Fort Edmonton Park launched its 51st season with a Community Day event, welcoming hundreds of children to the grounds. Organized by the Fort Edmonton Foundation, this event is anticipated to become an annual tradition.
Event Highlights
- Approximately 1,500 children attended the free activities offered at the park.
- The event provided a preview of what visitors can expect this year.
Focus on Underrepresented Narratives
Laura Nichol, core programs manager at Fort Edmonton Park, emphasized the staff’s efforts to elevate underrepresented narratives within the community. The park features a variety of cultures and exhibits that highlight different aspects of history, including:
- Indigenous Peoples: Their long-standing presence along the North Saskatchewan River valley.
- Early European Settlers: Contributions and experiences of those who settled in the region.
- Chinese Immigrants: Their arrival during the gold rushes in British Columbia.
- Japanese Canadians: Experiences of internment during World War II.
- Ukrainian Pioneers: Settlers who fled war-torn Ukraine.
- African-Canadian Contributions: Including influences on jazz music and Black History Month.
- Asian Canadian Culture: Highlighting Indian immigration, which began over a century ago with Sikh farmers seeking land.
The park also features exhibits on Islam’s historical presence, dating back to when Muslim traders first visited what would eventually become Alberta.
Interactive Experiences
Visitors can engage with these cultures through various interactive experiences, such as:
- Crafts
- Games
- Food tastings
- Storytelling sessions
Looking Ahead
Lori Farquharson Persaud, executive director of the Fort Edmonton Foundation, expressed her excitement about this new initiative, stating, "This is expected to become an annual tradition going forward."
Fort Edmonton Park offers something for everyone with its diverse range of exhibits and activities. Whether you’re interested in history or simply looking for a fun day out with family or friends, there’s something for everyone at this iconic Canadian landmark!

I’m Mark W. Lamplugh Jr., a visionary Chief Executive Officer, Board Member, and best-selling Author with over 25 years of experience driving significant revenue growth and optimizing ROI across the healthcare, wellness, and media industries. Throughout my career, I’ve consistently transformed underperforming operations into thriving ventures by building top-tier marketing organizations, implementing data-driven strategies, and leading transformational change. My empathetic, collaborative, and adaptable leadership style has allowed me to cultivate inclusive cultures of innovation, develop and retain top talent, and forge strong partnerships that fuel organizational success.
Adept in executive leadership, strategic business planning, and brand and marketing strategy, I have a proven track record of boosting annual revenues—achieving up to $1.3B in oncology over three years and generating $360M in mental health initiatives. My approach combines strategic vision with hands-on execution, as evidenced by my success in launching innovative facilities, expanding services for addiction and mental health care, and enhancing organizational brand visibility. As author of “The AI Marketing Playbook,” I contribute thought leadership on the integration of artificial intelligence in marketing, a role that showcases my commitment to staying at the forefront of industry innovation.
I also bring my insights and expertise to a broad audience as the host of cable tv & global streaming of “Street Level Marketing Show,” while my writing has been featured in major publications such as Entrepreneur, Business.com, The Startup, and Kivo Daily. Whether I’m implementing targeted digital marketing campaigns that engage over a million individuals monthly or overseeing multi-million dollar budgets to maximize return on investment, I approach every challenge with a combination of strategic planning, creative problem-solving, and unwavering dedication. Above all, I am passionate about expanding access to high-quality addiction and mental health care through innovative solutions that drive both patient outcomes and organizational growth.
Mark serves on the board of One World for Life, National Fire Heritage Center, and the Institute for Responder Wellness.
Mark (https://marklamplugh.com) is one of the top marketing executives in the United States and has revolutionized how companies reach potential clients thru influence, SEO, social, PR, and traditional marketing. His expertise in Marketing, Social Media, Digital Marketing, and Public Relations has generated millions of dollars in revenue for several national companies. Mark documents many of his techniques in his book “Beginners Guide to Social & Digital Media.” and “Marketing Playbook for Social Media,” which was named the top 100 social media marketing books of all time by Book Authority. He’s also a professional advocate for the behavioral and mental health of firefighters and other first responders. Marks articles have been published in Better Marketing, Startup Magazine, Social Media Today, Kivo Daily, Biz Catalyst 360, Fire Engineering, Firehouse Magazine, and several others.
One of his companies, niches, are marketing products and services to the public safety industry and their employees, specifically mental & behavioral health services. He can be reached for comment at ceo@influencemediasolutions.com
23,000 #1 Connections, 40,000,000 US B2B Contacts and 300,000,000 B2b/B2C email contacts as well as 1,000,000+ monthly social media reach. https://marklamplugh.com





















