Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• From the Journal’s story on today’s Remembrance Day ceremonies marking a century since the end of World War I: “Nearly one-quarter of Albertans joined the war efforts, and one in eight of them would never come back.”
• Starting Monday, ETS is implementing rotating security guards at transit centres throughout the city. “Phased in over two weeks, a third party contractor will deploy security guards at 25 transit centres/stations that have had at least one major incident reported in the past five years.”
• Dale McFee has been named Edmonton’s new police chief. He’s the former chief of police in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, and has been the Deputy Minister of Corrections and Policing in Saskatchewan since 2012. He has signed a five-year contract and will start in the new role on February 1, 2019. McFee is Edmonton’s first Mé​tis police chief and “has a track record for inclusion.”
• Canadian Forces Trail is the new honourary name of 97 Street from 137 Avenue to the north edge of the city near Anthony Henday Drive. “Approved by Edmonton’s Naming Committee, the naming honours the relationship between the City of Edmonton and the Canadian Forces (Garrison) Base and the historical significance of the former Canadian Forces Base Griesbach.”
• Edmonton’s 4th supervised injection site opened at the Boyle McCauley Health Centre on November 5.
• Bill 23, An Act to Renew Local Democracy in Alberta, would ban corporate and union donations to candidates in municipal elections, and would limit donation amounts, among other changes. Here’s some reaction from local councillors and school board trustees.
• The new Capliano Branch of the Edmonton Public Library opened this week. Here’s a great Twitter thread about the new facility from Erik Backstrom.
• Councillor Tim Cartmell says the City should halt plans to build the Valley Line West LRT until after the provincial election. “I think it’s just not the right time for this project at this time,” he said.
• The new Kathleen Andrews Transit Garage at 12403 Fort Road is located in what “was once the heart of Edmonton’s thriving meat-packing industry.” The 12-storey smokestack will be incorporated into a new public park alongside the garage.
• Elise Stolte wrote about angry transit riders who are giving up and going back to driving.
• Make sure you clear your sidewalks soon after it snows: the 48-hour grace period is “old information” according to the City, and bylaw officers can issue tickets at any time.
• Edmonton Digital Arts College has announced it will move into the Orange Hub (MacEwan’s former Centre for the Arts) in January 2019. “The move will double the classroom capacity for the college and allow EDAC students to utilize the various production studio spaces available at the Orange Hub.”
• An interim report on the Downtown Bike Network has been released. Here’s the 12-page PDF.
• In the latest episode of Speaking Municipally Troy and I discuss the operating budget, where we’re finding “savings”, and the latest on LRT and free transit.
• Here’s what you need to know about City Council for the week ahead.

Remembrance Day 2018, photo by Premier of Alberta

Upcoming Events

• It’s Métis Week 2018 in Alberta. The proclamation will take place at City Hall on Tuesday,
• Is it Smoke and Mirrors? Aurora Cannabis is speaking about the Cannabis business at NAIT on Tuesday.
• The next Edmonton Career Fair and Training Expo takes place Tuesday at the Shaw Conference Centre.
• The Edmonton Public Library and Edmonton Community Foundation present Neil Gaiman, Tuesday evening at the Shaw Conference Centre.
• Nerd Nite Edmonton #45 takes place Tuesday evening at the ATB Financial Arts Barn.
• The Oilers host the Canadiens on Tuesday and the Golden Knights on Sunday.
• The Downtown Business Association is hosting the Downtown Security Forum on Thursday morning at Allard Hall.
• The Green Industry Show 2018 takes place Thursday and Friday at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
• Taboo…The Naughty or Nice Show runs Thursday to Sunday at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
• I’ll be speaking at The Digital Tipping Point on Friday at the Matrix Hotel. That evening the 2018 Ember Awards take place!
• The Parkland Institute’s 22nd annual conference takes place at the University of Alberta from Friday to Sunday.
• Made in Alberta – Art, Design & Craft Show from On the Spot Pop Ups and takes place Saturday and Sunday at the Shaw Conference Centre.
• The Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker takes place on Saturday at the Myer Horowitz Theatre.
• Santa arrives at West Edmonton Mall on Saturday.
• The Grey Cup Festival kicks off on Wednesday, November 21!
• Edmonton’s NextGen presents City Jam 2018 on December 1 at the Starlite Room. Volunteer 10 hours with a local charity or not-for-profit before November 28 to get in!

