Are you feeling robbed of time today? It’s too bad daylight savings isn’t in the mayor’s jurisdiction. Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:
Headlines
- The Edmonton region gained 1,300 new jobs in February. Our CMA has added approximately 25,000 jobs over the last year, which means “slightly more than 20% of all net new jobs generated in Canada over that period” were created here in Edmonton. It’s not all positive though – our unemployment rate rose from 6.5% to 6.8% last month (Calgary is at 8.4%). You can learn more in this PDF and you can see the latest labour force data here.
- The City is conducting another Municipal Census this year and is looking for Edmontonians who want to serve as census workers. Door-to-door collection of census information will begin April 15.
- Lower than expected personnel costs in 2015 have resulted in a $27 million surplus for the City.
- I would be very surprised if the Royal Alberta Museum building is ever demolished, especially after the response that greeted an RFP to turn the building into a green space. I hope it can continue to serve Edmonton long into the future.
- There’s some controversy in Old Strathcona right now over the proposed Mezzo building, which would be 16 stories tall and therefore somewhat out-of-place in the heritage area where everything else is six stories or less.
- Edmonton Events, a partnership between the City and Edmonton Tourism, received the Sport Tourism Organization of the Year Award at the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance’s 2016 awards ceremony in Ottawa this week.
- This is a great video feature on the Mercer Warehouse, “a one hundred year old building” that “has become an entreprenurial hub.”
- Here’s an update on Reconciling Edmonton from Anna Marie Sewell.
- Transforming Edmonton has a feature on the funicular that will be constructed near the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald. The stairs are now closed.
- There’s not much snow or ice left outside, but be sure to do your part to keep Edmonton’s waste collectors safe.
- The Province has proposed legislation called An Act to End Predatory Lending that will “strengthen consumer protection in Alberta so that a short-term loan in a time of need does not lead to a vicious cycle of debt.”
- Dr. Karen Grimsrud has been appointed Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health following a national search to fill the position. She has held the position previously, from 2007 to 2008. She starts April 18.
- TappCar is set to launch in Edmonton on Monday. They hope to have 200 cars on the road.
- If you haven’t already seen it, check out the new Edmonton weather nerdery blog. Great stuff.
- Here is the latest blog roundup from Seen and Heard in Edmonton.
- For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.
Colourwall, photo by Dave Sutherland
Upcoming Events
- The Oilers host the Nashville Predators on Monday, the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday, the Vancouver Canucks on Friday, and the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.
- On Tuesday evening the Edmonton Heritage Council is hosting Weaving City Narratives, an open conversation about the stories that connect us to Edmonton.
- Head over to Little Brick on Tuesday for JCI Edmonton’s latest cafe event.
- The next Capital Ideas Edmonton event on how you do business differently takes place at the Edmonton Journal on Wednesday.
- On Wednesday evening the City is hosting a public meeting to discuss the overpass on 50 Street over the Sherwood Park Freeway.
- Ticket to Ride is a fundraiser organized by YESS, EndPoverty Edmonton, and the City of Edmonton Youth Council to bring accessible transportation to Edmontonian youth at risk. It takes place Wednesday at Latitude 53.
- The Oil Kings host the Red Deer Rebels on Thursday at Rexall Place.
- The Serca Festival of Irish Theatre begins Thursday at the Alberta Avenue Community Centre.
- Head over to the Edmonton Expo Centre from Thursday through Sunday for the Edmonton Home + Garden Show.
- The University of Alberta’s eHUB is hosting its first hackathon from Friday through Sunday.
- Refinery en Vogue takes place Saturday evening at the Art Gallery of Alberta.
- The 37th Annual ACE Awards take place on Saturday at the Shaw Conference Centre.
- Edmonton Seedy Sunday takes place on Sunday at the Central Lions Senior Recreation Centre.
- The Canadian Multicultural Education Foundation’s 19th annual Harmony Brunch takes place Sunday at the Chateau Nova Yellowhead.
- For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.
High Level in the Fog, photo by Kurt Bauschardt
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