For Edmonton-related stuff throughout the week, check out Edmonton Etc. Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:
- Vancouver-based Perkins + Will was named the winner of the City Centre Redevelopment competition this week. After the final contracts are signed, a 15-month Master Plan process will get underway. Construction could begin as early as the summer of 2014.
- Unsurprisingly, the Edmonton Oilers used their first overall pick to select Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in the NHL entry draft. It was the news that Ryan Smyth is returning to the Oilers that everyone was talking about, however.
- Telus announced this week that it plans to spend more than $20 million on upgrades in and around Telus Plaza downtown. No word on when construction will begin, but the project is slated to include new green space.
- ATB Financial confirmed this week that it will move to Telus House, the larger of the two towers at Telus Plaza, starting in late 2013.
- City Council approved the Community Revitalization Levy for The Quarters Downtown this week, a $56 million project to improve infrastructure in the area.
- On Wednesday, the City said that it would not be able to limit next year’s tax hike to 4.5% without making $50 million worth of spending cuts.
- According to the Office of Traffic Safety, traffic injuries, fatalities, property damage, and overall collisions on City streets all decreased last year.
- Edmonton was one of four Canadian cities granted membership into the World Health Organization’s Global Network of Age-friendly Cities.
- Rain has been the story of our weather lately, something the City of Edmonton has been dealing with. On the plus side, it looks like just a day or two of rain this week.
- A new report from Edmonton Transit calls for the typical fine for almost three dozen offences to quintuple, from $50 to $250.
- You know that empty lot on Whyte Avenue at 105 Street? It won’t be empty much longer.
- City Council took Administration to task this week over poor planning of road projects, something the City Auditor recently highlighted.
- For more headlines from the past week, check out theedmontonian.com.
- The deadline to nominate a front yard in bloom is June 30!
- Zoe Todd wrote an excellent guest piece at The Charrette, Exploring Aboriginal Marks on Edmonton. Also, The Charrette is looking to hear about your commute.
- Happy belated 4th birthday to The Carrot Coffeehouse!
- The Edmonton Capitals start a home stand against Maui Na Koa Ikaika on Tuesday evening.
- Also Tuesday evening is the next edition of Green Drinks.
- The Freewill Shakespeare Festival starts this week. Othello opens on Thursday, and Twelfth Night opens Friday.
- Latitude 53’s Summer Rooftop Patio Series continues on Thursday evening.
- Friday is Canada Day!
- Bikeology, The Works, and the Jazz Festival are among the festivals still taking place this week.
- For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.
Photo by brentus69
