Alberta Hotel

This relief on wood depicts the historic Alberta Hotel and streetcar, providing a glimpse into Edmonton’s past. The Alberta Hotel was built in 1903 and was considered one of Edmonton’s most fashionable establishments. Located on the corner of 98 Street and Jasper Avenue, it was constructed in Victorian Romanesque style, and built with local pressed brick – a flourishing industry in early Edmonton – and Calgary sandstone. The relief captures the likeness of the hotel prior to its demolition in I1984 to make way for Canada Place. 

When Meredith paints, his target is to depict and communicate the emotions of the subject. The brilliance of light and its proportionate balance with shadow areas is a fundamental combination used to achieve the emotional objective. Definite sequences of colour and pigment application, together with a sound concept of drawing, completes the procedure. A minimum palette is used. 

The Meredith Evans drawing of the Alberta Hotel was commissioned by Northwestern Utilities Ltd. in observance of the 60^th anniversary of natural gas service in Edmonton. Executed in a wood carving, the drawing is now in a place of prominence in the Convention Centre. Copies of the Alberta Hotel drawing were given out to help raise money for the Alberta Heritage Library. During the several decades in which Evans worked with Canadian Utilities, he produced more than 300 drawings, paintings, and other works.