Edmonton Notes for October 7, 2018

Happy Thanksgiving! Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• The new Royal Alberta Museum is officially open! Sharon, Emily, and I visited on Friday afternoon and had a great time.
• Edmonton sent 30 snow plows down to Calgary this week to help the city dig out from a record snowfall. Here’s Mayor Iveson making the announcement. But don’t worry, Edmonton will be reimbursed under mutual aid agreements.
• Thales Canada said Friday “we believe the system could be turned on” but Administration isn’t convinced. The deadline of December 4 is what both are working toward to get the signalling system fully operational.
• Council decided to endorse the $300 million expressway option for Terwillegar Drive. Councillor Tim Cartmell called the decision “great news”.
• There are 16 kilometres of new trails now open in the city’s northeast, part of the $8.5 million East End Trails Project that began construction in 2016.
• Councillor Paquette wants Administration to look into making transit free. We talked about this in Episode 9 of Speaking Municipally.
• When cannabis becomes legal on October 17, the Edmonton region will have 12 of the 17 retailers approved thus far in Alberta, including 6 within the city. “In contrast, Calgary only has two, and Medicine Hat, the only other southern Alberta municipality to receive licences, will get three.”
• Brandon Webber, the man who designed those popular Still in Edmonton t-shirts, has moved to Saskatchewan. “Even though the city leadership and everybody would want it to be a place that’s talked about as a world-class city, it’s just not; it’s a B-class city and that’s OK,” said Webber.
• Bon Appetit has a list of 8 not-to-be-missed restaurants in Edmonton. I can’t say I’m surprised to see who made the cut!
• The University of Alberta is looking for $20 million from the Province to build a new South Campus arena. “Staff at the university have secured about $45 million of the $65 million required to build two ice rinks southwest of the Saville Community Sports Centre and they hope the provincial government will chip in the rest.”
• Thrive Edmonton is looking to counter the Prosperity Edmonton narrative around austerity during the upcoming budget discussions at City Hall.
• Local businessman Ian Barrigan says Edmonton’s property taxes are “so far out to lunch” compared to other cities. “Councillor Andrew Knack, who asked the city to look at what the numbers would be to reduce taxes, said he’ll ask about comparing Edmonton to other metro locations during the budget process.”
• Edmonton Journal columnist Paula Simons was one of three appointed to the Canadian Senate this week. It’s a big loss for Edmonton, but congrats Paula!
• The City’s Mature Neighbourhood Overlay review project won the Alberta Professional Planners Institute 2018 Award of Merit. “We are grateful that so many Edmontonians made this review one of the most extensive and effective public engagements done by the City,” said Colton Kirsop, Senior Planner with the City’s Zoning Bylaw Team.
• Mayor Iveson’s new spirit name is Day Star, translated “from the Cree words kîsikâw acâhkos.”
• For a look at what’s coming up at City Council in the week ahead, check out the latest edition of the Council Roundup.
• The Oilers lost their season-opener in Sweden to New Jersey Devils by a score of 5-2.
• Flu vaccine clinics will open across Alberta on October 15.

New Royal Alberta Museum officially open, photo by Government of Alberta

Upcoming Events

• Nerd Nite Edmonton’s second field trip takes place on Monday afternoon. “We will travel to small-town Alberta to learn about how to create craft beer & spirits with local ingredients.”
• The Treaty Six A.S.E.T.S. Workforce is hosting a Treaty 6 Job Fair & Speed Hire Event on Wednesday and Thursday at the River Cree Resort & Casino.
• High Level Line is hosting its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday evening at the University of Alberta.
• The Edmonton Comedy Festival runs Wednesday to Saturday.
• The Downtown Business Association’s 2018 Fall Luncheon takes place Thursday at The Westin Edmonton with a focus on the 2018 Grey Cup Festival.
• LitFest starts on Thursday and runs until October 21.
• The Festival of Witchcraft & Wizardry takes place Friday at Dr. Wilbert McIntyre Park in Old Strathcona.
• The Edmonton Rum Festival takes place Friday night at the Delta Edmonton South.
• St. Albert’s Amplify Festival celebrates its 5th year on Friday and Saturday at the Kinsmen Banquet Centre.
• The 2018 Alberta Snowmobile and Powersports Show runs Friday to Sunday at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
• Edmonton is hosting PLACE 18, the national planning student conference, at the University of Alberta from Friday to Sunday.
• The Eskimos host Ottawa at Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday afternoon for Week 18 of the CFL season.
• The 2018 Fall Women’s Show takes place Saturday and Sunday at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
• Homeless Connect Edmonton takes place Sunday at the Shaw Conference Centre.
• Bridal Fantasy is happening Sunday at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
• Pecha Kucha Night 31 is coming up on October 25 at the Garneau Theatre. See the lineup and get your tickets now!
• 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!

Edmonton Nuit Blanche 2018, photo by IQRemix

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