Edmonton Notes for August 20, 2017

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• The City has received a credit score of AA+ from Standard & Poor’s for the sixth consecutive year. That’s the second-highest possible rating. However, “Standard and Poor’s revised its yearly outlook from stable to negative and cautions that Edmonton could face a possible downgrade in its credit rating at some point in the next two years if the City increases its debt significantly.”
• Should our city’s “secret downtown beach” be made permanent? David Staples argues the beach, which appeared as an unintended consequence of Valley Line LRT construction, “should become a major attraction and a game-changer for the city.”
• Due to the delayed opening of the Walterdale Bridge, the City’s Touch the Water promenade project is on hold. Maybe we’ll need that beach after all.
• Have you ever seen the motorcycles parked outside the Tim Hortons on Whyte and wondered, what’s their story? Plenty of Taproot Edmonton members were curious about that, so we went and found out. Ryan Stephens wrote our latest story about how that parking lot helps connect a community.
• The Edmonton Oilers signed Leon Draisaitl to an eight-year deal worth $68 million this week. “While everyone knew that the big centreman needed a contract this summer, I don’t think that any of us would have guessed that things would drag on for this long,” wrote Baggedmilk at OilersNation. But, it’s done!
• According to a recent memo posted for City Council, the Metro Line LRT upgrades likely won’t be ready in time for back-to-school and the new target date to have all deficiencies addresses is the “end of 2017”.
• New details were made available this week on how the Valley Line LRT could affect intersections and traffic when it opens. “Five minutes to get over Whitemud Drive, one or two extra minutes at intersections all along 66 Street — the picture for anyone hoping to commute by car beside the Valley Line LRT by on opening day is a bit grim,” wrote Elise Stolte.
• A tree planted by Laurent and Eleanor Garneau more than 140 years ago is being removed for safety reasons. “What happens to the tree after its removal is being discussed by Métis groups, members of the U of A’s faculty of Native studies and other university stakeholders.”
• Here is Gig City’s review of the Metallica concert that took place at Commonwealth Stadium last week in front of 45,000 fans.
• There’s a new coffee shop downtown called Monument and it features plenty of local food options including Moonshine Donuts, Meat Street Pies, and Chocolate Haven.
• Friday was Treaty No. 6 Recognition Day. Mayor Iveson said the treaty is “a commitment to shared prosperity”.
• The solar eclipse will take place in Edmonton on Monday, August 21 from 10:24am to 12:40pm. Here are some tips on how to experience it.
• For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.

Stantec/Mariott, photo by Darren Kirby

Upcoming Events

• The Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival continues all week! Be sure to check out the #YEGFringe Daily Digest for all the latest reviews. Sign up to have it emailed to you daily here.
• Ignite Change 2017, “a global gathering for human rights defenders, protectors, promoters, facilitators,” takes place this week at MacEwan University.
• Movies on the Square takes place again on Tuesday evening with a screening of Beauty and the Beast.
• Feast on the Field takes place at Commonwealth Stadium on Wednesday evening.
• The City of Edmonton’s 2017 Summer Student Conference takes place on Thursday at City Hall.
• There’s a Public Art Picnic taking place at Borden Park on Thursday.
• The Edmonton Lebanese Festival runs Thursday through Sunday at Churchill Square.
• The Edmonton Blues Festival starts on Friday.
• Zoobrew, adult night at the Valley Zoo, takes place on Friday evening.
• Head over to MacKinnon Ravine Park on Saturday for the 4th annual planting in Edmonton’s River Valley Food Forest!
• Beaumont’s Rural Roots Fair takes place on Saturday and Sunday.
• Viva Italia Viva Edmonton is back and takes place on Sunday!
• If you missed Open Farm Days this weekend, you might try the Northlands Urban Farm Tour on Sunday to make up for it!
• Despite the chill in the air this weekend, there are still plenty of great summer events to go! See them all in Taproot Edmonton’s summer festival & event guide.

Northside, photo by Kurt Bauschardt