It has been a couple of weeks since my last update, but I have a good excuse (which you can read about below). Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• Talk about a punch to the gut: “The city auditor issued a scathing critique of Edmonton’s waste management centre Thursday, a facility that’s been touted as best in class for years.” Turns out we’re nowhere close to the goal of diverting 90% of residential waste from landfill, and in fact our diversion rate has been trending down! Very disappointing.
• DeepMind has announced funding for an endowed chair in the University of Alberta’s computing science department. “The new endowed research chair will be given full academic freedom to explore any interest that could advance the field of artificial intelligence, with the lab hoping its offer will attract a senior researcher with international renown.”
• Details have been released for the 2018 Grey Cup which will take place right here in Edmonton from November 21-25. “Edmontonians love to rally behind a theme and in keeping with tradition, this year’s Grey Cup Festival will be focused on the city’s warm and welcoming hospitality,” said Brad Sparrow, Co-Chair of the Grey Cup Festival. The theme this year is “Bring the Heat”.
• Congratulations to Chris LaBossiere and the team at Yardstick Software on the acquisition of Banister Research.
• Why is it that people come to Edmonton to stay and don’t even realize it? Rita Neyer explores Still in Edmonton over at The Wanderer.
• A City auditor’s report found a number of issues with last year’s municipal election, including a ballot box being left behind at a voting station. Overall though, the report found fewer issues than in 2013.
• Elise has the scoop on new rules for developing highrise towers across Edmonton.
• A new customer satisfaction survey has found that “89 per cent of respondents were satisfied with their experience using 311 in 2017.”
• Edmonton has committed to continue with the FIFA 2026 bid process as City Council has agreed to support our city “as a candidate host city for the United Bid, a unique tri-country bid that brings together Canada, USA and Mexico.”
• City Council has decided to keep looking at options for the pool at City Hall, even if they might have to spend a bit more. I understand that there are new provincial safety standards that the pool must comply with but is keeping the pool open with similar characteristics to today worth hundreds of thousands of dollars?
• A new pilot program will rent out vacant municipal land to gardeners for a $100 fee starting this spring. “Applications for the pilot will be available on Feb. 12 with a deadline to apply by April 15.”
• There’s a new climate change exhibition called Climate Change is Here now on display at the Meadows Community Recreation Centre. You can see it there until March 17.
• Dave Mowat, ATB Financial’s well-known president and CEO, will retire from his position on June 30. His successor is expected to be announced in May.
• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced a tough crowd here in Edmonton on Thursday evening. “Trudeau entered the hall in Edmonton’s MacEwan University to mixed chorus of applause and boos. His answers were interrupted periodically through the night by angry shouts, although Trudeau never lost his composure.”
• The next application deadline for the Edmonton Community Foundation’s Young Edmonton Grants is February 15.
• You’ve got until Tuesday to head over to Bonnie Doon to see a mockup of the new LRT cars that will run along the Valley Line when it opens in 2020.
• Apparently there were more than 180 collisions in Edmonton on Friday thanks to all the snow. Drive safe!
• For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.

Winter Ride, photo by IQRemix

Upcoming Events

• The Oilers are back in action this week hosting the Avalanche on Monday evening at Rogers Place.
• Wildfire, which is Rapid Fire Theatre’s annual teen improv festival, starts on Tuesday and runs until the 24th.
• eHUB at the University of Alberta is hosting a breakfast event on Tuesday with Dan McEleney, co-founder of Gfycat.
• Evolving Infill is hosting two workshops this week: Tuesday at the Commonwealth Recreation Centre, and Wednesday at Beacon Heights School.
• Wednesday is Winter Walk Day! Bundle up!
• The Local Good is hosting Green Drinks: Good Allies at the Yellowhead Brewery on Wednesday evening.
• The North Central Alberta Teacher’s Convention takes place at the Shaw Conference Centre on Thursday and Friday.
• Should Alberta have one public school system or two? That question will be debated at an event on Thursday night at the Telus Centre.
• The 2018 Edmonton RV Expo & Sale is on at the Edmonton Expo Centre from Thursday through Sunday.
• This year’s edition of the Canadian Birkebeiner Ski Festival takes place on Friday and Saturday.
• The Silver Skate Festival kicks off on Friday at Hawrelak Park.
• Women’s Initiative Edmonton is hosting the 2018 Women’s Symposium on Saturday at the Westin Edmonton.
• The Great Canadian Fitness Festival is taking place at the Shaw Conference Centre on Saturday and Sunday.
• The Oil Kings host the Rebels for an afternoon game on Saturday at Rogers Place.
• For more great upcoming events, check out Taproot’s guide to winter festivals & events in and around Edmonton!

