Edmonton Notes for 2/22/2015

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• A terror threat against West Edmonton Mall was made in a recent video from Al-Shabab which encouraged action against shopping centres around the world. Here is the Edmonton Police statement, and here is a statement from Mayor Iveson.
• The City launched a new tool this week called 311 Explorer that lets you see 311 reports that have been filed around the city. There is open data for 12 categories of requests, including tree maintenance and potholes. Great to see!
• Thank you to everyone who took the time to fill out the Northlands Arena Survey. We received more than 26,000 responses! You can download the report in PDF here.
• From the Edmonton City as Museum Project, meet the father of Edmonton’s traffic circles, Noel Buckland Dant.
• Writing for Spacing Edmonton, Paul Giang has a list of 5 things ETS could improve for new users.
• Edmonton will be one of four Canadian cities to host the Magna Carta later this year as it travels the world to mark its 800th anniversary. It will be on display at the Alberta Legislature visitor centre.
• Shepherd’s Care Foundation can now begin construction on its Garden-Eden House facility for long-term care for seniors thanks to an Affordable Supportive Living Initiative grant.
• 104 Street is on its way to being Purple Flag accredited, the first area in North America to earn the designation for safety.
• Last year, more than 3,500 volunteers planted more than 40,000 trees and shrubs in Edmonton. Bookings for the 2015 Root For Trees program are now being taken.
• The Edmonton Catholic School District is facing $3.5 million shortfall for modernization projects.
• We’ve heard yet again that hockey players don’t want to come to Edmonton to play. But is that because of the city, or is it because of the team and its culture? Don’t miss this great piece from Wanye Gretz at OilersNation.
• The call for public art for the new downtown arena has closed, and more than 170 artists from around the world put their name forward.
• Our city’s very own clock tower moment has arrived: the Friendship Tower clock outside City Hall is losing time. (h/t Adam)
• In case you missed it, here is Karen’s family day edition of her local blog roundup.
• For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.

Arena construction has crossed 104 Avenue, photo by Jason Woodhead

Upcoming Events

• Learn more about the proposed Healy Ford development on Wednesday at the DECL office.
• The Oil Kings host the Red Deer Rebels on Wednesday evening and the Prince Albert Raiders on Sunday.
• The 7th annual Mac ‘n Cheese Affair is coming up on Friday at the Faculty Club. The event supports the Campus Food Bank Society.
• The Edmonton Rush host the Toronto Rock at Rexall Place on Friday night. Go Rush Go!
• The Oilers host the St. Louis Blues on Saturday.
• Video Games Live is Saturday night at the Jubilee!
• Want to learn more about what you can do with an Arduino? Check out this event at Startup Edmonton on Saturday afternoon.
• Also taking place on Saturday is Not Enough Fest Edmonton, an event for women, queer, trans and non-binary people who want to jam.
• Pecha Kucha Night 21 is coming up on March 5. The presenter lineup was announced this week!
• For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.

Lions, photo by Dave Sutherland