Transforming Edmonton

Hello Edmonton! Hello World!

rloro — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 19:00:53 +0000

The City of Edmonton has been gradually expanding its presence in the world of social media. We’ve been tweeting, participating in the Connect2Edmonton forums, updating our fans in Facebook, sharing videos on YouTube and now we’re ready to launch a new blogging pilot project to share stories about how we are working on transforming the City into the community described in our long-term vision. We’re not here to repost news releases, we’re here to share information about City programs and projects in new and exciting ways and listen and respond to your comments and feedback. We want to start conversations about our community’s priorities and the actions that deliver on your priorities.

This blog is called Transforming Edmonton after our City Vision, a creative description of our future that will help to set direction, guide decisions and align the priorities of the City of Edmonton. It paints a picture of how we imagine our city will look in 2040.

Transforming Edmonton is the way the City’s administration will initiate change and focus our services and infrastructure investments on improving our quality of life. We want to show how various projects contribute to the City’s six 10-year Goals.

Our goal is to give meaning to the principles that underpin the City of Edmonton Strategic Plan. Of the four principles, one is Innovation:

a planning approach and operational culture which encourages and enables continuous improvement and the exploration and adoption of new techniques, technologies, products and ways of operating in order to improve results and lead progressive change.

This blog project is an example of the City’s commitment to Innovation. We’re recognizing the active and engaged citizenry online and working to provide information that is meaningful and supports the other three principles of integration, sustainability and livability.

It is important that this process of transformation does not take place behind a velvet curtain, only to be pulled back when a final product is ready to be showcased. This is counter-intuitive to the whole process and would make it seem that we considered the transformation of our city to be a sort of mystical process rather than something that is only possible through collaboration and engagement.

We’ll be posting regularly, so check back or subscribe via RSS to stay tuned for more stories about how we’re bringing our City Vision to life.

The Importance of ICLEI

banderson — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:50:58 +0000

Last June the City had the chance to host the ICLEI World Congress 2009 and I was fortunate to chair the event organizing committee. It was exciting to welcome over 600 municipal leaders from 56 countries to Edmonton talk about environmental sustainability. So what made hosting ICLEI such an important event for Edmonton? You may not know that Edmonton has an international reputation when it comes to our environmental initiatives and hosting the ICLEI Congress gave us the chance to share our knowledge while providing the opportunity for us to learn from other communities around the world. It’s interesting to note that the membership of ICLEI is made up of municipal leaders. The truth is, most environmental action has taken place at the municipal level so who better to push it forward? When it comes to the environment, we’re all in this together. Every country needs to start taking action on things like climate change, clean air and water and reducing our environmental footprint. Gatherings like ICLEI show us that there are positive steps that any community can make. But municipal environmental programs are only as successful as the citizens who support them. That’s why the ICLEI Congress featured a number of events for the public including an art show, a concert on community sustainability with local Indie musicians, an exhibit of crafts made of recycled or reused materials, as well as a concert featuring local school children. Hopefully you had the chance to take in some of these events and they got you thinking about what you can do to become more environmentally active and aware. I think ICLEI showed many of us that environmental responsibility is often about simple steps. There are lots of things you and your family can do to be more environmentally friendly. How about taking the bus or walking more often? How about not idling your car if you’ve stopped for more than 60 seconds (except in traffic of course)? How about replacing your furnace with a high efficiency model or replacing your old appliances with energy star models? How about getting an energy audit of your home? How about switching your light bulbs to the CFL variety? All it takes are a few changes to make a big difference. We all need to keep up with the things we learned at ICLEI and continue Edmonton’s international reputation as an environmental leader.

To go, finally, where only some other governments have gone before

rmoyles — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:13:04 +0000

Somewhere between the steel thumbs of Kady O’Malley, the savvy of daveberta and those other, narrative-driving Captain’s logs (clogs?), hopefully lies the future of this blog thread. As the City of Edmonton takes its first steps into social media, I hope to be able to bring insight, spark discussion and ideas and generally turn the faceless municipal bureaucracy into something you know and love. Well, know better, at least. We want you to meet some of the people who work for the City of Edmonton, find out what we do, how we do it and why we do it. We want to share our passion for making our community better and our expertise in many areas, remembering that if two heads are better than one, then many heads should be better than two, unless there are too many cooks in the kitchen and too many cliches in one sentence. As for me, I’ve been the Director of Strategic Communications with the City for four years, and I’m excited about our latest foray into social media and the potential for greater dialogue and transparency it represents. We’ve been on Twitter (@cityofedmonton) for a while, but 140 characters can only take you so far. Municipal government is government closest to the people – we want to talk with those who share our interests, and the transparency we demonstrate regularly will carry forward into this venue (our skeletons always have at least one bony toe sticking out of the closet). How and why we communicate as an organization will be the general theme/topic of these posts. So share your thoughts – is blogging the right step for the City to take? What do you think about the need to discuss some things in private vs. the right of taxpayers to have a say in how their money is spent? Do you want more Kady O’Malley references? Thoughts on future topics? I promise to read, not in a Big Brother kind of way, but maybe in a Big Brother kind of way, (without the implied patronizing). Now if only someone could find a way for us to share a beer over the Internet….is there an app for that yet?

Composting at City Hall

acasovan — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:20:04 +0000

Starting a new job is always intimidating. So last March when I started working for the City’s Communications Branch, I wasn’t quite ready to question my new colleagues about their lack of composting. However, having worked at the Telus World of Science throughout University I came accustomed to having a compost bin at work. I thought, if had a compost bin at the science centre, why couldn’t we have one here? Over the next few months my courage grew. Then one day this summer I was eating a banana and I had enough. “Why don’t we have a compost?” blurted out of my mouth… I looked around… good thing no one heard me. Still unsure of everyone’s position on composting I decided to go the more passive route, and post a comment on an internal website. I asked if anyone was composting in the downtown area. Within a few minutes, I got several comments back saying no, but if you find one let me know because I’m also interested in composting. I thought to myself, if everyone wants one then why don’t we just make one? Later that afternoon, with slight trepidation, I approached my manager and a few other colleagues asking what they thought about having a compost bin. I did get a few chuckles, but everyone was incredibly supportive. Later, in a meeting with my Branch Manager, I mentioned the possibilities of composting. To my surprise, she not only thought it was a great idea, she agreed to provide me with the resources to make this idea come to fruition. After consultation with the composting gurus in the Waste Management Branch, a few meetings with City Hall tenants, several phone calls and visits with City Hall expert – Betty Loree, and a lot of help from the City Hall custodians and Maintenance Department, we now have a 340L vermicompost at City Hall! [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="We're ready to compost!"][/caption] Currently, we are in the initial pilot project phase. There are now five offices in City Hall participating with more on the way. With the help of Master Composter Recycler Volunteer, Herb Gale the compost bin is off to a great start. It will take several months for our bio-degradables to turn into fertilizer, but when it does it will be used on the plants in and around City Hall. In the mean time, the City Hall School program has been encouraged to use the compost as a teaching tool. If you’re interesting in learning more about composting, and how you can make your own compost at home or work, please check out the Waste Management Branch’s Compost brochure. Or feel free to post comments, and I’ll let you know how it’s working out for us.

What do we mean by active transportation?

amachell — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:45:24 +0000

So exactly what is active transportation? Simply speaking, it is any mode of transportation that you power with your own body. It is the most basic element of any transportation system. Walking, cycling, inline skating, skateboarding, running, jogging, pogo-sticking... all of these are active transportation. Almost every type of trip starts with walking, whether it's to your car or to the bus, and cycling is not only healthy and affordable, but also the most mechanically efficient means of moving yourself around. The City is poised to make great progress in supporting and promoting active transportation. A number of forward-looking plans have recently been approved by City Council. Most recently, a new official City policy on active transportation was approved by Council at their November 24th, 2009 meeting. This policy directly supports the new Transportation Master Plan, which was itself passed just recently, in September 2009. Of course, high-level plans and policies can be vague on the details, so while they set the direction that we are going, it falls to several more specific plans to guide our day to day work. For the past few years, the City has been working on strategies for walking and cycling. We have an updated Bicycle Transportation Plan which recommends the development of a network of on-street cycling routes, more bike racks on the street and on buses, improved education programs, and other supporting measures. For walking, two complementary plans have been developed: one for infrastructure, and one for broader measures to support walkability. The Sidewalk Strategy provides a plan for filling in gaps in the sidewalk network, and recommends ways to improve the accessibility of connections to transit service. Then, with basic infrastructure for walking taken care of, the Walkability Strategy (currently under development), looks at all the other ways to support, encourage, and properly plan for walking. Finally, a funding strategy has been approved that will provide the stable, long-term support to make things happen. Be prepared to watch Edmonton transform into a more walkable and cycle-friendly city.

Be Idle Free

mthurber — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:30:59 +0000

The City of Edmonton’s Environment branch has started a new campaign called Be Idle Free: A Minute or Less is Best. The campaign is trying to get drivers to turn off their car’s engine when they think they will be stopped for more than one minute, except in traffic.

