Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:
Headlines
- The City mailed property assessment notices this week and most properties will see “a modest decrease” in value due to the slowing economy. “Overall, the City’s total taxable assessed value decreased slightly from $172.3 billion in 2016 to $170.3 billion in 2017.” A typical single-family, detatched home decreased by 2.7% while the typical condo decreased by 2.3%.
- St. Albert mayor Nolan Crouse announced this week he is not planning to run again in October. “It has been said that one should leave the stage while the crowd is still clapping and while I am not certain if indeed the crowd is still clapping, I know it is my time to leave this stage.”
- Have a Christmas tree to get rid of? The City is collecting natural trees starting on Tuesday, January 10. They’ll be picked up for recycling within three weeks. If you live in an apartment or condo, you can take your tree by January 30 to an Eco Station or Recycling Depot. “In 2016, more than 12,000 trees weighing 137 tonnes were collected for recycling.”
- The latest “throw it at the wall to see if it sticks” move by Northlands is a longshot proposal to build a new horse racing centre near the Edmonton International Airport, despite saying last year it would get out of the business.
- ETS fares are increasing an average of 3% starting in February. AISH, U-Pass, and Route 747 fares are not changing, but monthly adult passes are increasing $2.75 to $94.25. “ETS operates 929 buses, 97 DATS vehicles and 94 Light Rail Transit vehicles on more than 200 routes and delivered over 87 million transit trips in 2016.”
- Edmonton’s new creative lighting pilot project will see the exterior of the World Trade Centre brightened in the coming months. The program provides up to $50,000 in matching funding and is intended “to support exterior creative lighting that enhances and highlights the visual presence of Edmonton’s historic resources, adding to our sense of place, identity and pride.”
- Sharon posted her 2016 review of food in Edmonton this week, Epicureous in Edmonton.
- The Edmonton Arts Council is hiring an artist-in-residence to work in Edmonton’s cemetaries. The deadline to apply is February 1.
- Gordon Kent has a good roundup of the ongoing development you can expect to see around town in 2017.
- Edmontonian Stefan Rzadzinski is looking to compete in the Race of Champions, which takes place in Miami later this month. You can vote for him to represent North America here! He’s currently got a big lead. You can learn more here.
- Elise reports that the Mill Creek Daylighting project could have major benefits for the local fish population.
- Whoa, wait a minute, an active NHL hockey player actually misses Edmonton?!
- For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.
Ice District – Flag Wavin’, photo by Jeff Wallace
Upcoming Events
- The Oilers host the Sharks on Tuesday, the Devils on Thursday, and the Flames on Saturday.
- Mayor Don Iveson is speaking at the West Edmonton Business Association’s next luncheon on Wednesday at the Chateau Nova Yellowhead.
- And that evening you’ll find the mayor at the Citadel Theatre for Rapid Fire Theatre’s Mean Tweets.
- Nerd Nite is back for Year of the Nerd at The Needle Vinyl Tavern on Wednesday evening.
- The Motorcycle & ATV Show takes place Friday through Sunday at the Edmonton Expo Centre.
- There’s a celebration of life potluck for Gail Hall taking place on Saturday evening in Pleasantview.
- Big winter weekend coming up! The Southeast Winter Fun Festival takes place near the Kenilworth Community Hall.
- Over on Alberta Avenue, Deep Freeze is on both Saturday and Sunday!
- Sunday is World Snow Day and you can celebrate at City Hall with Swing ‘n Skate Sundays.
- You can celebrate Lunar New Year on Saturday and Sunday at the Ice Palace inside West Edmonton Mall.
- For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.
Alberta Legislature Grounds
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