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Alberta Online Encyclopedia

Edmonton Real Estate History

Edmonton's rich real estate history has been well documented thanks to the work of the Edmonton Real Estate Board (now the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton). Responsible Enterprise: A History of Edmonton Real Estate & the Edmonton Real Estate Board was conceptualized by the Board, during discussions in the late 1980s. Recognizing the need to preserve the Board's history in a timely manner as many of the older members were dying off, an Ad Hoc History Book Committee was struck in 1994 to produce a budget and find an author. The committee laboured over five years to produce Responsible Enterprise, which is not only a history of the Edmonton Real Estate Board, but also a history of economic development and the progress of the real estate industry in the Edmonton area.

Author John F. Gilpin is a graduate of the University of Alberta and an established popular historian. He has written extensively about the history of Alberta and Edmonton and area, often with a socio-economic focus. His works include Century of Enterprise: The History of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce (Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, 1988), Edmonton, Gateway to the North: An Illustrated History (Windsor Publications, 1984), Road to Resources: A History of Transportation in Alberta (Alberta Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association, 2005) and Alberta at 100: Celebrating the Legacy (Cherbo Publishing Group, 2006).

The History Book Committee aided the author by arranging interviews and directing him to sources. During the creation of the book, the Board uncovered a hoard of early documents and photos in their basement, many of which are in the book or are used as sources.

The Edmonton region section of the Alberta's Real Estate Heritage Website is largely based on Responsible Enterprise. It tells the dynamic story of Edmonton's real estate history from its small town origins to its current status as an international city. The Heritage Community Foundation is proud to note that Responsible Enterprise is available on the site as a PDF to improve its accessibility to the general public.

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