Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:
Headlines
- City Council approved the Supplemental Operating Budget Adjustment for 2018 this week, approving a property tax increase of 3.2%. “Council also approved the $1.4 billion capital budget for 2018 projects that includes new fire stations, upgrading libraries, a police division and transit garage, and other infrastructure.”
- Edmonton’s new $24 million funicular opened on Saturday, providing “an accessible connection from Edmonton’s downtown to the scenic River Valley trail network.” The funicular is free and functions like an elevator. Here are some other tips for your visit.
- Thales Canada has until April 30 to get the Metro Line LRT running properly or they’ll face “serious consequences” thanks to a new ultimatum issued by City Council this week. The Metro Line was originally scheduled to open in April 2014.
- City Council has enacted a temporary moratorium on new licenses or event permits for combative sports, in effect until the end of 2018. “This bylaw was added to Council’s agenda following a verbal, in camera update to City Council on the status of an independent, third-party review into the death of professional boxer Tim Hague, who died after a sanctioned boxing match in Edmonton on June 16, 2017.”
- The City has released its year-in-review for Blatchford: “Over eight thousand metres of water mains, storm and sanitary sewers, and distribution piping for the District Energy Sharing System were installed and 1,400 metres of curb and gutters were constructed.”
- According to new figures from Statistics Canada, the median net worth of Edmonton families was $230,200 in 2016. That compares to $295,100 nationally, and $290,500 provincially.
- Moshe Lander, an economics professor at Concordia University, wonders why Edmontonians are on the hook for demolishing the Coliseum. “Fleecing the taxpayer for another $20 million is a terrible epitaph to a wonderful building.”
- According to AHS, more than 1 million Albertans have received the flu shot so far this season. Here in the Edmonton region they’ve administered 338,000 doses and there has been 91 flu-related hospitalizations and 1 flu-related death.
- The City and Oilers Entertainment Group announced this week that Rogers Place has received LEED Silver certification, the first NHL facility in Canada built to that standard.
- If you’re thinking about building a garden suite, be sure to check out the City’s new how-to guide.
- Described as “Canada’s token middle child”, Edmonton has made Travel + Leisure’s list of the 50 best places to travel in 2018.
- Christmas at Bob’s, the Queen Alexandra home decorated with more than 150,000 lights, is back for another season.
- I hope you’re enjoying the heat wave that seems to be on in Edmonton right now because it could last for a couple more weeks!
- For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.
Alberta Legislature Holiday Lights
Upcoming Events
- It’s probably not as cold as they thought it might be, but the Valley Zoo is hosting Frozen Yoga on Monday evening. It’s yoga inside an igloo! Their popular Zoominescence Festival of Light also continues through the month.
- The 21st annual Stollery Snowflake Gala is happening at the Shaw Conference Centre on Monday evening.
- Metro Cinema is screening National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on Tuesday evening.
- The Oilers host the Predators on Thursday evening at Rogers Place.
- The Edmonton Singing Christmas Tree runs Thursday through Sunday at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.
- Northlands is hosting a Farewell Weekend for Northlands Coliseum on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The weekend features “a charity hockey game between Ryan Smyth’s Spruce Grove Saints and the Okotoks Oilers, public skates on the Northlands Coliseum ice and a Multicultural Round Dance presented by Candora Society.”
- Yule Ave: A Merry Christmas is happening on Alberta Avenue near 92 Street on Saturday.
- The City Market Downtown is hosting a Gingerbread House Workshop led by Jon from Meat Street Pies!
- Head over to St. Albert Place on Saturday for the final St. Albert Indoor Christmas Market of the season.
- Canada’s National Women’s hockey team will play the U.S.A. in a pre-Olympic face-off at Rogers Place on Sunday.
- For more upcoming events, check out Taproot’s guide to winter festivals and events in Edmonton.
Premier addresses Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, photo by Government of Alberta
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