Edmonton Notes for March 5, 2017

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• Our mild winter has resulted in big savings for the City. In 2016 we spent $64 million less on operations than budgeted, “with 40% of that number due to a warmer winter and less expensive snow and ice control on the roads.” The money will be allocated to the Financial Stabilization Reserve. But don’t get too excited, winter is back.
• I’m absolutely in favor of construction fees and/or other solutions to prevent the unnecessary blocking of sidewalks. “I’m not convinced we’re really thinking about the impacts on pedestrians,” said Mayor Iveson. No doubt. I have been writing about this for years.
• On Wednesday, Mayor Iveson called for a relaunch of the City’s Vision Zero traffic safety initiative to do more for pedestrians. Here’s our deep dive on this topic from December.
• ICYMI: Be sure to check out Mel Priestley’s story on 104 Street and the impact of Ice District and other developments in the area.
• Fort Edmonton Park is getting nearly $48 million from the federal government for an expansion that includes the Indigenous People’s Experience. Construction is expected to continue through 2020.
• The Edmonton Public Library says there more than 260,000 active cardholders in 2016!
• Mayor Don Iveson on the need for more affordable and permanent supportive housing: “Across the country, housing is less affordable at every income level and this is having serious impacts on our nation’s prosperity, our productivity and our identity as a place of equal opportunity and inclusion.”
• I really hope something positive comes of the mistake that resulted in the loss of more than 1,000 paper hearts hung by Reconciliation in Solidarity Edmonton to honor residential school survivors.
• March is Fraud Prevention Month and the Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council is “reminding consumers to think twice before signing a deal that’s too good to be true.” They’re sharing tips each week to help consumers recognize, reject and report fraud.
• The deadline to apply for the City of Edmonton’s Canada 150 Community Celebration Sponsorships is March 15.
• The City is also accepting firefighter applications online until March 31. “Edmonton Fire Rescue Services is committed to a competitive and inclusive hiring process in order to attract and retain outstanding employees to protect the life, property and environment of Edmonton.”
• Remember, if you’re heading downtown for a permit or license, the new Edmonton Service Centre in the Edmonton Tower is where you want to go. Here’s a tour of the new facility courtesty of SkyriseEdmonton.
• Also from SkryiseEdmonton, here’s a look back at Edmonton’s first post office.
• For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.

Walterdale Bridge to Alberta Legislature, photo by Jeff Wallace

Upcoming Events

• Edmonton’s High School Culinary Challenge Awards Dinner takes place Monday evening at the Shaw Conference Centre.
• AUMA hosts the 2017 Spring Mayors’ Caucus on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Shaw Conference Centre.
• interVivos is celebrating International Women’s Day on Wednesday with #girlbossyeg at 99ten.
• Karen and I will be speaking about Taproot Edmonton at Nerd Nite #33 on Wednesday evening!
• The SkirtsAfire Festival gets underway on Thursday. The festival is “Edmonton’s only multidisciplinary arts festival celebrating and elevating the work of women.”
• The 12th annual ROOPH Awards recognizing outstanding organizations and people in housing takes place Thursday during lunch at the Westin Hotel.
• The next Dark Matters event takes place at the Telus World of Science on Thursday. The theme this time is “projectiles”.
• Downtown Dining Week kicks off on Friday! The list of participating restaurants and menus can be found here.
• This year’s Winter Warrior Challenge takes place on Saturday at The Ranch Golf & Country Club.
• Head over to the Edmonton EXPO Centre on Saturday and Sunday for the Mom, Pop & Tots Fair.
• Also taking place at the EXPO Centre on the weekend is the Edmonton Golf Show.
• Save the date: Eat Alberta returns this year on April 23!
• For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.

Edmonton River Valley