Introducing Emily

Sharon and I are totally in love with our new baby girl (and probably a bit sleep-deprived, if I’m being honest)! Emily Fengcai Male was born on Friday, January 26 weighing 7 lbs 14 oz. I can’t believe she’s already more than a week old! Is it too early to start teaching her how to blog? 😉

A post shared by Mack Male (@mastermaq) on Jan 29, 2018 at 11:39am PST

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Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• Given all of the change going on at Northlands, it was no surprise to learn that President & CEO Tim Reid resigned on Friday. He is going to become President & CEO of the Regina Exhibition Association. His last day at Northlands will be March 5.
• Graham Hicks wrote about EEDC’s departing President & CEO, Brad Ferguson. “He can ride off with his head held high,” he wrote. “What Ferguson did in his five years – which is the average time on the job for his four predecessors – was to find and define Edmonton’s soul.”
• Both men shared a nice exchange on Twitter. “Relentless energy and focus…thank you for your contribution,” Ferguson wrote to Reid. “Thanks for your continued professional support and personal friendship,” he replied.
• Amidst discussion about BRT vs. LRT, Mayor Iveson says “rail is imminent to the west.” If major financial commitments for the Valley Line West LRT from the provincial and federal governments come through, it’s very unlikely that Council would change its mind and go for BRT instead. That said, I think there’s clearly room for both BRT and LRT in Edmonton.
• Toronto was the only Canadian city to make the shortlist for Amazon’s HQ2, but EEDC CEO Brad Ferguson says the Edmonton bit was still worth it. “This was a proposal that brought our whole community together in very short order,” he said.
• Council is set to approve an additional $6 million for a new park in The Quarters this week. “The name of the new park, Kinistinaw, is a nod to the heritage of the area. 96 Street used to be called Kinistino Avenue, an anglicized version of the Cree words ‘we three.'”
• The cold snap that took place earlier this month resulted in 191 collisions in nine hours. Doug Jones, deputy city manager for city operations, says the City needs to be clear that when it gets really cold, the usual methods of improving road conditions don’t work. “We don’t have a solution,” he said. Aside from, you know, equipping your vehicle properly for winter, slowing down, and driving more carefully.
• City Council will discuss this week whether to put forward a bid to host some of the games during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. According to Edmonton Tourism, “the economic impact of hosting the event is estimated at $208 million.”
• Liane Faulder wrote about the growth of food delivery apps like SkipTheDishes and Foodora here in Edmonton.
• The new CanSkate@School program is a learn-to-skate program funded through a partnership between the City of Edmonton and the Oilers Entertainment Group. The partnership fund “was kick-started by a $1 million contribution from the EOCF and Katz family as part of the facility development agreement.”
• The Katz Group wants City Council to allow it to open a new liquor store that is just 20 metres away from an existing store, far closer than the 500 metre minimum distance required by the current rules.
• A topping-off ceremony for the new JW Marriott hotel in the Ice District is expected to take place within the next few weeks. The hotel is slated to open in January 2019.
• The City’s Accessibility Advisory Committee is now accepting nominations for the 2018 Mayor’s Awards. The deadline for nominations is March 9.
• Some are predicting that 2018 will be a breakout year for Edmonton’s tech scene, which has experienced “significant growth” in AI, health, and entrepreneurship in recent years.
• The Edmonton Oilers have hired Paul Coffey as a skills and development coach, the latest former player to join the organization. Somewhere I picture Daryl Katz chanting “gotta catch em all!”
• For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.

22nd Century, photo by Kurt Bauschardt

Upcoming Events

• Chinatown Dining Week is on all week long at five different restaurants in the Chinatown area! Here are the menus.
• The new Michael Phair School, located at 9407 211 Street NW, is having a grand opening ceremony on Monday evening!
• Share your thoughts on the Metro Line Northwest LRT Extension project on Tuesday at the Castle Downs YMCA.
• The Edmonton Career Fair and Training Expo takes place on Tuesday at the Shaw Conference Centre.
• The City is hosting Evolving Infill workshops on Tuesday and Thursday this week.
• You can learn more about the Valley Line West LRT project on Wednesday evening at St. Paul’s Anglican Church.
• The Alberta Party Leadership Race Debate takes place on Wednesday evening at the Lister Conference Centre.
• Dark Matters is on at the TELUS World of Science on Thursday night.
• Ice on Whyte is back for two weekends in Old Strathcona. The first runs Thursday through Sunday.
• The Edmonton Renovation Show is at the Edmonton Expo Centre from Friday through Sunday.
• Also taking place at the Edmonton Expo Centre on the weekend is the Edmonton Pet Expo.
• The 2018 Alberta Student Leadership Summit and Student Sustainability Summit are both taking place on the weekend at CCIS on the University of Alberta campus.
• The Edmonton Digital Arts College is hosting the local edition of Global Game Jam 2018 all weekend.
• The 2018 Chamber Ball takes place on Saturday night at Rogers Place.
• Learn how to start a podcast with Karen Unland of the Alberta Podcast Network on Saturday at CKUA!
• For more upcoming events, check out Taproot Edmonton’s guide to winter festivals and events!

