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On January 28, 1946 a decree from the Sacred Congregation of the Sacraments was issued to established provincial tribunals in Montreal, Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto, Regina and Vancouver. The Vicariates of Edmonton were served by the newly erected Provincial Tribunal of Vancouver.

Prior to the establishment of the Regional Tribunals the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Edmonton was responsible for overseeing any paper work related to the declaration of nullity of marriages.

On January 7, 1956 a decree established the ecclesiastical tribunals for the Province of Edmonton. The Alberta Regional Tribunal was thus established to serve the diocese of the civil provinces of Alberta and the Northwest Territories which includes the Archdiocese of Edmonton, the Diocese of Calgary, the Diocese of St. Paul, the Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan, the Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith, and the Ukrainain Eparchy of Edmonton (under whose jurisdiction fall all the Ukrainian Catholics of Alberta).

The Archbishop of Edmonton, Most Rev. John MacDonald, was the first moderator of the new tribunal. Msgr. Donahoe was appointed as the first Officialis. He served in this capacity until 1963 when Rev. O'Reilly became the second Officialis.

On June 1, 1973 Sr. Marion Murray became the first woman canonist to join the staff of the Alberta Regional Tribunal.

A branch of the Tribunal was established in the Diocese of Calgary in 1979.

Since 1984 the Tribunal of Second Instance (also called the Canadian Appeal Tribunal) for all of Canada has been located in Ottawa.

Anthony Jordan was born on November 10, 1901 in Uphall, Scotland. He received his early education at a parochial school in Broxburn, West Lothian. At the age of 12 the Jordans immigrated to Canada and settled in Alberta. Jordan began his high school studies in Drumheller but persuaded his parents to let him come to Edmonton with three of his friends to finish his secondary education at the Jesuit College. However, when he arrived he found that the college was a French-speaking institution, and as Jordan had not yet learned French the rector of the college suggested that he attend St. Mary's High School.

While living in Edmonton, Jordan boarded at the Oblate Fathers' residence. Not surprisingly he joined the congregation of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1921 and studied for the priesthood at the Ville La Salle Novitiate in Quebec City and he was ordained on 23 June, 1929.

In 1931 he was appointed curate at St. Augustine's Parish, in Vancouver where he remained until 1941 when he was appointed superior of Holy Rosary Scholasticate in Ottawa and bursar of St. Peter's Province of the Oblates.

Appointed Vicar Apostolic of Prince Rupert, BC (now the Diocese of Prince George) on June 22, 1945, he was consecrated in St. Albert on September 8 by Cardinal J.M. Rodrigue Villeneuve. Jordan served as Bishop for 10 years before he was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop to His Grace Archbishop MacDonald, with right of succession. He succeeded to the See of Edmonton on August 11, 1964, becoming Edmonton’s fourth Archbishop.

In 1962, Jordan attended the Second Vatican Council called by Pope John XXIII. As an open-minded leader he focused his energy in promoting Church renewal through establishing the new Western Catholic Reporter (1965), Vocation Team (1966), Council of Priests (1967), Commission for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations (1968), Adult Learning Commission (1968), and Newman Theological College (1969).

With a long list of accomplishments in a relatively short time, Archbishop Jordan, known as The Promoter of Ecumenism, retired on July 6, 1973. Nine years later, on March 4, 1982 he died at the age of 80.

On November 10, 1994 Pope John Paul II announced the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 in his Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennio Adveniente (The Third Millennium is Coming.") The Letter outlines the themes for each of the three years leading up to the third millennium, the first year, 1997 focused on Jesus Christ, Redeemer and Lord; the second year, 1988, focused on the actions of the Holy Spirit; and the third year, 1999, focused on God as Father.

Preparations for this event were carried out at a number of levels locally, provincially, nationally and internationally. A national committee was established by the Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, to coordinate information about suggestion for projects (originating in Rome, other Episcopal Conferences, dioceses in Canada, and elsewhere) and to share with the Bishops of Canada and their respective diocesan committees.

In Edmonton, a Jubilee 2000 Committee was formed. Rev. George Smith, CSB was appointed the chair other members included Darlene Jenson, Lloyd Baumgarten, George Smith, Cathy Harvey, Patrick Maguire, Rev. Mike McCaffery, Stefan Michniewski, Peter Murray, Sister Connie Piska UJ, Rev. Donald Stein, Anne Marie Venne, Rev. Stephen Wojcichowsky, and Rev. Donald MacDonald, OFM.

The committee organized a variety events including Assembly 2000, held at the Shaw Conference Center. This event provided an opportunity for renewal of faith through education, prayer, workshop, reflection and dialogue. Various speakers were asked to prepare presentations and workshops including Archbishop John Quinn, Thomas Groome, Sr. Eileen Schuller, OSU, Archbishop Thomas Collins, Rev. Sylvain Casavant, Sr. Mary Lou Cranston, CND, Rev. Corbin Eddy and many others.

In addition, a variety of ecumenical events were organized at locations throughout Edmonton including King's College, St. Joseph's College, and Newman Theological College.