Diwali celebrations, photo by Premier of Alberta

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Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• This week, the Province announced $1.04 billion for the Valley Line West LRT and $131 million for the Metro Line Northwest LRT. “This funding supports our government’s commitment to invest in today’s public transportation to meet the needs of our growing population,” said Brian Mason, Minister of Transportation.
• The City released its proposed 2019-2022 Operating Budget this week. The plan calls for a tax increase of 3.3% in 2019 and 2.7% in 2020.
• As I tweeted on Thursday, a new report from the City Auditor says not only did the City spend $616 million on consultants between 2013 and 2017, they accounted for $245 million of that incorrectly!
• And just like that, winter is here! The City has some tips for winter driving. “Be patient when winter conditions slow you down.” More than 200 collisions were reported to police between 5:30am and 3:30pm on Friday. “Your vehicle is not as skilled on ice as Connor McDavid,” EPS tweeted.
• Edmonton Transit is planning to raise fares by 25 cents each year until 2021, when the cost of a single fare would be $4. “The last time ETS increased the cash fare, from $3.20 to $3.25 in 2016, city staff estimated it would cause transit ridership to drop by 430,000 rides in the ensuing year.”
• Council also discussed traffic congestion for buses this week and were unhappy that any change will have to wait for the transit network overhaul.
• Sophie Kim has been named Edmonton’s new Youth Poet Laureate. “For the 2018-19 term, Kim will promote youth civic engagement by elevating the voices of other youth in Edmonton through poetry.”
• To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Commonwealth Stadium and to prepare for hosting the Grey Cup this year, the City unveiled new exterior lighting for the stadium yesterday. How very Edmonton!
• Of course, the Eskimos won’t be playing. They won their final game of the season on Saturday, but finished with a 9-9 record.
• Avenue Edmonton released its Top 40 Under 40 for 2018 this week. Congrats to everyone recognized!
• According to the latest Labour Force Report Edmonton added 4,400 jobs in October. “The gains were all full-time positions while part-time employment edged slightly lower.” The unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.3%.
• Episode 13 of Speaking Municipally looks at Vision Zero, the police budget, and affordable housing.
• Here’s what you need to know about City Council for the week ahead.

Alberta funds Edmonton Valley Line West, photo by Government of Alberta

Upcoming Events

• Together 2018, “the second annual, internationally recognized Symposium fostering collaboration and innovation around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Canada and beyond,” takes place Monday and Tuesday at the University of Alberta.
• The 28th Commonwealth Agriculture Conference runs Monday to Thursday at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
• Fourpost, formerly known as RAAS, is celebrating its grand opening on Tuesday evening at West Edmonton Mall.
• The Alberta Cancer Foundation is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Cross Cancer Institute on Tuesday night.
• Drake performs on Tuesday and Wednesday at Rogers Place.
• Farmfair International starts Wednesday and runs until Sunday at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
• The next Green Drinks will take place on Wednesday evening at Yellowhead Brewery.
• Avenue Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40 Gala takes place Wednesday night at the Winspear Centre.
• The City of Edmonton and the Alberta Professional Planners Institute are hosting a screening of Whose City? on Thursday night at the Garneau Theatre to celebrate World Town Planning Day.
• Ronald McDonald House of Northern Alberta is hosting the Light the House Gala on Thursday evening at the Shaw Conference Centre.
• All is Bright on 124 takes place on Saturday night. This year they have moved up to 108 Avenue!
• Armistice 100: A Tribute is coming up on Sunday, November 11 at Capital Plaza near the Alberta Legislature to mark the 100th anniversary of the signing of the WW1 Armistice. The event runs from 12:30-4pm, with the ceremony starting at 1pm.
• The Oilers are back in action at Rogers Place on Sunday evening, hosting the Avalanche.
• Edmonton’s NextGen presents City Jam 2018 on December 1 at the Starlite Room. Volunteer 10 hours with a local charity or not-for-profit before November 28 to get in!

Rutherford Manor Haunt, photo by IQRemix

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Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• Finance Minister Joe Ceci and Mayor Don Iveson had a war of words this week over provincial funding for Edmonton. The Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) program expires in 2021 and no replacement has been announced yet. Mayor Iveson said he’d like to meet directly with Premier Notley to resolve the issue.
• The latest episode of Speaking Municipally has an update on the proposed Innovation Hub and a discussion about the 2019-2022 Capital Budget.
• Thrive YEG is gathering stories from Edmontonians “to remind City Council that a city’s budget impacts the everyday quality of life for residents.”
• The End of the World will now be known as the Keillor Point Viewing Area. “The city launched the $1.5-million project at the site Monday.”
• The City and four employees have been charged with regulatory offences under the Animal Protection Act for the death of three cats back in May 2018.
• Greyhound will cease operations in most of Western Canada on Halloween, leaving a hodge-podge of transportation options behind.
• About 40 LRT cars were out of commission on Wednesday morning due to damage on the overhead wire connection.
• EPCOR told Council’s Utility Committee that it could take 25 years to deal with the problem of smelly sewers across Edmonton.
• The City stopped installing lead pipes in Edmonton in 1950 but there are still about 5,000 homes hooked up to lead service lines. About half of those homes won’t meet new Health Canada regulations on lead in water.
• PSA: The Strathcona Eco Station is now closed for renovations until the spring.
• Parity YEG has launched an online tool to track nominated candidates and hopefuls ahead of next year’s provincial election. “Parity YEG’s founders said there is a need to examine how many women run in an election.”
• BioNeutra, named the 55th fastest growing company in Canada by Canadian Business Magazine, is about to open a new Edmonton factory to produce its main product.
• The lone winning ticket for Friday’s $60 million Lotto Max jackpot was sold in Edmonton.
• Here’s what you need to know about City Council for the week ahead.

Downtown Edmonton at Night, photo by Isabell Hubert

Upcoming Events

• The next Engage Edmonton event takes place Tuesday at West Edmonton Mall. Share your thoughts on up to 12 City-related topics.
• The Oilers host the Wild on Tuesday night and the Blackhawks on Thursday night.
• Wednesday is Halloween! Trick or treat! Here is the best local costume of the year.
• Infill Development in Edmonton Association (IDEA) is hosting a panel discussion on the municipal budget and investing in the future on Thursday night at McLuhan House.
• Learn about growing cannabis at Salisbury Greenhouse on Saturday afternoon.
• Some big concerts coming up at Rogers Place: Jack White performs Friday, Justin Timberlake performs Sunday and Monday. The following week will see Drake perform on Tuesday and Wednesday.
• Extra Life Edmonton’s Game Day 2018 takes place and Saturday and Sunday at West Edmonton Mall.
• The Edmonton Eskimos host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday afternoon at Commwealth Stadium.
• Heads up: The next Green Drinks will take place on November 7 at Yellowhead Brewery.
• Armistice 100: A Tribute is coming up on November 11 at Capital Plaza near the Alberta Legislature to mark the 100th anniversary of the signing of the WW1 Armistice.
• Edmonton’s NextGen presents City Jam 2018 on December 1 at the Starlite Room. Volunteer 10 hours with a local charity or not-for-profit before November 28 to get in!

Art from the Unknown, photo by Premier of Alberta

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Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• Recreational cannabis became legal across Canada on Wednesday and Edmonton had six retail locations open for business. Signage is still be installed, but you can see the cannabis rules in Edmonton here. Basically: “Smoking will not be allowed within 10 metres of patios, bus stops, doorways, windows and air intakes of buildings and in parks and other places with children’s amenities.”
• The City estimates it needs about $8 million next year to support cannabis, but it will only get $1 million from the Province. “This certainly doesn’t make keeping the tax rate lower easier, I can say that with great certainty,” said Councillor Michael Walters.
• Taproot Edmonton’s latest story dives into the proposed innovation hub for 103 Street downtown. After you read the story, listen to Episode 11 of Speaking Municipally to hear more from the writer and editor.
• Council will get its first look at the 2019-2022 Capital Budget this week. The latest Council Roundup has details on that and everything else on the agenda for the week ahead.
• Elise Stolte wrote that “Edmonton has a serious budget issue” with “too many roads, and too few people to pay for them.”
• DATS needs another $2.25 million to serve growing demand and address peak period requests. “Every year, Edmonton’s population not only continues to grow but also age. With this comes a steady upward pressure on DATS.”
• Edmonton was the second Canadian city to become a member of the UN Women Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces Global Initiative and the first city in the global north to host the Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces Global Leaders Forum, which took place last week at the Shaw Conference Centre.
• From Janice Johnston at CBC Edmonton: “A high-ranking officer with the Edmonton Police Service has accused outgoing Chief Rod Knecht of making “false and misleading” statements about whether he cancelled a reception for the city’s LGBTQ community.”
• Der Associates Architecture Ltd. is hoping to build a 50-storey residential/hotel tower on the site of the former BMO building. “The firm has also proposed pedway access to either City Centre Mall or the nearby Kelly Ramsey building on Rice Howard Way.”
• Morguard Investments is looking to transform Bonnie Doon Centre into a mixed-use development that would include more than 4,000 residential units, along with offices, and retail space.
• The proposed new arts & heritage plan, called Connections & Exchanges, is being criticized for how it reflects Indigenous voices.
• Want to see less parking required with new developments? Take the online survey by November 19 to let the City know. More information is available here.
• According to the latest Teranet-National Bank House Price Index, Edmonton’s resale housing market “continued to show weakness”.
• Stantec has sold MWH Constructors, the construction firm it acquired in 2016 with the purchase of MWH Global. Analysts estimate the sale could net as much as $350 million.

k.d. lang and Premier Notley, photo by Premier of Alberta

Upcoming Events

• It’s Alberta Beer Week, “a province-wide celebration of Alberta-made indie beer.”
• The Foo Fighters are performing at Rogers Place on Monday night.
• The Oilers play at home twice this week, hosting the Penguins on Tuesday and the Capitals on Thursday.
• The iTech Conference takes place at the Shaw Conference Centre on Tuesday.
• Change for Climate Talks 2018 takes place Wednesday evening at Allard Hall.
• Fort Edmonton Park is hosting DARK from Wednesday to Sunday. “Feel the adrenaline pump through your veins this Halloween as your mind is sent into a state of terror you’ve never felt before as you experience three horrifying attractions.”
• Is lab-grown meat the future of food? Find out at this free lecture taking place Thursday afternoon at Lister Centre at the University of Alberta.
• The Edmonton and Area Land Trust is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a gala at City Hall on Thursday evening.
• Pecha Kucha Night 31 takes place Thursday at the Garneau Theatre. See the lineup and get your tickets now!
• Parity YEG is launching its Parity x Party Dashboard on Thursday evening at The Barking Buffalo Cafe.
• The Edmonton Fall Home Show takes place at the Edmonton EXPO Centre from Friday to Sunday.
• City Hall will host the City of Edmonton You Council Awards on Friday evening to recognize “7 exceptional youth between the ages of 13-23 in the categories of Academics, Athletics, Community Service, and Fine Arts.”
• EdCamp Edmonton 2018 takes place on Saturday at Lillian Osborne High School.
• The Edmonton Ski & Snowboard Show takes place at the Edmonton EXPO Centre on Saturday and Sunday.
• Armistice 100: A Tribute is coming up on November 11 at Capital Plaza near the Alberta Legislature to mark the 100th anniversary of the signing of the WW1 Armistice.
• Edmonton’s NextGen presents City Jam 2018 on December 1 at the Starlite Room. Volunteer 10 hours with a local charity or not-for-profit before November 28 to get in!

Ground breaking at the future Londonderry community housing site, photo by Government of Alberta

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Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• All 13 communities in the Edmonton Metro Region have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Regional Transit Services Commission. The goal is for collaboration to “provide more integrated and reliable movement between nearby communities than the current mix of transit services.” The Province has provided $3.7 million “to support behind-the-scenes work to set up the commission.”
• Edmonton’s proposed new bus routes are ready. No wait, they’re not. In a confusing news release, the City says the new routes have incorporated feedback from Edmontonians but feedback on the “final draft” will be accepted from October 25 to December 9.
• Council approved rezoning for the Falcon Towers on 104 Street this week. Langham Developments’ latest towers will be 37 storeys and 43 storeys.
• Council also approved more than $20 million to improve transit safety with more security at LRT stations and retractable shields and cameras on all buses.
• Councillor Paquette’s proposal to look into free transit was not so warmly received at Council. He’s going to tweak the motion and bring it back to Council in two weeks.
• The City has released three challenges for startups to solve using technology as part of the Startup in Residence (STiR) program. They’re looking for a vandalism detection & prevention system, a chatbot to reduce 311 call volumes, and a mobile app to deliver information on “the optimal blend of transportation options”.
• The Edmonton International Airport has banned consumption of recreational cannabis on its property. “The RCMP will monitor and enforce passenger and employee compliance, the airport said in a release Thursday.”
• The electric autonomous vehicle (ELA) pilot is now underway at Blatchford. Starting Wednesday the vehicle moves to Chappelle Gardens.
• Edmonton will host the next SingularityU Canada Summit in April 2019. “The annual event draws some of the brightest minds in the country’s tech ecosystem, along with sector workers and innovators from across the globe.”
• The City is hosting a series of Engage Edmonton drop-in sessions until November 15. “These are convenient one-stop shop locations where people can provide feedback on City projects that matter most to them.”
• Edmontonian Harman Baweja wants Oilers fans to celebrate each goal with a victory dance. “The Edmonton-based dance instructor, hip-hop dancer and self-professed Oilers superfan has choreographed a routine and is challenging every member of Oilers Nation to groove to the moves.”
• Episode 10 of Speaking Municipally covers the response to free transit, the regional transit authority MOU, and the approval of the Falcon Towers on 104 Street. Also check out the latest Council Roundup for all the details on what’s coming up at Council in the week ahead.

Ice District Edmonton October 2018, photo by Jason Woodhead

Upcoming Events

• This is Edmonton Startup Week! Check out the full schedule for all the events taking place throughout the week. I hope to see you on Wednesday evening for our panel discussion on the future of local tech coverage.
• LitFest continues all week with events at venues throughout the city. The ever popular Food Matters session takes place Saturday afternoon at the Matrix Hotel.
• Edmonton Women in Finance is hosting its first event targeting students on Tuesday evening at MacEwan University.
• Wednesday is October 17, which means cannabis will be legal here in Canada. Fire & Flower is hosting grand opening celebrations at three locations.
• Mayor Iveson is hosting Beyond #MeToo: Equality for Women at City Hall on Wednesday evening.
• Canada’s Great Kitchen Party takes place on Wednesday evening at the Shaw Conference Centre.
• The Oilers are in action at home twice this week, hosting the Bruins on Thursday evening and the Predators on Saturday night.
• Launch Party Edmonton 9 takes place on Thursday evening at Enbridge Centre.
• The next Dark Matters takes place on Thursday evening at the TELUS World of Science with a focus on the science of cannabis.
• Fail Safe 2018, a gathering for conversations about failure, takes place Thursday and Friday at the hotel formerly known as Hyatt Place in The Quarters.
• The Edmonton Rock & Gem Show runs Thursday to Sunday at the Alberta Aviation Museum.
• The 2018 Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival takes place at the Shaw Conference Centre on Friday and Saturday.
• EFCL’s Leagues Alive 2018, an annual board development conference, takes place Saturday at the Robbins Health Learning Centre.
• Professional Bull Riders Canada is hosting the Edmonton Classic on Saturday at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
• Diwali Fair in Edmonton takes place Saturday and Sunday at the Meadows Community Recreation Centre.
• Pecha Kucha Night 31 is coming up on October 25 at the Garneau Theatre. See the lineup and get your tickets now!
• Armistice 100: A Tribute is coming up on November 11 at Capital Plaza near the Alberta Legislature to mark the 100th anniversary of the signing of the WW1 Armistice.
• Edmonton’s NextGen presents City Jam 2018 on December 1 at the Starlite Room. Volunteer 10 hours with a local charity or not-for-profit before November 28 to get in!

