Edmonton Notes for 1/8/2012

I ended up taking quite a bit more time away from blogging in December than originally intended, but it was nice to have a break. Sharon and I went to Yellowknife for Christmas, and the time away was just what we needed! Then January hits, and things go back to normal 🙂

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

• Still have your Christmas tree up? Put it out unbagged with your garbage on Tuesday and the City will pick it up. You can also take it to a community recycling depot until January 20, or to an Eco Station until January 31.
• It happens every year: a number of charities are still behind on their holiday fundraising targets.
• Edmonton is warm and brown at the moment, and that has meant icy roads and other challenges. It’s hard to complain with above zero temperatures in January, however! What goes up, must come down, however. The lack of snow won’t mean budget savings either.
• Edmonton Next Gen’s next Pecha Kucha Night is scheduled for February 2. Tickets go on sale Monday morning at 10am!
• Also on sale tomorrow morning: tickets for BlogWest 2012, taking place in Edmonton March 8-10.
• Canada didn’t win the gold medal, but Edmonton could “easily” see more than $45 million in net benefits from co-hosting the World Juniors.
• Blatchford Field celebrated its 85th anniversary this weekend! It was the first licensed airport in Canada on January 8, 1927. Additional events to celebrate the milestone will take place throughout the year.
• This weekend was the first for the City’s Night Ride Pilot. A total of 80 people took advantage, 27 on Friday and 53 on Saturday. The Journal interviewed a few of the patrons.
• The Edmonton Police Service will now undergo a national search for a pair of deputy chiefs. Darryl da Costa retired this month, and Neil Dubord resigned in December.
• The opening line says it best: “Once a gas station, then for years a barren brown field, the vacant lot at Whyte Avenue and 105th Street will finally be reincarnated in 2012.”
• Well look at that, it’s January 8 and the year is basically over for the Edmonton Oilers.
• A new pedway is under construction that will cross 114 Street at the Health Sciences LRT Station.
• CBC’s Edmonton AM is running a series called Downtown at a Crossroads. Worth a listen!
• I was very happy to see Edmonton leading the way in Alberta Venture’s Fast 50 Growth list for 2011. Dynamic Manufacturing Solutions was ranked #1.
• New data from Statistics Canada shows that Edmonton’s unemployment rate was 5.1% in December, third-lowest among Canadian municipalities.
• Sirens for Life, the annual Blood Donor Challenge for Police, Fire, and EMS teams, runs until February 4. This is the 10th anniversary!
• Don’t miss Sharon’s 2011 in Review post! Lots of great local food tidbits in there.
• Emil has an interview with Mayor Stephen Mandel.
• Dave has an update on Alberta election candidates. Keep an eye on his blog for additional updates as we get closer to the next provincial election.
• Remembering a great Edmontonian: Don Wheaton.
• The Edmonton Poetry Festival is looking for a new Executive Director!
• The new Edmonton Remand Centre is scheduled to open in January 2013 at a cost of $568 million.
• Apparently Occupy Edmonton plans to return on February 4 at an undisclosed location. The group plans to meet at Ezio Faraone Park and then march to the new occupation site.

“Eight Degrees” by Kurt Bauschardt

Here are some upcoming events:

• YEGRB’s monthly hackup is taking place Monday evening.
• Also Monday is the launch party for Indigo Drinks Edmonton – “a monthly conscious lounge, shindig and mixer of folks who work in the holistic field.”
• The Oilers are finally back in town after a lengthy roadtrip to make room for the World Juniors. They host the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday, the Anaheim Ducks on Friday, and the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday.
• Jocelyn Brown, the Edmonton Public Library’s new Writer in Residence, is hosting tripLit on Thursday evening at The Artery.
• Ice on Whyte kicks off on Thursday and runs through the 22nd. Note the festival has moved to a new location this year – you’ll find it at End of Steel Park on 103 Street and Tommy Banks Way.
• Metropolis of course continues on the weekend in Churchill Square.
• To celebrate this week’s Friday the 13th, DEDfest is showing The Shining at the Garneau Theatre.
• On Saturday, head over to the AGA for The Gallery, a showcase of creative expression for youth of diverse multicultural backgrounds.
• The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra is performing at St. Albert’s Arden Theatre on Sunday.
• And an early heads up: save the date for Eat Alberta 2012, scheduled to take place on April 14!
• Check out ShareEdmonton for more upcoming events!