Incline Mobile Obelisk, photo by Kurt Bauschardt

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• At EEDC’s annual Impact luncheon on Tuesday, outgoing CEO Brad Ferguson said Edmonton should strive for 4% annual economic growth. “Growth opportunities will be hard to find and the competition has never been as fierce,” he said.
• David Staples was a fan of Mayor Don Iveson’s remarks at the luncheon: “Iveson isn’t quite yet at former mayor Bill Smith levels of civic boosterism, but he’s now on the same page, pushing the same story as our business community.”
• Former mayor Stephen Mandel announced he will run for the leadership of the Alberta Party. As the Journal’s editorial board wrote: “the more things change, the more they stay the same.”
• ETS fares are going up as of February 1 “by approximately three per cent for adult, post-secondary, youth and seniors’ monthly passes and tickets.” Additionally the Route 747 will now be $10 or four regular ETS tickets.
• The Make it Awkward Inclusivity Summit, slated to take place February 1-3 at the Westin, is taking heat for ticket prices exceeding $400. “You can’t have a conversation about discrimination while excluding those who are affected or want to learn, but can’t afford to attend,” wrote Danielle Paradis. The City is also being criticized for its contribution of $30,000 given that Make it Awkward is a private company, not a non-profit organization. The estimated price tag for the three-day conference is $140,000, which just sounds absolutely ridiculous to me.
• The Valley Zoo ended up with a dishonourable mention from California-based In Defense of Animals recently regarding the treatment of Lucy the elephant, prompting a response from the City. “We take great exception to the continued misinformation about the care Lucy receives in Edmonton,” said Edmonton Valley Zoo director Denise Prefontaine.
• This week Council will discuss participating in a bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. A report on the issue estimates $170 million in economic impact.
• URBN Cowork, which launched in Sherwood Park in May 2017, has opened a second location in Edmonton at 22 Avenue and 90 Street.
• Pretty amazing coincidence that the Oilers played in Vegas as Connor McDavid turns 21! There were thousands of Edmonton fans in attendance at the game that Edmonton won.
• Bonnie Doon Shopping Centre is planning a major overhaul “that will include building high-density housing, shops and improved connections to a nearby Valley Line LRT station.”
• A group of local doctors has created a Cards Against Humanity-inspired game called “Doctors Against Tragedies” to teach people about the risks of fentanyl use.
• The CFR won’t be finding a new home at Rogers Place after OEG confirmed it won’t be bidding to host the event.
• Deloitte has been hired by the City of Edmonton to investigate harassment complaints. Staff can call if they feel they are being harassed, bullied, or discriminated against in the workplace, and the firm is also working on a set of recommendations for the City.
• Are you a local expert? Edmonton Tourism is looking for “YEG Experts” to help personalize visit experiences.
• For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.

Upcoming Events

• Nerd Nite Edmonton is back on Tuesday evening at the ATB Financial Arts Barns.
• The City is hosting an Evolving Infill Launch Party on Wednesday at City Hall. The event is an opportunity to review the new set of draft infill actions.
• The Oliver Community League is hosting Make Something Oliver on Wednesday to “imagine what could make Oliver even more amazing.”
• Edmonton Opera is hosting Opera 101: HMS Pinafore on Wednesday evening at CKUA.
• The Edmonton Whisky Festival takes place on Wednesday at the Delta Edmonton South.
• A Taste of Animethon is at the Shaw Conference Centre on Friday and Saturday.
• Head over to the Legislature grounds on Saturday for March On Edmonton, the official Women’s March anniversary.
• The next Oilers home game is on Saturday at Rogers Place against the Canucks.
• Sunday is World Snow Day!
• Bridal Fantasy Edmonton takes place on Sunday at the Edmonton Expo Centre.
• The inaugural Chinatown Dining Week is coming up from January 20-28!
• For more upcoming events, check out Taproot Edmonton’s guide to winter festivals and events!

Ice Castle Edmonton, photo by Jason Woodhead

Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and were able to keep warm through the mini deep freeze we had recently.

