan of self-development, which I sometimes write about in my other blog, 'The Overhaul.'


You can also find me on Twitter, Instagram, and Linked In

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