Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:
- During the first four days of opening events, close to 12,000 people visited the new AGA. Additionally, annual membership has grown to an all-time high of 2,250.
- The Kelly-Ramsay block on Rice Howard Way has been sold to John Day, whose projects include the Garneau Theatre redevelopment and the Sobeys Urban Fresh on Jasper Avenue.
- Nominations for the third annual Good Neighbour Awards opened this week. You have until March 1 to suggest someone!
- Hybrid Forge was selected as the winning company in the Leveraging Technical Expertise Locally pilot (see my previous coverage here). There were 14 total applicants, 6 of which had the opportunity to present to a review panel.
- The City of Edmonton Youth Council is displaying the Streets Speak mural series at City Hall from February 17 to 28.
- Full commissioning of the South LRT Extension from South Campus is underway! That means there will be a few service disruptions over the next week or two.
- More transit news: City Council confirmed that the NAIT line is the first priority for construction, and a new report suggests the City should spend $22.5 million over four years to implement smart cards for transit. Also, Transportation Manager Bob Boutilier says the LRT expansions could be completed by 2017, just in time for EXPO (if we were to win the bid).
- Congratulations to Ken Bautista and his team for launching Seek Your Own Proof this week! They also closed a round of financing with local VC firm Foundation Equity.
- The City wants you to share your views on the new plan for Fort Edmonton Park.
- Great post by Jordan Schroder on EXPO 2017 at theeedmontonian.
- Good news! Police Service Dog Cora is back in action.
- The incoming chair of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce says Edmonton’s future is in emerging as the global city for northern expertise.
- Edmonton is the 2nd most sustainable large city in Canada, and the 3rd most sustainable city overall, according to the Corporate Knights Magazine’s annual list.
- Two new Alberta websites launched this week: Productivity Alberta (details) and Apply Alberta.
- Congratulations to all the winners of the 2010 ROOPH Awards, recognizing individuals and organizations that are working to end homelessness.
- The application deadline for participants and speakers for TEDxEdmonton is Monday! The event takes place March 13.
- Sweeny Todd opens at the Citadel tonight and runs through the 28th (on ShareEdmonton).
- NAIT Info Week 2010 kicks off on Monday (on ShareEdmonton).