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• The City mailed 2018 property assessment notices this week. “Between July 1, 2016 and July 1, 2017, a typical single-family, detached home in Edmonton increased by 0.6 per cent and is now valued at $399,500.” If you have a concern with yours, you have until March 12 to file a formal complaint. Property tax bills will be delivered in May.
• December was another strong month for job growth in Edmonton. “Since the start of 2017, Edmonton has seen consistent gains in full-time employment, particularly in the areas of healthcare, education and some service sectors.”
• Council has a very difficult decision coming up on how to best integrate LRT with traffic at 149 Steet and Stony Plain Road. “City officials say tunnelling an LRT line is generally 10 times more expensive than building at grade, while elevating track is three times more expensive.”
• That decision is one of five big decisions coming up for Council in 2018, according to Elise Stolte.
• Edmonton (alongside Calgary) is one of WestJet Magazine’s best places to travel in 2018. “Both Edmonton and Calgary have been making big investments in infrastructure and the arts, resulting in exciting openings and development.”
• From the Edmonton Journal, here are ten Edmonton business events to look for in 2018.
• The City will start collecting natural Christmas trees on Tuesday. “In 2017, 10,779 trees weighing over 115 tonnes were collected for recycling.”
• The odds of Calgary landing Amazon’s HQ2 have risen from 66-to-1 to 18-to-1, while Edmonton remains a “dark horse” at 100-to-1, according to Irish betting company Paddy Power.
• Earth’s General Store owner Michael Kalmanovitch has launched a petition asking City Council to ban plastic bags. Taproot did a story on the subject back in September.
• I have seen a number of advertisements for winter cycling recently. “Cycling in the winter is much like preparing for other outdoor winter activities, like skiing. With a few adjustments you can keep cycling through the winter.”
• Thirty new pickleball courts opened across the Edmonton area last year. Who knew?
• One of the ideas pitched for the Edmonton Project was a river valley sauna. The winning project will be selected by a panel of judges on March 6.
• Ward 1 Councillor Andrew Knack says that while Edmonton will be prepared for marijuana legalization in July, the City would welcome some additional time. “I don’t think it would be a bad thing,” he said.
• Wallace James Ogletree was Edmonton’s first baby of 2018! “His name comes from two characters played by British actor Daniel Radcliffe: Wallace from romantic-comedy The F Word and James after the titular hero’s middle name in the Harry Potter series.”
• If you’re looking for a good roundup of 2017 year-in-review items, check out Edmonton Quotient!
• For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.

Walterdale Bridge, photo by Terry Lawson

Upcoming Events

• Thanks to the cold snap, the Ice Castles have opened in Edmonton. Check it out at Hawrelak Park (and be sure to check the website before you go).
• EEDC’s annual Impact Luncheon takes place on Tuesday at the Shaw Conference Centre.
• I like the idea of a post-New Years Eve party, and that’s what IABC is hosting at the Crash Hotel on Thursday night.
• The Edmonton Motorcycle & ATV Show takes place at the Edmonton Expo Centre from Friday to Sunday.
• NAIT and ABC Bees are offering a Level One Beekeeping Certificate course on Saturday and Sunday. “The 16 hour long intensive content will offer everything you need to know to begin beekeeping.”
• Deep Freeze, one of my favorite festivals of the year, takes place along Alberta Avenue on Saturday and Sunday.
• Fruit Loop’s first event of 2018 takes place Saturday evening at the Crash Hotel.
• Swing ‘n’ Skate is back at City Hall on Sundays!
• For more upcoming events, check out Taproot’s guide to winter festivals & events in and around Edmonton.

Hard to believe Christmas is just a week away! This will likely be my last Edmonton Notes of the year – thanks for reading along. See you in 2018!

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• This weekend was likely the final opportunity to visit Northlands Coliseum, with one last hockey game and some emotional goodbyes as part of the farewell.
• Local elves helped deliver toys to more than 24,000 children in need in our city this weekend as part of the 62nd annual Santas Anonymous campaign.
• The Mayor’s Economic Development Summit took place this week at NAIT with “discussions centred on sectors such as artificial intelligence, logistics, advanced manufacturing, health innovation, green building technologies, food and agricultural technology.”
• A proposal from the City to replace the City Hall pool with granite and much shallower water was met with quite a bit of pushback from both citizens and Councillors. The issue will be discussed in the new year.
• The latest Taproot Edmonton story takes a look at the issue of food waste.
• On a related note, the City is once again promoting its Wasteless Holidays campaign. “Create memories not garbage!”
• EEDC is supporting Airbnb-style “space matchmaking” service Thisopenspace “that connects people to empty office and retail spaces.” Local listings are set to launch in January.
• The City is inviting Edmontonians to submit ideas “that use technology and information to improve livability and opportunities for the City and its people” as part of Infrastructure Canada’s Smart Cities Challenge.
• The results of the 2017 Capital City Cleanup Litter Audit show “a continued trend towards less litter on Edmonton’s streets” with a 35% reduction in large litter and 26% reduction in small litter compared to last year.
• Flair Airlines has added daily flights between Edmonton and Toronto, with direct flights running multiple times a week between Edmonton and Vancouver, and Edmonton and Kelowna.
• The City has installed new signs to help cyclists turn from a protected bike lane into the street.
• Metro News did an end-of-year interview with Mayor Don Iveson on the Metro Line LRT, Northlands, Accidential Beach, and more.
• Speaking of the mayor, he’s running a photo of the year contest. You’ve got until December 31 to enter!
• For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.

View from the funicular

Upcoming Events

• Zoominescence continues at the Valley Zoo until the end of the month.
• Fort Edmonton Park’s Christmas Reflections is on now until December 23.
• Christmas at Bob’s, located at 7421 108 Street, is on until January 7. It’s a great spot to see Christmas lights!
• Candy Cane Lane is on until January 2 along 148 Street between 92 and 100 Avenue.
• This sounds like a lot of fun: Metro Cinema is hosting a Quote-A-Long screening of Die Hard on December 23.
• Shumka’s Nutcracker, “Clara’s Dream”, takes place at the Jubilee on December 29 & 30.
• This year, the New Year’s Eve fireworks are taking place at the Federal Building near the Legislature, and they start at 9pm.
• Be sure to check out Taproot Edmonton’s guide to winter festivals and events for more!

