Edmonton Notes for June 3, 2018

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• Edmonton is one of five finalists in the federal government’s $50 million Smart Cities Challenge. “As a finalist, Edmonton will get a $250,000 grant to complete Phase 2. This Phase will focus on building a plan to support connectedness to the community, decrease loneliness and increase a sense of belonging.”
• Congratulations to City Hall School teacher Linda Hut on receiving a Certificate of Achievement in the Prime Minister’s Awards for Teaching Excellence. “Each year, Linda Hut teaches 600 students from 25 classes who participate in a week of hands-on, inquiry-based learning at Edmonton City Hall.”
• After two years as the Deputy City Manager in charge of Communications and Engagement, Carolyn Campbell is leaving the City of Edmonton to pursue a doctorate in board governance of major museums. Congratulations to Mary Sturgeon who will be stepping into the position.
• Tickets went on sale Friday for the 106th Grey Cup taking place here in Edmonton and in short order more than 47,000 of the 55,819 tickets were sold. The last time Edmonton hosted, tickets sold out in six days.
• Elise Stolte: “Edmonton has narrowed what it wants to achieve in the next 10 years to four goals and one overarching principle: connectedness.”
• The City is advising that changes are coming to Park & Ride at Century Park and Stadium stations. The stalls at Century Park are gradually shifting from the City to private operation, while 50 spots are being closed at Stadium to allow for construction of the new Muttart Crossing road.
• Don’t expect any more updates on the Metro Line LRT until the fall. Apparently Council will get private updates, but due to “contractual mechanisms” there will not be any public updates.
• Incredibly, the Edmonton Transit System Advisory Board says a gondola would help with the “very large challenge in getting people directly from Whyte Avenue to downtown.” You know what else would help? Bus schedules that don’t suck.
• EPS Chief Rod Knecht says his relationship with the Edmonton Police Commission became “caustic” last year. “I felt like I was in a little bit of purgatory there for a while,” said the chief. He’ll be retiring in October.
• Mayor Don Iveson was reappointed as chair of FCM’s Big City Mayors Caucus this week, extending his term to 2020.
• WinterCity Edmonton has won a national award for the winter design guidelines from the Canadian Institute of Planners.
• EPS has asked the City for an immediate moratorium on raves because of too many recent drug-related incidents. “The main concern at these events is the prevalent drug use, drug-facilitated sexual assaults and resulting public safety issues,” the report reads.
• Congratulations to the accessibility leaders and advocates recognized at the 22nd annual Mayor’s Awards.
• The month of May was a warm one in Edmonton, with 23 days of temperatures 20°C or higher. Now that summer is here, look forward to Edmonton’s Hottest Days.
• Thanks to some much needed rain this week, Edmonton Fire Rescue Services was able to lift the fire ban. “Everyone is reminded to exercise fire safety caution at all times.”
• Wondering what those oatmeal-looking things are all over the ground? Seed production from elm trees! “This is indication of seasonal abnormalities, not of tree stress or death,” says YEG Parks.
• Edmonton-area mayors and members of the Edmonton Metropolitan Regional Board made a collective statement in support of the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion at City Hall on Monday. Later in the week, the federal government announced it would buy the pipeline for $4.5 billion.
• For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.

Jasper & 96, photo by Kurt Bauschardt

Upcoming Events

• Nextfest continues throughout the week at various locations.
• The first full week of June is Alberta Seniors’ Week.
• The United Way’s Each One, Teach One program is hosting a financial literacy workshop on RESPs on Tuesday evening at the Idylwylde library.
• EPCOR and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra are hosting the Road to Joy fundraising concert on Tuesday evening at the Winspear Centre. All donations made “directly support the YONA-Sistema program”.
• Wednesday is Clean Air Day, “an annual occasion for celebrating clean air and reflecting on how our individual and collective actions contribute to air quality.”
• The City is celebrating Canadian Environment Week 2018 with free tours of the Edmonton Waste Management Centre from Wednesday to Saturday.
• The Infill Development in Edmonton Association (IDEA) is hosting its AGM at Homestead Coworking on Wednesday evening.
• Automated Vehicles 2018: Planning for Urban and Rural Transitions is taking place at the Shaw Conference Centre on Wednesday and Thursday.
• REACH Edmonton is hosting its AGM and community showcase on Thursday evening at the Central Lions Recreation Centre.
• Edmonton’s NextGen will kickoff NextGen Month on Thursday evening at Cartago.
• Sustainival takes place at the Edmonton EXPO Centre from Thursday to Sunday.
• Join Linda Hut and the kids of City Hall School on Friday afternoon for the annual Citizenship Fair at City Hall.
• MacEwan University’s Office of Sustainability is giving tours of the school’s urban beehives on Friday.
• This year’s Edmonton Pride Festival kicks off on Friday and runs until June 17. The Pride Parade takes place on Saturday starting at 11am.
• Bryan Adams is performing at Rogers Place on Friday night.
• The Edmonton Native Plant Group and the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters Society are hosting a Native Plant River Valley Bike Tour on Saturday, starting at Dawson Park.
• Kevin Hart is performing at Rogers Place on Saturday night.
• The 124 Grand Market is now running on Sundays in addition to its usual Thursday time!
• Plan your calendar with Taproot Edmonton’s 2018 guide to summer festivals and events! It includes 75+ happenings you can look forward to this summer in and around the city.

104 Avenue

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