Nestled along the scenic North Saskatchewan River Valley in Edmonton's southwest quadrant,
Riverbend is one of the city's most sought-after residential districts. Established in 1972
and comprising nine distinct neighbourhoods, Riverbend offers an exceptional quality of life
defined by mature tree-lined streets, top-rated schools, active community leagues, and
unparalleled access to river valley trails and greenspace.
SW
Quadrant
674m
Elevation
9
N'hoods
🌿 Riverbend is bounded by the North Saskatchewan River to the west and north,
and the Whitemud Creek Ravine to the east — providing natural greenspace on nearly every side.
Explore the Area
9 Distinct Neighbourhoods
Each neighbourhood within Riverbend has its own character, from luxury river-view estates to established family communities.
Est. 1970s
Brander Gardens
Quiet cul-de-sacs and mature landscaping define this beloved established neighbourhood with a true community feel.
🌳 Mature Trees
Est. 1970s
Brookside
Executive-style homes on above-average lots with direct access to Snow Valley Ski Club and Rainbow Valley Park.
⛷ Snow Valley Access
NSP 1986
Bulyea Heights
Modern and prestigious — consistently in Edmonton's Top 5 safest neighbourhoods. Park-side living at its finest.
🛡 Top-5 Safest
NSP 1989
Carter Crest
A vibrant family community with excellent school access and the welcoming spirit typical of Riverbend's newer builds.
🏫 School-Adjacent
NSP 1989
Falconer Heights
Suburban family living with newer construction and accessible entry-level pricing for the Riverbend area.
🏡 Family Suburban
NSP 1980
Henderson Estates
Modern prestige at its best — ranked #9 safest neighbourhood in all of Edmonton. Well-maintained and highly desirable.
🏆 #9 Safest
NSP 1981
Ogilvie Ridge
Originally conceived as an exclusive gated community. Bordered by Whitemud Creek ravine and Rabbit Hill. Ranked #2 safest in Edmonton.
🥇 #2 Safest City-Wide
Oldest
Ramsay Heights
Riverbend's oldest community, offering panoramic views of Edmonton from an elevated vantage point. Mix of single-family homes and condos.
🌅 Panoramic Views
NSP 1979
Rhatigan Ridge
Established prestige overlooking the North Saskatchewan River valley. Ranked #29 safest in Edmonton, beloved by families for decades.
🏞 River Valley Views
Education
Schools & Learning
Riverbend is recognized for exceptional schools at every level, served by Edmonton Public Schools (EPSB) and Edmonton Catholic Schools (ECSD).
📌 Riverbend Junior High School is one of Edmonton's top-performing junior high schools, celebrated for strong academics, athletics, and fine arts. Due to extremely high enrollment demand, new students may be subject to a lottery process. Contact EPSB at 780-429-8000 to confirm your attendance area.
Earl Buxton School
Elementary (K–6) • EPSB
Located beside the Riverbend Community Hall on Rhatigan Road East. Central to the community.
Brander Gardens Elementary
Elementary (K–6) • EPSB
Serving the Brander Gardens neighbourhood with a strong community-school connection.
Riverbend Junior High School
Junior High (7–9) • EPSB
14820 53 Ave NW • 780-434-7914 High demand school — lottery process. Exceptional programs in academics, arts & athletics.
Vernon Barford Junior High
Junior High (7–9) • EPSB
Top-rated junior high with rigorous academics, critical thinking focus, and diverse extracurriculars.
D.S. MacKenzie Junior High
Junior High (7–9) • EPSB
Southwest Edmonton's established junior high option with strong community ties.
St. Mary Catholic School
Elementary/Junior High • ECSD
Serving Catholic families in the Riverbend area with faith-based education and strong academics.
Lillian Osborne High School
Senior High (10–12) • EPSB
Southwest Edmonton's modern comprehensive high school with arts, academic, and career programs.
Harry Ainlay High School
Senior High (10–12) • EPSB
One of Edmonton's largest high schools offering comprehensive programming, IB, and vocational options.
Nature & Recreation
Parks, Trails & Green Spaces
Riverbend's greatest asset is its direct connection to the North Saskatchewan River Valley — one of the largest stretches of urban parkland in North America.