A final look at Northlands Coliseum, photo by Jason Woodhead

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• City Council approved the Supplemental Operating Budget Adjustment for 2018 this week, approving a property tax increase of 3.2%. “Council also approved the $1.4 billion capital budget for 2018 projects that includes new fire stations, upgrading libraries, a police division and transit garage, and other infrastructure.”
• Edmonton’s new $24 million funicular opened on Saturday, providing “an accessible connection from Edmonton’s downtown to the scenic River Valley trail network.” The funicular is free and functions like an elevator. Here are some other tips for your visit.
• Thales Canada has until April 30 to get the Metro Line LRT running properly or they’ll face “serious consequences” thanks to a new ultimatum issued by City Council this week. The Metro Line was originally scheduled to open in April 2014.
• City Council has enacted a temporary moratorium on new licenses or event permits for combative sports, in effect until the end of 2018. “This bylaw was added to Council’s agenda following a verbal, in camera update to City Council on the status of an independent, third-party review into the death of professional boxer Tim Hague, who died after a sanctioned boxing match in Edmonton on June 16, 2017.”
• The City has released its year-in-review for Blatchford: “Over eight thousand metres of water mains, storm and sanitary sewers, and distribution piping for the District Energy Sharing System were installed and 1,400 metres of curb and gutters were constructed.”
• According to new figures from Statistics Canada, the median net worth of Edmonton families was $230,200 in 2016. That compares to $295,100 nationally, and $290,500 provincially.
• Moshe Lander, an economics professor at Concordia University, wonders why Edmontonians are on the hook for demolishing the Coliseum. “Fleecing the taxpayer for another $20 million is a terrible epitaph to a wonderful building.”
• According to AHS, more than 1 million Albertans have received the flu shot so far this season. Here in the Edmonton region they’ve administered 338,000 doses and there has been 91 flu-related hospitalizations and 1 flu-related death.
• The City and Oilers Entertainment Group announced this week that Rogers Place has received LEED Silver certification, the first NHL facility in Canada built to that standard.
• If you’re thinking about building a garden suite, be sure to check out the City’s new how-to guide.
• Described as “Canada’s token middle child”, Edmonton has made Travel + Leisure’s list of the 50 best places to travel in 2018.
• Christmas at Bob’s, the Queen Alexandra home decorated with more than 150,000 lights, is back for another season.
• I hope you’re enjoying the heat wave that seems to be on in Edmonton right now because it could last for a couple more weeks!
• For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.

Alberta Legislature Holiday Lights

Upcoming Events

• It’s probably not as cold as they thought it might be, but the Valley Zoo is hosting Frozen Yoga on Monday evening. It’s yoga inside an igloo! Their popular Zoominescence Festival of Light also continues through the month.
• The 21st annual Stollery Snowflake Gala is happening at the Shaw Conference Centre on Monday evening.
• Metro Cinema is screening National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on Tuesday evening.
• The Oilers host the Predators on Thursday evening at Rogers Place.
• The Edmonton Singing Christmas Tree runs Thursday through Sunday at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.
• Northlands is hosting a Farewell Weekend for Northlands Coliseum on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The weekend features “a charity hockey game between Ryan Smyth’s Spruce Grove Saints and the Okotoks Oilers, public skates on the Northlands Coliseum ice and a Multicultural Round Dance presented by Candora Society.”
• Yule Ave: A Merry Christmas is happening on Alberta Avenue near 92 Street on Saturday.
• The City Market Downtown is hosting a Gingerbread House Workshop led by Jon from Meat Street Pies!
• Head over to St. Albert Place on Saturday for the final St. Albert Indoor Christmas Market of the season.
• Canada’s National Women’s hockey team will play the U.S.A. in a pre-Olympic face-off at Rogers Place on Sunday.
• For more upcoming events, check out Taproot’s guide to winter festivals and events in Edmonton.

Premier addresses Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, photo by Government of Alberta

Just three weeks to go until Christmas! Where has the time gone?

