Edmonton Notes for September 30, 2018

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• For a look at what’s coming up at Council in the week ahead, check out the latest edition of the Council Roundup. And for a deep dive on the Terwillegar Drive issue, check out Episode 8 of Speaking Municipally.
• Stantec celebrated the official opening of its new 251-metre-high tower this week. It’s the tallest tower in Canada outside of Toronto. Senior Vice President Keith Shillington wrote about how the company was founded in 1954 in Edmonton and has grown to more than 22,000 employees worldwide. He says the tower has “demonstrated to all of Edmonton that our continued commitment to this City is personal.” David Staples says the new Stantec Tower “represents an exclamation mark on the two most fractious and divisive political debates in recent local history.”
• From StarMetro Edmonton, here are five things worth waiting for when Edmonton’s downtown ICE District is complete.
• Fish Griwkowsky shared his thoughts on Nuit Blancrhe Edmonton 2018. “It turns all of us wandering through our construction-pummelled streets and alleys into something not unlike happy children at a waterpark.”
• The City is advancing a pilot project to install retractable shields on a number of buses, in an effort to improve transit safety. “Gord Cebryk, deputy city manager of city operations, said his team will ask for more transit officer funding when city council begins its budget debates in November.”
• Nate Box is hoping to launch a new restaurant, deli, and liquor store inside the Gibbard Block in Highlands and he has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund it. Currently just under $30,000 of the $100,000 goal has been raised.
• Alessia Cara will headline the 2018 Grey Cup halftime show here in Edmonton on November 25.
• Once again, there’s a proposal to turn the small green space in front of Hotel Macdonald into a tall, mixed-use tower. “Great Gulf is proposing a commercial-residential tower that could be about 58 storeys.”
• You can sign up now to take a ride on the electric autonomous vehicle that is being piloted in Edmonton in October. It’ll be at Blatchford, Chappelle Gardens, and Old Strathcona. “The vehicle operates at around 12 km/h, contains a ramp for accessibility and can hold up to a maximum of 12 people, including the operator (six seated and six standing).”
• Edmonton Fire Rescue Services firefighters visited up to 240 homes in four neighbourhoods this weekend to install carbon monoxide/smoke detectors. “Since the Smoke Alarm Program began in 2007, EFRS has provided close to 7000 smoke alarms.”
• The Starlight Casino in West Edmonton Mall celebrated its grand opening this week. The $57 million renovation expanded the casino’s footprint to 15,000 square metres.
• O2’s Taphouse on Whyte Avenue was fined for overcrowding during the NHL playoffs in 2017. See an updated list of fire code convictions on the City’s website.
• The City of Edmonton is collecting input on adding child-friendly elements to the Civic Precinct (Churchill Square and City Hall Plaza). Fill out the online survey by October 15 to share your thoughts.

Passage: Nuit Blanche Edmonton 2018, photo by Isabell Hubert

Upcoming Events

• The Edmonton International Film Festival runs until Thursday this week!
• The 3rd annual Canadian Immigrant Fair takes place on Monday at the Shaw Conference Centre.
• Ignite: Your New Life in YEG takes place at Roundhouse at MacEwan on Monday evening. “As a newbie to YEG, it can be difficult to network and develop relationships in a new environment. So let’s come together and make some connections.”
• Former mayor Stephen Mandel will speak at the Edmonton Chamber’s next event on Tuesday at The Westin Edmonton.
• The new Royal Alberta Museum will open its doors to the public for the first time starting Wednesday.
• Stimulus: Drugs, Policy and Practice in Canada takes place at the Shaw Conference Centre from Wednesday to Friday.
• Edmonton Opera presents Opera 101: La Traviata at CKUA on Wednesday evening.
• The Local Good’s next Green Drinks takes place Wednesday evening at Yellowhead Brewery. “Edmonton and its people have many stories to tell, and we want you to meet some of the people helping to share those stories!”
• YEG Fitness is hosting YEGFit Talk – Exploring Mental Health on Wednesday evening at Central Social Hall.
• LitFest starts on October 11! Though there are some events this week, like a Conversation with Tanya Tagaq on Thursday at the Garneau Theatre.
• Join EPL for the grand opening of the Londonderry Branch on Friday morning.
• The Up + Downtown Music Festival takes place Friday to Sunday at 11 venues throughout downtown Edmonton.
• The Network of Empowered Women is hosting But First Brunch at Central Social Hall on Saturday morning.
• Edmonton’s NextGen presents City Jam 2018 on December 1 at the Starlite Room. Volunteer 10 hours with a local charity or not-for-profit before November 28 to get in!

Prismatica: Nuit Blanche Edmonton 2018, photo by Isabell Hubert

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