Edmonton Notes for 11/13/2011

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

• The headline says it best: “We should be more like Edmonton.” Great to see our city getting some well-deserved recognition from the east!
• The Edmonton Eskimos have made it to the Western final with a victory today over the Calgary Stampeders. More than 30,000 people attended the Eskimos’ first home playoff game since 2004.
• It’s budget time at City Hall right now. The proposed 2012 Operating Budget would see a 4.5% tax increase overall – 3% for civic services and 1.5% for Neighbourhood Renewal. Councillor Iveson blogged a great preview of the 2012 budget. A public hearing will take place later this month, with Council discussions on the budget taking place in early December.
• Congratulations to the winners of the 2011 Edmonton Urban Design Awards. I’m happy to see the Alley of Light getting some recognition!
• Edmonton’s loss would appear to be Winnipeg’s gain. Art Gallery of Alberta Executive Director Gilles Hébert announced his resignation from the AGA effective December 31, 2011 to accept a new position at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg.
• Twenty drivers won awards at the 8th annual Vehicle for Hire Driver Appreciation Awards. Four drivers also received special awards for their outstanding contributions: Bill Dhanoa, Balraj Manhas, Gord Beatty, and Ian Lee.
• As if we needed any more proof that most people don’t understand how the arena funding model works, the City had to clarify the borrowing bylaw this week. And I’m not sure that release helps at all.
• Planning a visit to the Muttart Conservatory? Make sure you take your phone! Visitors can now access walking tours of the pyramids using QR codes posted throughout the facility. I’ve got to go and check that out.
• As I blogged about the other day, City Council data is now available in the City of Edmonton’s open data catalogue.
• According to a new report sponsored by Re/Max, Edmonton has been the second-strongest-preforming market in Canada over the last decade. The average price of a home has climbed from $124,203 in 2000 to $328,803 in 2010.
• Sharon has a nice write-up about Saturday’s Olde Time Fair on the Square.
• Here’s a good profile of Edmonton’s little known Tea & Coffee Company.
• In local business news, Clark Builders sold a majority stake to US construction giant Turner Construction this week.
• Speaking of construction, all lanes on Scona Road and 99 Street are now open.
• Edmonton has landed a new “red-eye” flight to Houston, our second daily non-stop flight on Continental Airlines.
• It had to happen sooner or later: we received our first snowfall this weekend. Stay in the know about snow, with the City of Edmonton’s new email notification system and more. Lots of people took photos, but Brian went the extra mile and made a video!

• Crews were busy early this week decorating the Christmas Tree, located on 102A Avenue between City Hall and Churchill Square. The light up event will take place on Saturday.

Photo by Mike Friel

Here are some upcoming events to note:

• The Canadian Red Cross is holding a tweetup to celebrate CPR month on Wednesday evening!
• The next Edmonton Girl Geek Dinner is taking place on Thursday evening.
• The Oilers are back in town after a long road trip. They host the Senators on Thursday, and the Blackhawks on Saturday.
• WordCamp Edmonton takes place at the Shaw Conference Centre on Friday and Saturday.
• Saturday is the annual Christmas on the Square Holiday Light Up! Head down to Churchill Square to see the lights on the tree turned on!
• Make It Edmonton returns on Thursday at the Alberta Aviation Museum. The show runs through Sunday.
• Also Saturday – The Handmade Mafia! They’re running every weekend for the next few leading up to Christmas.
• For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton. Don’t miss the calendar view!
• And a heads up for next week: Mercury Opera’s 104 Underground event is coming up on November 25. Don’t miss it!

Here’s a great shot of Edmonton from afar by NateD2009: