Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• I don’t have much to say about the events of Saturday night, now being investigated as “acts of terrorism,” that hasn’t already been said elsewhere. Here’s the Journal article and here’s the CBC article. Here is Mayor Don Iveson’s statement and here is Premier Rachel Notley’s statement. There are more useful links in this megathread on /r/Edmonton. Sharon and I were home all night on 104 Street, having dinner with friends. We heard the fireworks at Commonwealth Stadium, presumably for Military Appreciation Night as the Esks lost their sixth straight game, and the usual sirens and revelers all night long. We hear sirens all the time downtown so most of the time I just tune them out, and Saturday night was no different. We didn’t realize anything had happened until we looked at Twitter late in the evening and read about the high-speed chase that took place down Jasper Avenue and ended just a few blocks away. I was up until about 3am watching the F1 race, and heard the usual random groups of revelers all night long, so evidently they didn’t know or care about the events of the evening either. And today? Just another day, as Omar has perfectly captured.
• Hundreds of Edmontonians gathered outside City Hall this evening to show support for victims of the attacks. “We stand together,” Iveson told the crowd. “All faiths, all cultures. We will not be divided.”
• The City has submitted an annexation application to the Municipal Government Board for land in Leduc County and Beaumont. “It is expected that a recommendation will be made by the end of 2018. The City and Leduc County have requested an annexation effective date of January 1, 2019.”
• On Monday, the shareholder group of Edmonton Global announced the company’s inaugural board of directors and board chair. John Day will serve as the organization’s first board chair. The first meeting is taking place on Monday, October 2.
• We received our Where to Vote notice in the mail on Friday.
• Check out Taproot Edmonton’s election microsite to find your wards, candidates, voting stations, and more all with just one click. Here is our latest Edmonton Election Update, a roundup of election-related news and events delivered to your inbox.
• Alberta’s minimum wage increased from $12.20/hr to $13.60/hr today, another step forward in the plan to raise Alberta’s minimum wage to $15.00/hr by October 1, 2018. According to the government, more than 292,000 Albertans earn less than $15 per hour.
• A new petition aims to give “Accidental Beach” an Indigenous name. “If Edmonton ends up keeping, maintaining and investing in the Accidental Beach, let’s create space for Edmonton’s Indigenous community to name it in accordance with local ceremony & protocol.” The goal is to get 500 signatures to take to City Council.
• All three lanes of traffic are now open on the new Walterdale Bridge, as is the west sidewalk. “Ahead of schedule” is a definite stretch, though. Quality spin indeed.
• Transforming Edmonton has a look at the River Crossing Heritage Interpretive Plan. “The River Crossing area in Rossdale is at the heart of our city and has borne witness to Edmonton’s evolution over the course of thousands of years.”
• ATB Financial and Boyle Street Community Services partnered last year to launch Four Directions Financial, which uses biometric identification technology to serve the underbanked. The community agency now has more than 500 clients.
• The [first edition of Gifted](https://www.edmontonmade.com/catalogue/, an annual collection of Edmonton Made products, is now available.
• Here is the updated listing for Cecil Place, home of the former Sobeys on 104 Street and Jasper Avenue. The space has been subdivided into five different units ranging in size from 715 sq ft all the way up to 5,450 sq ft.
• Yes, this really happened: “An Alberta judge has refereed a dispute over a pair of Edmonton Oilers season tickets.”
• Alberta Health Services has announced the 2017/2018 Influenza Immunization Program will begin on October 23. All Albertans six months of age and older can receive a free flu shot.
• For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.