Park / Facility
Type
Highlights
North Saskatchewan River Valley (Ribbon of Green)
Urban Wilderness
Walking, cycling, jogging, cross-country skiing — direct neighbourhood access
Terwillegar Park
Regional Park
Off-leash dog area, open green space, family-favourite; accessible from neighbourhood walkways
Snow Valley Ski Club
Ski Area
Downhill skiing & snowboarding near Whitemud Freeway & 119 St. Especially popular with Brookside residents
Rainbow Valley Park
Natural Park
Wooded ravine trails, river access, wildlife habitat adjacent to Brookside
Whitemud Creek Ravine
Natural Ravine
Borders Ogilvie Ridge — wildlife habitat, scenic walking, connects to the greater ravine network
Fort Edmonton Park
Historic Park
~10 min drive — living history museum, seasonal events, family destination
Neighbourhood Playgrounds & Fields
Local Parks
At the centre of each neighbourhood — soccer, baseball, tennis, skating rinks, tobogganing hills
Terwillegar Community Recreation Centre
Rec Centre
~5 min drive — indoor pool, fitness centre, skating, community programs
🌲 Riverbend Community League maintains skating rinks, sports facilities, and organizes events year-round across Brookside, Brander Gardens, Ramsay Heights, and Rhatigan Ridge neighbourhoods.
Community Safety
One of Edmonton's Safest Areas
Based on Edmonton Police Service (EPS) crime data and a 3-year weighted analysis across all 271 Edmonton neighbourhoods, Riverbend's sub-communities rank among the city's very safest.
#2
Ogilvie Ridge
2nd Safest in All of Edmonton
Top 5
Bulyea Heights
Consistently Top-5 Safest
#9
Henderson Estates
9th Safest Neighbourhood
Neighbourhood
Safety Ranking
Notes
Ogilvie Ridge
#2 Safest in Edmonton
Ravine-bordered, low-through-traffic layout contributes to safety
Bulyea Heights
Consistently Top 5
Modern prestige neighbourhood, high owner-occupancy rate
Henderson Estates
#9 Safest
Well-planned neighbourhood with active community association
Rhatigan Ridge
#29 Safest
Mature established neighbourhood, strong community presence
Edmonton Overall (2024)
CSI: 109.3
Down 6% year-over-year — lowest crime rate in nearly a decade
Riverbend Area vs. City Avg.
Significantly Below Average
The Riverbend cluster is one of the safest in all of Edmonton
🔗 For live neighbourhood crime data: edmontonpolice.ca/CrimeFiles/NeighbourhoodCrimeMapping
EPS Non-Emergency: 780-423-4567 | Terwillegar-Riverbend Advisory Council (TRAC): yegtrac.ca
Municipal Services
Waste Collection & Recycling
Riverbend is served by the City of Edmonton's cart-based curbside collection program. All carts must be at the curb by 7:00 AM on your collection day.
🗑️
Garbage
Every 2 Weeks
Black cart (120L or 240L)
♻️
Recycling
Weekly
Blue cart — bottles, cans, paper, cardboard
🌿
Food Scraps
Weekly (Spring–Fall) Every 2 wks (Winter)
Green cart — all food waste
🍂
Yard Waste
Seasonal Mondays
Paper/clear plastic bags; no bag limit
🏭
Eco Station
Year-Round Drop-Off
Hazardous waste, electronics, bulky items
📱 Download the WasteWise App (iOS & Android) for your personalized collection schedule, reminders, and sorting tips. Or visit edmonton.ca → Waste Collection Calendar, or call 311.
Collection continues on most statutory holidays. Exceptions: Christmas Day (Dec 25) and New Year's Day (Jan 1).
Big Bin Events run summer/fall for free bulky item disposal.
Getting Around
Transit & Transportation
Route / Method
Details
Whitemud Drive
Major east-west artery — direct access from all sub-neighbourhoods
Terwillegar Drive
South access, connects to Anthony Henday ring road
Calgary Trail
North to downtown, south to airport (Hwy 2)
ETS Bus Network
Multiple routes connect to Century Park LRT Station
