Edmonton Notes for May 22, 2016

It has been soggy, but I hope you’re enjoying the long weekend! Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• Due to the recent change in the weather, the fire ban for Edmonton was lifted on Friday. “Edmonton Fire Rescue Services is stressing that Edmonton has not reached ideal weather conditions, but the fire risk is manageable if the proper precautions are taken to ensure fire safety and prevention.”
• The City of Edmonton Reception Centre continues to provide services to Fort McMurray evacuees and the old Target at Kingsway Mall was recently transformed into a “donation pick-up store” for evacuees. The Province has announced that a phased re-entry is expected to start June 1 as long as wildfire conditions do not worsen.
• Here’s the latest on wildfires in Alberta: “A total of 18 wildfires are burning, with one out of control.” That one is the Fort McMurray wildfire, which is now estimated to cover 522,892 hectares.
• The City has launched a new infill website. The website has “key information about new housing being integrated into Edmonton’s mature neighbourhoods and how to get involved in the process.”
• “Since February 2013, EPS has lost 10 per cent of its recruits, either through resignation, termination or injury,” according to the Edmonton Journal. Apparently our recruits are better at Facebook than they are at talking to people in person.
• From Michael Hingston: Where a ’90s tourist guide will take you in Edmonton, Alberta.
• The Edmonton Police Service has launched Online Buyer Beware, “a campaign that urges citizens to use caution when shopping buy-and-sell websites.”
• The City of Edmonton and Strathcona County recently completed and signed a joint planning study. The goal is to improve collaboration and communication along the shared 40km boundary.
• Here’s an update from the City on traffic and parking around Rogers Place. “It’s a phrase you’ll hear often over the next few months: plan ahead and give yourself extra time.”
• The Front Yards in Bloom program kicked off on Friday! Nominations can be made online or by calling 311 until June 30.
• Ten new signs have been installed at the Neon Sign Museum! Georgia Baths, WW Arcade, Pantages Theatre, and Colonel Mustard’s are among the new signs you can check out on 104 Street.
• Applications are being accepted until May 31 for the City’s second Youth Poet Laureate.
• From the Edmonton City as Museum Project, here’s a feature on Edmonton’s candied past. “Right from the beginning, Edmonton has had a sweet tooth.”
• The Government of Alberta has introduced Bill 16 which would make nine amendments to the Traffic Safety Act and would “clarify regulations for some transportation operations and clarify enforcement regulations.” The bill would require drivers for companies like Uber to have class 1, 2, or 4 licenses, as well as “more robust insurance” and police information checks.
• New shuttle service to Fort Edmonton Park and the Edmonton Valley Zoo started this weekend. Routes 594 and 595 will run throughout the summer.
• The University of Alberta Board of Governors has appointed Fraser Forbes to a five-year term as dean of the Faculty of Engineering.
• If you missed the second annual Edmonton Resilience Festival, here’s a recap from The Local Good.
• Team Canada won today at the World Hockey Championship with Oiler Connor McDavid scoring the winning goal. McDavid is the “youngest player in history to win golds at Under 18, World Juniors and World Championships.”
• For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.

Jasper & 104, photo by Kurt Bauschardt

Upcoming Events

• The City is hosting a series of public engagement sessions this week on Breathe: Edmonton’s Green Network Strategy.
• EndPoverty Edmonton will be presenting its Implementation Road Map to City Council on Tuesday. “This community plan establishes 35 starting point actions that will kick start our generational goal of ending poverty in Edmonton.”
• EPSB is hosting another Space for Students session on Tuesday at Rosslyn School.
• Minister of Finance Joe Ceci is speaking at the Sutton Place Hotel on Wednesday.
• I’m excited to host the interVivos Spring Mentorship Speed Networking event on Wednesday! It’s always fun to see the connections being made.
• The TALES Storytelling Festival kicks off in Old Strathcona on Thursday!
• IABC Edmontons’s Capital Awards gala will take place on Thursday at the Chateau Lacombe.
• Also Thursday evening is The Walrus Talks Energy at the Royal Alberta Museum, presented by Suncor.
• I’ll be at the Journalist Interrupted event on Thursday evening at MacEwan!
• The Big Idea Breakfast takes place Friday morning at the Valley Zoo with a pretty good lineup of speakers!
• Saturday is going to be a busy day! Maybe the unofficial kickoff to summer? There’s the Incredible High Street Race. Taking place at NAIT is the Edmonton International Cat Festival. Over near 124 Street is the Oliver Community Festival. The Edmonton Prospects host the Okotoks Dawgs at TELUS Field. Urban YEG’s For the People, By the People event takes place at Latitude 53. And of course I hope you’ll join us at Northlands from 3-8pm for our first What the Truck?! of the season!
• If you can’t make it out to What the Truck?! on Saturday, how about Sunday? We’re hosting a two-day event for the first time this year!
• Don’t miss my summer festivals & events listing for 2016!
• For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.

Alberta Proud, photo by Dave Sutherland