A campaign like this has one major goal: to get people to change their behaviour. And while the graphic Edmonton created to illustrate this campaign may well be used by other groups and municipalities across the province, that’s no guarantee the campaign will be successful. There have been lots of anti-idling programs all over the Canada but none of them has ever really made a difference. Why is that? Is it just because we live in a cold climate and people want to warm their cars before they travel? I know I’ve heard people say they prefer to warm their cars before they put their children into them but that doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. After all, children play outside in the snow don’t they? What’s the difference? As I’ve told my friends, your children would probably prefer to spend a couple of minutes in a cold car than to grow up in a polluted atmosphere. Those of us who are…shall we say…of a certain age, remember getting into cold cars as children, and back then they didn’t warm up as fast as today’s vehicles. I don’t remember suffering unduly and I spent seven years in the Yukon! My neighbours with command start tend to let their vehicles run for 10 minutes or more. That’s too much! For one thing, the AMA says that idling your car for more than a minute is harmful to the engine due to the build up of water condensation and fuel residue. Idling is also kind of useless because some parts of the car, like the transmission and wheel bearings, only warm up with driving. Of course you have to run your car long enough to clear the windows but not long enough to make you think you’re sitting on a desert island! I’d love your feedback on why you continue to idle your car (assuming you do) and what it would take to convince you to stop. If you are already one of the anti-idling converts and would like to get the Be Idle Free message out, visit the city of Edmonton’s Environment pages, print off one of our posters or flyers and put it up around your home or office.

Open Data and You: Low Fat & Acronym Free

dserink — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:11:05 +0000

It’s hard to pinpoint the moment when my interest in Open Data first came into being. My work on collaboration technology here at the City must have sparked it, as I started to really appreciate the incredible capacity, creativity and value of both the global and local community. So what does this have to do with government or Open Data? To explain that, I’ll have to set aside the story for a moment. What Open Data ultimately boils down to is information, which is why we collect data in the first place. Yes, I realize, there’s lots of information available through Edmonton.ca, 311, and maybe even this blog, but it’s not just about the city telling you things, it’s about enabling the community to decide on the what and where of that information:

What information I want: Maybe you simply want to know how long until the next bus arrives without having to examine a schedule, or what the councillors’ votes were on decisions x, y and z. Maybe you want to know if there’s a pattern in the number or types of trees a neighbourhood has and surrounding property values. The possibilities are infinite, and the city’s resources are not.
Where I want to access it: Wouldn’t it be swell if you could just use the map tool you’re already familiar with to plan your bus trip, or one that already has other features like the ability to search for businesses (you can, thanks to this data). Maybe you want to see road construction projects, or traffic alerts live on your car’s navigation system. The city doesn’t make the software for your car’s navigation, but could we enable those who do? (yes). But will they make use of it? Only if it will help sell for navigation systems, so it’s up to you: their customers.

So how does Open Data achieve this? It does so through the community I mentioned earlier, through academia and through private corporations as small as local Grayscale Apps and as large as Google. Data is not just for computer programmers either. Tools like Yahoo Pipes, and Intel Mash Maker are working hard to make it easier for anyone to create useful visualizations and applications out of online data. It’s also incredibly easy to display geographic data layered on top of Google Maps. What Open Data is not about is revealing private information or replacing public information sources with commercial ones. The transit data hasn’t replaced the city’s own Trip Planner, it has simply opened the doors for anyone, not just government, to create new, different, or more convenient ways of accessing bus information. In fact, for the most part, Open Data is not even about revealing all that much new information, most of it can already be accessed in some form if you’re willing to fill in enough forms, navigate enough bureaucracy, search the website, or call 311, but these are just the channels that government has envisioned and created, designed to be reachable by as much of the population as possible, but not necessarily exactly what everyone wanted from it or where they want it. As for the rest of my story, as I began to see and imagine the possibilities: better access to information about your city, more transparency around government operations and decisions, and the ability for citizens to see and use the same information we use for those decisions, I grew more and more excited at the prospect of being a part of this growing movement here in the City of Edmonton. Momentum is already building: discussions at ChangeCamp, Don Iveson’s council inquiry, a workshop on the subject, chats over beer after work, lots of twittering, and even a blog post. For other examples of Open Data in municipal government, check out: Vancouver, Toronto, Nanaimo, D.C., New York, San Francisco and others all over the world and at all levels of government. One of the great things about Open Data is the way in which the sum is greater than the parts: each city that opens their data bring more value to all of the other cities. Google Transit didn’t start in Edmonton, but we benefit from it. MyStops did start in Edmonton, and yet many other cities now benefit. Other innovative tools await as we work towards opening the data they are based on. Oh, and sorry Robert, beer sharing is still an app-free activity, but with the right data, there is one that can help you get safely home afterwards.

The Ultimate Holiday Combination

rmoyles — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:30:17 +0000

Christmas is coming, even on the Interwebs, and this blogger will soon be off until January (I know, I just got started!). But I leave you with a way you can combine your holiday spirit, your Edmonton spirit and your green spirit in a way that even Scrooge would love. Yes, I’m talking about ecards (was there any doubt?). Select ‘holiday season’ from the drop down menu and you’ll find a series of Edmonton-themed cards to send to all your family and friends (of course there are lots of pyramids, what did you expect?). Select a card, type your message, enter the e-mail and send. Remind those distant relatives where you live in a way that says “I’m thinking about you, but not too much.” And once the holidays are past, you can use the cards for recognition, congratulations and appreciation. Ah, technology! You are freeing our lives from drudgery and the mundane just as was promised! But you’re still just teasing me with pictures of beer for my phone…

Holiday Magic

acasovan — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:53:14 +0000

“Jingle Bells… jingle bells…jingle all the way….oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh…”chimes out of elementary students who are participating in this year’s Holiday Magic concert at City Hall. Running from 11 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. every weekday until December 18, this annual event showcases school choirs from all across Edmonton. I get mocked every time I say this, but I truly mean it. I love working at City Hall. No matter what time of the year, there is always something happening. You can’t help but smile when you leave your office for lunch and there are 25 elementary students caroling in the lobby. If you work downtown, or you are in the area in the afternoon be sure to stop by and take part in the festivities. Starting on Monday, December 14, local CBC celebrities will be guest hosting the event. And since it’s the season for giving, remember to bring perishable items for the Edmonton Food Bank. A collection bin will be on site. For those who are unable to make it downtown during the day, when you are downtown checking out some of the other winter festivities, take some time to come down to City Hall at night or on the weekends. The City Hall maintenance men have out-done themselves this year! The decorations look fabulous, and certainly put you in the holiday mood.

Weekly Roundup (Dec. 1 - Dec. 11)

rloro — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:34:49 +0000

Here we are, at the end of our second week. As we're heading towards the holidays the blog will be quieting down a little bit, but rest assured that it has been and will remain busy in the background. I've been working with a variety of groups from across the City on contributing posts about their programs and projects (and there's a post about that coming soon I promise). In the meantime, here is a roundup of content from our first two weeks.

Economic Diversity

To go, finally, where only some other governments have gone before

Environment

Be Idle Free

The Ultimate Holiday Combination

The Importance of ICLEI

Composting at City Hall

Financial Sustainability

Photos: The 2010 Budget

Livability

Open Data and You: Low Fat & Acronym Free

To go, finally, where only some other governments have gone before

Transportation

What do we mean by active transportation?

Urban Form

Photos: EXPO 2017 Bid Launch

Photos: EXPO 2017 Open House

Getting in the Olympic Spirit

rloro — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:22:02 +0000

If you've been wandering downtown lately, you may have noticed that amidst all of the downtown holiday decorations, that the City Hall pyramid has been lit up red at night.

This is just one of the ways that we've been getting in the Olympic spirit, Painting the Town Red in preparation for the arrival of the Olympic Torch Relay as it passes through Edmonton on January 13th. The official route of the torch relay won't be announced until December 30th, so for the time being it's top secret. Well, sort of top secret. Until December 23rd, over at Edmonton Stories, they are giving away daily photo clues about the torch route. It's a simple little contest. Every day they are posting one photo of an Edmonton landmark along the Torch Relay Route. If you guess the correct location (it's multiple choice so it's not that difficult), your name is entered into a draw for a chance to win 1 of 5 prizes.The lucky winners will each get to take home a set of official Olympic winter wear, including a toque, scarf and a pair of torchbearer mittens. As nice as the Olympic swag is though, what's really going to be exciting is this opportunity for Edmontonians to gather to cheer on the torch bearers as they carry the Olympic Flame on its way to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. At the beginning of December I was in City Hall when Doreen Ryan was announced as the torchbearer who will run the final 300m into Sir Winston Churchill Square to light the 1.3-metre high celebration cauldron. Ryan is just one of the many Canadians carrying the torch across Canada. Like Ryan, some are former Olympians, others community leaders, politicians, or Canadians who have overcome some sort of life-threatening adversity. Regardless of what you feel about the Olympics, the stories of these torchbearers are equally heartwarming and inspiring. It was only after reading the stories of these other torchbearers and hearing Ryan speak at City Hall about her experiences training for the competition and about her continued support of local sports and keeping active that I really started to get excited about the Torch Relay coming to Edmonton. So I'm looking forward to January 13th now, when the crowds will gather along the relay route, wearing either some prize winning Olympic gear or other bits of red to cheer on the torchbearers.

Taking the Blog on a Road Show

transformingedmonton_wpalns — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Unless people, armed with information, engage with their communities to produce a positive effect, information itself is powerless, Knight Commission Report on Informing Communities - Sustaining Democracy in the Digital Age

There is no doubt that this blog is an ambitious project. Since it's inception it's been a flurry of activity Last week I met with Edmonton NextGen's Communications working group to present about the blog.

