Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:
- Probably the biggest news of the week was the announcement that Ledcor’s $340 million design for the new Royal Alberta Museum was chosen as the winner. Ledcor Group, Dialog Designs, and Toronto-based Lundholm Associate Architects are all on the winning team. Asked to comment after decision, Mayor Mandel said: “This will begin to change downtown like nothing ever has.” Well, at least until that other project happens, right?
- And this is the news that too many people thought was the biggest news of the week: Daryl Katz owns a home in Vancouver and it has reportedly become his “home base”.
- Early this week the City of Edmonton received approval from the province for The Quarters CRL. The City plans to use the $56 million to improve infrastructure and public amenities in the area.
- The City and Perkins+Will officially kicked off the City Centre Redevelopment master planning process this week, which is slated to be wrapped up by November 2012. Three major workshops will take place the week of October 11, with more to come next year.
- Construction is wrapping up on 21 new kilometers of reserved bike lanes and shared-use lanes. As The Charrette reports however, it has been a bumpy start.
- Also: check out The Charrette’s recent roundup of downtown news.
- Happy 30th birthday to West Edmonton Mall! It officially opened on September 16, 1981.
- Edmonton born and based sculptor Katherine Sicotte has been awarded $10,000 and the opportunity to showcase three painted welded steel sculptures in an exhibition entitled "Point of View" in the niches of the DREAM.big Plaza of the Shaw Conference Centre for one year.
- With kids back at school, the City is cracking down on illegal parking around schools.
- On Saturday, the Edmonton Police Service celebrated the ten year anniversary of Air-1.
- Ryan Smyth received a warm welcome back to Edmonton today at the Joey Moss Cup. The Sun has photos here.
- I received a lot of feedback about this story when I tweeted it: Kunitz steps out in city centre with new shoe shop. They’re a great addition to Jasper Avenue!
Here are some upcoming events:
- The Oilers play their first home exhibition game on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild. They’re also at Rexall Place on Thursday against Vancouver, and Saturday against Calgary.
- On Wednesday evening, the Alberta Party is hosting an information night called Talk of the Town at Enterprise Square.
- Also Wednesday night, Keith Urban is at Rexall Place.
- This year’s Sizzling Twenty Under 30 Gala takes place on Thursday at Lexus of Edmonton.
- The Doctors Without Borders Run Without Borders is happening Saturday Emily Murphy Park.
- Sunday is Free Admission Day at City of Edmonton facilities and attractions!
- For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.
I was really happy to take part in YWCA Edmonton’s Walk a Mile in Her Shoes on Tuesday! Here’s a shot of me and Councillor Henderson sporting heels:
Decommissioning of the Rossdale high-pressure plant has progressed to the point where crews took down the first of three boilers on Friday. This procedure will be completed in stages over the next few weeks.
I’ll write more about it later, but for now, thanks to everyone who came out to What the Truck?! 2 on Friday night – it was a big success!