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• The City released four reports for Council related to the Exhibition Lands on Friday. “These reports bring together completed work and next steps to attract the most innovative, sustainable and economic ideas for the future of the area.” Council will be discussing the reports on Tuesday, one of which says the cost of demolishing Northlands Coliseum could be as high as $25 million.
• Council will also be discussing the Metro Line LRT, which has encountered 6 major malfunctions and 44 signaling mishaps since 2015. “Should we be alarmed? I am,” said Councillor Mike Nickel.
• Of course the big focus of the week for Council will be the 2018 budget. You can learn more about the budget at YEGCityBudget.ca.
• The contentious Holyrood Gardens project was sent back to the drawing board on Monday. “Councillors Michael Walters, Moe Banga, Jon Dziadyk, Sarah Hamilton and Tony Caterina voted against the referral motion.”
• ETS Route 747 will likely be saved, but the price is going up to $10. Council is hoping for a regional solution to keep transit to the airport viable.
• Air Canada wil start flying direct between Edmonton and San Francisco on May 1. “The year-round Air Canada Express service using 76-seat Bombardier CRJ-705/900 jets will be Edmonton’s first direct connection to San Francisco since United Airlines cancelled its service there and to Chicago in May 2016.”
• The Harley Court building at 10045 111 Street is going to be converted to a residential building if the planned $40 million renovation by owner Strategic Group goes ahead.
• Toronto developer Brad Lamb has cancelled plans to build the Jasper House condo building on 106 Street north of Jasper Avenue citing “unfortunate economic circumstances”.
• According to a new report from TransUnion, the average Edmontonian carries $25,149 in non-mortgage debt, an increase of 2.74% over last year.
• Congratulations to all the Edmontonians recognized in this year’s Salute to Excellence Awards.
• DynaLife has signed a new lease for its downtown space to March 2022, which will keep its 700 employees working in the core. “It’s great news and will give everyone time for sober second thought,” said Coun. Scott McKeen, a vocal opponent of a provincial plan to create a new super lab facility outside of downtown.
• The Oil Kings’ annual Teddy Bear Toss broke records again this year with more than 14,000 bears collected for Santas Anonymous.
• In case you missed it, this is a pretty cool photo of Edmonton’s skyline.
• For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.

High Street Lights

Upcoming Events

• ECVO is celebrating Edmonton volunteers at the 150 Volunteer Voices event taking place on Tuesday at the Garneau Theatre.
• Head over to Yellowhead Brewery on Wednesday evening to help The Local Good celebrate 10 years with a fundraiser. “In order for our volunteer organization to be able to continue offering resources and events to like-minded, locally-focused Edmontonians, we need financial support.”
• The Oilers host the Flyers on Wednesday at Rogers Place.
• Alberta Premier Rachel Notley is speaking at the Shaw Conference Centre on Thursday. Notley “will deliver her government’s priorities to create economic growth, and move our province forward at a time of challenge and opportunity for Alberta.”
• The TEC Venture Angels December Forum takes place Thursday at TEC Edmonton.
• They’re turning the lights on at the Alberta Legislature grounds on Thursday evening!
• The Oil Kings host the Warriors on Thursday night and the Broncos on Sunday.
• The City’s next and final Engage Edmonton event takes place at the Edmonton Tower on Thursday.
• Candy Cane Lane kicks off for another season on Friday night.
• Leefield Community League’s annual Gift & Craft Sale takes place on Saturday.
• The NAIT Ooks are taking on the University of Alberta Golden Bears on Saturday night in what is being called “the last competitive hockey game” played at Northlands Coliseum.
• From Explore Edmonton, here are things to do in Edmonton in December.
• For more great winter and holiday events, check out the festival and event guide for 2017/2018 from Taproot Edmonton!

Edmonton River Valley

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• FC Edmonton has decided to shut down operations, telling CBC Edmonton, “we would need 8,000 or 9,000 people to be sustainable.” Here is the organization’s official statement. The decision to cease operations and leave the North American Soccer League (NASL) is effective immediately.
• The federal government’s national housing strategy was unveiled on Wednesday, promising $40 billion over the next decade to help with affordable housing. “This is what we’ve been looking for,” Mayor Don Iveson said. “This is a phenomenal day for cities and for housing and especially for people in need.” Not everyone is so optimistic though, with worries that the funds will take years to be available.
• Should the City raise fares to keep operating the bus service from Century Park to the Edmonton International Airport? That’s one of the options on the table in a new report that says it will cost about $1.9 million to operate the service in 2018.
• Edmonton’s Chinatown and Area Business Association has filed a court application to overturn approval of three inner city safe injection sites.
• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley are “the latest prominent voices to urge a public discussion about renaming the CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos out of respect for Inuit people.”
• The City has published a new map that identifies skating, tobogganing, and other winter-friendly locations throughout the river valley. Here is the PDF copy.
• Canadian North is investing $3.3 million per year for a new maintenance facility at the Edmonton International Airport set to open by the spring.
• Edmonton was 7th on CBRE Canada’s second annual ranking of top markets for tech workers and employers, one spot behind Calgary.
• Local food truck Hola la Taco was featured in a recent Netflix video that featured a few of the stars of Stranger Things!
• The University of Alberta has opened a new Commuter Study Hostel that features “14 single rooms for students to rent out for a rest or a late-night study binge.”
• #BundleUpYEG says it has collected more than 600 bags of warm clothing and delivered them all to homeless shelters in Edmonton in 23 days. They’re collecting from November 1 to December 18.
• The ETS Stuff a Bus campaign is back and runs Wednesday through Saturday. “Look for ETS buses parked in front of your favourite Edmonton Save-On-Foods store and donate non-perishable food items to support Edmonton’s Food Bank.”
• Here’s an update on ICE District from Property Biz Canada.
• Jordan Eberle did an interview recently about his time in Edmonton and as an Oiler. “When you read the articles every day about how much you suck, its tough,” he said.
• With warm daytime but low overnight temperatures, there’s a lot of melting and freezing going on. The City is reminding Edmontonians to “keep sidewalks, walkways and waste collection areas free of ice and snow.” You can find a community sandbox near you here.
• For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.

