Edmonton Notes for 11/25/2012

I’m in London, UK right now and will be working here all week. Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

• The next municipal election is less than a year away, and it might be our first to feature Internet voting. Other jurisdictions will be keeping a close eye on the outcome of the citizen panel’s deliberations.
• What a lovely headline from the National Post: Edmonton may just be home to the best patisserie in Canada. Props and congrats to Duchess!
• Here’s a really interesting post on the Transforming Edmonton blog that talks all about snow removal. There are now five snow storage sites throughout the city.
• More great news for downtown: Intuit is moving into the EPCOR Tower.
• Not long after word spread that the Edmonton Event Centre would be shutting down, the owners announced it will return in a new location.
• Canadian pioneers in the areas of medical research, science, community service and the arts were among the Edmonton and area residents who received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals from the Lieutenant Governor on Tuesday.
• A ten member delegation of local business and community leaders was in Ottawa last week, hoping to raise awareness about workforce challenges faced by Edmonton business.
• The new Alfred H. Savage Centre in Whitemud Park officially opened this week. It’ll be a good place to stop in and warm up when you’re tobogganing on the hill!
• The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce is bringing “entrepreneurial guru” Daniel Isenberg to Edmonton. I guess he’ll tell us how to be all entrepreneurial or whatever. Sounds like a waste of money to me.
• Don’t miss this great piece by Elise Stolte on what will likely happen up in Horse Hill.
• John Lilley was appointed to the Edmonton Police Commission this week by City Council. He’ll serve until December 31, 2014.
• A number of declining elm trees were removed from the median along Whyte Avenue last week.
• The University of Alberta has received $2.5 million in research grants from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
• Registration for the 2012-2013 TEC VenturePrize Business Plan Competition is now open! There are more than $150,000 in prizes this year.
• The Edmonton Police Service wants you to remember that not all calls are emergencies. On your mobile phone, you can use #377 to reach the non-emergency complaint line.

Nice shot of the Low Level Bridge by Luc Therrien

Here are some upcoming events:

• Stuff a Bus is back! The goal this year is to stuff 15 x 40 foot buses full of food. You can make your donation at a variety of locations from November 28 to December 1.
• M.A.D.E. in Edmonton and the AGA have teamed up to present a lecture by Joar Nango on Wednesday evening.
• Also Wednesday: it’s the final Words with Friends of the year.
• There’s an open house coming up on Thursday for the proposed Area Structure Plan in the Northeast.
• Paul McCartney is in town and the City of Edmonton is celebrating with a variety of related activities.
• The Edmonton Public Schools Foundation is holding a Teddy Bear Picnic on Thursday at lunch to celebrate funding three full-day Kindergarten programs.
• Head down to the Haven Social Club on Thursday evening for Nerd Nite Edmonton #2.
• Or head over to the AGA for the screening of Miss Representation.
• The Festival of Trees kicks off on Thursday and runs all weekend at the Shaw Conference Centre.
• The Oil Kings host the Kootenay Ice on Friday night at Rexall Place.
• It’s back! The Royal Bison Craft & Art Fair takes place on Saturday and Sunday at the Old Strathcona Performing Arts Centre.
• Looking for something to do on Sunday? The 25th annual Jingle On Indoor Santa Claus Parade is happening downtown!
• For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.

Edmonton Skyline from Griesbach by Darren Kirby