Edmonton Notes for 7/6/2014

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• The 102 Avenue Bridge over Groat Road has started coming down. Unfortunately it won’t be cleared before Monday’s commute though, so expect delays. Here’s more on the demolition of Edmonton’s second oldest bridge and here is a related column from Paula Simons.
• On the plus side, Walterdale Hill is now open again, nearly a month ahead of schedule!
• Alberta Venture’s annual list of the 50 Most Influential People in Alberta is out. Mayor Don Iveson and Oilers owner Daryl Katz were among the prominent Edmontonians that made the list.
• In case you missed it, here’s my FAQ on the new High Level Bridge lights.
• Looking for some fun things to try this July? Don’t miss The Local Good’s #31DaysofYeg challenge!
• Locals Jim Carter and Irene Fraser were among those named to the Order of Canada this week.
• Sounds like TOD is getting a boost around Stadium LRT Station. About time!
• It was Canada Day in 2004 that Augustana University College became part of the University of Alberta. To celebrate the tenth anniversary, they’ve created a special website.
• Could bees be coming to a backyard near you? The City is proposing a pilot project to allow just that. Here’s an interview CBC did with Dustin Bajer on the news.
• The City is reminding you to park legally when attending football games, festivals, or other summer events. They are stepping up enforcement.
• Coin-operated parking meters: good riddance! The City is moving ahead with plans to replace all 3,000 parking meters with electronic ones. It’ll cost about $12 million upfront.
• Here are the latest urbanism headlines from Spacing Edmonton.
• In the latest episode of Mack & Cheese, Graham and I discuss the proposed urban beach, upgrades at Fort Edmonton Park, and more.
• A new website for Edmonton’s LGBTQ community has launched. Check out Gay Edmonton.

‘Willow’ at Borden Park

Upcoming Events

• Head over to Churchill Square for the 2014 edition of the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival!
• Also underway now, at locations throughout the city, is the Historic Festival & Doors Open Edmonton.
• The Freewill Shakespeare Festival gets underway on Wednesday with The Taming of the Shrew. The festival is taking place at the Myer Horowitz Theatre this year.
• Cavalia is back in Edmonton! Odysseo gets underway on Wednesday under the White Big Top.
• Thursday nights remain as busy as ever. Consider checking out Latitude 53’s Patio or the 124 Street Grand Market.
• Also Thursday, we’re hosting our second Truck Stop of the season, this time at Boyle Renaissance. Here’s the lineup!
• The Whyte Avenue Art Walk starts on Friday!
• On Friday evening, the Eskimos host the new Ottawa REDBLACKS at Commonwealth Stadium.
• Looking to check out a baseball game? The Prospects host the Medicine Hat Mavericks on Saturday at Telus Field.
• Sunday is the World Cup final. It’s also an FC Edmonton game against the Ottawa Fury.
• For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.

Street Performers Festival in Churchill Square