Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:
Headlines
- Council approved rezonings for the Mackenzie Tower on 104 Street and the Park View towers at Jasper Avenue and 108 Street this week. That means the El Mirador building will be lost, but downtown will gain a significant amount of residents right next to the new central park.
- Since cannabis was legalized in October 2018, just six tickets for cannabis-related infractions have been issued in Edmonton. The police had asked for $5.5 million for cannabis-related enforcement, a request that Council has delayed until the fall. I can’t imagine that’ll go in EPS’ favor with numbers like this!
- From CBC Edmonton: "The longest day in the history of the Alberta legislature wrapped up just before noon Friday after the NDP filibustered through two straight all-nighters to stop changes to access and privacy protections for gay-straight alliances."
- Blue Plate Diner has announced its new location will be at 124 Street and Stony Plain Road, in the old Back Home Fish and Chips location. They hope to be open for August.
- I haven’t seen the new public art at the Kathleen Andrews Transit Garage yet, but lots of people are talking about it, so I guess it’s doing its job!
- A new report from Atlus Group says that real estate investment in Edmonton reached $3.94 billion last year, increasing for the third consecutive year.
- According to Alberta Treasury Board and Finance, Alberta will grow to 6.6 million people by 2046, with 80% of residents living in the Edmonton-Red Deer-Calgary corridor.
- Statistics show that the majority of collisions with pedestrians in Edmonton happen in marked crossings. Rob Shields, University of Alberta sociology professor who specializes in architecture and urban planning, "said drivers are at fault the majority of the time when pedestrians are hit in marked crossings."
- Elise Stolte says: "Station Pointe was always a pipe dream. It’s time to accept that."
- Edmonton now has a prop museum thanks to Darren Bland who opened up shop on 124 Street at 108 Avenue. "It features make-up, costumes, wigs and prosthetics used in dozens of Hollywood movies."
- Sharon and I took Emily to the new playground outside McKay Avenue School downtown today! Such a great amenity to have in our neighbourhood. The grand opening will take place later this month.
- In Episode 45 of Speaking Municipally we discuss the Mackenzie Tower, Park View project, public art, and e-scooters.
- Get the latest on Media, Tech, Food, Health Innovation, Music, Business, and Council with Taproot Edmonton’s latest roundups.
Happy Canada Day! photo by Kurt Bauschardt
Upcoming Events
- The Edmonton International Street Performers Festival continues in Dr. Wilbert McIntyre Park until Sunday!
- This is the final week for the Freewill Shakespeare Festival in Hawrelak Park.
- The Alberta Podcast Network is hosting an Edmonton Podcasting Get-Together on Tuesday evening at the ATB Entrepreneur Centre.
- Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Natural Resources, is speaking at the World Trade Centre Edmonton on Wednesday.
- From Thursday to Sunday, YEG Fitness and the OSBA are running the Whyte Avenue Instagram Wellness Scavenger Hunt.
- Make your own reusable tote bag with pillowcases at the #boombagsYEG event on Thursday evening at the Abby Road Co-op.
- The Edmonton Stingers host the Guelph Nighthawks on Thursday at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
- The Edmonton Prospects host the Melville Millionaires on Friday at Re/max Field.
- Edmonton Ribfest runs Friday to Sunday at Borden Park.
- Africanival 2019 runs Friday to Sunday at MacEwan’s Allard Hall.
- Edmonton Carnaval takes place Saturday and Sunday at the Alberta Avenue Community Hall.
- Death Cab For Cutie performs at the Edmonton EXPO Centre on Saturday evening.
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