Hope you’re enjoying the long weekend! I’m down in Portland, OR all week for DrupalCon.
Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:
- Well the big news of the week was that Council voted to move ahead with the downtown arena. Construction is expected to start next year, with the new building slated to open in September 2016. I wrote about the news here.
- It’s official: Councillor Diotte was the first to announce he’ll run for mayor in the fall election. The news followed some very candid comments about Diotte from Mayor Mandel on Thursday. The mayor has called a press conference for Tuesday morning to announce his own plans. It’s going to be a very interesting election!
- Over in St. Albert, mayor Nolan Crouse has announced he will seek a third term.
- Our city has a pretty great environmental story, and it’s getting stronger all the time. The latest news is that the Greys Paper Recycling Industries facility is now using waste paper and old cotton clothes to produce a variety of paper products.
- The Light the Bridge campaign has another supporter – Peter Lewis, who created the Great Divide Waterfall, would like to see the money budgeted for it this year go to the LED project instead.
- Nominations for Edmonton’s Front Yards in Bloom are now open until June 30. The winners will be announced on August 15 at City Hall.
- I guess this is a positive stat? City crews are filling an average of 4,000 potholes every day. So far this year they have filled approximately 280,000.
- Here’s a new book that will soon find a home on my bookshelf! Building a Legacy: Edmonton’s Architectural Heritage celebrates the structures managed through the City’s historic resources management plan.
- The new Plaza Premium Lounge opened this week at the Edmonton International Airport. Walk-in pricing starts at $35 plus tax.
- Heads up that LRT service will be disrupted a number of times over the summer so that ETS can perform upgrades and prepare for the North LRT to NAIT connection.
- I’m quite happy to see another City of Edmonton data source go online: you can now search Assessment Review Board decisions.
- Could major structural changes be on the way for the University of Alberta?
- Sounds like the City is set to endorse a plan to expand WiFi access at City facilities in a new deal with Shaw. Wireless Internet on the LRT will be awesome!
- The City of Edmonton is looking for individuals to get involved with the new Edmonton Food Council. You have until June 10 to nominate yourself or someone else.
- The vacant lot at Whyte Avenue and 105 Street has been put up for sale by Esso. Sounds pricey though – the asking price of about $7 million works out to $235 per square foot. Let’s hope something positive happens!
Aurora over Edmonton Skyline by Darren Kirby
Here are some upcoming events:
- The Mayor’s Awards are taking place on Wednesday evening at 7pm at City Hall. The awards recognize individuals, organizations and businesses within Edmonton that demonstrate a commitment to persons with disabilities.
- Imagine Dragons play the Shaw Conference Centre on Thursday!
- Also Thursday is Edmonton Nerd Nite #6!
- On Friday evening, the Capital Awards Gala takes place at the Telus World of Science.
- This weekend is Hip Hop in the Park!
- Saturday is CKUA’s Party in the Park. It’s your opportunity to check out the Alberta Hotel!
- It was great to see the City Market return to 104 Street this weekend. The market runs from Jasper Avenue to 102 Avenue, and then along 102 Avenue between 103 Street and 105 Street. The change was made because of construction on the Fox Towers.
- The Mercer Collective returns on Saturday the Mercer Warehouse!
- Pecha Kucha Night 16 is coming up on June 13, and tickets are now on sale.
- Also keep in mind that TEDxEdmonton is coming up on June 15 and the theme this year is The Future Of… – should be a great day!
- For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.
A bend in the river by Hugh Lee
MasterMaq's Blog 