New Royal Alberta Museum, photo by IQRemix

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Happy Thanksgiving! Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• The new Royal Alberta Museum is officially open! Sharon, Emily, and I visited on Friday afternoon and had a great time.
• Edmonton sent 30 snow plows down to Calgary this week to help the city dig out from a record snowfall. Here’s Mayor Iveson making the announcement. But don’t worry, Edmonton will be reimbursed under mutual aid agreements.
• Thales Canada said Friday “we believe the system could be turned on” but Administration isn’t convinced. The deadline of December 4 is what both are working toward to get the signalling system fully operational.
• Council decided to endorse the $300 million expressway option for Terwillegar Drive. Councillor Tim Cartmell called the decision “great news”.
• There are 16 kilometres of new trails now open in the city’s northeast, part of the $8.5 million East End Trails Project that began construction in 2016.
• Councillor Paquette wants Administration to look into making transit free. We talked about this in Episode 9 of Speaking Municipally.
• When cannabis becomes legal on October 17, the Edmonton region will have 12 of the 17 retailers approved thus far in Alberta, including 6 within the city. “In contrast, Calgary only has two, and Medicine Hat, the only other southern Alberta municipality to receive licences, will get three.”
• Brandon Webber, the man who designed those popular Still in Edmonton t-shirts, has moved to Saskatchewan. “Even though the city leadership and everybody would want it to be a place that’s talked about as a world-class city, it’s just not; it’s a B-class city and that’s OK,” said Webber.
• Bon Appetit has a list of 8 not-to-be-missed restaurants in Edmonton. I can’t say I’m surprised to see who made the cut!
• The University of Alberta is looking for $20 million from the Province to build a new South Campus arena. “Staff at the university have secured about $45 million of the $65 million required to build two ice rinks southwest of the Saville Community Sports Centre and they hope the provincial government will chip in the rest.”
• Thrive Edmonton is looking to counter the Prosperity Edmonton narrative around austerity during the upcoming budget discussions at City Hall.
• Local businessman Ian Barrigan says Edmonton’s property taxes are “so far out to lunch” compared to other cities. “Councillor Andrew Knack, who asked the city to look at what the numbers would be to reduce taxes, said he’ll ask about comparing Edmonton to other metro locations during the budget process.”
• Edmonton Journal columnist Paula Simons was one of three appointed to the Canadian Senate this week. It’s a big loss for Edmonton, but congrats Paula!
• The City’s Mature Neighbourhood Overlay review project won the Alberta Professional Planners Institute 2018 Award of Merit. “We are grateful that so many Edmontonians made this review one of the most extensive and effective public engagements done by the City,” said Colton Kirsop, Senior Planner with the City’s Zoning Bylaw Team.
• Mayor Iveson’s new spirit name is Day Star, translated “from the Cree words kîsikâw acâhkos.”
• For a look at what’s coming up at City Council in the week ahead, check out the latest edition of the Council Roundup.
• The Oilers lost their season-opener in Sweden to New Jersey Devils by a score of 5-2.
• Flu vaccine clinics will open across Alberta on October 15.

New Royal Alberta Museum officially open, photo by Government of Alberta

Upcoming Events

• Nerd Nite Edmonton’s second field trip takes place on Monday afternoon. “We will travel to small-town Alberta to learn about how to create craft beer & spirits with local ingredients.”
• The Treaty Six A.S.E.T.S. Workforce is hosting a Treaty 6 Job Fair & Speed Hire Event on Wednesday and Thursday at the River Cree Resort & Casino.
• High Level Line is hosting its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday evening at the University of Alberta.
• The Edmonton Comedy Festival runs Wednesday to Saturday.
• The Downtown Business Association’s 2018 Fall Luncheon takes place Thursday at The Westin Edmonton with a focus on the 2018 Grey Cup Festival.
• LitFest starts on Thursday and runs until October 21.
• The Festival of Witchcraft & Wizardry takes place Friday at Dr. Wilbert McIntyre Park in Old Strathcona.
• The Edmonton Rum Festival takes place Friday night at the Delta Edmonton South.
• St. Albert’s Amplify Festival celebrates its 5th year on Friday and Saturday at the Kinsmen Banquet Centre.
• The 2018 Alberta Snowmobile and Powersports Show runs Friday to Sunday at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
• Edmonton is hosting PLACE 18, the national planning student conference, at the University of Alberta from Friday to Sunday.
• The Eskimos host Ottawa at Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday afternoon for Week 18 of the CFL season.
• The 2018 Fall Women’s Show takes place Saturday and Sunday at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
• Homeless Connect Edmonton takes place Sunday at the Shaw Conference Centre.
• Bridal Fantasy is happening Sunday at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
• Pecha Kucha Night 31 is coming up on October 25 at the Garneau Theatre. See the lineup and get your tickets now!
• Edmonton’s NextGen presents City Jam 2018 on December 1 at the Starlite Room. Volunteer 10 hours with a local charity or not-for-profit before November 28 to get in!

Edmonton Nuit Blanche 2018, photo by IQRemix

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Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• For a look at what’s coming up at Council in the week ahead, check out the latest edition of the Council Roundup. And for a deep dive on the Terwillegar Drive issue, check out Episode 8 of Speaking Municipally.
• Stantec celebrated the official opening of its new 251-metre-high tower this week. It’s the tallest tower in Canada outside of Toronto. Senior Vice President Keith Shillington wrote about how the company was founded in 1954 in Edmonton and has grown to more than 22,000 employees worldwide. He says the tower has “demonstrated to all of Edmonton that our continued commitment to this City is personal.” David Staples says the new Stantec Tower “represents an exclamation mark on the two most fractious and divisive political debates in recent local history.”
• From StarMetro Edmonton, here are five things worth waiting for when Edmonton’s downtown ICE District is complete.
• Fish Griwkowsky shared his thoughts on Nuit Blancrhe Edmonton 2018. “It turns all of us wandering through our construction-pummelled streets and alleys into something not unlike happy children at a waterpark.”
• The City is advancing a pilot project to install retractable shields on a number of buses, in an effort to improve transit safety. “Gord Cebryk, deputy city manager of city operations, said his team will ask for more transit officer funding when city council begins its budget debates in November.”
• Nate Box is hoping to launch a new restaurant, deli, and liquor store inside the Gibbard Block in Highlands and he has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund it. Currently just under $30,000 of the $100,000 goal has been raised.
• Alessia Cara will headline the 2018 Grey Cup halftime show here in Edmonton on November 25.
• Once again, there’s a proposal to turn the small green space in front of Hotel Macdonald into a tall, mixed-use tower. “Great Gulf is proposing a commercial-residential tower that could be about 58 storeys.”
• You can sign up now to take a ride on the electric autonomous vehicle that is being piloted in Edmonton in October. It’ll be at Blatchford, Chappelle Gardens, and Old Strathcona. “The vehicle operates at around 12 km/h, contains a ramp for accessibility and can hold up to a maximum of 12 people, including the operator (six seated and six standing).”
• Edmonton Fire Rescue Services firefighters visited up to 240 homes in four neighbourhoods this weekend to install carbon monoxide/smoke detectors. “Since the Smoke Alarm Program began in 2007, EFRS has provided close to 7000 smoke alarms.”
• The Starlight Casino in West Edmonton Mall celebrated its grand opening this week. The $57 million renovation expanded the casino’s footprint to 15,000 square metres.
• O2’s Taphouse on Whyte Avenue was fined for overcrowding during the NHL playoffs in 2017. See an updated list of fire code convictions on the City’s website.
• The City of Edmonton is collecting input on adding child-friendly elements to the Civic Precinct (Churchill Square and City Hall Plaza). Fill out the online survey by October 15 to share your thoughts.