Measuring our Carbon Footprint

tmunro — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:33:26 +0000

It’s the highlight of my week to go out to a school classroom. I get out of the office, meet new people, and I’m away from my computer. Okay, I don’t completely get away from the computer because the whole reason I’m going to these schools is to teach the kids about their carbon footprint by using the online Footprint Calculator launched by the City in 2008. What I do get though, is inspired. Climate change can be a pretty heavy topic: environmental disasters, climate refugees, and the ever present battle between standard economies and the environment. One of the first steps I take in my lessons is to teach the kids about greenhouse gases. I get the kids to volunteer to be energy from the sun and carbon dioxide so that they can see how the sun’s energy gets trapped. I love watching their faces as they start to understand how more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere means more trapped energy from the sun. They are always quick to recognize though that it’s not just about changing temperatures, particularly when it’s -40C outside, it’s about changing how we live. Then we get to the Footprint Calculator. If using electricity and water, producing waste, and driving to school makes our carbon footprint bigger, the kids always want to know how they can make it smaller. So we go through the questions on the calculator and they start asking some of their own: “Why does it make a difference what I eat?” “Which game machine uses the least amount of electricity?” At the end of the Footprint Calculator it tells you how many Earths it would take to support us if everyone lived the same way forever. “Three Earths? But we only have one!” the kids will say. Exactly! I spend the rest of my time with the kids coming up with ways of reducing our carbon footprint. They understand how important it is to make choices and behave in ways that use less: from water for brushing their teeth to the amount of packaging on their purchases. We also decrease our footprint by increasing the efficiency of things we use (for instance, did you know that you would have to run on the spot for almost five minutes to make enough energy to run an incandescent light bulb compared to only one minute for a compact fluorescent bulb?). In our classroom discussions we focus on simple tasks: turning off the TV and the lights, walking to school, bringing lunch in a reusable lunchbox with a reusable water bottle, or having a book exchange where everyone brings in a book they’ve finished reading to trade with someone else (by the way, all of these things work whether you are in Grade five or are 55). In the end, the students all promise that when they go home they’ll pick their snack before they open the fridge and do their best to try other, environmentally-friendly behaviours. They also promise to share their new knowledge with the people around them. The important thing to me, whether I’m presenting to kids or to adults, is that everyone leaves feeling like they can make a difference. Sure governments and corporations need to change but the power of a single Grade five student should never be overlooked or underestimated.

Climate Leadership - a continuing challenge

mbrostrom — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:34:52 +0000

The City of Edmonton recently won an award in Copenhagen for our environmental initiatives around climate change. The award was presented by some of Canada’s most noted environmental groups. We’re proud of this award which recognizes the leadership role the City of Edmonton has taken in developing programs that preserve and sustain our environment. One of the programs highlighted with this award is CO2RE (Carbon Dioxide Reduction Edmonton) which is a community-based program to reduce greenhouse gases in the city. But despite the good work of CO2RE, and other GHG reduction programs, greenhouse gas emissions have risen in the city over the last number of years. People are probably wondering then why Edmonton won an award for a program that’s not meeting its goal. Certainly it’s been disappointing that we haven’t achieved our targets but that doesn’t mean we throw up our hands and admit defeat. We’re continuing with the CO2RE program and entering into a new partnership with Sustainability Works that will increase energy efficiency projects in the community. As well, we’re creating an Alternative Energy Task Force which will look at ways to help Edmontonians take advantage of all the exciting possibilities offered by alternative energy. Of course we’re also continuing and expanding our partnerships with community and environmental groups to look for ways we can cooperate on programs or initiatives. In other words, we’re not giving up. I’m proud of all that the City of Edmonton has accomplished in terms of environmental programming. Are we perfect? No. Do we have challenges yet to face? Absolutely. But I think we’re making real progress and, with the help of all Edmonton citizens, I think this city will someday become world-renown for its sustainability practices.

The Way We Move

tgolly — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:47:04 +0000

The past year or two has seen a real shift in the emphasis the Transportation Department, City Council, and public are placing on thinking about our personal impact and the impact that the design of our city has on the environment, economy, safety, walkability, and livability. This emphasis is reflected in The City Vision and the City’s Strategic Plan, The Way Ahead, two documents that were prepared to reflect the extensive input from Edmontonians on what we want Edmonton to be. We want a smarter, compact, urban city with accessible transportation. We want travel options. We want a good quality transit system and a city designed to promote walking and a healthy place to live. The Transportation Master Plan (TMP), The Way We Move, was approved on September 14, 2009 and is the document that provides the framework for how the City of Edmonton will address the transportation needs of the city. It's based on a 30 year vision and defines goals for how the transportation system will be developed, maintained, and managed. The TMP was developed based on the City Vision and Strategic Plan, as well as input from additional public involvement events, analysis made by the Transportation Department, and input from and coordination with other departments in the City of Edmonton, perhaps most significantly, the Planning Department. When you think about the design of a city’s transportation system, one of the most important considerations for how effective it may be is to look at how well the land uses (or properties such as residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial) are integrated with the transportation system (the transit, roads, and bicycle and pedestrian routes). As the city expands due to outward growth, more roads are built that require ongoing maintenance, a larger area has to be served by transit, and the distances that people live away from their destinations has a significant impact on how they will decide to travel to meet their daily and weekly needs – personal vehicle vs. transit vs. walking vs. biking. The moral of the story is that what we do when we plan and build the transportation system has direct impacts on how the land in the city develops and vice versa. Because transportation and land use are inextricably linked, the TMP was developed in conjunction with the Municipal Development Plan (MDP), The Way We Grow, that is currently being prepared by the Planning Department. How successful we are in achieving the TMP goals depends on achieving the supportive goals of the MDP. So what are the TMP’s goals? They are set out as follows:

Transportation and Land Use Integration Access and Mobility; Transportation Mode Shift Sustainability; Health and Safety Well-Maintained Infrastructure Economic Vitality

But what does this all mean? How do we achieve these goals? How will the transportation system look in the future? What we’ll see is a greater emphasis on people moving – enhancements to transit service with transit priority and more bus lanes, expansions of the LRT, and a greater focus on planning and designing the city for pedestrians and cyclists. Goods movements are another focus of the TMP with an emphasis of improving travel time reliability for the movement of goods and services along corridors like the Inner Ring Road (Yellowhead Trail-170 Street-Whitemud Drive-75 Street). Traffic congestion will be primarily managed not by expanding roads but through the use of traffic operational strategies like traffic signal retiming and the use of information systems to allow motorists to better select their routes. The TMP also reaffirms the Transportation Department’s and City Council’s commitment to having well-maintained infrastructure and funding the rehabilitation of our existing neighbourhoods, through initiatives like the Neighbourhood Renewal Program. And the really good news is that not only do we have a comprehensive plan for transportation in Edmonton, but we are already making progress on a number of projects, programs, or initiatives that will let us achieve our goals. We have been working very closely with the Planning Department to achieve better integration between transportation and land use. We have seen the extension of the South LRT, there has been a recent commitment to a greater focus on active transportation modes through projects like the Sidewalk Strategy, Bicycle Transportation Plan, and Walkability Strategy (See Aryn Machell’s recent post), and the ongoing development of a Premium Bus Network to complement the LRT and regular bus services. Planning and design have also progressed on the North LRT to NAIT (including some initial construction) and further extensions of the Northeast LRT to Gorman and South LRT to Heritage Valley. On December 15, City Council approved the recommended alignments for the Southeast LRT from Downtown to Millwoods and the West LRT from Downtown to Lewis Estates. And the alignment planning for the Northwest LRT that will connect to the North LRT and run towards St. Albert will be progressing in 2010. These LRT projects are all based on the internationally award winning LRT Network Plan that was approved by City Council on June 19 which outlines an integrated and interconnected LRT system for Edmonton and the Capital Region. 2009 was a very productive and significant year for the Transportation Department and the Transportation Planning Branch and it is only the start of a lot of very exciting and important work that will progress in 2010 and the years to come as we work to achieve the goals that the public, Department, and City Council have defined.

Dawson Bridge - My favourite route into the downtown core

lmcnabb — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:42:40 +0000

I can sympathize with those people inconvenienced by the closure of the Dawson Bridge. I began using it myself when I moved to Edmonton twenty years ago, finding it a fast and relatively congestion-free way to get to and from the downtown core. Two decades later, even after moving away from Forest Heights to a rural area east of the city, I have continued to commute into downtown Edmonton using the Dawson Bridge. It might be the least-used bridge in town (at only 4 per cent of bridge traffic overall), but as at least 16,000 of us know, it’s convenient and quick. All the more reason, then, for the City of Edmonton to invest its time and effort now to make sure that we have the chance to use it for the next fifty years. It’s not just about new paint and wider sidewalks, although those will be the most visible improvements when the work is done. The deck is being replaced with a long-lasting, durable surface that will make for a smoother ride and need fewer repairs. Bolts will take the place of aged rivets, and weak trusses will be strengthened fixed so that the bridge remains structurally sound well into the future. In the meantime, there are quite a few ways into downtown and I scoped them out over the weekend so that I’d know which way to go once the closure was in effect. I came in on 101 Ave. (Baseline Road in Sherwood Park) this morning and went north on Wayne Gretzky Drive (the Capilano Bridge) until I got to 112 Ave and headed west. It was a quick few blocks to a left turn on 82 Street, and then an easy commute into the core on Jasper Ave. Depending on where folks are coming from, it might be faster to use the James MacDonald or Low Level Bridge, but each person will have to map a route out for themselves and discover which one works best. At 97 years old, the bridge is a wonderful link between Edmonton’s past and present, a piece of the city’s history that has remained an important part of our capital infrastructure. And although the work that has to be done will take almost a year, it will be worth it in the long run…for those of us who love to drive it every day, and for those using it to access local businesses, walking trails and bike paths.

