Reimagining Edmonton

We design and release images that capture a dimension of Edmonton's multifaceted identity.

These include the Bison, Magpie, and Beaver as the Faces of Edmonton in 2026, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

These images were inspired and refined by discussions with the public, local Elders and Knowledge Keepers.

Positive feedback from hundreds of people as well the Prime Minister encouraged us to continue to co-create visuals.

The Bison once roamed here in the millions and represents the ambitions and resilience of the Edmonton region.

The bison body says "YEG" and contains its Cree name. A magpie rides above as they look forward into the future.

The magpie mates for life and is known as a healer, its black and white colours mirroring the duality of nature.

It is depicted with its wings outstretched as it turns to the sun, and is now the Edmonton City Bird.

The river outlines a beaver body, which is encircled by a willow bough, which is used to form Sweat Lodges.

The leaves reflect the Sacred Teachings of Love, Respect, Honesty, Wisdom, Courage, Humility, and Truth.

A beaver's backbone is formed of the syllabics ᐊᒥᐢᑲᐧᒋᕀᐋᐧᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ, which is Cree for Beaver Hills House.

This is the traditional name for this area, and leads to the ear, eye, nostrils and incisors on the top right.

Four sets of three digits extending from the limbs, which are positioned on an arch representing a beaver hill.

The North Saskatchewan River transects the “e” and formed a verdant valley as the glaciers receded.

This gave Indigenous Peoples an ancestral route for millennia and remains a gathering place for all.

The word Edmonton is written on the beaver tail and curls under the body with the first leaf bridging the two worlds.

As perceived by Lewis Cardinal, the "Open E" is also an incomplete circle that invites others to be a "part of it".

This reflects the teaching "There's always room for you in the circle" or "You're welcome here, there's room".

You are invited to submit a design , subscribe below for news and vote for your favorite design.

The images here are available to be used freely via a Creative Commons License.

Annual Face of Edmonton Designs