Passage: Nuit Blanche Edmonton 2018, photo by Isabell Hubert

Upcoming Events

• The Edmonton International Film Festival runs until Thursday this week!
• The 3rd annual Canadian Immigrant Fair takes place on Monday at the Shaw Conference Centre.
• Ignite: Your New Life in YEG takes place at Roundhouse at MacEwan on Monday evening. “As a newbie to YEG, it can be difficult to network and develop relationships in a new environment. So let’s come together and make some connections.”
• Former mayor Stephen Mandel will speak at the Edmonton Chamber’s next event on Tuesday at The Westin Edmonton.
• The new Royal Alberta Museum will open its doors to the public for the first time starting Wednesday.
• Stimulus: Drugs, Policy and Practice in Canada takes place at the Shaw Conference Centre from Wednesday to Friday.
• Edmonton Opera presents Opera 101: La Traviata at CKUA on Wednesday evening.
• The Local Good’s next Green Drinks takes place Wednesday evening at Yellowhead Brewery. “Edmonton and its people have many stories to tell, and we want you to meet some of the people helping to share those stories!”
• YEG Fitness is hosting YEGFit Talk – Exploring Mental Health on Wednesday evening at Central Social Hall.
• LitFest starts on October 11! Though there are some events this week, like a Conversation with Tanya Tagaq on Thursday at the Garneau Theatre.
• Join EPL for the grand opening of the Londonderry Branch on Friday morning.
• The Up + Downtown Music Festival takes place Friday to Sunday at 11 venues throughout downtown Edmonton.
• The Network of Empowered Women is hosting But First Brunch at Central Social Hall on Saturday morning.
• Edmonton’s NextGen presents City Jam 2018 on December 1 at the Starlite Room. Volunteer 10 hours with a local charity or not-for-profit before November 28 to get in!

Prismatica: Nuit Blanche Edmonton 2018, photo by Isabell Hubert

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Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• The City has installed pedestrian scrambles at 104 Street & Jasper Avenue and at 105 Street & 82 Avenue as part of a year-long pilot project. “Pedestrians can cross the intersection in every direction, including diagonally, at the same time while all vehicles are stopped temporarily.” Here’s a cool photo of the 104 Street intersection.
• The 2018 Grey Cup Festival will kick off on November 21 with more than 50 ticketed and free events. “Organizers estimate the economic impact of the game and four-day festival could be anywhere between $80 million to $100 million.”
• Montreal-based Communauto, “the oldest and largest carsharing organization in Canada,” has acquired a controlling stake in Pogo Carshare. “As part of the partnership, in the coming months Pogo Carshare will increase the number of vehicles and lower pricing on longer trips to make carsharing even more attractive for Edmontontians to use.”
• City Council accepted Westrich Pacific’s modifications to its tower known as “The View” and approved the project for two small lots in the Grandin area of Oliver.
• When cannabis is legal in October you’ll be able to smoke it outside – as long as you’re at least 10 metres away from doors or windows.
• The City has unveiled four concepts for future redevelopment of the Exhibition Lands. Fill out the online survey by September 30 to share your feedback.
• There were 68 collisions across Edmonton on Saturday between 9am and 5pm as the snow continued to fall. “Four incidents resulted in injury, police said, but did not elaborate on how serious the injuries were.”
• The City is looking for its next Indigenous Artist-in-Residence. “The program is open to Indigenous artists of various mediums, including, but not limited to, music, performance, visual and material art, as well as media and literary arts.” The deadline to apply is October 19.
• Darnell Nurse has signed a two-year contract worth $3.2 million USD per season with the Edmonton Oilers. “Nurse had said he wouldn’t participate in training camp without a new contract.”
• December 4, 2018: that’s the new deadline for Thales to get the signalling system working for the Metro Line LRT.
• Council is off this week, so the latest Council Roundup has a recap of recent decisions. Also, check out episode 7 of Speaking Municipally for a discussion about the news in municipal politics from last week.
• ICYMI: I participated in a Facebook Live engagement session on the new City Plan. You can see the recording here. Check out one of the drop-in engagement sessions to share your thoughts.

