Why YEGsthan?
"YEG" is the airport code for Edmonton International Airport and has recently become a popular shorthand for the city itself. The term "sthan," derived from Sanskrit, means "place." Together, they form YEGsthan—our endeavor to placekeep Edmonton’s rich heritage stories.
This page is a place to capture the narratives and document the significant
contributions of South Asian communities to Edmonton. South Asia includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, and its diaspora communities worldwide.
Since the late 1800s, South Asians have been a part of Canada's fabric, with many calling Alberta home since the early 1900s. Here at YEGsthan, we bring these stories to the forefront, exploring the deep, interconnected roots that have supported and enriched the Canadian cultural landscape.
Stories of Amiskwaciwâskahikan ᐊᒥᐢᑲᐧᒋᐋᐧᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ
also known as Edmonton
Upcoming Events
As part of C2U Expo 2025, Soni Dasmohapatra will be presenting at Animating Archives Through Arts-Based Research, a unique site visit at the City of Edmonton Archives.
This event brings together three artists and one documentarian from the Asian diaspora, each using their respective artistic disciplines to create place-making narratives from archival materials.
Animating Archives Through Arts-Based Research
Heritage Research
Soni Dasmohapatra organizes and leads a heritage bus tours that explore some of Edmonton's most historically and culturally significant areas, including Whyte Avenue and Mill Woods.
The tours examine the political, economic, and social forces that have shaped these urban spaces, highlighting the contributions of early South Asian pioneers like Sohan Singh Bhullar and the city’s ward renaming process, honouring Indigenous communities.
This video highlights the 2024 History and Culture tour in celebration of Asian Heritage Month.
Explore more of Mill Woods' history and culture:
Soni joins the hosts of the "Let’s Find Out" podcast to discuss the naming of Sohan Singh Bhullar Park, which commemorates the contributions of the South Asian community to Edmonton.
The episode explores the historical context of the South Asian community in Edmonton, including their struggles, achievements, and the significance of honouring such individuals through public spaces like parks. It delves into the importance of acknowledging the contributions of these early settlers in shaping the city’s cultural landscape.
