Behind the easy-going, idyllic charm of Beaumont lies a secret – it is one of the fastest growing municipalities in the country. And with all the new residential developments providing more new home opportunities, it will likely remain so into the future.

Beaumont, just a short drive south of Edmonton, is the fastest growing municipality in the Edmonton metropolitan region with a population of over 21,000 as of 2022, showing a nearly 20 per cent jump between 2016 and 2021. This makes Beaumont the third-fastest growing municipality in all of Alberta, below only Cochrane and Airdrie.

Despite its explosive growth, Beaumont retains an undeniable charm that is enriched by its unique history as a French-Canadian colonial town.

Beaumontbegan in the 1890s as a tiny, 10-acre French colony. It still embraces this unique heritage, with the downtown area reminiscent of a postcard-perfect French village with brick pathways and historic buildings.

Today, Beaumont is one of Alberta’s four official bilingual municipalities. Some locals speak French as their first language, local schools offer bilingual education, and even the street signs are in French.

Beaumont oozes with small-town charm. There’s an abundance of walking trails, playgrounds, local restaurants, schools, and new construction and well-established homes.

A good place to call home

Beaumont, Alberta, is an enticing place to call home. Straddling small-town charm and big city convenience, it’s a close-knit community that offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere that makes newcomers feel like they belong. Furthermore, the city is known for its friendly residents, who value community spirit and create a hospitable environment for both families and individuals.

Besides its small-town spirit, there’s also its awesome amenities. The city government says it is committed to providing a high standard of living, and this is evident in its wide array of facilities and services in town.

The local shops and restaurants enhance the quality of life with their unique offerings and personalized service, making every visit a delightful experience. There are plenty of outdoor opportunities to live an active, healthy lifestyle in the city’s numerous parks and open spaces.

Also of note is the city’s robust infrastructure, including reliable public transportation and well-maintained roads.

Those looking to start a new life here will be encouraged by the varied housing options offered, as well as the growing number of new communities that all offer a good quality of life that only Beaumont can offer.

Beaumont today

Today, new residents have fallen in love with the city because its outdoor lifestyle is as alluring as the scenery. The town has over 250 acres of parklands, a dozen baseball diamonds, over a dozen soccer fields, outdoor rinks, inline rinks volleyball courts outdoor basketball courts and winding paths between most of them, finding these active areas is as much fun as playing in them.

Growing its recreational amenities is something the City has focused on. At the heart of those efforts is the Beaumont Sport and Recreation Centre (BSRC). It is a multi-use facility located in the heart of Beaumont. Featuring a NHL sized arena, hard court gymnasium, turf field house, aquatics centre, two-lane walking track, various multi-purpose spaces, The Arch Climbing Centre and a fitness centre expansion.

There are also a number of shopping opportunities in and around town too, including the Montalet Shopping Centre. If you’re looking for something more unique, the Southwest Edmonton area is just 10 minutes away, as is the massive Southgate Centre.

One of the city’s best-known restaurants in town is Chartier, a Quebec French style restaurant in the centre of downtown Beaumont. Check out its very own Beaumont Smoked Meat Sandwich with its smoked and slow-cooked brisket on a soft white roll (gluten-free options available) with house-made pickled cucumbers.

New communities

New residential opportunities are coming up as well, all offering easy-living amenities and homes suited for today’s lifestyles. These include Dansereau Meadows by Anthem in the northwest; Le Reve by Redco Developments to the north; Ruisseau by Qualico Communities in the southwest, and Azur Beaumont by Avillia Developments to the west.

Élan, developed by Dream, is also located along the western edge of Beaumont. It recently won the 2024 CHBA National Awards for Best New Community.

“Élan is the culmination of over half a decade of active engagement with the local community,” says Jonathan Chan, general manager of Dream’s Edmonton Land division.

“Beaumont has such a strong identity, and it was important to us to live up to the potential of that and not just bring more Edmonton to communities outside its borders,” says Chan. “Everything from the emphasis on inviting porches to the quality of the public spaces is purpose-built for bringing residents together. We wanted to get it right.”

Élan checks all the boxes that these buyers are looking for with stylishly affordable homes from its founding builders that include Art Homes, Cantiro, Homes by Avi, Hopewell, and Sher-Bilt. Available are semi-detached (duplex), laned, and front-drive garage homes, and now also pond-backing walkout homes.

Homes vary in width and detailing along a single street to help avoid a cookie-cutter look - allowing simple, timeless styles to breath and more complex architectures to truly shine. But, as in all other Dream communities, the cohesive vision for Élan is about connections.

Something special

To heighten the sense of connectivity, Élan’s central Parc Réunis at the heart of the community offers incredible, imaginative wood-built playgrounds designed to offer physical challenge and beneficial play.

Park benches and picnic tables empower people to linger and enjoy being out in the community under the shade of the pergolas. Sports courts and outdoor exercise equipment give adults more to do while kids run around and play. And on hotter summer days, venture over to Beaumont’s Four Seasons Park, just a 6-minute drive away, and take in an afternoon at the splash park.

Dream knows it has something special in Beaumont. “Beaumont offers an escape to the hustle and bustle of city life, where you can slow down and make the most of every moment. Exceptional trails, parks, and recreation facilities plus a charming downtown with shops, restaurants and breweries offer places for people to connect, have fun, and contribute to the positive impact in their local community,” Chan says.

Credit photos Courtesy City of Beaumont, and Courtesy Dream.ca