Tag: events

Edmonton Notes for 6/3/2012

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Skyline Sunset
Skyline Sunset by Gina Blank

Here are some upcoming events:

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the EPS Canine Unit:

Whew, big entry this week. Can’t believe it is already June!

Your Guide to Summer Festivals & Events in Edmonton!

For the 2016 edition, click here!

For the last couple of years I have posted a list of all the summer festivals happening here in Edmonton. It’s a lot of work to pull together, but I think the list is quite handy so I have done it once again. Powered by ShareEdmonton, here is a list of the festivals, parades, and a few other notable events you can look forward to over the next few months. Click on the title of a festival to visit its website, click on the ShareEdmonton logo to see the event listing there, and click on the calendar icon to open up an iCal for the festival’s dates.

Edmonton International Athletics Festival May 25 – June 25
Vocal Arts Festival May 25 – July 1
International Children’s Festival May 29 – June 2
Dreamspeakers Film Festival May 30 – June 2
Bikeology Festival June 1-30
Oliver Community Festival June 2
Bonnie Fest June 2
Heart of the City Festival June 2-3
Highlands Street Festival June 3
Rubaboo Arts Festival June 6-17
Nextfest June 7-17
Edmonton Pride Festival June 8-17
Edmonton Pride Parade June 9
Creative Age Festival June 8-10
Open Sky Music Festival June 8-10
Al Fresco June 9
What the Truck?! June 9
Improvaganza June 13-23
The Works Art & Design Festival June 21 – July 3
Summer Solstice Festival June 22-24
Edmonton International Jazz Festival June 22 – July 1
Philippine Arts Festival June 23
Freewill Shakespeare Festival June 26 – July 22
Historic Festival & Doors Open Edmonton July 3-8
Edmonton Triathlon Festival July 6-8
Edmonton International Street Performers Festival July 6-15
Choralies Festival July 8-15
Race Week Edmonton July
Edmonton Indy July 20-22
A Taste of Edmonton July 19-28
Capital EX Parade July 19
Capital EX July 20-29
Interstellar Rodeo July 27-29
Servus Heritage Festival August 4-6
Edmonton Folk Music Festival August 9-12
Animethon August 10-12
Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival August 16-26
Rock Music Festival August 17-18
Edmonton Dragon Boat Festival August 17-19
Edmonton Latin Festival August 18-19
Edmonton Blues Festival August 24-26
Symphony Under the Sky Aug. 31 – Sept. 3
Kaleido Family Arts Festival September 7-9

You can see a listing of all the festivals here, and a calendar view here. You can also add all of the festivals to your calendar with this iCal feed.

If you know of a festival that I have missed, please let me know and I’ll add it. There are some festivals that have happened in previous years such as Rock the Square and Cariwest that will likely happen again, but they don’t have websites with information to confirm that. I’m sure there will also be events that get announced closer to the date (such as additional What the Truck?! events throughout the summer).

Be sure to check out ShareEdmonton for even more upcoming events – there are hundreds of additional listings such as Edmonton Eskimo games, farmers markets, and many more.

Happy summer!

Edmonton Notes for 5/27/2012

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

LRT Expansion Expanded
LRT Expansion by Hugh Lee

Here are some upcoming events:

Federal Building Construction
Federal Building Construction by Mike Friel

Edmonton Notes for 5/6/2012

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Caterpillar 777
One of the giant mining machines that was on display in Churchill Square this week.

Here are some upcoming events:

Super moon
A great shot of the supermoon by Ian McKenzie.

Where you’ll find me over the next week!

Tonight is the first Truck Stop of the year and our first event in Old Strathcona! We’re actually holding a Truck Stop every Thursday night this month at McIntyre Park (8303 104 Street, aka Gazebo Park). The lineup and menu will change each week, so there’s definitely a reason to attend more than one! Here are the details for tonight’s event.

To keep up-to-date on What the Truck?! and Truck Stop events, check out our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter! We’ll be posting each week’s lineup and menu details as we get closer to the date.

On Saturday at the Fantasyland Hotel you’ll find iMedia 2012: Edmonton’s Social Media Conference. Vancouver’s Darren Barefoot and Rebecca Bollwitt are both in town to deliver keynotes. At lunch time I’m on the iMedia-lite Panel along with Kathleen Smith, Kendall Barber, and Ryan Jespersen. We’ll be talking about personal branding on the web – should be fun!

Later that afternoon I’ll be back downtown to participate in the Edmonton Public Library’s Downtown Stories event. The idea is to celebrate “the diverse stories of people who live downtown.” I’ll be sharing some thoughts on the changing face of downtown. Other speakers include Poet Laureate Anna Marie Sewell and EPL’s Writer in Residence Jocelyn Brown.