A Heritage Program Worth Cheering About

dholdsworth — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:38:28 +0000

One would not normally associate Edmonton with the word 'heritage', places like Halifax, Victoria, St. John's, Quebec City usually spring to mind. So it may come as a surprise to some that the City was recently awarded the Prince of Wales Prize for Outstanding Stewardship of the Built Heritage. Sure, we may not have the built history that many older places such as those already mentioned have, but we certainly do have a heritage program worth cheering about. Our Historic Resources Management Program and Plan developed over that last few decades is in a position where it is able to wield significant influence when trying to ensure that our heritage buildings are saved in some fashion. [caption id="attachment_253" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Creative Commons License photo credit: Darren Kirby"][/caption] As the City of Edmonton has somewhat limiting legislation to protect buildings against an owners wishes, it has had to develop and rely on a variety of incentives and flexibility in its approaches. We arguably have one of the most generous heritage programs in the Country in terms of what is afforded to participating resources. The grants are significant and the Planning system is very accommodating. We give grants, issue variances, buy and resell buildings (to non profits), donate materials/buildings, develop policies and position statements for various plans and incentives, etc. Basically, we try to explore all avenues to meet our mission, which is to "identify, facilitate, protect, manage and promote the preservation and reuse of historic resources..". Ideally we try to take the purist approach in any redevelopment, and many owners are willing to go this route. However, our program's flexibility accommodates new desired changes or expansions, where owners can't or won't take the purist route. Consequently, we now have a significant number of buildings whose core heritage values have been retained and will be enjoyed by many more generations. Another significant factor to our success is our Mayor and Councillors have been and are extremely supportive and been great enablers. [caption id="attachment_255" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Creative Commons License photo credit: Darren Kirby"][/caption] As a result the City of Edmonton was awarded the Prince of Wales Prize, in recognition of what the program has done and where it plans to go. We are truly honoured. The biggest award though was the Prize was actually presented by HRH The Prince of Wales himself. It is not often than one gets to meet Royalty, let alone be invited to meet them. So it was an honour for myself and my colleague, Robert Geldart, to accompany his Worship Mayor Mandel to receive the award on behalf of the City. For those who may not know, HRH is deeply committed to creating better ways of planning, designing and building and, thus, it was no surprise that he was extremely well informed about our program and the issues related to saving and redeveloping historic buildings. (visit the Prince's Foundation). HRH was very 'gracious, engaging and very funny' to quote the Mayor, and certainly something we will remember well. The Prize certainly will enable the City to continue to pursue new initiatives and raise the profile of our significant heritage buildings so that they can be saved and incorporated into new development. Interestingly, HRH has been and is belittled by many professional associations for 'interfering'. Well, he is right to do so. This Award is one such way in which Heritage, in this case, and the whole debate around good design practices are brought to the fore as a significant name has been lent to a cause. We need to raise the bar for Edmontonians and keep it there, so that heritage preservation and good design practice is the norm, regardless of the actual architectural styles. We are getting there, the Edmonton Design Committee is encouraging developers to raise their standards, and our Heritage Program looks at the merits of good design and use, regardless of the applicants architectural style preferences. We all want good preservation and design, and I hope that HRH the Prince of Wales' Prize will raise the profile of Edmonton's built heritage to enable us to pursue new initiatives and ensure that our heritage resources become an integral part our future. Our Prize will help.

The Rebound Effect

tmunro — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 20:00:17 +0000

I remember being a kid bouncing on a rebounder. At least that’s what my family called it. It was basically a mini trampoline. I had never heard of the rebound effect at that time but today it is an important issue in all our efforts to mitigate climate change. Basically, the rebound effect is when improvements in something like energy efficiency encourage greater use of services. For example, someone might install a high efficiency furnace and then stop setting back the thermostat at night, a behaviour they did before installing the new furnace. Although in some cases the impact of the rebound is small, in others it can actually be greater than the original state. I often think about this in terms of energy efficiency but I see it in other places too. I was buying something the other day and I said I didn’t need a bag. But when they offered me their fancy, heavily branded cloth bag I caved and took it. I don’t need another cloth bag. In the long run I have created more waste and used more resources, but if it’s a cloth bag it’s okay right? The thing is that if you made the change once you can make it again, or better yet never go back. If you purchased a high efficiency furnace you can still save 4 to 6% on your annual heating bill by setting the temperature back each night from 21°C to 17°C. I’ve also heard that this drop in temperature is actually one of the triggers that tell your body it’s time for sleep. Other tips that you may have forgotten about when you made the switch to high efficiency include:

Wash only full loads of dishes
Wash full loads of clothes in cold water AND hang them to dry
Conduct proper maintenance on all your appliances
A low-flow toilet still isn’t a garbage can
And the most energy efficient light is the one that is turned off
Oh, and a fuel efficient car still uses more gas than walking or taking the bus

Sorrell, S. (2007). The rebound effect: An assessment of the evidence for economy-wide energy savings from improved energy efficiency. UK Energy Research Group

The “Ten Ways of Being” and The Matrix

cmoore — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:20:41 +0000

The “Ten Ways of Being” and The Matrix The Information Technology branch at the City of Edmonton has adopted a new set of values. Values that were created using the power of the collective, not something designed by one person, or even a group of people, designed by 300 people for 10,000 people, serving 840,000 Edmontonians. You may want to read the previous posts titled Open as a “Way of Being” and Putting “Open” to the test which will provide some context. In May of 2009 at an meeting of all IT Branch staff the entire IT staff came up with a new set of values, our “Ten Ways of Being”. These were created when 30 groups of 10 people each drew picture of their current state of being, we called these Rich Pictures. Once complete we took our rich pictures and wrote words around the pictures which were reflective of the new way we wanted to be. We ended up with hundreds of words, however when we reviewed the words we discovered that many of the words were exactly the same. So we tallied up the words and the “Ten Ways of Being” was born. The way we want to be is

Collaborative Open Knowledgeable Empowered Supportive Flexible Organized Responsible Innovative Trusting

As you can see this creates an 'easy to remember' acronym COKES FOR IT, we are after all IT people and what is life without a few acronyms. The IT branch spoke loud and clear about how they want to be, now the challenge was to weave that into everything we do, decide and how we treat each other. At this point in time past organizational change experience tells us to put these Ways of Being on a mug, make a shirt, post it in the office, in meeting rooms, put it on our business cards. We did none of those things, the desire of the IT Leadership team was that in order for these values to be lived they needed to be experienced, not seen, and especially not held up like some flag to salute. A very interesting thing happened next, various people form across IT started to use these new values in their interactions with each other, in their meetings, some even posted them in their office. This was exciting, now we are the IT Leadership team needed to continue to use them in our daily actions and decisions, both tactical and strategic. We started down a path to create sustainability in enhance service delivery in IT, and to also ensure that IT staff had fulfillment and freedom, we needed to get back on track with that so we decided to take our new Ways of Being and let it guide us to a new solution and eventually a new structure. In late May of 2009 in partnership with the City of Edmonton Human Resources Branch we started to talk about the possible, a structure that created agility and flexibility while at the same time allowed staff to create their own future. We spent may days as a leadership team looking at various models challenging the traditional “hierarchical” model, looking for something that was fresh and spoke of our Ways of Being. We landed on a version of a matrix model, something that had some structure but was flexible enough to shift with the priorities of the city. We designed what we called Communities of Practice (COP), this is where we deliver the IT Services and Projects from, and we also created Communities of Interest (COI), this is where we create community and also develop knowledge. The challenge was that as a person you would be in one COI and possibly multiple COP’s based on your assignments.

The Edmonton Public Library – 100 Years Young

Elizabeth Walker — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:27:52 +0000

