Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:
Headlines
- City Council finalized the 2019-2022 Capital, Operating, and Utilities budgets on Friday. The expected property tax increase is 2.6% per year (or about $65 for the average household). The latest Council Roundup has all the details and remarks from Councillors.
- Edmonton Transit is adjusting bus schedules over the holiday period. Regular service will resume on Saturday, January 5.
- The shortlist for the 2018 Edmonton Music Prize has been announced. The winner of the $10,000 award will be announced on February 5.
- Edmonton’s Alphonso Davies has become the youngest winner of the Canadian Men’s Soccer Player of the Year Award. “He has been a standout performer for club and country and that is just a consistent reality now for Alphonso Davies,” Canada coach John Herdman said in a statement.
- Changes will be made to 26 playground zones across the city over the holiday school break. “The remaining zones aren’t set in stone: administration said it’s possible more playground zones could be identified and added, and several councillors still have problem zones they’d like to see revisited by staff.”
- The minimum separation distance for liquor stores was officially dropped for Ice District this week. “I’m not saying they should get away with anything, or we should throw our hand up and say yes to anything, but I don’t see how this is a wild ask for them to have a liquor store for their residents and for the people who stay in the hotel,” said Councillor Scott McKeen.
- According to a new report by Altus Group, “large-scale transaction in Edmonton’s office market bolstered year-to-date investment sales 38 per cent over the first three quarters of 2017.” Office sales accounted for 40% of all investment activity in the city, led by the $400 million sale of Edmonton Tower to AIMCo.
- A proposed land swap involving park space in Oliver is being met with resistance in the community. Abbey Lane Homes wants to put a 24-storey residential high-rise at the corner of 104 Avenue and 118 Street in Oliver Park.
- Edmonton’s NextGen is accepting speaker proposals for the next Pecha Kucha Night taking place on February 8 at the Royal Alberta Museum.
- In the latest episode of Speaking Municipally, Troy and I wrap-up the budget discussions and talk about Mayor Iveson’s end-of-2018 media availability.
- Get the latest on Media, Tech, Health Innovation, Music, and Council with Taproot Edmonton’s latest roundups.
Premier seeking industry interest in oil refining, photo by Premier of Alberta
Upcoming Events
- Candy Cane Lane is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year! The lights are on and sleigh rides are available until December 23.
- The lights are now on at the Alberta Legislature grounds! Until December 23 you can enjoy musical performances in addition to the lights.
- Christmas Glow Edmonton is on at The Enjoy Centre in St. Albert every day until mid-January.
- Learn about machine learning at Amii’s Machine Learning 101 on Monday at lunch at Startup Edmonton.
- The 37th annual Christmas Bureau Breakfast takes place on Tuesday morning at The Westin Edmonton.
- The Oilers host the Blues on Tuesday and the Lightning on Saturday at Rogers Place.
- Jason Lee Norman is speaking about his 40 Below anthologies at the McLuhan House Book Club on Thursday evening.
- Paths for People and Coffee Outside are hosting an outdoor coffee meetup at Constable Ezio Faraone Park pn Friday morning.
- Shumka’s Nutcracker takes place at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium on Saturday and Sunday.
- Heads up: EEDC’s 2019 Impact Luncheon will take place on January 8.
Between Christmas Trains, photo by Jeff Wallace
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