Understanding Edmonton City Council
Part 1: Councillors and Wards
City Council proceedings can sometimes feel like a maze—full of legal jargon, motions, and debates that leave the average citizen wondering, "What does this actually mean for me?"
In our new Active Citizen series, we aim to break down how City Council works in Edmonton and how you, as a resident, can engage in municipal governance effectively.
“The strength of a democracy is measured by the participation of its people. When citizens engage, communities thrive.”
What is Edmonton City Council?
Edmonton City Council is the governing body responsible for making decisions that shape the city. It consists of the Mayor and 12 Councillors, each elected to represent one of Edmonton’s wards.
During Council meetings, they determine policies, approve budgets, and debate issues that impact daily life in the city—from roads and transit to policing and housing.
Did you know?
The best place to find out all about city council is on the city’s website.
Learn more about the Mayor here.
Learn more about the Councillors here.
Find out when the next Council and Committee meetings are held and watch their livestreams or recordings here.
City of Edmonton Wards
In simple terms, Edmonton is divided into 12 wards, which are like different sections of the city, or a combination of many adjacent neighborhoods.
Each ward has its own City Councillor who represents the people living there.
Think of it like a school divided into different classrooms, where each classroom (ward) has a teacher (councillor) who speaks up for the students (residents) and makes sure their needs are heard in the school (city government).
When you vote in a municipal election, you're choosing the councillor who will represent your ward and bring up issues that matter to your community!
Did you know?
When voting during meetings, the mayor gets one vote, just like each of the 12 councillors.
You can find out about the ward you live in and its name here.
Edmonton’s wards were gifted Indigenous names by a women-led committee from First Nations in Treaty No. 6, 7, 8, as well as Métis and Inuit representatives.