In addition to Truck Stop next Thursday, you don’t want to miss the Grand Opening Party for Startup Edmonton’s new space in the Mercer Warehouse! There will be drinks, DJs, and tours all evening long, so stop in and check it out. I can’t wait to see the space full of people.

On Friday, May 11 you’ll want to join me at the Art Gallery of Alberta to celebrate Guru’s tenth birthday at Gala Guru TEN. They’ve accomplished so much in that time! “We hang out on the corner of technology and the arts. If you like freaky mashups of technology and music/dance/theatre/visual media, this is the event for you.”

So that’s a few of the events I’ll be at over the next week or so. For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton!

Edmonton Notes for 4/29/2012

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

We have certainly had some wild weather recently, everything from sunny and warm to this:

Snowy Friday

But I guess that’s Edmonton for you!

Here are some upcoming events to note:

Due to construction of the North LRT to NAIT, the LRT is running on a slightly different schedule until September 1. Also, about one third of the Churchill Square LRT platform will be blocked off during that time. Here’s an overview of the North LRT to NAIT, including helicopter footage:

Sharon and I were out at the Shaw bright and early this morning for Edmonton’s eight Homeless Connect. We volunteered to do pre-registration and registration.

Homeless Connect Edmonton

There were an awful lot of volunteers there today, which is great! The event didn’t seem as busy as past ones in terms of clients, however.

Recap: TEC VenturePrize 2012

tec ventureprizeLast night was the tenth annual TEC VenturePrize awards celebration and to mark the milestone, an evening dinner format was selected instead of the usual luncheon. Hundreds of people packed Hall D at the Shaw Conference Centre to see some of Alberta’s most inspiring entrepreneurs battle it out in three different categories: student, fast growth, and for the first time ever, nano. Over $300,000 in prizes was handed out this year! For those of you who are new to the competition here’s a brief description:

A program of TEC Edmonton, TEC VenturePrize is an Alberta-wide program providing training, professional support and financial incentives to help people build or enhance a viable business. Now celebrating its 10th year, TEC VenturePrize is open to individuals such as aspiring entrepreneurs and faculty and students of post-secondary institutions, or new companies entering the marketplace.

Mayor Mandel kicked things off by welcoming everyone to the event and bringing greetings on behalf of the City. He was followed by the University of Alberta’s Lorne Babiuk and EEDC’s Ron Gilbertson who shared introductory remarks as presenting partners. As he has done for the last few years, Ryan Jespersen emceed the event. Ryan encouraged everyone to participate using the #VenturePrize hashtag on Twitter, and participate they did! It was great to see all of the positive comments about the companies competing. Throughout the evening there were videos featuring participants from the last ten years talking about their experiences with VenturePrize and the impact it had on them as entrepreneurs and on their companies.

TEC VenturePrize 2012

Being the tenth year, time was reserved in the program to honor the organizations and individuals that have been a part of the competition since the beginning. The Edmonton Journal, Field Law, FMC Law, novaNAIT, PWC, and the TSX Venture Exchange have all been sponsors since 2002. Volunteers who have contributed their time and expertise since the start include Colin Christensen, Brian Goheen, Ted Heidrick, Van Konrad, Gord Meeberg, Dennis Pommen, Lloyd Steier, Sam Soliman, and Ted Yoo.

Just like last year, representatives from each of the finalists in the student category participated in a sit-down interview on stage with Ryan. It was a neat way to learn a bit more about each of the companies! The three finalists were:

Founded by 27-year-old Calgary surgical resident Dr. Breanne Everett, Orpyx is behind two highly innovative planar sensory replacement systems, the SurroSense Rx and the SurroGait Rx, that use pressure sensor-embedded shoe insoles to determine force exerted over the bottom of the feet, and wirelessly transmit collected information to a back pad, mobile device or wristwatch worn by the user. Employing the phenomenon of neuroplasticity – the potential of the human brain to rewire itself – the patient is able to interpret the sensory stimulus felt on the back as that from the feet, and positively adjust their gait, balance, mobility and overall health as a result.

Enercal is building CALTrack – intelligent data software for the oil & gas industry. CALTrack provides easy-to-use, intelligent tools to manage critical calibration processes, allowing companies to meet increasing regulation and measurement quality requirements. Enercal was a finalist in Calgary’s STIC competition.

CitizenBridge is a not-for-profit civic engagement organization creating an online platform that will directly connect Canadians and government by facilitating conversations between citizens and their representatives. Capitalizing on the movement of Gov 2.0 in Canada, CitizenBridge’s purpose is to create a much more accessible, transparent and engaging government by using technology to connect constituents with their elected representatives in an effort to strength the overall well-being of our communities.