Biking in Yellow, photo by Kurt Bauschardt

Upcoming Events

• Wills Week from the Edmonton Community Foundation, “a series of free presentations that help Edmonton and area residents learn the value of creating and maintaining an up-to-date will,” takes place at various locations around Edmonton all week.
• The Weeknd is playing Rogers Place on Monday night!
• Advance Voting starts on Wednesday and runs daily from 1-7pm through October 13.
• There are plenty of election events taking place throughout the city this week! Get informed about your candidates and ask them your questions! If you don’t want to go to a forum, consider one of Edmonton NextGen’s pre-forum events.
• Leadercast Women, “a unique women’s leadership experience featuring top female leaders who are powered by purpose,” is coming up on Thursday at the Shaw Conference Centre.
• The Oilers kickoff the regular season on Wednesday evening at Rogers Place as they host the Flames. Game time is 8pm.
• What Comes Next? Political Afterlives of the TRC takes place on Wednesday at the Myer Horowitz Theatre. “This facilitated roundtable discussion brings together three outstanding scholars to engage with political challenges and possibilities emerging from the TRC calls to action.”
• The Bloom Festival takes place at the Shaw Conference Centre from Thursday through Sunday.
• The Oil Kings host the Wheat Kings on Friday and the Silvertips on Sunday.
• Earth’s General Store is closing its downtown location on Sunday with a Thank You Sale.
• I hope to see you at Green Drinks: The Election on Thursday, October 12 at Yellowhead Brewery. The event is always popular, so be sure to get your tickets early!
• For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.

The End of The World Panorama HDR, photo by ALLEN QIAO乔谦之

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• The new Walterdale Bridge opened to traffic for the first time on Monday morning. Two of the three lanes are open with the third and the new pedestrian sidewalk both expected to open in October. I’m surprised to hear that the old Walterdale Bridge is already being taken down and is expected to be gone by the end of the year.
• Hanging Iron is a half-hour documentary that followed ironworkers at the Walterdale Bridge job site. Who knew!
• Looking for the latest municipal election news? Here’s my latest Edmonton Election Update. Monday was Nomination Day – there are a record 131 candidates running in this year’s election.
• Annual inflation rose to 1.1% in August in the Edmonton CMA, while unemployment rose to 8.7% despite the addition of approximately 2,000 new positions.
• Say goodbye to parking enforcement officers: they are being replaced by a new robo-parking patrol system. The City hopes to have it up and running by the spring.
• A parking stall in the 32-storey Ultima Tower has sold for $75,000 according to developer Westrich Pacific.
• This year the Edmonton Urban Design Awards has a People’s Choice Award. There are 44 submissions and you’ve got until September 26 to vote.
• A new economic impact assessment commissioned by the Professional Arts Coalition of Edmonton found that “arts organizations in Edmonton spent $98 Million last year, paying out just over $20 Million to artists.”
• The City of Edmonton Youth Council is accepting applications for the next Youth Poet Laureate. The deadline to apply is September 29.
• There’s a new game on Steam that lets you take the historic streetcar across the High Level Bridge!
• The results of Vue Weekly’s Best of Edmonton for 2017 are now available. Thanks once again for recognizing this blog in the Best Local Affairs Blog category, runner-up this year to the fantastic Daveberta.ca.
• The next application deadline for the Edmonton Community Foundation’s Young Edmonton Grants Program is coming up on October 15.
• We got an early peek at winter on Tuesday morning as wet snow fell throughout the city, but it didn’t last long, and the week ahead looks great with highs of 22 degrees!
• Did you take advantage of Free Admission Day today? If so, the City is looking for your feedback.
• For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.