Edmonton Skyline + Telus Christmas Trees, photo by Jeff Wallace

Upcoming Events

• The City’s Salute to Excellence Performance & Citation Awards will be handed out on Monday night at City Hall.
• Catherine MacLean is the next speaker in the Lougheed College Lecture Series taking place Monday night at the Tory Theatre.
• The Oilers are back in town to host the Coyotes on Tuesday night and the high-flying Maple Leafs on Thursday.
• The Oil Kings are also in action at Rogers Place this week hosting the Wheat Kings on Wednesday, the Raiders on Saturday, and the Hurricanes on Sunday.
• The City of Edmonton is hosting an event on Wednesday night at City Hall called Let’s Talk Small Business.
• The Festival of Trees runs Wednesday through Sunday at the Shaw Conference Centre.
• Head over to the Butterdome at the University of Alberta for the Butterdome Craft Sale on Wednesday through Sunday.
• The Disney on Ice show Follow Your Heart starts on Wednesday at Northlands Coliseum and runs through Sunday.
• This year’s edition of A Christmas Carol kicks off at the Citadel Theatre on Friday night.
• Luminaria takes place at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden from Friday through Sunday.
• Winterfest is on at Snow Valley on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
• Get outside and enjoy a patio on the weekend with the Winter Patio kickoff!
• EFCL is running a workshop on Saturday morning on the Basics of Urban Planning.
• This year’s Santa Shuffle Fun Run & Elf Walk takes place on Saturday at Hawrelak Park.
• For more upcoming events, check out Taproot Edmonton’s guide to winter festivals and events!

Dudley B. Menzies Bridge

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• Elise Stolte has been writing all week about harassment experienced by nearly one-fifth of City employees at work. She has received lots of emails from former and current City employees expressing “how voiceless they feel.” The City is overhauling its workplace complaints process as a result.
• The Journal’s editorial board wrote: “If there’s one employer in the city that should set the bar for a workplace, it should be the City of Edmonton.”
• Elise also has the story on poor morale in the City’s communications branch. She reports on the results of the City’s employee engagement survey, which found “those selling the city’s vision are the least likely to have any faith it will come true.”
• Shocking no one at this point, the City says a full resolution to the Metro Line LRT debacle might not happen by the end of the year after all.
• Calgary-based Cidex Group has purchased the gaping hole in the ground at the corner of 95 Street and Jasper Avenue for an undisclosed price. Hopefully this means development in The Quarters will pick up.
• A new project called Paint the Rails will feature murals by local artists at six different LRT stations. It’s one of the City’s Canada 150 legacy projects.
• David Staples says the new citywide 30 km/h speed limits on roads next to playgrounds and fields is “another wrong step in the war of the roads.”
• The Eskimos lost the West Final today against Calgary. Terry Jones says a questionable coaching decision cost them dearly. Head coach Jason Maas says he doesn’t regret his decision.
• The commercial half of the new Stantec Tower was officially topped on Friday “after crews poured a giant slab of concrete that will support the upper condominium development.” Now the tower will rise another 37 stories for condos. The building is slated to be finished in 2019.
• The Enerkem Alberta Biofuels facility being built at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre is receiving $3.5 million from the Government of Canada.
• The Government of Canada also announced $1.16 million in funding for four anti-discrimination and inter-cultural understanding projects here in Edmonton.
• The proposed development at Holyrood Gardens continues to be a contentious issue at Council, with those in the community questioning the public engagement process.
• Costco is opening a new store at the Edmonton International Airport late next year.
• Here are 7 ways to support Bissell Centre this holiday season. “With your support this holiday season, we can make a big impact in the lives of people struggling with poverty in our community.”
• For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.

