West Edmonton Mall

The Ghermezian brothers emigrated from Iran in 1959, started in the rug trade in Montreal, and moved to Edmonton in 1964. Their company became Triple Five Group in 1973. In the mid-1970s they assembled farmland in the Summerlea area, and construction began in 1979. The first phase opened on 15 September 1981, and the mall was built in four phases, in 1981, 1983, 1985 and the late 1990s (sources give 1998 or 1999 for the final phase). Its operators describe the concept as drawing on the shopping-and-entertainment model of the traditional bazaar.

For roughly two decades it was billed as the world's largest shopping mall, a title it held until 2004, when larger malls elsewhere overtook it. Today it is usually described as one of the biggest in North America by floor area (about 490,000 square metres, or 5.3 million square feet, in total), and as the second most visited mall in Canada. Visitor figures of around 32 million a year are quoted by Wikipedia; treat that as an estimate.

The mall's entertainment side grew in the 1980s. Galaxyland, the indoor amusement park, began life as Fantasyland and was renamed in 1995. It reopened in December 2022 as Galaxyland Powered by Hasbro, and its Mindbender coaster, once billed as the tallest indoor roller coaster, was decommissioned in January 2023. World Waterpark dates to 1985 and is known for a large indoor wave pool with several wave bays; Wikipedia counts it among the larger indoor waterparks in the world.

Beyond those two, the operator lists an NHL-sized Ice Palace, Sea Life Caverns and Sea Lions' Rock under the Marine Life banner, two mini-golf courses, go-karts, a bowling alley and a full-scale replica of Christopher Columbus's ship the Santa Maria. There are themed streets, including Europa Boulevard, Chinatown and Brbn St. (formerly Bourbon Street), and about 100 places to eat. The Fantasyland Hotel is inside the building, and the WEM Inn sits across the street.

Several records are tied to the mall. It was the largest indoor shopping centre until 2004, and Wikipedia still credits it with the largest indoor lake and largest indoor wave pool, and with one of the largest parking lots, with more than 20,000 stalls plus overflow. The Deep Sea Adventure submarine ride ran from 1985 to 2005 and the submarines are gone. Records like these shift as new attractions open, so quote them cautiously.

A tragic chapter belongs in an honest account: in June 1986 a Mindbender car derailed, killing three people. The ride has since been retired. Check the operator's notices before a visit.

Because the mall is so large, decide what you want before arriving. Galaxyland, World Waterpark, the Ice Palace and the Marine Life attractions are separately operated or ticketed, so check wem.ca for current hours, tickets and which attractions are open. The mall is at 170 Street and 87 Avenue, a short drive from central Edmonton.

With Voyzo, a private vehicle and driver collects your group at your door and drops you at the entrance nearest your plans, which suits families with strollers, swimwear and shopping bags, and removes the parking question in a very large lot. Many visitors combine it with a downtown or river-valley stop for the rest of the day.