Walterdale Bridge, photo by IQRemix

Upcoming Events

• The City’s series of all-candidate forums kick off this week. “Open to all citizens, the forums give voters the opportunity to hear from and ask questions of the mayoral and city councillor candidates.”
• Edmonton Design Week is underway with events at various locations throughout the city. It runs through the end of the month.
• The Edmonton Urban Design Awards Jury is hosting a free talk on Monday night at the Art Gallery of Alberta, where each jury member will speak about a design project they have worked on.
• Edmonton Made is launching Gifted, a local gift catalogue, on Monday evening at the Hyatt Place Hotel.
• The Business Link is running a free Business Model Canvas Workshop on Tuesday afternoon.
• The next event in EPL’s Forward Thinking Speaker Series takes place on Tuesday evening at the Chateau Lacombe with Canada’s 19th Prime Minister, Rt. Honourable Kim Campbell, and former Deputy Prime Minister, the Honourable Anne McLellan.
• Learn about quantum computing with D-Wave at a free lecture at the University of Alberta on Thursday evening.
• The Harlem Globetrotters are in town on Friday and Saturday at the Edmonton Expo Centre.
• Alberta Culture Days takes place on the weekend throughout the Province. There are plenty of local events happening, like the free public art walking tours being hosted by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.
• Edmonton Oktoberfest takes place on Friday and Saturday at the Edmonton Expo Centre.
• The fall edition of the Edmonton RV Show takes place Friday through Sunday at the Edmonton Expo Centre.
• The Garden Brothers Circus is in town at the Shaw Conference Centre on Saturday and Sunday.
• Eileen Bell is launching her new book celebrating women’s softball at John Fry Park on Saturday afternoon.

New Walterdale Bridge, photo by Jeff Wallace

Fall is in the air – get out and enjoy the colors! Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• Northlands is disappearing bit by bit. The City will assume responsibility for Northlands Coliseum on January 1, 2018, at which point it will be closed. On the same date, EEDC will start operating the Edmonton Expo Centre. Northlands Park will transition to the City 30 days after the end of horse racing or by June 30, 2018. The Coliseum ARP, which “will support revitalization for the whole neighbourhood”, is slated to be presented to Council by the end of 2018.
• The City has announced that the Walterdale Bridge will partially open to traffic starting tomorrow morning.
• Icelandair currently flies six times per week between Edmonton and Reykjavik, but will be phasing those flights out in November and suspending them altogether between January and March. “Icelandair spokesperson Michael Raucheisen attributed the suspension to a drop in the number of passengers.”
• The City has agreed to amend its Edmonton Tower lease agreement with ICE District Corp., to drop the option to purchase a portion of the building if it is ever sold, in exchange for $5 million.
• For the latest election news, be sure to check out the latest edition of Taproot’s Edmonton Election Update.
• Edmonton won a battle against Beaumont this week over a proposed redevelopment plan. “Edmonton had hoped to collaborate with Beaumont to work out the issues with the land but was ‘rebuffed,’ said Iveson.”
• Though Council delayed a decision on the controversial Holyrood development until after the election, the City did sign a non-binding MOU with Regency Developments to allow them to proceed with the construction of underground infrastructure.
• Signs have started to go up around the city to reflect the new 30 km/h speed limit in playground zones. It is in effect from 7:30am to 9:00pm every day. “Traffic safety statistics show a marked reduction in pedestrian and cyclist injuries with the introduction of 30 km/h school zones in Edmonton.”
• I’m sure you’ve seen this tweet by now. Timing is everything, with the demise of Northlands and Calgary’s arena debate coming together to make Edmontonians smile.
• The historic Garneau Tree was taken down today. An evaluation showed it was rotting from the inside and was deemed a safety risk.
• Plenty of Albertans want to see Daylight Saving Time come to an end, but our major airports, WestJet, and both the Oilers and Flames are opposed to the change.
• Mayor Don Iveson is calling for the resignation of Senator Lynn Beyak, who wrote on her website that Indigenous people should “trade [their] status card[s] for a Canadian citizenship.”
• The Oilers Entertainment Group has a job opening for Hunter, the lynx mascot it introduced last year. “You would be expected to be Hunter in the suit for up to four hours at a time, never losing your non-verbal enthusiasm.”
• The Edmonton Police Association will elect a new president in December. Insp. Bob Walsh has been serving as interim president since August 2016, and will not seek the position.
• After an amazing 7-0 start to the season, the Eskimos have now lost 5 straight.
• For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.

