I’m in Chicago this week! Sharon and I arrived late Thursday evening, just in time for the big Cubs parade on Friday. They say 5 million people attended, which sounds high, but no doubt there were a lot of people there. Very cool to be a part of it! Now we’re enjoying food, architecture, and everything else the city has to offer.
Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:
Headlines
- On Tuesday the Government of Alberta committed $242 million to the Yellowhead Trail upgrade project that will turn the 25 km running through Edmonton into a freeway. The project is expected to take 10 years to complete.
- The City of Edmonton is partnering with 18 leaders and employers to help end gender-based violence and sexual assaults in Edmonton.
- Local visual artist Gordon Harper wrote an editorial in the Journal about the Royal Alberta Museum arguing for conservation and sustainability. “We used money which could have rehabilitated a great architectural monument in Glenora to build a new Royal Alberta Museum downtown. If we don’t change our approach, we’ll be having the same conversation about the new Royal Alberta Museum 50 years from now.”
- City of Edmonton staff will start moving into the new Edmonton Tower this week. It will take until at least June for everyone to move in and about 10% won’t have a permanent desk at all.
- Sad news this week as a 44-year-old City worker died in a construction accident near Ellerslie Road and 142 Street where a new sanitary sewer tunnel is being built.
- ICYMI: here is Avenue Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40 for 2016.
- Calgary’s unemployment rate has risen to 10.2% but Edmonton’s has dropped to 6.9% from its August peak of 8%.
- Grey’s Paper Recycling declared bankruptcy earlier this year which means the $9.4 million investment the City made in the project is mostly lost. So far they have been unable to find a new tenant for the space.
- Gabrielle Battiste will be the new Executive Director of the Edmonton Police Commission as of December 7. She is currently the Chief Risk Officer, Department of Environment and Parks, Division of Environmental Monitoring and Science, with the Government of Alberta.
- Congratulations to Extra Life Edmonton on raising $83,000 for the Stollery Children’s Hospital at this year’s gaming marathon.
- Here are 16 things only someone who has been to Edmonton will understand.
- Yes, our city’s image is changing for the better, but there’s still more work to do. “Even Edmonton has Uber,” said one of the Vancouverites featured in a new Uber ad.
- FC Edmonton’s season came to an end yesterday as they lost their semifinal match against Indy Eleven 1-0.
- Jonathan Willis at OilersNation says that the trade that’s really paying off for the team was acquiring goaltender Cam Talbot.
- The 300th multi-family property has been certified in the Crime Free Multi-Housing (CFMH) program that helps keep illegal activity out and residents safe.
- November is Family Violence Prevention Month. “Albertans are reminded that everyone has a responsibility to end family violence in their community by focusing efforts to increase awareness and promote public education on these crimes.”
- Looks like I missed a beautiful pink sunrise on Saturday!
- Tuesday is the U.S. Presidential Election and so far this is the only viewing party list I’ve come across. Know of any others?
- For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.
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Upcoming Events
- #YEGCanvas, an award-winning urban art exhibition, is back for another year and launches on Monday at Boyle Street Plaza.
- The 2016 Indigenous Innovation Summit is taking place at the Shaw Conference Centre from Monday through Wednesday.
- Head over to the Terwillegar Rec Centre on Wednesday to share your thoughts on Edmonton’s open spaces and parks.
- Wednesday is World Town Planning Day and here in Edmonton the City is hosting a free screening of Everything Will Be about Vancouver’s Chinatown.
- Canadian Finals Rodeo takes place Wednesday through Sunday at Rexall Place, with Farm Fair International happening across the street at the Edmonton Expo Centre.
- Edmonton’s NextGen is hosting NextGen City Jam featuring Aluna George on Thursday evening at the Starlite Room.
- The Oilers host the Dallas Stars on Thursday and the New York Rangers on Sunday at Rogers Place.
- Friday is Remembrance Day and the usual services are taking place at City Hall and the Butterdome, among other locations.
- UX Edmonton’s UX Camp 2016 takes place on Saturday at NAIT’s Shaw Theatre.
- The annual DBA Holiday Light Up takes place on Saturday at Churchill Square. Edmonton’s Christmas Tree is scheduled to arrive late Monday evening!
- For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.
Terwillegar Park Footbridge
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