Edmonton Notes for June 17, 2018

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• The Province announced it will spend $100 million to widen to six lanes an 18-kilometre stretch of the southwest leg of Anthony Henday Drive between Whitemud Drive and 111 Street. “Completing the Henday has made a huge difference to commuters and goods movement. But with all freeways, they tend to become their own worst enemy and attract a lot more traffic,” Mayor Don Iveson said Monday.
• “Edmonton built only 25 units of housing for the chronically homeless last year.” That’s far less than the 916 units still needed.
• Issues with the Metro Line LRT are still not resolved, and now the next deadline is “tied up in legal wrangling.” Mayor Iveson is asking for patience, saying “we’re as frustrated as anyone.”
• FIFA picked the North American bid, known as United 2026, to host the 2026 World Cup which means Canada could host around 10 games. Here is how Edmonton stacks up against other bid cities.
• A new group calling itself Prosperity Edmonton has sent a letter to City Council asking for tax relief. “If Edmonton businesses struggle, Edmontonians struggle,” they wrote.
• “On Monday, the United States Conference of Mayors endorsed the so-called Edmonton Declaration, a locally created document that asks municipalities to take a stand on rising global temperatures.” The three-page document spearheaded by Mayor Iveson calls on all levels of government to recognize targets set under the Paris Agreement.
• Congratulations to all the Edmontonians recognized in the City’s Salute to Excellence awards for 2018. Allan Scott, former CEO of EEDC, was recognized for his work on behalf of the Art Gallery of Alberta.
• Tim Adams shares that after starting Free Footie here in Edmonton 10 years ago, the free soccer league has now grown to 100 teams!
• Want to cycle across the Groad Road Bridge? You could get a $100 fine if you don’t dismount.
• Here is Paula Simons on the proposed superlab parkade in South Campus: “It’s silly to have four such powerful actors — the province, the city, the university and AHS — acting at cross purposes, without decent communication.”
• Graham Hicks wrote about the 747 bus service to the Edmonton International Airport. “Any city worth its salt has user-friendly, inexpensive and modern public transit between its airport and downtown,” he wrote, before listing all the issues with Edmonton’s service. “I cannot imagine making a worse initial impression on economy-minded tourists.”
• Friday, June 15 was proclaimed World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in Edmonton. “Elder abuse can happen in any place and any culture,” said Councillor Scott McKeen. “Together, service providers, community partners, government and professionals can support our seniors to help them be healthy and safe by identifying barriers and reducing isolation.”
• The Minchau Blacksmith Shop building in Old Strathcona has been saved from demolition, at least for now.
• Starting in 2019, the league the Edmonton Prospects play in will be known as the Western Canadian Baseball League. Edmonton will host the league’s all-star game on July 8, 2019 and again in 2020.
• Have your say on the Jasper Avenue New Vision by filling out the online survey by June 29.
• The goats are back! A herd of 200 goats returned to Rundle Park this week as part of the City’s GoatWorks project.
• For all the latest news in Edmonton tech, check out Taproot Edmonton’s Tech Roundup.
• For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.

Upcoming Events

• The Summer Solstice Music Festival starts on Monday and runs to June 22.
• The Freewill Shakespeare Festival kicks off on Tuesday and runs through July 15.
• Learn about Alberta’s Economic Outlook with Todd Hirsch during the lunch hour on Wednesday at The Westin Edmonton.
• Edmonton’s NextGen presents MEAET powered by Pecha Kucha Night on Wednesday evening at Kingsway Mall.
• Thursday is going to be a busy day with Make Music Edmonton, the Edmonton Indigenous Peoples Festival, and the kickoff to The Works Art & Design Festival.
• The Writers’ Guild of Alberta and Visual Arts Alberta present A Celebration of Edmonton’s Visual and Literary Artists on Thursday evening at CKUA.
• The City of Edmonton is hosting an Idea Review for the Exhibition Lands on Thursday at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
• A launch event for Age Friendly Edmonton 2.0 takes place on Friday at City Hall at noon. “Join us for storytelling and refreshments as we reflect on the past 5 years and usher in a new era with Age Friendly Edmonton 2.0.”
• Celebrate the Shaw Conference Centre’s 35th anniversary on Friday with a patio party!
• The Edmonton International Jazz Festival starts Friday and runs to Canada Day.
• Fashion Fest takes place Friday and Saturday at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
• The first Instagrammable Walls of Edmonton Photo Walk of the season takes place from 2-4pm on Saturday. Meet at the Alberta Avenue Community Centre!
• Kinsmen Park is where the Soundtrack Music Festival takes place on Saturday.
• The Africa Centre’s Africa Day Gala Dinner takes place Saturday evening at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
• Sunday is Vintage Day and the Friends Ukrainian Music Fest at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village.
• Pets in the Park takes place on Sunday at Hawrelak Park.
• Save the date: the Out of this World Opening Reception takes place on June 26 at the Muttart Conservatory. The sculpture exhibition will be on display until September 5.
• Save the date: What the Truck?! at the Zoo takes place on July 6!
• 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.

A new plaque in the Brewery District for the Edmonton Brewing & Malting Company building

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