Edmonton, photo by Paul

Upcoming Events

• Monday is Nomination Day! After candidates file their paperwork, the race is officially on. Election Day is October 16.
• Pre-season Oilers hockey starts this week with games against the Flames, Jets, and Canucks.
• YEG BizBuzz, an informal networking get-together for entrepreneurs organized by Rainforest Alberta, takes place on Tuesday evening at The Nest Taphouse Grill.
• The Dreamspeakers Film Festival kicks off on Wednesday.
• This year’s FEASTival of Fine Chefs takes place Wednesday at the Shaw Conference Centre.
• The Yards is launching its fall issue with a salon event on Thursday evening at CKUA.
• The Edmonton Comic & Entertainment Expo takes place Friday through Sunday at the Edmonton Expo Centre.
• The 4th annual Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival takes place at City Hall and in Churchill Square on Saturday.
• Digital Alberta’s 2017 Ember Awards take place on Saturday at the Art Gallery of Alberta.
• On the Spot Pop Ups and Etsy Canada are hosting the Made in Canada market on Saturday and Sunday at the Shaw Conference Centre. Admission is $5 and kids get in free.
• Sunday is Free Admission Day at City of Edmonton attractions and rec centres across the city.
• We’re nearly at the end of our summer festival & event guide at Taproot, but stay tuned for the winter edition!

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• Edmonton added 2,000 full-time jobs last month but our unemployment rate actually rose to 8.7%, according to the City’s Chief Economist John Rose. He doesn’t expect it to drop much below that mark for the rest of the year. Alberta’s unemployment rate was 8.1% in August.
• Here’s the latest Edmonton Election Roundup from Taproot Edmonton.
• Accidential Beach now has a sign thanks to Alex Lakusta. #MakeSomethingEdmonton
• The federal government announced an investment of $26 million “to support fundamental research at the University of Alberta through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s (NSERC) 2017 competition for the Discovery Grants program as well as scholarships and fellowships.”
• A new shuttle will connect passengers between the Greyhound station near Yellowhead Trail and the Kingsway Transit Centre. It will start operating on September 17 and will run five to six times per day.
• Edmonton and St. Albert are working to establish a new entity that could eventually become a regional transit commission. The first step is a memorandum of understanding, followed by startup funding of nearly $4 million for the first two years.
• Rogers Place celebrated its 1st anniversary on September 8!
• The City has published an interactive map showing infrastructure projects across the city. “It is a snapshot of current major infrastructure projects in concept, design or being built by the City of Edmonton.”
• The 143-year-old tree known as “Garneau’s Tree” located on the University of Alberta campus will be removed for safety reasons.
• Two years after it was supposed to open, the City still won’t commit to a date for when the new Walterdale Bridge will finally open.
• Amazon announced it is looking for a second North American headquarters, kicking off a gold rush among cities across North America. Our city wants in, of course. Kendall Beleshko has outlined the reasons he thinks Edmonton could win here.
• Lonely Planet doesn’t seem to think Edmonton is a very appealing place though, calling our city “frigidly cold” while praising Calgary. Whoever wrote that clearly hasn’t been to Edmonton recently.
• I’m really happy that Alex Decoteau Park is now open at 105 Street and 102 Avenue!
• For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.

Moon Scoop, photo by Jeff Wallace

Upcoming Events

• Have you got ideas about how a National Food Policy could help build a better food system? Share them at a workshop being held at Edmonton’s Food Bank on Wednesday evening.
• Also happening Wednesday evening is Rapid Fire Theatre’s MINI MEAN TWEETS featuring Mayor Don Iveson.
• Friday is PARK(ing) Day downtown. Check it out along 101A Avenue between 96 Street and 97 Street all afternoon.
• The 2017 Alberta Book Publishing Awards Gala is taking place on Friday evening at the Delta Edmonton South.
• I am really looking forward to Kaleido on the weekend over on 118 Avenue.
• Also taking place over the weekend is the new EPCOR RiverFest festival, presented by the River Valley Alliance.
• The big headline-grabbing event of the weekend will no doubt be FISE World Edmonton, taking place at Hawrelak Park.
• There are tons of great events happening on Saturday for Community League Day!
• Edmonton’s NextGen is hosting a Trash Mob on Saturday to clean up the Accidental Beach.
• The 26th annual AIDS Walk & Superhero Run takes place on Saturday at Wilbert McIntyre Park.
• Check out Taproot Edmonton’s summer festival & event guide for more upcoming events!

