Edmonton Notes for February 9, 2020

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• City Council voted 8-5 in favor of having Administration work with Prairie Sky Gondola to advance the proposed gondola project to the next stage with a more detailed feasibility study. “I know we have a lot of work to do, we’re going to raise our game,” said CEO Jeffrey Hansen-Carlson, who hopes to be back at Council in six months.
• Aurora Cannabis announced that it will layoff 500 workers and replace founder and CEO Terry Booth who stepped down. Executive Chairman Michael Singer has been appointed Interim CEO, while Booth will remain on the company’s board and serve as strategic advisor.
• Enoch Cree Nation Chief Billy Morin has been appointed grand chief of the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations. "Morin, whose nation has a mutual benefits agreement with the corporation behind the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, brings a strong business background to the leadership of Treaty 6," reports CBC.
• City Council has unanimously approved redevelopment plans for the Jasper Gates Shopping Centre at Stony Plain Road and 149 Street. "RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust and Stantec will lead the redevelopment of new condos, row houses and shops into the area."
• Neil Herbst, who co-founded Alley Kat Brewing Company back in 1994, has sold the business to Zane Christensen and Cameron French who plan to continue with the local and independent focus. "Alley Kat is Alberta’s fourth-longest operating brewery," reports the Edmonton Journal. This year the brewery is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
• A new website called the Estimated Time of Arrival Tool "allows Edmontonians to plug in an address, destination, date and time to see an estimated travel time, and how that might change if speed limits were reduced," reports CBC Edmonton.
• Local companies Darkhorse Analytics and Lift Interactive won a bid to redevelop the USA Facts website by pitching to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. “You don’t get to pitch to the 13th richest man in the world every day,” said Micah Slavens, co-founder of Lift Interactive. “That’s not something we run into.”
• "The loss of public river valley land would be an enormous cost to Edmontonians, especially in this time of climate and ecological crisis," wrote Kristine Kowalchuk, chair of the Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition, regarding the proposed gondola project.
• More than 6,700 employees completed the City of Edmonton’s December 2019 Employee Check-in, a satisfaction survey planned to occur every three months, which found that most employees feel their work is meaningful and their workplace is safe. "This isn’t necessarily about the scores but this is about the feedback," said interim city manager Adam Laughlin. The statement respondents agreed with the least was, "I feel free to speak my mind without fear of negative consequences."
• Demolition of the Baccarat Casino has begun. The building, constructed in 1996, has sat empty since September 2016. "We’ve heard loud and clear from Edmontonians that the Baccarat has become an eyesore," said Tim Shipton, spokesperson for the Oilers Entertainment Group.
• Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) will implement mid-winter bus schedule adjustments starting Sunday, Feb. 9.
• Residential blading begins Monday, Feb. 10. The City’s Know Your Snow Day page can tell you when crews will be in your neighbourhood.
• Get the latest on Media, Tech, Food, Health Innovation, the Region, Music, Arts, Business, and Council with Taproot Edmonton’s latest roundups.

Upcoming Events (Feb. 10-16)

• Silver Skate Festival: Feb. 7-17 at Hawrelak Park
• International Day of Women and Girls in Science: 9am on Feb. 11 at TELUS World of Science
• Chicago Blackhawks vs. Edmonton Oilers: 7pm on Feb. 11 at Rogers Place
• Green Drinks: Speed Dating (for the Climate): 7pm on Feb. 12 at Yellowhead Brewery
• Communauto YEG Pop up!: 1:30pm on Feb. 13 at DOSC
• Startup TNT: 6pm on Feb. 13 at Polar Park Brewing
• Next Level Green Buildings: 6pm on Feb. 13 at Shaw Theatre, NAIT
• Lougheed College Lectures hosts Michelle Dagnino: 6:30pm on Feb. 13 at TELUS Centre
• Yoga in Ford Hall: 7pm on Feb. 13 at Rogers Place
• Endless Skies- Teachers’ Convention Association: Feb. 13-14 at Edmonton Convention Centre
• Winefest: Feb. 14-15 at Edmonton Convention Centre
• Edmonton Travel Show: 11am on Feb. 16 at Edmonton International Airport
• FREQUENCY 2020: 7pm on Feb. 16 at Edmonton Convention Centre
• Swing ‘n’ Skate: Feb. 16 & 23 at City Hall

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