Edmonton Notes for 9/23/2012

Sharon and I are in Portland right now, enjoying a nice break away from everything (though I have been keeping up with some news and stuff). We’re back on Thursday evening, but if I get some time I may post a few photos before we leave Portland. There’s a lot to love about this city!

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

• Octane Motorsports has pulled out of the 2013 Edmonton Indy, and with the City deciding it will not pursue another promoter, the event is effectively dead. I wrote some thoughts about the news here.
• The Indy was not the only thing coming to end this week: Winter Light announced it will not return next year. While I loved the Mill Creek Adventure Walk and last year’s Illuminations, I have long thought that Winter Light was far more expensive to produce than it should have been (though it is nothing compared to Metropolis). Other festivals seem to accomplish far more with a lot less.
• The truly bizarre PR moves kept coming from the Katz Group this week, with Daryl himself making the rounds at his selected local media organizations. Mayor Mandel basically said enough is enough and invited the Katz Group to clearly explain their demands before City Council. The Katz Group responded with a “thanks but no thanks” statement, which means…well, I guess it means we’re back to square one.
• Executive Committee voted to move ahead with the expropriation process at the City Centre Airport (with a total cost of about $80 million). If Council ratifies the decision, all airport-related activities will come to an end by next fall.
• This is very exciting! The City is exploring the use of Internet voting for upcoming elections. A mock election will run from October 22 until November 2, and there will be many opportunities for public involvement. Learn more about the initiative here.
• Hundreds of Edmontonians took the streets this past week to celebrate the demolition of the Cromdale Hotel.
• The City of Edmonton is the first Canadian city to be accepted as a partner city with the Council for the Parliament of the World’s Religions.
• Great to see Edmonton included on this list of overlooked technologies that could change the world. Our innovation is turning waste into biofuels.
• The Conference Board of Canada predicts that Edmonton and Calgary will be the fastest growing census metropolitan areas for the next four years.
• FC Edmonton’s season ended today with a tie.
• The AIDS Walk took place here in Portland today, and it looked like a really impressive turnout! Edmonton’s walk raised $112,000 for HIV Edmonton programs.
• Read this: “The choice is between two futures: one which paves over virtually all the prime foodland remaining in Edmonton and one which protects a significant amount of that land to build a resilient food economy that can withstand and adapt to sudden global changes.

Lovely shot of Victoria Promenade by Jelena K.

Here are some upcoming events:

• Alberta Culture Days runs from September 28-30, with the big Edmonton kickoff event taking place on 104 Street from 4:30pm until 9:30pm.
• The next Southeast to West LRT consultation takes place tomorrow evening.
• Also Monday evening, a REACH Community Safety Conversation is taking place in Ward 12.
• Head over to Queen Alexandra Hall on Tuesday evening for a Cyclist Town Hall Meeting.
• There’s a public meeting on the Northwest LRT connection being held early Wednesday evening.
• Wish I could make it to 3 Designers Series event on Thursday evening.
• This year’s Taste of Old Strathcona takes place on Friday at the TransAlta Arts Barns.
• Made in Edmonton presents Coast Modern, a film playing at Metro Cinema from the 27th until October 2.
• Change for Children has a Development Dinner coming up on Friday at the Chateau Louis.
• Churchill Square is going to be packed on Sunday for the CIBC Run for the Cure.
• Also Sunday – it’s Free Admission Day at City of Edmonton attractions and recreation facilities!
• For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.

The Edmonton skyline as seen from the Strathcona Science Park. Photo by Dave Sutherland.