Alex Decoteau Park is now open!

Happy long weekend! Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• City Council approved a plan to transition the Edmonton EXPO Centre to the City of Edmonton from Northlands. “This will facilitate the consolidation of the EXPO Centre and Shaw Conference Centre” and is expected to occur January 1, 2018.
• The eastbound right turn lane from Jasper Avenue to 109 Street southbound has been re-opened to traffic because apparently 34 seconds of delay for motorists was too high a cost for pedestrian safety. “Preliminary traffic data on the project has indicated a minimal delay,” the City news release says, noting that traffic volumes are expected to increase in the fall.
• Also this week, City Council approved Breathe: Edmonton’s Green Network Strategy. The plan “will guide future planning for parks and open space, ensuring all neighbourhoods are supported by high-quality, accessible, connected open spaces.”
• BuzzFeed featured our beach this week: Edmonton’s New Hot Spot Is An Accidental Beach. It’s actually on Google Maps now. Here is Paula’s take on the beach and its ephemeral joy. On the other hand, high levels of E. coli have prompted a warning about water quality. The City has since placed extra garbage cans and porta-potties on the trails near the beach.
• City Hall’s 25th Anniversary was marked this week at a lunchtime ceremony featuring architect Gene Dub and former mayor Jan Reimer. “Home of our civic leadership and a ‘people place’ – this iconic building is a much-loved gathering place for the community.”
• The City is gearing up for fall and back-to-school with reminders for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians “to watch out for each other during their travels.” They’re focusing in particular around the new Downtown Bike Network.
• Fall service changes for Edmonton Transit start on Tuesday, September 5. “Changes include restoring seasonal trips that were reduced in July, such as school specials and post-secondary routes.” This month is the busiest time of year for transit users.
• Here’s the Globe and Mail on Trudeau’s latest cabinet shuffle: “Edmonton MP Randy Boissonnault is charged with handling LGBT issues. Edmonton’s other Liberal MP, Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi, is virtually invisible. Albertans can rightly wonder how well their interests are represented in this government.”
• The Province is “moving very quickly” to get approval for Edmonton’s proposed supervised injection sites. The goal is to get them up and running by the winter.
• The Edmonton Transit System Advisory Board is calling for a central hub to offer better connections to other transportation options as well as the possibility of a seasonal ferry on the river.
• From the how-is-that-even-possible department, MacEwan University lost $11.8 million to scammers in a phishing attack. The money was owed to Clark Builders for work on the new Allard Hall.
• For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.

City Hall is 25 years young

Upcoming Events

• If you missed the Tour of Alberta today, you can catch the last day tomorrow (Monday) downtown.
• TEC Edmonton is launching a new accelerator program with Merck Canada on Tuesday at lunch.
• Alberta Together is hosting an event with former mayor Stephen Mandel on Wednesday discussing Alberta’s future in 2020 and beyond.
• High Level Lit, a collaboration between Eighteen Bridges magazine, LitFest, and the Edmonton Community Foundation, takes place on Wednesday evening.
• Rapid Fire Theatre is launching its 2017/2018 season with a party on Thursday evening at the Citadel Theatre.
• Metro Cinema is launching its 2017/2018 season on Friday night at the Garneau Theatre with a screening of Casablanca.
• What the Truck?! is taking place on Saturday at Capital Boulevard (by the Federal Building fountains) from noon until 7pm.
• Also Saturday is the Strathearn Art Walk and Latitude 53’s Homecoming party.
• Head over to City Hall on Saturday to celebrate Daughters Day.
• The next edition of the popular Edmonton Chinatown Walking Tour takes place on Sunday morning.
• Summer is not over yet! Check out Taproot Edmonton’s 2017 Summer Festival & Event Guide for more great upcoming events.

Edmonton, Alberta, photo by Jeff Wallace