Edmonton Notes for September 22, 2019

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• Edmonton recently declared a climate emergency. Now what? That’s what Chris Gusen explores in our latest Taproot story.
• Mayor Iveson spoke out about e-scooters recently, saying he didn’t think the rollout was going well.
• The City is celebrating two milestones at Blatchford: "the completion of the first Energy Centre for the community District Energy Sharing System and the start of residential construction as Mutti Homes broke ground for the first townhomes."
• Another update on City Plan went to Council recently, and that got the mayor wondering about an east-west transit connection over the river. “Whether that would carry rail or buses or some other kind of technology, the plan is silent on that right now,” he said. “It stands to reason with another million people within the boundaries of the city that we might need at least one other connection across the river.”
• The City and the University of Alberta have been named the first Canadian members of the MetroLab Network, "an exclusive group of international city-university partnerships that help solve some of municipalities’ greatest challenges."
• Councillor Paquette says that transit fines are too high and should be more in line with tickets levied on drivers. “What it really does is sort of create a tax on poverty,” he said.
• Councillor Esslinger wants Edmonton to get out of the business of licensing body rub parlours.
• The Edmonton International Airport has won Plant Engineering and Maintenance Association of Canada (PEMAC) team of the year award for "its efforts to reduce delays for passengers, help airlines operate on time and have an airport that runs smoothly for everyone."
• According to new information from the Canadian Rental Housing Index, Edmonton Strathcona, Edmonton Centre and Edmonton Griesbach are among federal ridings facing a “crisis” of rental housing affordability.
• Less than a year after installing them for $100,000, the City is removing red-brick crosswalks from 124 Street at a cost of $40,000. What a waste!
• The Green Onion Cake Man is coming to downtown! The restaurant will replace Baba Finks Canteen by November, if renovations go according to plan.
• In the latest episode of Speaking Municipally we talked about e-scooters, transit fines, the WEM footbridge, and Terwillegar Expressway.
• Get the latest on Media, Tech, Food, Health Innovation, the Region, Music, Arts, Business, and Council with Taproot Edmonton’s latest roundups.

Mini LRT, photo by Kurt Bauschardt

Upcoming Events

• This week is Changemaker Week at MacEwan University’s Roundhouse. It’s "a full week of free workshops and events that will inspire you to act on your ideas for social good, sharpen your changemaking skillset and help you and your organization make a social impact."
• Amii’s next AI Meetup takes place Monday evening at Startup Edmonton.
• The Edmonton Eskimos will host their annual dinner on Tuesday evening at the Edmonton Convention Centre featuring 2019 Wall of Honour inductee Ricky Ray.
• The Oilers host the Coyotes at Rogers Place on Tuesday evening.
• The 2019 AUMA Convention takes place at the Edmonton Convention Centre from Wednesday through Friday.
• The Edmonton International Film Festival kicks off on Thursday and runs through Oct. 5.
• The 2019 EPL Gala featuring General Rick Hillier takes place Thursday evening at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
• The 30th Annual McDonald Lecture in Constitutional Studies featuring Senator Paula Simons takes place Thursday night at the TELUS Centre.
• Alberta Culture Days runs Friday to Sunday around the province.
• The Edmonton Wellness Expo takes place Friday to Sunday at the Edmonton Convention Centre.
• Elton John is performing at Rogers Place on Friday and Saturday.
• The ETSY Made in Canada Market is on Saturday and Sunday at the Edmonton Convention Centre.
• Don’t miss the #boombagsYEG SUPER SEWcial, scheduled for Sunday at the Ritchie Community Hall.
• Check out Taproot Edmonton’s summer festival & event guide for 2019 for more upcoming events!

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