Edmonton Notes for 2/3/2013

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

• Your new LRT names have been approved: Capital, Metro, Energy, Valley, and Festival. Many people were unimpressed or called the names uninspiring, but I think they’ll work well. I’m not crazy on “Energy” but I like the rest. Of course, it won’t matter much until we can build out more of the LRT network plan.
• The other big transit-related news of the week was the February fare increases. Cash fares jumped from $3.00 to $3.20, and the price of a bus pass went to $89. It’s crazy to me that the cash fare is $3.20 instead of just $3.25. Who carries dimes or nickels?
• Edmonton has been selected to host the 2014 International Triathlon Union Grand Final at Hawrelak Park.
• Lindsay Dodd, CEO of Savvia Inc., is the new chairman of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce. He says the labour shortage is “our number 1 issue.”
• Council will vote Wednesday on whether or not to go ahead with Internet voting in the upcoming election. What Paula said: “Instead of fearing the future, let’s test it and find out how it works.”
• Speaking of the election, we’re starting to hear some announcements. Dave Colburn has stepped down from the school board and is considering running for Council, and Heather MacKenzie has launched her campaign.
• It seems Northlands wants to transform the K-Days parade into the Parade of Festivals. Even if this is a great idea, changing the content of a parade that already exists isn’t going to dramatically change Northlands’ fortunes (nor its image).
• There’s an updated set of proposed zoning changes going to Executive Committee on February 11. This’ll definitely be one to watch!
• City Council appointed Naseem Bashir to the Edmonton Regional Airports Authority Board of Directors this week.
• Does Edmonton need a new 10,000-15,000 seat stadium for soccer? The City will be looking into it with a report due by the end of the year.
• The week ended around the zero mark, but it sure was cold on Monday and Tuesday. If you haven’t heard it already, check out So Cold In The E by Jo Thrillz. Awesome!
• I really don’t understand why sometimes plans get approved even though they don’t have funding, and other times funding is approved even though there’s no plan. Like the $35 million that has been approved for some sort of project to people down to the North Saskatchewan River from 104 Street.
• Have you liked the Vintage Edmonton page on Facebook? There’s a nice write-up on it in the Examiner.
• The River Valley Alliance is running a photo contest until March 5. Submit your best winter river valley photos here.
• The deadline to vote for Avenue Edmonton’s Best Neighbourhoods issue is April 5.
• If you haven’t already seen it, check out the Love Letters 2 Strangers project. Looks like a great idea with Valentine’s Day coming up!

Here are some upcoming events:

• The Oilers host the Canucks on Monday and the Stars on Wednesday.
• Head over to the Timms Centre on Tuesday for the kickoff of the New Works Festival. It runs through the 10th.
• Sharon and I went to see Edmonton Opera’s Les Contes d’Hoffman today and really enjoyed it. You have two opportunities left – Tuesday and Thursday.
• The first ever Physical Computing Meetup is happening at Startup Edmonton on Wednesday.
• Also Wednesday is the next Green Drinks, this time focused on Good Business.
• Head over to Startup Edmonton on Thursday for the Exchange.js Monthly Meetup.
• There’s a Detailed Design Meeting for the Walterdale Bridge coming up at the Old Timers’ Cabin on Thursday.
• The City of Edmonton Youth Council is hosting a Youth Career Symposium on Saturday at the Fantasyland Hotel.
• Open houses are coming up at Edmonton Public Schools soon. Find dates and prepare here.
• For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.

I like this b&w shot of 104 Street by Darren.