Check out Edmonton Etcetera for news, photos, and links throughout the week! Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:
- Mayor Mandel has decided to decline the salary increase that was available to him, while councillors Leibovici, Krushell, and Iveson all opted for lower than the total amount available. Last year, eight of the councillors declined some or all of the increase.
- It was a busy week for arena news. On Monday, the City announced that ICON Venue Group has been selected as project manager and that Rick Daviss has assumed the role of Executive Director of the Downtown Sports and Entertainment District. The ICON presentation with concept images was released later in the week in PDF (a key feature of which is loge seating). Paula Simons makes the case that the decision should have been put through the normal process as there was no public competition. Former mayor Cec Purves was even more critical, and wrote in a letter to the editor: “In the 45 years I have been involved in city politics and watching I have never seen a more irrational, irresponsible or reckless move by council.” On Friday, CBC reported that there are four construction firms in the running for the project.
- After an incredibly cold week that saw record power demand in Alberta, the forecast for the next week looks really good with highs of around zero degrees.
- Edmonton ranked second in CIBC’s latest measure of economic momentum. Our city attained one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country (5.7% in 2011Q3)and our population is now rising at 1.7% year-over-year.
- The Edmonton Rush had their season opener on Friday against the Colorado Mammoth. Unfortunately they lost 13-12. The Rush are now on the road for four games before returning to host Philadelphia on February 24.
- According a new report from commercial real estate firm CBRE, more retail space is under construction in Edmonton than anywhere else in the country.
- Meet five of Edmonton’s most promising young theatre starts.
- City Council has appointed Derek Hudson, Gary McCuaig, and Suzanne Polkosnik to the Edmonton Police Commission.
- The building on 104 Street that used to be home to The Roost will soon be occupied by the Canada Border Services Agency.
- In case you missed it, here’s the Startup Edmonton announcement about moving into the 3rd floor of the Mercer Warehouse!
- The City is starting to gather ideas for The Way We Prosper, its comprehensive economic development strategy.
- New government funding will help bring more affordable housing to Edmonton.
- The latest property assessments have been mailed out, so which neighbourhoods saw the biggest increases in value?
- Tickets for MediaCamp Edmonton are now on sale!
Cool shot from Christian.
Here are some upcoming events:
- The Oilers have one home game this week, on Monday against the San Jose Sharks.
- The Edmonton Oil Kings are in action at home on Wednesday against Tri-City, Friday against Brandon, and Saturday against Vancouver.
- Looks like a busy week for pop music lovers. City and Colour is at the Jubliee on Wednesday and Thursday. Theory of a Deadman is there on Friday. And for a little blast from the past, Hanson is at Festival Place on Friday.
- The Joint Review Panel for the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project is in Edmonton for the next week for community hearings. They start on Tuesday morning.
- Dishcrawl has arrived in Edmonton, with the first event taking place on Wednesday evening in Old Strathcona.
- Winter Light’s Mill Creek Adventure Walk takes place on Friday and Saturday evenings.
- Startup Weekend and Global Game Jam start on January 27 and run all weekend!
- The Renovation Show runs Friday through Sunday at the Edmonton Expo Centre.
- On Saturday, you can be one of the first to test out EIA’s brand new terminal!
- Metropolis of course continues this weekend, and on Sunday in the tent you’ll find The Tip of the Iceberg, a festival of local music!
- For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.
