Edmonton Notes for April 28, 2019

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• With endorsement from Council, the City is moving forward with a “two transit villages” redevelopment plan for the Exhibition Lands. The old Northlands Coliseum will be demolished and a new LRT stop will be added south of the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
• Executive Committee approved an 18-year extension to the Royal Mayfair Golf Club’s lease this week, in excahnge for a one-time payment of $870,000 and a few other minor stipulations.
• Edmonton has received $40 million in benefits from the NDP’s Energy Efficiency Alberta program, so councillors are looking to create a back-up plan if the UCP government cancels the program.
• “Edmonton’s air is already cleaner thanks to less mercury, sulphur and tiny air pollutants spewing from power plant smokestacks upwind last year,” writes Elise Stolte. “Credit goes to the NDP carbon tax.”
• A citizen-led proposal for reducing speed limits called the Core Zone got the attention of City Council this past week. They’ll discuss it again on Tuesday.
• Alberta Blue Cross is creating a new park to replace the building that housed the former il Portico Italian restaurant, which is currently being demolished.
• Apparently a skunky smell is coming from Aurora Cannabis’ facility near the Edmonton International Airport. “Since the completion of the facility in January, the company has introduced two new exhaust units for deodorization, added 800 HVAC filters throughout processing areas and added 1,360 pocket filters throughout the grow bays.”
• ETS spring service changes began today. “The spring adjustments will involve minor schedule changes for bus routes, major changes to Routes 7, 8, 15 and 57, and the introduction of Designated Drop-Off Zones for buses at Lewis Farms and South Campus transit centres.”
• Also starting today are bus detours due to Valley Line LRT construction. “From April 28 until approximately late November, ETS Routes 112, 322 and 965 will detour off 95 Avenue between 85 Street and 92 Street.”
• Rossdale Fire Station 21 is back up and running after being closed for the last 22 years, bringing the number of fire halls across the city to 30.
• Edmonton’s Brendan Bottcher won his third consecutive event on the Grand Slam of Curling tour, with a 6-5 extra-end win over Kevin Koe of Calgary.
• Troy and I spoke about the #YEGCoreZone and SingularityU on the latest episode of Speaking Municipally. Take a listen and spread the word!
• Get the latest on Media, Tech, Food, Health Innovation, Music, Business, and Council with Taproot Edmonton’s latest roundups.

Second Winter

Upcoming Events

• Amii’s next AI Meetup takes place Monday evening at Startup Edmonton. The event “brings together the brightest minds in Edmonton’s AI community.”
• The Edmonton Horticultural Society is celebrating its 110th birthday on Monday evening at the Muttart Conservatory.
• Amazing Agriculture is on at the Edmonton EXPO Centre from Tuesday to Thursday.
• Nerd Nite Edmonton #49 takes place Tuesday evening at the ATB Financial Arts Barns.
• I’ll be speaking at Rainforest Lunch without Lunch on Wednesday at Work Nicer Beaver House. I hope to see you there!
• IDEA is hosting A Rooftop View of Parking on Thursday evening on the roof of Beljan Block on Whyte Avenue.
• The Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton is hosting its 6th annual fundraising and awareness gala on Thursday evening at the Edmonton Convention Centre.
• The spring Butterdome Craft Sale runs Friday to Sunday at the U of A.
• Godsmack performs at Rogers Place on Friday evening.
• The Pride Centre of Edmonton is facilitating Queer Youth Prom 2019 on Friday evening at the Central Lions Recreation Centre.
• Hand2Hand’s Spring Market takes place on Saturday at the Terwillegar Community Church.
• The Edmonton Winds present May the 4th Be With You! on Saturday at The Orange Hub.
• The next Homeless Connect Edmonton takes place on Sunday at the Edmonton Convention Centre.
• Sunday marks the start of the Callingwood Farmers’ Market season.

Edmonton Valley Ride, photo by pistachio

Thanks for reading! Want to support my blog? Buy me a coffee!