About

Sixty Years is an exhibit that is part of a project produced by The Works International Visual Arts Society celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. The project looks at the city of Edmonton’s story over the course of Elizabeth’s 60 year rule, using her three visits to Edmonton since Coronation as context points. In particular, this project engages the citizens of Edmonton in their own history, and encourages participation in the development of that story.  The initial call was simple: Did you have a chance to meet the Queen in one of her three visits to Edmonton since Coronation? Do you know someone who did? What are your memories from those times?

The photos on this online exhibit are a combination of citizen-contributed photos and memorabilia, as well as images from public archives. Where information is available, memories of the contributors are shared in the text. You can continue to build on this exhibit by contributing your own memories in the comments section. Do you have any memories or family stories about Edmonton? Where were you in 1959, 1978, and 2005 – the years that Queen Elizabeth II visited? Share your memories, and check back to watch the story grow!

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The Works would like to thank everyone who made this project possible: Exhibit contributors Rory Thompson, Home Re-Use-Ables, Ed Duliba, Dianne Easby, Lily McPhee, Martin and Florence Hattersley, and Vicky Van Vliet Vaitkunas. The Works would also like to thank Canadian Heritage, Christina Battle, the Edmonton Telephone Historical Centre, the City of Edmonton Archives, the Provincial Archives of Alberta, and CKUA Radio Network.