This year, the Edmonton Public Library (EPL) celebrates its 100 Birthday with the slogan Just Getting Started! The EPL certainly has grown and changed a great deal in its first 100 years and this is reflected in the records at the City of Edmonton Archives. We have bylaws, meeting minutes, annual reports, blueprints, newspaper articles, opening programs and many photographs. I found so much material and there are so many stories to tell but I had to start somewhere. So, I’m focusing on the long journey to build a permanent library building in Edmonton. With the passing of Alberta’s Public Libraries Act in 1907 there was interest in starting a library in Edmonton. But Council failed to meet the criteria of the Act, namely, the requirement for the “assent of the electors.” Assent was determined through a petition asking for a library and signed by a minimum of a tenth of the resident electors (meaning resident men, and only certain men at that). The first petition didn’t receive enough signatures but Council tried again in 1909 and this time the petition was successful. Detail of the minutes from the April 13, 1909 meeting where Council decided to circulate a petition asking for a library as per Alberta’s Library Act. The successful petition was presented to Council on May 4, 1909. In 1910, Strathcona was also looking to build a library. Even as Edmonton and Strathcona amalgamated in 1912, their two separate library committees continued to make plans for two separate libraries. In fact, the two committees didn’t become one until February, 1914. At the time, Andrew Carnegie (of Carnegie Hall fame) was generously giving grants to municipalities around the world for the purpose of building libraries. The amount of the grant was based on population and there were certain conditions that had to be met, everything from using approved architectural styles to providing guarantees for support for the library in the long term. Strathcona considered applying for a grant but instead took out a loan and completed the Strathcona Library in 1913. Edmonton also opened a library in 1913 but it was in temporary quarters in the Chisholm Block at the corner of 104 Street and Jasper Avenue. It took 10 years and 3 temporary locations for Edmonton to build a permanent library building. The final temporary home was in the Civic Block; the move was a cost saving measure during WWI (having the Library in a City owned building saved rent) but it had an unintended consequence. I was amused to read a June 13, 1918 article from the Edmonton Bulletin titled “Departments Taking Away Library Staff.” Some staff had become friendly with their counterparts in offices sharing the building and were unhappy when they discovered how much more the same jobs paid in the other City departments. Several, including a bookkeeper and a stenographer, resigned from the Library to go work at these higher wages. EA-10-650 “Public Library in Chisholm Block” c. 1914 An annual report for 1913 shows that both libraries were heavily used during the first year and there was need for a permanent library in Edmonton. From reading the reports and newspaper articles it seems that, while they made the best of it, the temporary locations were not ideal. I was curious to find out reasons behind the delay in building a permanent library. One delay was the difficulty in choosing a location. There was a lot of discussion on possible sites and even a suggestion to hold a plebiscite on the matter. I may be imagining it but the minutes seem to reflect an impatience with the back and forth, the May 12, 1910 minutes ask for a report from the Library Board recommending a site and goes on to say “it being understood that failing the receipt of a report the question of buying a site this year is to be abandoned.” Then again, it was probably just related to the budget cycle. The first site under consideration was at the corner of Rice and Howard (100A Street and 101A Avenue, Rice Howard Way today). In the end, two lots on College Avenue (now MacDonald Drive) were chosen and the land was purchased in 1910. But the site remained undeveloped and rents were collected from houses on the lots instead. There was a lot of angst around this site. It was agreed that the centrality and prominence was ideal but the frontage of the lots was very narrow and might not support a building worthy of Edmonton’s Public Library. One proposed solution was to purchase the neighbouring lot to the west, which had a school on it. From the Archives collection of Fire Insurance Plans I can tell that only the two lots were developed. On the 1959 Plan the school site had become a park. I also figured out from the Plans that, to solve the narrow frontage, the library was turned sideways. So, the entrance to the building faced west to the park rather than south to the street and the River Valley (see the photograph below). EA-126-82 “Public Library” The car on the right is parked on MacDonald Drive (technically the front of the building) and the entrance faces a park. The tower in the background to the left was Edmonton’s post office, built in 1910. It was demolished in 1972 although parts of the clock survive in a tower in front of the Westin Hotel. So, location was one problem. But I also found a lot of material around funding and negotiating for a larger Carnegie grant. Part of this delay was due to the suspension of the grants during WWI. Negotiations didn’t resume until 1921 when the Carnegie Corporation contacted the City to say they were offering grants again and it was now or never. The war austerity was only part of the reason behind the delay though. While the City did want a grant they believed the amount offered was insufficient and bargained for more. The Carnegie Corporation based the amount on the population from a 1901 census, supposedly adjusted for growth. The City argued that their calculations didn’t reflect the explosive growth Edmonton had experienced. Still why they were so firm in refusing the Carnegie grant? Why look a gift horse in the mouth as the saying goes? An answer is found in a July 22, 1912 letter from the Secretary of the Library Board to the Mayor which says “it is undesirable that the City should accept any sum which it would be necessary for the City to supplement with the consequence that this library erected only partly at Mr Carnegie’s expense should bear his name and be subject to his conditions...” Meaning they would have to jump through his hoops, give him credit and still have to contribute funds. The letter recommends that negotiations be broken off and the City raise all the money needed instead. MS-209 William Griesbach fonds file 352. Copy of a letter from the Secretary of the Public Library Board, C. Ross Palmer. Signatures are tricky, it doesn’t look like Palmer to me but his name is confirmed by other documents where his name is typed. Despite the Library Board’s recommendation, the City continued to negotiate. Even when the Carnegie Corporation raised the grant from $60,000 to $75,000, the City maintained that it was not enough for a growing city like Edmonton. In the 1920s Mayor Duggan and the chairman of the Library Board, L.T. Barclay, even made a trip to New York to plead their case. Eventually, the City received $112,500, contributed $37,500 and Edmonton’s Carnegie Library was finally built and formally opened on August 30, 1923. Programme for the opening of Edmonton’s Public Library. This was a very early donation to the City of Edmonton Archives, note that documents are no longer stamped when they enter our collection. EA-160-1368 “Edmonton Public Library” 1947 In the original photograph, it’s possible to see some of the titles above the bookshelves, my favorite is “Thrills and Chills” complete with capering creatures. You lose this wealth of detail when making images web ready unfortunately. The library served as Edmonton’s main branch until the site was redeveloped for what is now Telus Tower. I may revisit the EPL in a future blog post as there are so many more interesting stories. From the fact that the Public Libraries Act allowed the library’s janitor to act as a special constable to the story of the bookmobile service which ran from 1941 to 1991. For now, I’ll content myself with the bookmobile photograph below. In the meantime, if you aren’t already a member, join the EPL! Memberships are free as part of the year long celebration of their centenary. EA-362-56 “Library Bus – Interior” July 7, 1949 There’s a dog in this photograph, you almost can’t see him but he’s on the right with the boys. Sources: 1913 Edmonton Fire Insurance Plan, Charles E. Goad Co. 1959 Insurance Plan of the City of Edmonton, Underwriter’s Survey Bureau Limited Clippings Files: • Hill, Ethelbert Lincoln • Library (files 1-6) • Library – Bookmobiles First Annual Report of the Edmonton Public Library and the Strathcona Public Library MS-209 William A. Griesbach fonds RG-8 City of Edmonton. City Clerk’s fonds • Bylaws #240-1909, #249-1910, #282-1910, #537-1914 • Council Minutes 1909-1910 Wondering what a fonds is? Check out our glossary.

Before the Olympic Flame Passes By

rloro — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:36:08 +0000

Major civic events and festivals are a special time in the Edmonton. Think of Canada Day, New Year's Eve in the Square, Heritage Festival, Fringe Festival ( and the many other events during the year) when masses of people gather together to celebrate and take part in the related festivities. The crowds transform the everyday space where the event is held and make you feel part of something significant. For the rest of the year, whenever you are in that spot again you may find yourself reminded of that event and even think things like, "Oh, this would be a good spot to watch the fireworks next year," or "Wow, it's amazing that this park can hold so many people and then seem so calm and serene now." However, we can count on most of these events to happen every year. The Olympic Torch Relay in Edmonton... well that happens only once*. And it happens tomorrow. Approximately 50 torchbearers will carry the Olympic flame through the City of Edmonton starting at 4:12pm at the intersection of Yellowhead Trail and St. Albert Trail. The route continues south down Groat Road until 107 Avenue to Hawrelak Park. After a short break in the park, torchbearers will continue along Groat Road on the south side at 5pm. Spectators are invited to cheer on the torchbearers along the main leg of the relay as the torch is carried past the University of Alberta main campus, down Whyte Avenue, across the Walterdale Bridge, to the Alberta Legislature, down Jasper Avenue with a final stop in Churchill Square where Olympian Doreen Ryan will light the community cauldron at approximately 7pm. Stage shows and roving entertainment are set up along the parade route to keep spectators entertained before and after the Olympic flame passes by. These spots include:

The University of Alberta Butterdome
Whyte Avenue
End of Steel Park
Alberta Legislature
Victoria Promenade
Abbey Glen Park
Downtown - City Hall, Sir Winston Churchill Square, Citadel Theatre

The relay will conclude with a celebration in Sir Winston Churchill Square where local artists, entertainers and musicians - including rap artist Cadence Weapon, contemporary Aboriginal women's a cappella trio Asani and the ukulele cover band The Be Arthurs - will entertain the crowd. With the mild temperatures expected tomorrow, there is even more reason to come out and participate, wearing red and cheering on the torchbearers. I'll be waiting at Churchill Square along with many other Edmontonians, taking photos and video to post on the blog and share on the City's photo galleries. You might be hard pressed to pick me out of the crowd, since I'm sure that like the majority of the people there I'll be wearing red in the form of Olympic mittens (an unexpected but convenient gift over the holidays). Tomorrow will be an exciting day in Edmonton. This isn't something that I want to miss and nor should you. *Okay, maybe there is a slight possibility that the Torch Relay could happen again at some point in the distant future. But that's a long way's away. Don't wait for it.

Edmonton Goes to CityCamp

dserink — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:16:21 +0000

This weekend is CityCamp, an unconference taking place in Chicago dedicated to the practice of Government 2.0 in local governments. For those unfamiliar with the term unconference, it’s used to differentiate the event from traditional conferences: attendance is free, the sessions are unsponsored, open and collaborative, and the agenda is selected by the participants. This is not unlike the ChangeCamp event held here in October last year, but where ChangeCamp was focused on bringing together members of the public and government from around the region, this event brings together public servants and members of industry from across North America to share ideas, lessons and advice. So what is this Government 2.0 thing? Well for starters it’s a buzzword, so it means a lot of different things to a lot of different people, but at a really broad level, it is usually interpreted as embracing technology (i.e. the Internet) in government to better engage and include citizens to improve efficiency and better align government services with the needs of those it serves.

For example, Open Data (such as Edmonton's new Data Catalogue) is a part of the greater Government 2.0 concept. It enables citizens to innovate and create new services based on public information. It also enables them to interact with government on an equal level by using the same data government uses for its decision making. Right now, open data and other initiatives are only accessible to a smaller portion of the public, but like all technology it will grow simpler, more accessible and more effective as it matures. In time, we will be able to interact effectively with our governments and other local citizens on community matters in a truly collaborative manner, much more than a suggestion box and with a much wider reach than is possible in person today. Keep an eye out for most posts during this weekend and next week as we bring back some of the possibilities and successes from around North America.

