Edmonton Notes for 7/26/2015

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• As of June 30, 2015 the City has issued $2.365 billion worth of building permits this year. That’s a 14% increase over the same period last year and a 33% increase compared to the five-year average.
• On Thursday the Province announced that previously allocated MSI funding will now start flowing to communities across Alberta. Edmonton has been allocated an additional $202 million on top of the March 2015 amount of $81 million.
• It was a sad week for Rush fans like myself as the team made it official and are relocating to Saskatoon. They’ll now be known as the Saskatchewan Rush. I’d link to the news release, but they have completely broken the site and all of its history. Owner Bruce Urban was very public about his apparent need to move the team, but both Mayor Iveson and Northlands said this week that efforts were made to work with the team and that Urban never returned their calls or messages.
• Another year of Taste of Edmonton has come and gone, but not without a bit of controversy. Lots of people were talking about the review by Graham Hicks which called it “awful”. Twyla Campbell also left unimpressed. But on the flip side, Linda and Sharon had positive experiences this year. Can’t please everyone!
• Does the Valley Line LRT provide an opportunity to expand High Level Bridge Streetcar service? Jaron Williams says, “if an agreement could be reached for the Edmonton Radial Railway Society to use ETS tracks, the High Level Streetcar could expand to Churchill Square or West Edmonton Mall.”
• For the first time ever the City’s Sustainable Development department has released the City Planning Annual Report. You can check it out in PDF here.
• The Bissell Centre’s Drop Your Gonch campaign met its goal this week of raising 1000 pairs of underwear for those in need. Of course, you can still give online!
• Treaty Six Recognition Day 2015 is coming up on Friday, August 21. The City and the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations have launched a call for submissions for an art contest in honour of the annual celebration.
• Is Edmonton still in the middle of an existential crisis? That’s the question posed by Robin Mazumder in a new blog post.
• The new Rogers Place Presentation Centre opened to the public on Saturday. If you go to the second level, you can see what all of the seats and options look like complete with some pretty sweet digital screens. The centre is open on weekends to the public but if you’d like to go Monday through Thursday you can schedule an appointment.
• Now we just need a good team to play in the new barn! Let’s hope that 2015-2016 really is a reset year.
• Think the North Saskatchewan River is dirty and polluted? Think again, says David Staples. He even swam in the river to prove it.
• The Edmonton Police Service welcomed 30 new officers on Friday, members of recruit training class number 131.
• Good news for KidSport Edmonton recently as Press’d sold over 2,100 sandwiches and raised $7,000 for the charity.
• Cindy has the scoop on Rogue Wave Coffee Co., one of Edmonton’s newest roasters and cafes.
• Very disappointing to hear that Burrow in the Central LRT Station is having safety problems and has cut back their hours as a result. I really hope something can be done – it would be a shame to see them close.
• The City reports it has been able to divert over 1.1 million tonnes of sand over the past 11 years since it started a recycling program.
• University of Alberta board of governors chairman Doug Goss is stepping down effective August 31.
• It’s all about the upcoming federal election, yes, but with Calgary receiving $1.5 billion for its LRT expansion plans last week, Councillors and other Edmontonians are rightly asking where Edmonton’s handout is.
• For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.

yeg stormy, photo by Paul

Upcoming Events

• The Edmonton Corn Maze opens on Monday at 10am! This is the 15th season and the design is a giant John Deere tractor. (h/t Just another Edmonton mommy)
• Take in a baseball game on Tuesday evening as the Edmonton Prospects host the Okotoks Dawgs at Telus Field.
• Thursday evenings are always busy! Your options include the 124 Street Grand Market, Latitude 53’s Patio Series, and this week the Prospects host the Medicine Hat Mavericks at Telus Field.
• On Friday evening your options include Park After Dark at Northlands Park and Night Market Edmonton downtown in Beaver Hills House Park.
• The Eskimos host the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday night at Commonwealth Stadium.
• This weekend Edmonton hosts the Pan American Junior Athletics Championships. The games get underway on Friday at Foote Field.
• The 40th annual Servus Heritage Festival takes place Saturday through holiday Monday at Hawrelak Park. Don’t miss it!
• On Sunday be sure to check out the French Quarter Grand Market at La Cite Francophone!
• For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.

Edmonton K-Days Exhibition, photo by IQRemix