Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:
Headlines
- FC Edmonton has decided to shut down operations, telling CBC Edmonton, “we would need 8,000 or 9,000 people to be sustainable.” Here is the organization’s official statement. The decision to cease operations and leave the North American Soccer League (NASL) is effective immediately.
- The federal government’s national housing strategy was unveiled on Wednesday, promising $40 billion over the next decade to help with affordable housing. “This is what we’ve been looking for,” Mayor Don Iveson said. “This is a phenomenal day for cities and for housing and especially for people in need.” Not everyone is so optimistic though, with worries that the funds will take years to be available.
- Should the City raise fares to keep operating the bus service from Century Park to the Edmonton International Airport? That’s one of the options on the table in a new report that says it will cost about $1.9 million to operate the service in 2018.
- Edmonton’s Chinatown and Area Business Association has filed a court application to overturn approval of three inner city safe injection sites.
- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley are “the latest prominent voices to urge a public discussion about renaming the CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos out of respect for Inuit people.”
- The City has published a new map that identifies skating, tobogganing, and other winter-friendly locations throughout the river valley. Here is the PDF copy.
- Canadian North is investing $3.3 million per year for a new maintenance facility at the Edmonton International Airport set to open by the spring.
- Edmonton was 7th on CBRE Canada’s second annual ranking of top markets for tech workers and employers, one spot behind Calgary.
- Local food truck Hola la Taco was featured in a recent Netflix video that featured a few of the stars of Stranger Things!
- The University of Alberta has opened a new Commuter Study Hostel that features “14 single rooms for students to rent out for a rest or a late-night study binge.”
- #BundleUpYEG says it has collected more than 600 bags of warm clothing and delivered them all to homeless shelters in Edmonton in 23 days. They’re collecting from November 1 to December 18.
- The ETS Stuff a Bus campaign is back and runs Wednesday through Saturday. “Look for ETS buses parked in front of your favourite Edmonton Save-On-Foods store and donate non-perishable food items to support Edmonton’s Food Bank.”
- Here’s an update on ICE District from Property Biz Canada.
- Jordan Eberle did an interview recently about his time in Edmonton and as an Oiler. “When you read the articles every day about how much you suck, its tough,” he said.
- With warm daytime but low overnight temperatures, there’s a lot of melting and freezing going on. The City is reminding Edmontonians to “keep sidewalks, walkways and waste collection areas free of ice and snow.” You can find a community sandbox near you here.
- For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.
Edmonton Skyline + Telus Christmas Trees, photo by Jeff Wallace
Upcoming Events
- The City’s Salute to Excellence Performance & Citation Awards will be handed out on Monday night at City Hall.
- Catherine MacLean is the next speaker in the Lougheed College Lecture Series taking place Monday night at the Tory Theatre.
- The Oilers are back in town to host the Coyotes on Tuesday night and the high-flying Maple Leafs on Thursday.
- The Oil Kings are also in action at Rogers Place this week hosting the Wheat Kings on Wednesday, the Raiders on Saturday, and the Hurricanes on Sunday.
- The City of Edmonton is hosting an event on Wednesday night at City Hall called Let’s Talk Small Business.
- The Festival of Trees runs Wednesday through Sunday at the Shaw Conference Centre.
- Head over to the Butterdome at the University of Alberta for the Butterdome Craft Sale on Wednesday through Sunday.
- The Disney on Ice show Follow Your Heart starts on Wednesday at Northlands Coliseum and runs through Sunday.
- This year’s edition of A Christmas Carol kicks off at the Citadel Theatre on Friday night.
- Luminaria takes place at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden from Friday through Sunday.
- Winterfest is on at Snow Valley on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
- Get outside and enjoy a patio on the weekend with the Winter Patio kickoff!
- EFCL is running a workshop on Saturday morning on the Basics of Urban Planning.
- This year’s Santa Shuffle Fun Run & Elf Walk takes place on Saturday at Hawrelak Park.
- For more upcoming events, check out Taproot Edmonton’s guide to winter festivals and events!
Dudley B. Menzies Bridge
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