Former U.S. president George W. Bush arrived to a loud and unfriendly welcome at the Shaw Conference Centre in downtown Edmonton on Tuesday.

Bush's motorcade was greeted by chants of "Bush, go home" and dozens of placards carrying messages such as "War criminal go home," "Defend the rights of all," and "Afghanistan Iraq illegal wars."

Protesters clog the sidewalk in front of the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton to protest a visit by former U.S. president George W. Bush. (CBC)Police estimated about 250 demonstrators clogged the narrow sidewalk in front of the convention centre on Jasper Ave., where Bush was to give a speech Tuesday evening.

The talk was sponsored by Bedford Biofuels, an Alberta company that turns plant material into fuel, with operations in Asia and Africa.

Tickets, which ranged from $105 to $168, sold out Tuesday morning.

The Edmonton Coalition Against War and Racism and the Palestine Solidarity Network planned the demonstrations outside the conference centre. The groups are demanding Bush be arrested and charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity.

On March 17, about 200 protesters crowded around the entrance of the Telus Convention Centre in Calgary, where Bush gave his first speech after leaving office.

Bush will travel to Saskatoon on Wednesday for another speaking engagement at noon MT at TCU Place.