Edmonton Notes for June 11, 2017

I’ve been in Seattle on vacation with Sharon for the last week! I’m still here actually, attending a Microsoft conference for the next couple of days. It was a nice break from the computer, but I’m ready to get back down to business.

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• Edmonton’s annual Pride Parade took place this weekend along Whyte Avenue. From the Journal: “For the first time in the event’s 37-year history, the region’s two-spirit community served as grand marshalls of the Edmonton Pride Parade.” Here’s more from CBC.
• Council decided to move ahead with plans for 30 km/h speed limits around all playgrounds and some sports fields and parks throughout Edmonton. The final vote is expected to take place in September.
• EPCOR is pitching a 60 hectare solar farm near the Cameron Heights neighbourhood. The farm would generate 12 megawatts of energy with only 5% anticipated lost efficiency “during the winter from snow cover.”
• The City is looking to establish a Coliseum ARP Community Stakeholder Committee to “provide advice and share insights about the development and potential implementation of this exciting, city-building project.” The deadline to apply is July 4.
• You can now borrow one of twenty AirBeam Air Quality Monitors from the Edmonton Public Library to test the air in your neighbourhood. “The handheld monitors can be put on hold and checked out from library branches for three week periods.”
• Edmonton is the first city in Canada to launch a voluntary Large Building Energy Reporting and Disclosure program (LBERD) “aimed at transforming Edmonton’s large buildings.” The program is part of our city’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Should we upgrade Edmonton’s drainage systems to handle a 1-in-100 year storm? That would cost $2.6 billion, so some argue it might be cheaper to simply pay for disaster assistance after the fact.
• The Edmonton Queen riverboat has been renovated over the last year but is awaiting a permit from the City to fully re-open to the public. Apparently the application is “complicated and multi-jurisdictional.”
• A company called Aurora Cannabis is building a $100 million production and processing facility near the Edmonton International Airport that could make the Edmonton region a centre for Canada’s marijuana industry. The facility is expected to be complete and operational in time for the legalization of recreational marijuana in July 2018.
• Edmonton has made another list! This time Conde Nast Traveler included Edmonton in its list of the seven best places to visit in June 2017. As ridiculous as that sounds, at least Edmonton is getting included in these things now.
• Hangar 11 at the old City Centre Airport has made the National Trust for Canada’s list of the most endangered historic places in Canada. “Hangar 11 is listed on the city’s Inventory of Historic Resources, but is not protected by formal designation.”
• It looks like the first of a series of Chinatown tours was a big success this weekend! The next one is coming up on July 9.
• For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.

Councillor Scott McKeen and Premier Rachel Notley, photo by Premier of Alberta

Upcoming Events

• Indulgence is taking place on Monday evening at the Delta Edmonton South.
• Improvaganza kicks off on Wednesday!
• The City is holding an open house on Thursday to discuss a proposed rezoning in Jasper Park that would allow for the development of up to nine row housing units.
• City Hall School’s annual Citizenship Fair takes place on Friday afternoon at City Hall.
• WWE Live returns to Edmonton on Friday at Northlands Coliseum.
• The Africa Centre is hosting its 2017 Africa Day Gala at the Shaw Conference Centre on Saturday.
• Head over to 104 Street on Saturday for the Mercer Summer Super Party or to Highlands for the Highlandia Festival.
• ZooFest takes place at the Edmonton Valley Zoo on Saturday evening to raise funds for the Valley Zoo Development Society and the Zebra Child Protection Centre.
• We are having our first Taproot Edmonton event on June 21 discussing a couple of exciting urban planning ideas! It’ll be kind of like doing one of our stories, but live. We hope you can join us!
• Be sure to check out Taproot Edmonton’s guide to summer festivals & events for more upcoming events!
• The City has released some details for this year’s Canada Day celebrations. “It is anticipated that 300,000 people will attend the celebrations throughout the day.”
• For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.

Mayor Don Iveson, photo by Don Voaklander