Edmonton Notes for 11/17/2013

Each week my Edmonton Notes bring together a collection of what I think are interesting local stories, and events coming up in the next week. I generally put what I think is the most important or interesting story at the top of the list, and sometimes I’ll write a little more about it. I’d like to expand on that going forward, with an audio or video clip that provides a bit more information or additional thoughts. This week is the first attempt (so let me know if you have any feedback).

Evolving Infill Launches

This week’s highlighted story is the launch of the Evolving Infill project. It aims to advance residential infill in Edmonton’s established neighbourhoods, and will take place over the next few months. Here’s an audio feature on the Evolving Infill launch:

Headlines

• All day Friday I was surprised at the rain! It snowed a little during the day, but it was so warm it all melted immediately. That all changed Friday night as we got a massive dump of snow. I should know better by now, but I’m still amazed at how quickly it changed. Looks like winter is here to stay now. The parking ban that took effect this morning will remain until at least Tuesday morning.
• The names of the stops and other features along the Valley LRT Line were approved this week by the City of Edmonton’s Naming Committee. There are 11 stops in all, and names include “Quarters”, “Muttart”, “Bonnie Doon”, “Grey Nuns”, and “Mill Woods Town Centre”. Shocking, aren’t they? They may not be creative, but at least they’re accurate (unlike the ridiculous Fort Edmonton Park stop on the existing line). The two bridges will feature Cree names.
• With the City Centre Airport set to close at the end of the month, there have been questions about what will happen to the Alberta Aviation Museum. Now we know! The museum will continue to live on as it is, with a focus on telling Edmonton’s aviation history from 1911 to today. A new museum known as the Alberta Flying Heritage Museum will be built at the Villeneuve Airport on land donated by the Edmonton Regional Airports Authority, and it’ll focus on interactive exhibits with actual flying aircraft.
• An emotional vigil was held yesterday at Edmonton’s Seventh Day Adventist Church to pray for victims and loved ones affected by the typhoon in the Philippines. An estimated 3,600 people have died as a result of the storm, and millions have been left homeless.
• Congratulations to the newest group of 57 Best Bar None-accredited bars, pubs, clubs, and lounges honored at the 4th annual Best Bar None Awards.
• Imagine Edmonton in July 1983. Having trouble? Check out Raymond Biesinger’s illustrations that depict a very different Edmonton than the city we know today.
• Mike Vivian, a political science and human geography student at the U of A, has received a research award to study the pedway network. I started a series on the pedway in July (that I really need to get around to finishing).
• Apparently there’s a Cold War bunker in the west end, built in 1954 about three feet underground, that was sealed in the 1970s. Now “local museum officials” are working to restore it for a grand re-opening in the summer of 2015. Who knew?
• You’ll have to pay another $5 to fly out of the Edmonton International Airport after July 1 next year as the airport improvement fee is being raised again.
• The skinny office building wedged in between Beaver Hills House Park and Sobeys on Jasper Avenue could soon be home to a new restaurant with rooftop patios!
• Here’s a podcast featuring Edmonton band Headwind which just today launched the Headwind Bootleg Anthology DVD.
• Yet another reason the campaign against jaywalking is silly: “Pedestrians crossing the road with the right-of-way (e.g. at a marked crosswalk, an unmarked crossing at an intersection or at a signalized intersection with a walk sign) made up 65 per cent of all pedestrian injuries, including fatalities” in 2012.
• This is really cool! Starting next spring, the University of Alberta will offer a video game development program.
• From David Staples: “The Edmonton Oilers and Eskimos stink like never before, West Edmonton Mall is an afterthought for many of us, but the mood of the city is still high.”
• In case you missed it: my recap of the Christmas on the Square Holiday Light Up.
• Here’s a pretty cool sunrise timelapse from Lincoln Ho:

Upcoming Events

• This week is Global Entrepreneurship Week, and the Startup City Luncheon kicks it off Monday at the Delta Edmonton Centre Suite Hotel.
• The first of the City’s Annexation Open Houses takes place Monday night at the RedTail Landing Golf Club. The second is Tuesday at the Nisku Inn.
• The Oilers host the Blue Jackets on Tuesday, and the Panthers on Thursday.
• The next Capital Ideas event takes place on Wednesday: The Art of the Sale.
• Homeward Trust’s National Housing Day Luncheon takes place at The Westin on Thursday.
• Want to check out the hottest startups in town? Don’t miss Launch Party Edmonton 4, taking place at Startup Edmonton on Thursday evening.
• Hacking Health is coming to Edmonton! The three day event begins on Friday at the Edmonton Clinic Health Academy.
• Friday evening is the Festival of Ideas event featuring Alanis Morissette and Margaret Atwood.
• I’m really looking forward to checking out All is Bright on 124 Street on Saturday!
• For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.

Premier Redford addressed the 2013 AAMDC Convention at the Shaw Conference Centre on Thursday

You can see previous Edmonton Notes entries here.