Who can be greenest?

tmunro — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:40:47 +0000

As thoughts of the Olympics dance in my head I find myself wondering if competition to be the greenest will ever become as popular as competition to be the fastest. I recently read about how, now that the world’s former tallest building, Taipei 101, has been outdone, the owners are now going to spend billions of dollars to make it the world’s greenest building. On the one hand this is great; greening office towers anywhere in the world is positive and if a little competition spurs it on, so much the better. But closer to home, I’m hoping for a little less competition and a little more support. This support may be coming in the form of a new Green Building Strategy for the City of Edmonton. Last year the Executive Committee directed City staff to work on developing a comprehensive Green Building Strategy for all buildings/developments, including private buildings/developments in the City. This proposed strategy will bring together the City of Edmonton’s current sustainability policies on City public buildings and other green building initiatives. Their progress report is due to the Executive Committee on March 17, 2010. So what exactly is green building? Green building involves using resources efficiently, reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation, and improving the health and productivity of people in the building. These seem like pretty lofty goals, but ones that make sense. To truly meet these goals they need to be considered throughout the lifetime of the building – from concept, through construction and maintenance, and even to deconstruction. As well, Green Building looks at retrofits and renovations in existing buildings. But you don’t need to wait for a Strategy to start turning your home or office into a green building; there are many simple, low-cost things you can do to make your current home more green. The CO₂RE program’s Home$avers series provides a good starting point for existing homes. Individual how-to booklets cover topics like insulation, heating, windows, water, and electricity. Heck, they may even save you money. Visit www.edmonton.ca/co2re to find the Home$avers publications.

An Integrated Community Approach to Addictions

hmiller — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:56:10 +0000

Hello Edmonton! Since this is my very first post on the Transforming Edmonton site, I suppose a bit of an introduction is in order. My name is Holly and I am a Youth Engagement Coordinator with the Office of Community Safety within Community Services. Some of you may be familiar with the work of Safedmonton and the Fight Violence Campaign. As per the recommendations laid out in the REACH Report (created by the Mayor’s Taskforce on Community Safety), Safedmonton has dissolved and is moving towards becoming a new and exciting community safety coordinating council, hence the temporary title of Office of Community Safety. It’s a mouthful, and a bit confusing, but not to worry – it will make more sense as details around the new council are available! My job here is really focused on a project through Health Canada. The Integrated Community Approach to Addictions in Edmonton, or ICAAE (ICE-AH as we call it) endeavors to reduce and prevent the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol on youth here in Edmonton. A big task, but with the help of our “Learning Team”, a committee of hard-working people from various agencies, I am tackling a number of exciting projects that I hope to share with you over the coming months! One project that we have been working really hard on is our Parent Resource Toolkit. Are you are a parent wanting to have a conversation with your child about drinking alcohol and aren’t quite sure where to start? Do you have a younger sibling that you suspect may be at risk of using drugs? Are simply you looking for more information about psychoactive substances? Our toolkit may be able to help. The toolkit (a popular resource by the name of “It’s Never Too Early… Talk to Your Kids About Drugs & Alcohol”) was originally created by the Edmonton Community Drug Strategy (the ICAAE project’s predecessor). After recent facelift it is now ready to re-launch! This free toolkit delivers more than just the hard facts – it also includes a personal story of hope, what to do if you find drugs, tips on how to talk to kids about drugs and alcohol, and other related contacts for further support. Through funds provided by Health Canada to the ICAAE project, the updated version has also been printed in two additional languages, to make a total of twelve languages now available (languages include English, French, Arabic, Cree, Cantonese, Hindi, Farsi, Mandarin, Persian, Punjabi, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese). The launch of the updated parent resource toolkit takes place today (Tuesday, January 26, 2010) from 11am to 12:30pm in the Heritage Room at City Hall. This is a free event open to anyone who wants to learn more about the toolkit. Speaking at the launch will be representatives from the City of Edmonton, Edmonton Police Service, community agencies, and a group of youth who have a special message for parents. The parent resource toolkit is available in print by calling 311 or can be accessed online at www.edmonton.ca/safedmonton.

Athletes in the Sport of Life

dlaing — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:30:36 +0000

I recently wrote an article for the Edmonton Examiner entitled, Be an Athlete in the Sport of Life! My intention? To encourage less or non-active people to evaluate their daily routines and hopefully realize that movement really is one of the most natural, necessary, and somewhat unconscious activities we do on a regular basis. Whether we are willing participants or not our bodies were made to move! So, why not embrace it and be the best you can be – at moving!

Olympian or not, we can all work at being athletes in the sport of life!

The great thing? It isn’t really hard work, unlike the hardcore bootcamp classes that may leave you aching for a week afterwards or deciding to try a new activity where you need to hurdle a learning curve to get some benefit. Rather, it’s just about taking a bit of time, for yourself, to stretch those legs and walk more.

The prize? Your health and wellness! Unlike climbing a mountain or competing at the Olympics, being an athlete in the sport of life has no finish line, however you will continually reap rewards such as: feeling energized, moving with ease, maintaining your independence and having the strength to do other things you enjoy. Start your training today and allow your passion for life to keep you committed! Active Edmonton wants to support your training in the sport of life. Take time out and join Active Edmonton on Winter Walk Day, Wed. Feb. 10th from 12-1pm at the Downtown YMCA. Winter Walk Day is a province-wide movement to get Albertans ACTIVE! There'll be an outdoor walking route (for the real Canadians) and an indoor walking route (for all fair-weather walkers). As an extra incentive, there will be special giveaways for the first 150 walkers. Hope to see you there!

Do you know a Good Neighbour?

aoconnor — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:01:11 +0000

I don't think I'm as good a neighbour as I could be. Sure, when I was relaxing in my living room a while back and heard tires spinning, I went outside to help push a neighbour's car out of the snow. On the other hand, however, I've noticed that a new family has moved onto the block, and I haven't gone over yet to say "hello" or "welcome to the neighbourhood". There's a lot I could learn from the nominees for the City of Edmonton's Good Neighbour Awards. This program, now into it's third year, is all about the big, and the small, things Edmontonians do to connect to people in their neighbourhoods and in their communities. Last year, more than 200 Good Neighbours were nominated from around the city, each nomination accompanied with a personal story of why a neighbour deserved to recognized. Some of these stories were about being grateful for assistance in a difficult situation. One of last year's winners helped clean up a flooded basement. Another rallied a group of people to bring meals to a neighbour who had just undergone major surgery. Other stories from last year represented acts of kindness that are probably required in our community, more than many of us realize. For example, a group of three gentlemen were devoted to helping one of their elderly neighbours stay in his own home after his wife passed away. Another example was someone who helped insulate the garage and put out sand and ice melt for a family who was experiencing their first Canadian winter. Another winner last year was a bright, bubbly, 8 year old, who bakes cookies and writes letters for her neighbours. So whether it's providing support to seniors, assisting newcomers to Canada, or building inter-generational ties, there's evidence that this can all happen at a neighbourhood level. Beyond these kinds of individual relationships, there were plenty of nominations that spoke of some kind of central character in the neighbourhood. Someone everyones meets, everyone knows, and everyone relies on, like a building caretaker who goes above and beyond in terms of looking out for the residents. These people, by their mere presence it seems, can improve the quality of life for the people around them. Winners are chosen from among the nominations and recognized at an awards dinner during Crime Prevention Week in May. The timing of the event isn't an accident. The connect to community safety here, is strong. Thinking about these stories, it's easy to see why good neighbours help Edmontonians take ownership of their neighbourhoods and work together to make it a better place. As Councillor Sohi mentioned at the February 2nd launch, this is about focusing on the positive as opposed to the negative in our neighbourhoods. Do you know a Good Neighbour? Nominations will be accepted until March 1st, to enter fill out a nomination form. Now, I'm heading over to introduce myself to my new neighbours.

Local Fugitive Releases Plea for Support

rmoyles — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:59:59 +0000

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ejBFyWrYYg&rel=0] Keep casting your daily vote until February 7th at www.monopolyvote.ca.

Your City, Your Voice

mkontz — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:47:27 +0000

Last week I got to facilitate a discussion group for the first event in Next Gen's Engage: Your City, Your Voice series. Wait, you haven't heard about this before? What is Engage: Your City, Your Voice? Well, let me fill you in! The series of Engage: Your City, Your Voice discussions brings together Edmontonians from all walks of life who are interested in sharing ideas about the future of the city we call home. Next Gen wants you to come voice your thoughts and ideas, and engage with other visionaries, thinkers, and creatives in our community who want to build a better and more vibrant city. Over the next year, we'll have a series of discussions on topics that are important to the citizens of Edmonton. I wanted to be a part of the working group that plans these events because I think this is a great opportunity for citizens to communicate back to City administration and City Council about our vision of what we want Edmonton to be.

photo credit: mastermaq

So, last Thursday (January 28th) was our first event - bit of a trial run, a bit of a learning experience for the group, but I thought it was a great success. Our theme this time was Life in the Urban Core and we had a great mix of people who wanted to talk about living, working, visiting, and using the core of our city. Over the course of the evening, participants got to discuss specific topics that were most important to them and connect with other Edmontonians who are interested in building a better, more vibrant city.

photo credit: mastermaq

As I said, I got to facilitate a disscussion group and my table had lots of energy and really thoughtful ideas about what makes the core attactive to certain groups of people and less attractive to others. One major theme that came out of all of our discussions was the disconnect between perception and reality of what is really going on in the core - be it crime rates, different housing options, transportation accessibility, or things to do. My group wants Edmonton's core to be a destination and a place to live. They want to see all kinds of different people living in the core, using our public spaces, and creating venues to connect with each other. They want the core to be alive. It was an exciting and inspiring group to talk to. I wanted to hear what all the other groups had to say and get going on planning our next event. We wanted to keep this dialogue alive and keep the conversations going!

photo credit: mastermaq

So here's how we're going to do just that: The working group will be compiling the feedback from all of the discussions over the next few weeks and will create a document to go to City administrators and eventually City Council. I will also do a series of posts for Transforming Edmonton about each of the discussion topics as the information comes together. The information will be available for anyone who was at Life in the Urban Core or anyone who wants to find out what was said. We will also use feedback from the participants to select the next discussion theme, so keep an eye out - it's sure to be another great evening.

photo credit: mastermaq

If you'd like to find out more about Engage: Your City, Your Voice or the Life in the Urban Core discussion, contact the Next Gen office or look for us on twitter (#yegycyv, @EDMNextGen).

