Edmonton Notes for September 16, 2018

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• The new Royal Alberta Museum finally has an opening date: October 3, 2018. “To celebrate the grand opening and to welcome Albertans back to their provincial museum, admission is free throughout the long weekend, from Oct. 3 to Oct. 8.” After the first 21,500 tickets were snapped up within six hours, the museum made another 8,000 tickets available on Saturday.
• We had our first frost and snowfall of the season this past week, about two weeks earlier than average, according to Edmonton Weather Nerdery. “Realistically though, lasting snow is still at least a month away, and probably more.” I sure hope that’s the case! Environment Canada says the cool, wet weather is not going away this week.
• The weather wasn’t great but the grand opening of Queen Elizabeth Park and Edmonton’s first Indigenous Arts Park ᐄᓃᐤ (ÎNÎW) River Lot 11∞ went ahead as planned on Saturday. “ᐄᓃᐤ (ÎNÎW) River Lot 11∞ is an important landmark in our river valley that will help Edmontonians understand and appreciate the history of this land,” said Mayor Don Iveson.
• Check out Episode 6 of Speaking Municipally for a discussion about the 5-point budget plan that Mayor Don Iveson unveiled this week. “I have heard loud and clear from Edmontonians – and the business community in particular – that they no longer want to see tax increases that are out of step with inflation or the pace of growth,” he wrote.
• A new report says Thales Canada Inc., the signalling contractor for the Metro Line LRT, has set December 4, 2018 as its new deadline. If they fail to meet that date, the City is working on a Plan C.
• The City was forced to shut off four LED display boards that showed noise levels in decibels in the vehicle noise monitoring pilot “after complaints that some drivers were revving their engines to see their numbers spike.” Ugh. Let’s just start ticketing noisy vehicles already!
• The University of Alberta will restrict cannabis smoking to specific locations on campus, and residence buildings won’t be among them.
• Meanwhile in Old Strathcona, the OSBA is looking for more time to allow bars and eateries to ease into the new rules for cannabis smoking.
• Blue Plate Diner may have to move to make way for a proposed 34-storey hotel & condo tower on 104 Street. “The developers are proposing a floor area bigger than is currently permitted under a heritage zone. The height, on the other hand, is still within the existing zoning limits.”
• The City is looking for input on the plan to transform Yellowhead Trail into a freeway. Share your thoughts by November.
• Edmonton’s NextGen is looking for new committee members and is accepting applications for the next Pecha Kucha Night.
• TSN’s Bob McKenzie says if the Oilers fail to make the playoffs this year it would be “a crime against hockey humanity.”
• ICYMI: I wrote about Edmonton Global’s launch and what it means for the Edmonton Metro Region.
• Here’s what you need to know about the week ahead at City Hall.

Royal Alberta Museum, photo by Government of Alberta

Upcoming Events

• Building the Cycling City takes place Tuesday evening at Latitude 53. “Join us for an inspirational night of Active Transportation learning and discussion.”
• Head over to the Bellevue Community Hall on Tuesday evening for the Edmonton Exhibition Lands concept review.
• The Edmonton Public Library and Edmonton Community Foundation are hosting Arlene Dickinson for Lessons from the Den at the Edmonton Inn Kingsway on Wednesday evening.
• FEASTival of Fine Chefs takes place Wednesday evening at the Shaw Conference Centre.
• The United Way is kicking off its 2018 campaign on Thursday morning at the Shaw Conference Centre.
• Homeward Trust is hosting a research symposium on influencing policy and affecting practice on Thursday at the Lister Conference Centre at the University of Alberta.
• The Edmonton Oilers will play their first home pre-season game on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets.
• The 6th annual Edmonton Burlesque Festival runs Thursday to Saturday at La Cité Francophone.
• AIMCo’s Phyllis Clark and CWB’s Carolyn Graham are among the panelists slated for the Edmonton Women in Finance event Female Leaders in Finance taking place on Friday afternoon at AIMCo’s office on 108 Street & Jasper Avenue.
• The Edmonton Comic & Entertainment Expo runs Friday to Sunday at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
• The 2018 Mid-Autumn Festival is being held on Saturday at Kinistinâw Park.
• Keith Urban is performing at Rogers Place on Saturday night.
• interVivos is hosting a Mentorship Mixer on Wednesday, September 26 at The Almanac.
• Edmonton Shift Lab is hosting How to Have Difficult Conversations About Race on Thursday, September 27 at the hotel in the Quarters (formerly called Hyatt Place).
• There are still a few weeks of listings left on Taproot Edmonton’s 2018 guide to summer festivals and events! It includes 75+ happenings this summer in and around the city.

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