Upcoming Events

• Mayor Iveson and Georgetown Mayor Dale Ross are speaking on Monday about “the importance of renewable energy in meeting economic, social and climate change goals” at The Road to 100% Renewables.
• The Gotta Minute Film Festival starts Monday and runs through September 30.
• Roundhouse is celebrating Changemaker Week all week long with a series of free events.
• The University of Alberta’s Alumni Awards 2018 will be celebrated at the Jubilee on Monday evening.
• MacEwan’s Office of Sustainability has organized an Urban Beekeeping Bike Tour for Wednesday evening.
• interVivos is hosting a Mentorship Mixer on Wednesday evening at The Almanac.
• The Friends of the Royal Alberta Museum Society (FRAMS) is hosting a field trip to the Aga Khan Garden on Wednesday evening.
• Edmonton Shift Lab is hosting How to Have Difficult Conversations About Race on Thursday at the hotel in the Quarters (formerly called Hyatt Place).
• This year’s Play the Fool Festival, “Edmonton’s festival of clown-theatre and physical comedy,” runs Thursday to Sunday.
• OtherWise is a new variety podcast and they’re hosting a launch party on Friday night.
• Alberta Culture Days are being celebrated Friday to Sunday.
• There are still a few listings left on Taproot Edmonton’s 2018 guide to summer festivals and events! It includes 75+ happenings this summer in and around the city. Stay tuned for our winter guide later this year!

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Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• The new Royal Alberta Museum finally has an opening date: October 3, 2018. “To celebrate the grand opening and to welcome Albertans back to their provincial museum, admission is free throughout the long weekend, from Oct. 3 to Oct. 8.” After the first 21,500 tickets were snapped up within six hours, the museum made another 8,000 tickets available on Saturday.
• We had our first frost and snowfall of the season this past week, about two weeks earlier than average, according to Edmonton Weather Nerdery. “Realistically though, lasting snow is still at least a month away, and probably more.” I sure hope that’s the case! Environment Canada says the cool, wet weather is not going away this week.
• The weather wasn’t great but the grand opening of Queen Elizabeth Park and Edmonton’s first Indigenous Arts Park ᐄᓃᐤ (ÎNÎW) River Lot 11∞ went ahead as planned on Saturday. “ᐄᓃᐤ (ÎNÎW) River Lot 11∞ is an important landmark in our river valley that will help Edmontonians understand and appreciate the history of this land,” said Mayor Don Iveson.
• Check out Episode 6 of Speaking Municipally for a discussion about the 5-point budget plan that Mayor Don Iveson unveiled this week. “I have heard loud and clear from Edmontonians – and the business community in particular – that they no longer want to see tax increases that are out of step with inflation or the pace of growth,” he wrote.
• A new report says Thales Canada Inc., the signalling contractor for the Metro Line LRT, has set December 4, 2018 as its new deadline. If they fail to meet that date, the City is working on a Plan C.
• The City was forced to shut off four LED display boards that showed noise levels in decibels in the vehicle noise monitoring pilot “after complaints that some drivers were revving their engines to see their numbers spike.” Ugh. Let’s just start ticketing noisy vehicles already!
• The University of Alberta will restrict cannabis smoking to specific locations on campus, and residence buildings won’t be among them.
• Meanwhile in Old Strathcona, the OSBA is looking for more time to allow bars and eateries to ease into the new rules for cannabis smoking.
• Blue Plate Diner may have to move to make way for a proposed 34-storey hotel & condo tower on 104 Street. “The developers are proposing a floor area bigger than is currently permitted under a heritage zone. The height, on the other hand, is still within the existing zoning limits.”
• The City is looking for input on the plan to transform Yellowhead Trail into a freeway. Share your thoughts by November.
• Edmonton’s NextGen is looking for new committee members and is accepting applications for the next Pecha Kucha Night.
• TSN’s Bob McKenzie says if the Oilers fail to make the playoffs this year it would be “a crime against hockey humanity.”
• ICYMI: I wrote about Edmonton Global’s launch and what it means for the Edmonton Metro Region.
• Here’s what you need to know about the week ahead at City Hall.

Royal Alberta Museum, photo by Government of Alberta

Upcoming Events

• Building the Cycling City takes place Tuesday evening at Latitude 53. “Join us for an inspirational night of Active Transportation learning and discussion.”
• Head over to the Bellevue Community Hall on Tuesday evening for the Edmonton Exhibition Lands concept review.
• The Edmonton Public Library and Edmonton Community Foundation are hosting Arlene Dickinson for Lessons from the Den at the Edmonton Inn Kingsway on Wednesday evening.
• FEASTival of Fine Chefs takes place Wednesday evening at the Shaw Conference Centre.
• The United Way is kicking off its 2018 campaign on Thursday morning at the Shaw Conference Centre.
• Homeward Trust is hosting a research symposium on influencing policy and affecting practice on Thursday at the Lister Conference Centre at the University of Alberta.
• The Edmonton Oilers will play their first home pre-season game on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets.
• The 6th annual Edmonton Burlesque Festival runs Thursday to Saturday at La Cité Francophone.
• AIMCo’s Phyllis Clark and CWB’s Carolyn Graham are among the panelists slated for the Edmonton Women in Finance event Female Leaders in Finance taking place on Friday afternoon at AIMCo’s office on 108 Street & Jasper Avenue.
• The Edmonton Comic & Entertainment Expo runs Friday to Sunday at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
• The 2018 Mid-Autumn Festival is being held on Saturday at Kinistinâw Park.
• Keith Urban is performing at Rogers Place on Saturday night.
• interVivos is hosting a Mentorship Mixer on Wednesday, September 26 at The Almanac.
• Edmonton Shift Lab is hosting How to Have Difficult Conversations About Race on Thursday, September 27 at the hotel in the Quarters (formerly called Hyatt Place).
• There are still a few weeks of listings left on Taproot Edmonton’s 2018 guide to summer festivals and events! It includes 75+ happenings this summer in and around the city.