TEC VenturePrize 2012

There were two finalists in the nanoVenturePrize category, and we got to hear a short pitch from each of them in addition to a video. I think the addition of a nano category is great and will help to cement Edmonton’s role as a key research and development centre for nanotechnology. The products the finalists have created sound really impressive (and way over my head):

Aquila Diagnostics uses the Domino nanotechnology platform developed at the University of Alberta to provide on-site, easy-to-use genetic testing that can quickly test for infectious diseases and pathogens in livestock. The mobile diagnostic platform is portable, low-cost, fast and easy to use.

Parvus Therapeutics’ breakthrough nanomedicines may hold the cure for difficult-to-treat autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease. Parvus’ new Navacim medicines are nanoparticles coated with immune system proteins that can target specific autoimmune conditions.

There have been a lot of really unique and successful competitors in the fast growth category over the last ten years, so I’m sure the two finalists were feeling the pressure. Neither showed it up on stage though, delivering great elevator pitches before we got to see their videos.

As a combat trauma surgeon, ITC founder and CEO Dr. Dennis Filips was a firsthand witness to bleeding as a leading cause of battlefield deaths. Now a civilian surgeon and entrepreneur, he is committed to inventing point of injury solutions. ITC’s first product, the ITClamp, is a hand-held device that stops bleeding and saves live by instantly sealing a wound until surgical repair.

Pedpad solves a pervasive challenge faced by consumers in the footwear industry: finding shoes that fit. The process of trying on different sizes across different brands and returning online purchases that don’t fit is frustrating for customers and retailers alike. Pedpad solves this problem with a multi-axis, digital shoe-sizing platform. By stepping on the Pedpad device in-store, consumers can immediately determine their shoe size for a given brand. Through a personal Pedpad account, consumers can access their measurements online, obtain precise sizing recommendations across brands, and shop online with confidence.

The keynote speaker for the event was the Honourable A. Anne McLellan, who spoke about the spirit of innovation in Alberta. After attending a bunch of big events in the last week or two where speakers have not been shy about celebrating the positive economic outlook for Edmonton and the province, it was refreshing to hear Anne McLellan take a more measured approach. She said that we can and must do better in this province, that while energy is our traditional industry, it won’t always be enough. “Complacency is the biggest threat facing Alberta,” she told us. Her remarks covered a lot of ground, including the role that government should play in economic development. “Government should pick the races we’re in, not the winning horses,” she said. I wasn’t sure at first if McLellan was the right fit for a VenturePrize keynote, but I’m glad the organizers picked her!

TEC VenturePrize 2012

While I enjoyed the longer dinner format for the special 10th anniversary, I do think the program was a bit too long. It was well after 9pm by the time we got to the winners! The first award was the Screeners’ Award of Merit, presented by the Alberta Business Family Institute’s Shauna Feth. The award, which recognizes a business plan submission that shows excellent promise, went to Raw-Bitz.

Stephen Lougheed from Alberta Innovates Technology Futures presented the award to the winner of the student category, Orpyx Medical Technologies.

Dan Djukich from Alberta Innovates Technology Futures presented the inaugural nanoVenturePrize award, which went to Parvus Therapeutics.

TEC VenturePrize 2012

The two finalists in the fast growth category could not have been more different. I think Pedpad is on to something interesting, though as Sharon remarked to me when I told her about the company, you really have to try shoes on to see how they fit, because materials and other factors all play a role. Still, companies and products that mix the physical and online worlds are intriguing to me. As for ITC, I still can’t quite believe that their product doesn’t already exist. It looks and operates just like a hair clamp, and doesn’t look very complicated to my untrained eye (though I’m sure there’s more to it). But it obviously works and works well, so I hope it catches on!

TEC Edmonton CEO Chris Lumb had the honor of presenting the award to the winner of the fast growth category: Innovative Trauma Care.

Congratulations to all of the participants, finalists, and winners! Thanks also to TEC Edmonton for saving me a spot at the media table – much appreciated! You can see more photos from the evening here.

Edmonton Notes for 4/22/2012

Tomorrow is election day in Alberta – get out and vote! Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Alberta Legislature

Here are some upcoming events:

bank of montreal
The old Bank of Montreal building is nearly gone!

Recap: 2012 EEDC Annual Luncheon

Yesterday was EEDC’s Annual Luncheon at the Shaw Conference Centre. Now in its 17th year, the event was just as well attended as it was last year! Hosted by Manfred Kalk, Client Services Manager of the SCC, the event was an opportunity to learn about some recent changes at EEDC, to get an update on Edmonton’s economy, and to recognize three organizations that have made significant achievements in recognition, innovation, and community leadership.

First up was EEDC board chair Henry Yip, who talked about some recent successes in our province and about how Alberta can continue to succeed in the future. He also provided some updates on EEDC itself, thanking outgoing president Ron Gilbertson for all of his hard work over the last few years. Outgoing board members include Laura Schuler, Bob Gomes, and Peter Kiss, not to mention Henry Yip himself. The incoming board chair is Peter Silverstone.