Edmonton Skyline – Before 6pm, photo by Jeff Wallace

Upcoming Events

• Head over to Mile Zero Dance on Monday night for the launch of #YEGCanvas, “A City-Wide Billboard & LRT Station Based Transitory Art Exhibition.”
• The Edmonton Career Fair & Training Expo takes place at the Shaw Conference Centre on Tuesday.
• Carolyn Campbell, Deputy City Manager for Communications and Engagement, is speaking at NextGen’s upcoming speaker series event on Wednesday night at the Edmonton Tower.
• ATB’s BoostR live pitch event returns on Wednesday evening, this time at Allard Hall (the new MacEwan building).
• The 13th annual Innovation and Entrepreneurship Dinner, hosted by Entrepreneurship@UAlberta and eHUB takes place Thursday night at Lister Centre on the U of A campus.
• The Oil Kings host the Kootenay Ice on Friday night and the Portland Winterhawks on Saturday night, both at Rogers Place.
• Edmonton Creates is a two-day, hands-on conference “to support local entrepreneurs in growing and launching creative businesses.” It takes place Saturday and Sunday at NAIT with a kickoff keynote on Friday night.
• This is shaping up to be the weekend for local Christmas shopping in Edmonton. Make It! runs Thursday through Sunday at the Edmonton Expo Centre. The Silver Bells Winter Market takes place all weekend in Sherwood Park. Royal Bison‘s first weekend takes place at the usual spot (the Old Strathcona Performing Arts Centre) from Friday through Sunday. The Hand2Hand Christmas Market is happening on Saturday at the Terwillegar Community Church. And Shop the Hall takes place Saturday at the Westmount Community League.
• All is Bright returns for another year on 124 Street. The event runs from 4-8pm.
• Also taking place on Saturday, at Emily Murphy Park, is the 3rd annual MEC Great Sweater Run.
• For more great winter festivals and events, check out Taproot Edmonton’s guide to the season!

Santa’s Parade of Lights

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• The City’s 2018 Supplemental Operating Budget Adjustment proposes an increase of 3.6% to the average property tax bill, 1.4% lower than expected. “The budget has been offset in part, thanks to more than $47 million identified in greater savings and efficiences — nearly $15 million more than last year.” Council will deliberate the budget starting December 6.
• Should the Edmonton Eskimos change their name? Mayor Don Iveson and Winnipeg’s first Métis mayor, Brian Bowman, both think so. “We are keenly listening to all input including from our loyal season seat holders and fans,” the Eskimos said in a statement.
• BioWare announced it is moving into three floors of Epcor Tower in late 2018 or early 2019. It’ll be great to have them downtown!
• Mayor Don Iveson says municipalities are not at the table with the provincial and federal governments in discussing marijuana sales. “This is one of those examples where it all runs downhill to us,” he said.
• The City has launched Change for Climate, “a call to all Edmontonians to take action and work together to reduce our city’s greenhouse gas emissions by 35% (below 2005 levels) by 2035.”
• The Edmonton Arts Council has announced the consultants that will work together on Edmonton’s next comprehensive Arts & Heritage Plan 2019-2029: A. Adair & Associates Consulting Inc., Calder Bateman, and Purple Aspen.
• A collection of artwork from Dawn Marie Marchand, a Cree and Métis visual artist from Cold Lake First Nations, and Edmonton’s first Indigenous Artist-in-Residence, is now on display at City Hall. You can see it until November 20.
• The 44th Canadian Finals Rodeo has come to a close at Northlands Coliseum. Now the question is, where will it take place next year?
• Phase one of the Blatchford Redevelopment builder selection process is now underway with the Request for Expression of Interest now open and being accepted until December 8.
• Starting November 20, the number of parking stalls at Century Park is being reduced from 1,085 to 866 due to more private development taking place. “There will be 221 free stalls and 665 reserved stalls available for commuters.”
• According to Edmonton Police, 33 idling vehicles have been stolen in just the last nine days. “It’s just happening everyday and we just need people to take the time to secure their vehicles,” Staff Sgt. Ron Smithman said.
• If you can believe it, new signal malfunctions on the Metro Line LRT caused a train to travel down the wrong track this weekend.
• Edmonton has made the World’s Best Cities list for the first time in 2018, coming in at number 60.
• For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.

Remembrance Day, photo by Premier of Alberta

Upcoming Events

• AAMDC’s Fall Convention takes place at the Shaw Conference Centre from Tuesday to Friday.
• The Oilers are back from their road trip to host the Golden Knights on Tuesday and the Blues on Thursday.
• The next VA Angels Edmonton Forum is happening at the Royal Glenora Club on Tuesday evening.
• Métis Week will be proclaimed at City Hall on Wednesday morning.
• Halsey is performing at Rogers Place on Wednesday evening.
• The 2017 Innovation Awards, honoring University of Alberta researchers, takes place at Lister Centre on Thursday afternoon.
• Indie Handmade takes place Thursday through Sunday at The Enjoy Centre in St. Albert.
• Taboo Edmonton, the Naughty but Nice Sex Show, is at the Edmonton Expo Centre from Thursday through Sunday.
• Head over to The Carrot on Alberta Avenue on Friday and Saturday for the Carrot Christmas Arts Bazaar.
• This year’s Santa’s Parade of Lights takes place at 5:30pm on Saturday. The route starts at 100 Street and continues down Jasper Avenue to 108 Street.
• The University of Alberta’s Computer Engineering Club is running the HackEDbeta hackathon at Startup Edmonton on Saturday and Sunday.
• The Royal Glenora’s Christmas Gift Show takes place on Sunday.
• For more upcoming events, check out Taproot’s guide to winter festivals and events in and around Edmonton!

Atmosphere, photo by Jeff Wallace