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

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• The City of Edmonton has been named 2018 Organization of the Year at the International Association for Public Participation of Canada (IAP2 Canada) Core Values Awards Gala. “This is IAP2 Canada’s top honour, recognizing organizations and projects that give people a say in decisions that affect them and tell them how their input will be used in decision-making.” I’m proud to have played a small part! Edmonton is now in the running for the international IAP2 Organization of the Year award.
• Council got a mid-year update on the budget last week and learned the City is projecting a $14.4 million deficit by the end of 2018. “That’s led to a clamp down on hiring, said Harmalkit Rai, acting branch manager for finance, in a presentation to council Tuesday.”
• Councillor Andrew Knack has asked for proposed cuts totalling $64 million. “I don’t know if it’s going to be swimming hours, or those single-sheet ice rinks,” said Knack. “But we have to be able to have those tough conversations.”
• City Council approved the hiring of Edmonton’s first Integrity Commissioner and Ethics Advisor. Jamie Pytel will be the City’s first Integrity Commissioner. Brent Rathgeber, a former Member of Parliament and Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, will be the City’s first Ethics Advisor.
• The new trails around the Walterdale Bridge officially opened on Thursday night, nearly a year after the bridge itself went into service. Contractors are facing up to $13 million in late penalties as the bridge was supposed to open in June 2015. While initially tight-lipped on the fines, Council now may be willing to share details.
• Cartago owner Katy Ingraham has won the right to open a new deli in Forrest Heights. The appeal board “said neither the city nor the residents presented any professional evidence to prove the developer’s parking impact assessment was wrong.”
• According to new figures from Avison Young, downtown Edmonton’s office vacancy rate dropped to 12.5% at the end of June, down from 15.3% in 2017.
• The hotel in the Quarters is no longer affiliated with Hyatt. “The decision to pull the Hyatt Place branding comes two weeks after the hotel failed an Alberta Health Services health inspection, though Hyatt is not confirming whether the decision was directly linked to the failed health report.”
• The funicular was closed on Thursday and Friday so crews could replace glass damaged by vandalism. The cost? $47,000!
• Rob Yager has been appointed President and CEO of the United Way of the Alberta Capital Region. He takes over for Anne Smith, who spent more than 30 years in the role.
• Edmonton police recovered 83 stolen bikes in a recent investigation. “The city and police service are launching a new bike theft campaign to remind residents to keep track of their bike details in order to reclaim their bike if it is stolen.”
• Here’s what you need to know about the discussions coming up at City Council this week. A big topic of discussion is smart transportation, which includes electric vehicles.
• According to new figures from Alberta Health, 355 people died from apparent accidental opioid overdoses in the first six months of 2018.
• The next Pecha Kucha Night is coming up on October 25. You can now apply to present.

Premier Rachel Notley meets with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, photo by Premier of Alberta

Upcoming Events

• The United Way is hosting An Evening with Sarah Chan on Monday night at EPCOR Tower. “Proceeds from the evening’s ticket sales will go to Women United – A component of United Way’s All in for Youth program that specifically focuses on girls from Grade 8 through to high school completion.”
• The third annual Bridge of Life awareness event, organized by the Edmonton Mental Health Awareness Committee, starts at 7:30pm at Constable Ezio Faraone Park.
• AlbertaAI is hosting Open Data and Data Science at the City of Edmonton on Wednesday evening at ETLC on the U of A campus. “In this event, speakers from the City of Edmonton will introduce open data and the work related to data science, smart city, robotics and AI.”
• The next Instagrammable Walls Photo Walk is taking place on Wednesday evening. Meet at the Happy Wall in Churchill Square at 6pm.
• Sam Smith is performing at Rogers Place on Wednesday evening.
• Homestead Coworking is hosting a social networking night on Thursday evening.
• The Edmonton Permaculture Guild is hosting Permaculture Pub Night: Preserving the Harvest on Thursday evening at Yellowhead Brewery.
• The Kaleido Family Arts Festival runs Friday to Sunday on Alberta Avenue.
• The Good Fight‘s first conference takes place from Friday to Sunday. “The goal of The Good Fight is to build the local, grassroots capacity to counter fascism and white supremacy and grow a culture of justice, inclusivity, and equity in our diverse community.”
• The Edmonton Public School Board is hosting a volunteer appreciation screening of the film Won’t you be my neighbour? on Saturday afternoon at the Garneau Theatre.
• Saturday is Community League Day around Edmonton. DECL is celebrating with its annual CornFest.
• The grand opening of ᐄᓃᐤ (ÎNÎW) River Lot 11∞, the Indigenous Art Park within Queen Elizabeth Park, takes place Saturday from 12-4pm.
• Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Edmonton Oilers at Fan Day on Saturday at Rogers Place.
• The Autism Speaks Canada Walk takes place Sunday at Rundle Park.
• The Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope takes place Sunday at Kinsmen Park.
• There are still a few weeks of listings left on Taproot Edmonton’s 2018 guide to summer festivals and events! It includes 75+ happenings this summer in and around the city.

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