EEDC board member Richard Brommeland was up next to hand out the annual achievement awards. The three winners were:

  • Donovan Creative Communications for recognition (those who bring extensive positive awareness and sustained name recognition of Edmonton).
  • Quantiam Technologies for innovation (those who have created or changed a product, process or business practice creating the broadest impact).
  • Homeward Trust Edmonton for community leadership (those who best engage our community or industry to achieve impactful positive change).

Each had the opportunity to speak for a few minutes after receiving their award, and a video was played for each organization as well. From the press release:

"Shortlisting the submissions was not an easy task," notes Richard Brommeland, EEDC board member and chair of the award selection committee. "The award winners do amazing work, and we are the better for them calling Edmonton home."

I know Donovan’s work fairly well. Among other things, they are responsible for EPL’s Spread the words campaign as well as EIA’s Stop the Calgary Habit. It’s great to see them recognized for bringing greater recognition to Edmonton. Quantiam I was not familiar with, but I learned that they are a nanotechnology company that recently created a joint venture with BSAF, the world’s largest chemical company. Exciting to hear that kind of thing happening here in Edmonton! And finally, Homeward Trust is an organization that is doing such important work in our city, so it’s completely appropriate that they were singled out for community leadership. Susan and her team have set the bar high. Congratulations to all three! You can see their videos here.

The keynote speaker was Ron Gilbertson himself, and he spent his time giving us an update on Edmonton’s economic report card (which you can look at here in PDF).

"Edmonton has a remarkable economic story. In 2011, our economy grew and showed momentum, and we are poised for a bright future," says Gilbertson. "Combine that with our quality of life, we are well on our way to becoming recognized as one of the world’s top mid-sized cities."

Overall, we received an “A-Minus” on our report card. The four main areas we need to work on are Office Vacancy Rates (C+), Inflation Rate (C), Annual Growth of Passenger Traffic at EIA (B), and Unemployment Rate (B+).

As everyone knows, our economy is built on oil and gas. Current and planned investment in the oil sands is around $290 billion, and that number is expected to grow. But we know it can’t last forever, something Ron acknowledged. “Should oil ever lose its lustre, we don’t really have a plan B.”

For the most part though, everyone was pretty upbeat about the local economy and our prospects for the future.

My thanks again to EEDC for hosting me at the luncheon! Be sure to follow @EEDC on Twitter for updates.

A fundraiser for the next generation: hot chefs, cool bEATS

Sharon and I are really looking forward to hot chefs, cool bEATS on Saturday evening! A celebration of Edmonton’s most creative restaurants, chefs, and food trucks, the event is a fundraiser to support Culinary Team Canada in their quest for gold at the Culinary Olympics in Germany this October. But it’s not the kind of fundraiser you’re thinking of. The dress code at hot chefs, cool bEATS is “street chic” rather than black tie!

Filistix, Drift, Transcend, Wild Tangerine, Elm Café, Bistecca, and Duchess are among the food trucks and restaurants that will be serving up delicious food throughout the evening. For drinks you can look forward to Alley Kat, Granville Island, and a bunch of wine. Interestingly there’s only one sit-down part of the event – a plated dessert created by Culinary Team Canada’s pastry chef to finish things off. Check out Sharon’s post for more information on what to expect at the event.

It wasn’t until we sat down with event co-chair Gurvinder Bhatia that I really took note of the event. And it wasn’t until he explained the philosophy behind it that I was sold:

“Too many events in the city are still geared towards the 50+ crowd. There are many young professional in the 25-45 age group that make good money, love food and wine, but don’t want to attend the same events that their parents attended. It is not only important to create events for this demographic, but to facilitate, encourage and foster philanthropy and community involvement for members of this group.”

That speaks to me. My experience with fundraisers thus far has been pretty typical – black tie, ten-seat table, five-course meal, silent auction, etc. Why not do something different? Why not encourage some creativity? More importantly, we really do need to foster philanthropy and community involvement in my demographic. Ever since Marty Forbes shared his concern that our city’s future leaders are not stepping up, I have been thinking and talking about “succession” and about how we can get nextgeners involved in building a better Edmonton. The answer is not always to create something new, but there’s certainly got to be room for that approach as well. In this case, I think a fresh take on the fundraiser is long overdue!

Tickets are not cheap at $150, but it is a fundraiser after all (and that includes all food and drink). In addition to supporting Culinary Team Canada, proceeds will support the High School Culinary Challenge which helps students wishing to pursue careers in the culinary industry. The deadline for tickets is noon on Friday – there will not be any tickets available at the door! You can buy yours online here.

The hashtag for the event is #hotchefs12. Hope to see you there!