The name Ambleside most likely originates from a town of the same name located in Cumbria, England. Bus service to Ambleside was created in October 2007 on Route 324 by the Edmonton Transit System during peak hours only. The main roadway into the neighbourhood is Windermere Boulevard. Once complete, the neighbourhood will include a mixed-use commercial centre designed as a neighbourhood focal point, and a series of parks, pathways and institutional facilities which will be integrated strategically with residential development.
The neighbourhood name "Blackburne" was derived from Blackmud Creek, which runs across the southern edge of the community, and in reference to "burne" which is an old English word for stream or river. The Blackburn area was annexed to the City of Edmonton on January 1, 1982. The Blackburne neighbourhood was developed from the 1990s onwards. Most of the land within Blackburne is designated for residential purposes, with single-detached housing being the dominant housing form.