Edmonton Notes for 11/9/2014

Looks like the snow we received this weekend is here to stay! Be careful on the roads – it’s slippery out there. Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• Fantastic news for Edmonton this week: KLM is adding a new route between Edmonton and Amsterdam! Service begins on May 5, 2015 with 3 weekly flights, and will increase to 4 weekly flights on June 22. “KLM will be the first and only airline in continental Europe to connect Europe to the city of Edmonton.” Here’s the news release from the Edmonton International Airport.
• Farmfair International and the 41st Canadian Finals Rodeo both wrapped up at Northlands today. Combined attendance was 181,565.
• The Journal did a feature on how ETS uses data analytics for transit safety and they called it Moneybus.
• And we wonder why good people don’t want to run for office – look at what Councillor Andrew Knack had to deal with this week.
• Paula Simons asks if the proposed $7.2 million police helicopter is a need or a want. I’d say it’s a want.
• A tax break of 1.5% could be in sight by 2018 if Council decides to remove the special levy for neighbourhood renewal.
• Snow and colder weather doesn’t just mean hockey is back – it also means lacrosse is getting closer! The Edmonton Rush get back to work on November 21 with training camp for the 2015 season.
• Alberta’s custom Support Our Troops license plates raised more than $220,000 for military families in our province.
• It has been two months since the 30 km/h speed limit around school zones was adopted, but it seems people still aren’t getting the message. Slow down!
• Elise says the page view metrics don’t suggest there is much support behind the “Save the Footbridge” campaign. I am eager to see the new LRT line go ahead, so I’d rather see the campaign focus on something more constructive than changing the route (which has already been decided). I want to make sure the pedestrian experience on the new bridge is a good one!
• LRT is definitely the focus of our next capital budget, but some groups are concerned that the $1.8 billion in spending isn’t as transparent as it should be.
• Kyle at Spacing Edmonton says our city has got a fever, a fever for tall buildings. Brad Ferguson says Edmonton is growin’ on up.
• Do you find those digital billboards distracting? The City does test the brightness, but if you want to complain, call 311.
• On November 10, 1974 the Edmonton Oilers opened the “magnificent new coliseum”. I wonder what they’ll hand out at the first game in 2016 in the new barn?

The new Hyatt Place Hotel under construction, by Dave Sutherland

Upcoming Events

• Tune in on YouTube on Monday morning for the first city building summit, with Mayor Iveson and other local leaders.
• Tuesday is of course Remembrance Day. The annual ceremonies at the Butterdome and at City Hall both get underway just after 10am.
• The Council initiative on public engagement has two workshops this week: Wednesday morning at the Commonwealth Rec Centre, and Saturday morning at the Lister Conference Centre.
• Nerd Nite has teamed up with the Faculty of Education for a special event on Wednesday evening at Yellowhead Brewery.
• On Thursday, the Old Strathcona Foundation is celebrating its 40th anniversary at the Roots on Whyte Community Building.
• The Relish Food on Film Festival gets underway on Thursday evening at the Garneau Theatre.
• Get ready to raise the roof! The kickoff for the 2014-2015 campaign takes place on Thursday at Cafe Bicyclette.
• The Oilers host Ottawa on Thursday night and the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday night at Rexall Place. On Friday night, the Oil Kings host the Saskatoon Blades.
• Check out Churchill Square on Saturday evening for the annual Christmas on the Square Holiday Light Up.
• Also Saturday night: Shadow Play Refinery at the Art Gallery of Alberta!
• On Sunday, the Edmonton Eskimos host the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Commonwealth Stadium in the Western Semi-Final. Go Esks Go!
• For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.

Chili Cook Off!