A Checklist for Energy Efficiency

tmunro — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:08:54 +0000

It's not quite spring in Edmonton yet, but it's getting close enough that some of us are starting to dream about warmer weather and the popular warmer weather pastime of home improvement. When you are renovating it is important to think of energy efficiency; it can save you money, increase the resale value of your home, and reduce your share of greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change. To help you with your decisions, our CO2RE team will be at the Home Renovation Show on February 5-7. You can stop by and visit us to pick up your copies of the Home$avers booklets on home energy efficiency. We're Booth 907 in Hall B (in the far corner by one of the stages). Think about these important tips when you start planning your renovations, and visit CO2RE at the show or online www.edmonton.ca/co2re for more information. High Efficiency Heating Systems With ever increasing energy costs, a high efficiency heating system (90% or higher) will provide substantial long-term savings. Ask for Energy Star rated furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, appliances and programmable thermostats for maximum energy efficiency. Air Sealing Air leaks can increase heating costs and cold drafts and make for uncomfortable rooms. Air leakage can be measured with a blower door test performed by a qualified energy advisor or you can do an informal draft test with an incense stick. Upgraded Insulation Check for minimum insulation R-values of at least R-12 for basement (R-20 preferred); R-20 for walls (+ R-10 exterior preferred) and R-40 for ceilings/attic. High Performance Windows As a minimum, ask for Low-E, argon gas filled, double glazed windows. Appliances and Energy Efficient Lighting Check for or purchase Energy Star qualified appliances. Install Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs and fixtures. Water Conserving Toilets, Faucets, and Showerheads Check for Ultra Low Flow (ULF) 6 litre toilets, low flow showerheads (2 litres per minute) and kitchen and bathroom faucets fitted with aerators restricting flow to 6 litres per minute or less. High Efficiency Water Heater Check for a high efficiency water heater such as Energy Star units. If buying electric, look for the highest tank insulation levels, dual heating elements and accessible temperature controls If you don't get a chance to stop by this weekend, you can always check out our Home$avers Series of booklets online for more information and tips on Attic Insulation, Basement Insulation, Caulking and Weatherstripping, Condensation, Conserving Electricity, Heating Systems, Ventilation, Water Conservation, and Windows.

Parent Resource Toolkit… Launched!

hmiller — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:45:46 +0000

After hours of stuffing thousands of folders one by one (I’m not even exaggerating!), the Office of Community Safety has released the revised Parent Resource Toolkit “It’s Never Too Early… Talk To Your Kids About Drugs & Alcohol”. Never heard of it? The first version has been around for a couple of years, used by a number of agencies around Edmonton. In 2009 we decided that the toolkit was in need of a bit of an update, so after lots of hard work by the ICAAE (ICE-AH) Learning Team we created a more up-to-date resource available in 12 languages. Last week the City of Edmonton hosted a launch to show off the new toolkit. There were a number of great speakers representing the City of Edmonton, Edmonton Police Service, Alberta Health Services, the Family Centre and the Multicultural Health Brokers. A local School Resource Officer explained the content of the toolkit page by page and shared some of his experiences working with youth in high school. It was definitely eye-opening to hear about how he has found drugs stashed in highlighters or even cases for glasses. Hip Hop Artist Conway Kootenay of Red Power Squad performed an emotional spoken word piece about addiction. He spoke as a parent and also as a young man from an aboriginal community, stressing the need to help youth to live healthy lifestyles.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7Dek8Dwo5I&rel=0]

To wrap up the launch four young men took the podium with a special message for parents. I have to say that this was my favorite part of the event – but I am certainly biased! Matthew, Logan, David and Taskheer are part of Youth Action on Addiction, a group that was recently formed that I coordinate to look at addictions issues affecting youth in Edmonton (that’s a whole other entry for another day!). They kicked off their speech with a joke, told some stories about how drugs and alcohol have affected their lives, and then wrapped up with some tips to parents about having “the talk”. They also pointed out that it’s never too early to talk about drugs and alcohol with your kids, but that it’s also never too late. Sound advice right from the youth. A hard copy of the toolkit is available by calling 311 or you can find it online at Edmonton.ca/safedmonton. It is a free resource, and is useful not just for parents but for anyone who is a trusted figure in the life of a young person: older siblings, aunts, uncles, guardians, teachers… the list goes on. No matter who you are, it's never too early to start the conversation.

Making Our Purchases More Sustainable

mmellross — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:00:52 +0000

After reading Bill McKibben’s Deep Economy a few years ago, I realized just how much power my purchasing decisions have. I can decrease my carbon footprint by buying organic or help ensure a farm worker is getting a fair wage by buying Direct Trade coffee. I can do all this just by considering what I am buying a little more carefully. Now imagine how the world would change if not just I did this, but you did it too? Or entire groups of people joined in?

photo credit: Edmontonenthusiast

What if large corporations jumped on board? Or what if a major municipality such as the City of Edmonton was part of this shift? Imagine the positive impact we could have! On February 3, 2010 City Council approved a Sustainable Purchasing Policy (SPP) which directs the City of Edmonton to begin to formally consider both social and environmental objectives when making its purchases. I feel very privileged to have been part of the project team, lead by Materials Management, that brought this policy to life. However, developing the policy was definitely the easy part, now we have to actually apply it. Eventually the policy will apply to pretty much everything, but implementing a policy like the SPP in an organization that spends $1.5 billion annually represents a huge challenge. This is why we have decided to phase in the policy and look at about ten or so spend categories each year. This year I look forward to assisting in developing environmental specifications for everything from paint to cleaning products. But don’t just rely on the City to change the world, try it in your own life: look for fair trade or direct trade goods, buy locally produced items, and start shopping at stores that disclose their factory locations like MEC. We all have to change our spending behaviour and focus on sustainable products if we're going to make a difference.

photo credit: Edmontonenthusiast

If you'd like to read more of the specific's of the City's new sustainable purchasing policy, check out policy C556.

The Sound of Chitchat

xcouture — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:32:03 +0000

Pecha Kucha pronounced pe-cha-ku-cha (with the same emphasis on every syllable) has been an ongoing (and somewhat un-pronounceable) event for almost two years. Edmonton's NextGen Commitee hosted the first Pecha Kucha in Western Canada back in May of 2008 (Vancouver and Calgary followed soon afterwards with their own events). [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Western Canada's first Pecha Kucha Night was held in Edmonton on May 1, 2008 "][/caption] Pecha Kucha, (for all those wondering out there in the great Edmonton yonder) simply means chitchat in Japanese. The first Pecha Kucha was held in Tokyo in 2003 and now can be found in over 170 cities worldwide. It’s a night that brings presenters on the creative forefront in from various design fields from the same city together to share, discuss and debate with the public. The catch, is that the powerpoint presentation format is limited to 20 slides, 20 seconds a slide in order to avert the “death by powerpoint” doldrums. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The crowd at the first Pecha Kucha watch introductory greetings from Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham of Klein Dytham architecture, creators of Pecha Kucha."][/caption] The mandate of Next Gen is to develop the opportunity for the voice of young people to be heard and take an active role in the development of our community, a perfect fit with the concept offered by Pecha Kucha. It's an evening out that gets people talking and increases their awareness that there are many creative ways to get involved in the development of their city. Former Next Gen Committee member and Pecha Kucha organizer, Elicia Elliot explained, “The ability to make partnerships between different groups of designers from photographers to architects and the public is something that would not normally happen without an event like Pecha Kucha.” [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Presenter Aidan Rowe at the second Pecha Kucha Night held at the Trans-Alta Arts Barn, Sept. 2008"][/caption] So far, there have been six Pecha Kuchas to date, with a seventh on the way. Each on has their own unique theme, venue, audience size and attendees who are always keen to provide what they loved, hated and were impartial to. They do this through the Next Gen follow up survey posted on edmontonnextgen.ca and the fast #pkn hash tagging fingers plugged in though Twitter during the events. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Presenter Tobias Olivia at Pecha Kucha 3 speaks about the University of Alberta's Student Design Association."][/caption] [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="All Pecha Kucha events have featured performances from local talent. Pecha Kucha 3 featured DJ Jaycie Jayce of Shout Out Out."][/caption] Notable Pucha Kucha moments to date include Pecha Kucha 4, which was held while the City of Edmonton was hosting the ICLEI World Congress on Sustainability during June of 2009. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333" caption="Pecha Kucha 4 was held during the ICLEI World Congress.Numerous Congress delegates made a point of stopping in to see the presentations that focused on the theme of sustainability. "][/caption] The opportunity meant Next Gen organizers were able to use the same facilities as the congress and capitalize on the meeting of the international association of municipal governments from 57 countries. The Congress has held at the Shaw Conference Centre and due to the large size of the facilities NextGen was able to invite a crowd of 600 to this third installment of Pecha Kucha. In the end, there were more than 600 participants and 50 ICLEI delegates who spent the evening exchanging ideas abou the concept of sustainability across many different professions.

