Edmonton Notes for October 14, 2018

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• All 13 communities in the Edmonton Metro Region have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Regional Transit Services Commission. The goal is for collaboration to “provide more integrated and reliable movement between nearby communities than the current mix of transit services.” The Province has provided $3.7 million “to support behind-the-scenes work to set up the commission.”
• Edmonton’s proposed new bus routes are ready. No wait, they’re not. In a confusing news release, the City says the new routes have incorporated feedback from Edmontonians but feedback on the “final draft” will be accepted from October 25 to December 9.
• Council approved rezoning for the Falcon Towers on 104 Street this week. Langham Developments’ latest towers will be 37 storeys and 43 storeys.
• Council also approved more than $20 million to improve transit safety with more security at LRT stations and retractable shields and cameras on all buses.
• Councillor Paquette’s proposal to look into free transit was not so warmly received at Council. He’s going to tweak the motion and bring it back to Council in two weeks.
• The City has released three challenges for startups to solve using technology as part of the Startup in Residence (STiR) program. They’re looking for a vandalism detection & prevention system, a chatbot to reduce 311 call volumes, and a mobile app to deliver information on “the optimal blend of transportation options”.
• The Edmonton International Airport has banned consumption of recreational cannabis on its property. “The RCMP will monitor and enforce passenger and employee compliance, the airport said in a release Thursday.”
• The electric autonomous vehicle (ELA) pilot is now underway at Blatchford. Starting Wednesday the vehicle moves to Chappelle Gardens.
• Edmonton will host the next SingularityU Canada Summit in April 2019. “The annual event draws some of the brightest minds in the country’s tech ecosystem, along with sector workers and innovators from across the globe.”
• The City is hosting a series of Engage Edmonton drop-in sessions until November 15. “These are convenient one-stop shop locations where people can provide feedback on City projects that matter most to them.”
• Edmontonian Harman Baweja wants Oilers fans to celebrate each goal with a victory dance. “The Edmonton-based dance instructor, hip-hop dancer and self-professed Oilers superfan has choreographed a routine and is challenging every member of Oilers Nation to groove to the moves.”
• Episode 10 of Speaking Municipally covers the response to free transit, the regional transit authority MOU, and the approval of the Falcon Towers on 104 Street. Also check out the latest Council Roundup for all the details on what’s coming up at Council in the week ahead.

Ice District Edmonton October 2018, photo by Jason Woodhead

Upcoming Events

• This is Edmonton Startup Week! Check out the full schedule for all the events taking place throughout the week. I hope to see you on Wednesday evening for our panel discussion on the future of local tech coverage.
• LitFest continues all week with events at venues throughout the city. The ever popular Food Matters session takes place Saturday afternoon at the Matrix Hotel.
• Edmonton Women in Finance is hosting its first event targeting students on Tuesday evening at MacEwan University.
• Wednesday is October 17, which means cannabis will be legal here in Canada. Fire & Flower is hosting grand opening celebrations at three locations.
• Mayor Iveson is hosting Beyond #MeToo: Equality for Women at City Hall on Wednesday evening.
• Canada’s Great Kitchen Party takes place on Wednesday evening at the Shaw Conference Centre.
• The Oilers are in action at home twice this week, hosting the Bruins on Thursday evening and the Predators on Saturday night.
• Launch Party Edmonton 9 takes place on Thursday evening at Enbridge Centre.
• The next Dark Matters takes place on Thursday evening at the TELUS World of Science with a focus on the science of cannabis.
• Fail Safe 2018, a gathering for conversations about failure, takes place Thursday and Friday at the hotel formerly known as Hyatt Place in The Quarters.
• The Edmonton Rock & Gem Show runs Thursday to Sunday at the Alberta Aviation Museum.
• The 2018 Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival takes place at the Shaw Conference Centre on Friday and Saturday.
• EFCL’s Leagues Alive 2018, an annual board development conference, takes place Saturday at the Robbins Health Learning Centre.
• Professional Bull Riders Canada is hosting the Edmonton Classic on Saturday at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
• Diwali Fair in Edmonton takes place Saturday and Sunday at the Meadows Community Recreation Centre.
• Pecha Kucha Night 31 is coming up on October 25 at the Garneau Theatre. See the lineup and get your tickets now!
• Armistice 100: A Tribute is coming up on November 11 at Capital Plaza near the Alberta Legislature to mark the 100th anniversary of the signing of the WW1 Armistice.
• 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!

New Royal Alberta Museum, photo by IQRemix

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