Edmonton Notes for 4/25/2011

Hope you had an excellent long weekend! We sure had the weather in Edmonton to make the most of it. Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

• Edmonton was ranked 9th in the Cities of the Future list of 405 cities in North and South America.
• Construction of a new 50,000 square foot cargo facility has started at the Edmonton International Airport. The project will cost $16 million and will open in 2012.
• Does the forgotten underground LRT station between Churchill and Stadium have a future after all?
• The City is targeting a $119 tax increase for 2011 for the typical homeowner.
• The big royal wedding is coming up in just a few days, and Edmonton’s own Greg Kureluk has gotten in on the action by scooping up katemiddleton.com. Sharon signed the City of Edmonton’s card at City Hall this weekend – you have until Friday to do the same.
• In federal election news, Conservative candidate Ryan Hastman has alleged that 550 names on the voters list in Edmonton Strathcona are invalid. If you have concerns about sign placement, the City of Edmonton is encouraging you to call 311. Are federal candidates willing to stand up for the interests of city voters?
• Is 104 Street living up to its full potential? David Staples says no. I agree that the section closer to 104 Avenue needs some work, and I hope the Downtown LRT Connector will be one of the things that helps.
• Whyte Avenue and Candy Cane Lane are in the running to be declared Canada’s Greatest Street. The winners will be announced May 16.
• Check your lotto tickets! A $33 million ticket sold in Edmonton has yet to be claimed.
• The Victoria Golf Course Driving Range opened on Thursday, and Rundle Golf Course opened on Friday. Spring is here!
• Lynda Steele said goodbye to Edmonton and Global News this week. Here’s her goodbye message.
• Downtown by design is within reach! Todd Babiak and the Journal are looking for your suggestions on “beauty interventions”.
• On Thursday, 28 recruits graduated from the Edmonton Police Service’s new training program.
• Edmonton has recorded 19 homicides so far this year, which is close to five times the number recorded at this time last year.
• Here is the 2011 Northlands Board of Directors. The AGM was held on April 18.
• There’s a high tech camera atop the Bell Tower downtown to allow biologists to keep track of a peregrine falcon known as E4.
• For more headlines from the past week, check out theedmontonian.com.
• Nominations are now open for Avenue Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40 for 2011.
• A ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster is taking place in Churchill Square on Tuesday evening.
• The 2011 Venture Prize Awards Luncheon is taking place this Wednesday at The Westin Edmonton. Get your tickets now!
• FC Edmonton is in action at Commonwealth Stadium on Wednesday evening against FC Toronto.
• International Dance Day Celebration is happening in Churchill Square over lunch on Friday.
• Saturday is the second annual Over The Top Swap, taking place at Telus Field.
• Get Ready in the Park 2011 is taking place at Hawrelak Park on May 7, to cap off emergency preparedness week, which starts May 1.
• A public hearing has been set for The Way We Green: May 11 at 1:30pm. You can read the plan here.

Photo by blokcout

Photo by Mark Iocchelli