Edmonton Notes for 9/6/2015

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• As I wrote about earlier this evening, the Metro Line LRT extension from Churchill to NAIT opened today!
• The new Late Night Owl Service also started today! The service extends the hours of four existing bus routes and adds one new one. You can learn more about it here. ETS also restored full seasonal bus service today, and on Tuesday another 10 new and extended routes will start service.
• On Friday, a new draft Vehicle for Hire Bylaw was announced that aims provide a legal way for “technology-based dispatchers” like Uber to operate in Edmonton. The bylaw will be presented at a non-statutory public hearing on September 16. You can read the bylaw here and you have until September 10 to provide your feedback here. Mayor Iveson wrote about the draft bylaw here and is encouraging discussion using the hashtag #yourYEGride. Neither Uber nor the taxi drivers like the proposal.
• The City announced this week that for the fourth consecutive year, Standard & Poor’s has awarded the City of Edmonton a credit score of AA+. That’s the second-highest possible rating.
• Edmonton Spaces is a new project by Beverley Jackman that aims to “to catalog and record awesome office spaces and creative studios in Edmonton.” You can learn more about the project here.
• The Province unveiled its first quarter results and forecast this week. The forecast includes an increase of $4.1 billion in operating expenses, as well as a $1 billion increase in revenue. Good new for Edmonton though, as the proposal regional smart fare system is getting a $28 million boost in GreenTRIP funding.
• Edmonton’s requirement of one parking space for every 3.6 square metres of dining space is the second highest in the country, but that could soon be changing thanks to a new pilot project.
• Edmonton has been selected as the host city for the Commonwealth Games Federation’s 2016 General Assembly. It is expected the conference will bring up to 300 delegates to Edmonton, with the dates to be confirmed.
• The City has begun installing safety barriers on the High Level Bridge, which are intended to help prevent suicides. They should be fully installed by next summer.
• On Wednesday, the Eskimos traded Matt Nichols to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in exchange for a conditional 7th round pick in the 2017 CFL Draft.
• Richard (Dick) W. Wilson will serve as acting chair of the University of Alberta Board of Governors, effective September 1. He takes over for Doug Goss, who stepped down on August 31.
• From the Edmonton City as Museum Project, here is the story of Sylvancroft.
• The lineup for Pecha Kucha Night 23 was released this week. The event takes place on September 17 and tickets are on sale now.
• Congratulations to Jason Blower on surpassing the $7,000 goal for HelloYEG, an inspirational Edmonton colouring & activity book.
• For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.

The rain couldn’t stop this wedding party!

Upcoming Events

• Tomorrow is Labour Day but it’s also Stage 6 of the Tour of Alberta! The leg starts and ends at Churchill Square.
• The Ignite Edmonton Festival, formerly E-Town, takes place on Wednesday and Thursday this week at the Shaw Conference Centre.
• On Wednesday evening The Yards is launching its fourth issue at Iconoclast Koffiehuis.
• YEGfest, “a celebration of the local music, visual arts, and a variety of other performance arts,” takes place on Friday evening at Hawrelak Park.
• I hope to see you down at Churchill Square on Friday night for our final What the Truck?! event of the season! You can check out the lineup and menus here.
• From Friday through Sunday, the Kaleido Family Arts Festival takes place on Alberta Avenue.
• The Eskimos host the Stampeders on Saturday evening at Commonwealth Stadium.
• The City is hosting another Big Bin Event this weekend at Jasper Place Jubilee Park. It’s an opportunity to get rid of household waste that can’t be set out for regular pickup.
• On Sunday the Red Shoe Crawl is taking place at locations along 124 Street.
• Also Sunday, FC Edmonton hosts the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Clarke Stadium.
• If you fancy a drive out to Prairie Gardens & Adventure Farm in Bon Accord on Sunday, you can check out the Edmonton and Area Land Trust’s 3rd annual celebration dinner.
• For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.

World Triathlon Series Tour 2015, photo by IQRemix