Did you make the most of your extra hour? Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:
- On Monday afternoon, we found out the details surrounding the land purchase for the downtown arena. The final amount? $41.3 million. A good investment by the City, except for the fact that the Katz Group’s land purchase will count as investment in the surrounding area.
- The funding debacle surrounding the new Royal Alberta Museum got a little more interesting on Wednesday, when Rona Ambrose issued a confusing release suggesting that LRT funding would be bumped to make way for the project. Turns out that is not the case, but there are still questions about where our LRT funding is going to come from. Perhaps toll roads?
- With a victory on Friday night, the Eskimos clinched a playoff spot and will now take on Calgary at their first home playoff game in seven years.
- In case you missed it, the City is gearing up for winter with new ways to stay in the know about snow. So far we haven’t seen any of the white stuff, but you can bet it won’t be long until we do.
- Speaking of winter approaching, the City is celebrating a successful construction season that saw the completion of work on the Quesnell Bridge, 23 Avenue/Gateway Boulevard interchange, and Scona Road/99 Street, among others.
- City Council appointed Melcor’s President and CEO Ralph Young to the Edmonton Regional Airports Authority board of directors, effective January 1.
- Don Iveson blogged about the cell tower issues that have sprung up in the Greenfield neighbourhood recently. Along with Councillor Leibovici and Councillor Diotte, he submitted a formal inquiry through Executive Committee on the matter.
- Public consultation is starting on two new projects proposed for Fort Edmonton Park: The Indigenous Peoples Experience, and the 1920’s Midway Expansion.
- Construction on the controversial 500-kilovolt Heartland transmission line will begin later this year. The Alberta Utilities Commission approved the 65-kilometre project on Tuesday.
- The Journal has a story on Edmonton Police Chief Rod Knecht, assessing his first few months on the job.
- EFCL says the City has to find a way to get more family friendly housing in central neighbourhoods if it is serious about curbing urban sprawl.
- Edmonton’s NextGen is looking for presenters for Pecha Kucha Night 12, slated to take place in February. Submissions are due December 16.
Here are some upcoming events:
- All day Monday and Tuesday, the Christmas Tree is being decorated on 102A Avenue in front of City Hall.
- Farmfair International takes place all week at the Edmonton Expo Centre.
- Take your lunch to City Hall on Tuesday for a session on transforming business culture, part of The Way We Green series of lectures.
- On Tuesday afternoon, the City is celebrating the recent success of the Capital City Downtown Plan.
- Starting Wednesday, Canadian Finals Rodeo will be filling Rexall Place.
- Edmonton’s NextGen is hosting another DIYalogue event on Wednesday evening.
- STOMP is at the Jubilee this week.
- On Saturday, Olde Time Fair on the Square returns to Churchill Square.
- On Sunday, playoff football returns to Commonwealth Stadium as the Stampeders take on the Eskimos.
- For more River City Round Up events, click here.
- For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.
I really liked this ETS video featuring Colleen Brown:
River City Round Up got underway Saturday in Churchill Square! More photos here.
MasterMaq's Blog 
Excuse me – it may be premature to call “Mission Accomplished” on the 99St/Scona Rd worksite. Over the weekend, both North and Southbound traffic lanes were restricted at various times causing delays. And late on Sunday (Nov 6) I saw a number of traffic caution signs throughout the south (Sherwood Park Freeway and Whitemud 99st exit) advising of delays for this route – presumably for this week at least. It does seem that they have ALMOST finished most of the major work though – and are occupied with line-painting, installing signs and clearing up landscaping.
Yup, that’s what the City has said, all primary work is done and they are just left with landscaping and other minor work.