photo credit: dave.cournoyer

Pecha Kucha 5 was able to build on the success of Pecha Kucha 4 and was held at the equally impressive Myer Howerwitz Theatre thanks to the support of the University of Alberta Art’s Alumni.

photo credit: mastermaq Presenters have been able to capture the changing mood and the eclectic mix that is Edmonton’s hard working populace. From land development project managers, industrial designers, volunteers, art and design students, graphic designers, photographers, social activists, architects, public art directors who always find a way their own way to incorporate each unique Pecha Kucha design related theme into their 6 minutes and 40 seconds in front of the crowd. The open invitation for presentations gets a good number of submissions, but the Next Gen crew is always on the lookout for more Edmontonians to share with others what they are up to through a Pecha Kucha night. Design is always the underlying concept for Pecha Kucha nights, but inevitably some presentations tend towards self-promotion or pure abstraction that can make the audience shake their heads. Six Pecha Kuchas in, it seems the best presentations are those that use humour, odd segways and references to share an awareness of projects that are underway in the city or brewing below the surface of people who live, work (and play) in our northern city. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Pecha Kucha 6 was held at McDougall Church. There were over 450 people in attendance. This evening sparked a lot of spirited comments from the audience, many who shared their thoughts online."][/caption] [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333" caption="Not all Pecha Kucha events have a theme. Pecha Kucha 6 was slightly obscure (Psst... It's a Secret) which led to some interesting interpretations by presenters (some more successful than others)."][/caption] The beauty of Pecha Kucha comes from the fact that an industrial design student can jump up on stage after a much accomplished land developer, and both are equally subject to the sharp, no holds barred commentary of the audience. But that commentary is the point of Pecha Kucha. These presentations are meant to inspire chitchat about ideas that will help motivate us, out of inspiration or frustration, to create a better city. For more info on Pecha Kucha Night in Edmonton visit: www.pecha-kucha.org/night/edmonton/ If you're interested in presenting at PKN 7, please email: nextgen@edmonton.ca for the info on how to submit a presentation. You can also see more images from all of our Pecha Kucha events in the NextGen flickr pool.

From Edmonton to Edmonton 2.0

acasovan — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:43:14 +0000

Since returning from CityCamp at the end of January, I've been immersed in the world of #opengov #gov2.0 and the City's work on #yegdata. I know this probably doesn't make sense to many of the people reading this, but I'll try and do my best to explain. No promises though, I'm still trying to wrap my head around everything. I suppose a good place to start is CityCamp. Held in Chicago at the end of January, CityCamp was an unconference dedicated to practicing gov 2.0 at the local level. Devin Serink, from IT, and I were fortunate to go as representatives of the City of Edmonton. Devin provided a bit more of a background about open data, gov 2.0 and City Camp in his post "Edmonton Goes To City Camp" prior to our trip. We were both excited for what this unconference had in store. CityCamp was going to be an excellent opportunity to meet and develop relationships with representatives from other municipalities and organizations who were interested in open government and to learn how Edmonton can become a leader in this emerging field.

photo credit: eylerwerve

We spent the weekend with government, community, and media leaders from across North America to discuss new ways governments can use technology to interact with and engage residents. We were pleased (and a little surprised) to discover that Edmonton had just as much to teach as we did to learn. From exploring the uses of new technology, learning how to develop online security, how to leverage the internet to be neighbourly, how to run an apps contest, even how to engage citizens through the use of video games, we quickly realized that the possibilities of creating a more open and transparent government are endless.

photo credit: Tony Webster

photo credit: eylerwerve

photo credit: eylerwerve Following the weekend at CityCamp we were invited to participate in an Open City Summit. At this workshop we met with other governments who have, or are on their way to having an open data catalogue. Organizations like Sunlight Labs, The Open Planning Project, Code for America, the Urban Institute and Every Block participated in this workshop, because they are interested in having and providing support to open, transparent and democratic governments. Since we've been back there has been a whirl-wind of activity. There'll be more specifics in posts to come, but to give you an idea of what's been happening so far, Devin and I have been collaborating with our colleagues, including leadership from IT and Communications and community members to continue the City's work to educate residents about the benefits of open governance, open data, and open systems.

We are in the process organizing a followup workshop for March 6th to continue the conversation about Edmonton's initiatives in open data, but also to talk about the larger context of open government from a Canadian and Edmonton perspective. It is our hope that community, government, and academic leaders from across Canada will meet in our city on March 6th to participate and help as we continue to take those next steps towards Edmonton 2.0. Chris Moore, the City's CIO will be posting to the blog later this week with more on this. Stay tuned.

Open as a “Way of Being”

cmoore — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:36:49 +0000

When I consider the 88+ definitions of the word “open” at dictionary.com I find it difficult to choose one that captures Open as a “Way of Being”. The open I am speaking about is the one that allows you the freedom to be who you are naturally, to be a generous listener and to always be looking for moments to speak into the lives of the people around you. Being open prepares you for feedback and insights from anyone, and to live life in all its forms, in a full and transparent way.

I would like to introduce you to a group of people who are working everyday to be open. Actually this group of people, the Information Technology branch at the City of Edmonton, are doing more than just being open, they are also being collaborative, knowledgeable, empowered, supportive, flexible, organized, responsible, innovative and trusting. These are the 10 Ways of Being that were both created and adopted by IT at the city in May of 2009. In October 2008 I relocated to Edmonton from Brampton, Ontario to start as the city’s new Chief Information Officer. With over 26 years of experience in IT, both public and private sector I felt I had lots to offer the city, little did I know I also had lots to learn. Prior to arriving I had mapped out a 30-60-90 day plan and for the most part I was successful in accomplishing my plan. First 30 days get to know the people, next 30 days get to know the business and the last 30 days figure out where we go next. In January 2009 I started to map out the next steps. I had decided to work with the IT Leadership Team at the city to create a new service delivery model. City staff and business leaders told us in 2008 that we were not meeting their service delivery expectations so I figured the best place to start was to enhance service delivery and to create a sustainable service delivery model, and as such ASD was born, Agile Service Delivery model. This model was presented to staff in the IT Branch in March 2009 as the way forward. I have to tell you that all of my previous corporate experiences told me that form follows function, meaning before any organizational change you must first figure out what your new functions are and then once you have that you can easily map out the form, meaning “structure”. Well I was about to experience a new way of changing an organization, I didn’t know it at the time, but I was leading all of us into an engagement paradigm. I can distinctly remember the moment when we made this shift. It was in the evening on April 1st, 2009. I was sitting at home in front of the fireplace reading and doing some work. I came across an email that was sent to me by one of the IT directors. It was a forwarded email from one of the IT staff. In the email the person was expressing their concern that as much as we presented the new model they felt that this “re-org” was going to be like all the others, lots of talk but very little change. This email hit me hard, I wanted the process to be different, I wanted real tangible results for the entire team. This new information definitely required a course correction. From October to April I had enough insight from staff to know that there were a number of issues to address, not just service delivery but morale. It was and has been the desire to see staff in a better place that has driven me to lead us to that new place. That night in April set a plan into motion that would see 300 IT professionals in groups of 10 meet with me to discuss three things. I called these meeting “Town Halls” and mostly I planned to listen. In planning for these meetings I decided that what was discussed each day at the 5 or 6 meetings we had would be posted each night for ALL to see. That was step one to being transparent. At the start of each meeting I told introduced the discussion then I went on to tell each the group that there were two things I desired for each of them, fulfillment in their work and freedom to do what they knew needed to be done. We then went on to talk about “The Way It Is”, I asked people to describe IT as a person, this provided a great basis for me to capture the total branch feeling of the way it is.

Then we went on to discuss if the way it is continued to be the way it is what was Predictable and Probable.

Then after that we discussed what was possible, the presence of which would make a difference.

At first people were hesitant, but it didn’t take long into the discussion that people knew I was serious and they had freedom to speak. Early in the week when we got to possibilities, people would start with a question like “It should be possible to ….. right” and by the end of the meetings people were much more definitive in their possibilities, “it IS possible…….”. I noticed a trend as the week progressed people wanted to talk about possibilities earlier and earlier in the meetings, I think this was a result of having all of the notes from the meetings open for all to see and the word going around that people were becoming “hopefully optimistic” that this change, this re-org may actually be different. Even though these meetings were emotionally draining for me, they were also an inspiration. There are so many people within IT that want to continue to make a difference and serve the staff and public of Edmonton. Their commitment and dedication was overwhelming. They truly wanted to be different and as a team of 300 people we were going to make that happen.

Putting “Open” to the test

cmoore — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:18:18 +0000

In my previous blog post I spoke of Open as a “Way of Being” a chronology of the start of the transformation for the IT Branch at the City of Edmonton. If you haven’t read it yet, I suggest you do as it provides much needed context for this post. After the April Town Hall meetings with the IT staff, and over 5,000 words on what was possible we started to move towards taking those hopes and dreams and making them real.

We planned an all branch meeting for May 6, 2009, you see one of the things we had not done for some time if at all was have everyone in the branch in one meeting at the same time. This was raised as one of the possibilities from the town hall meetings. The IT Leadership team decided that it was possible so ahead we went. At this meeting we wanted to draw together all of the discussions in the Town Hall meetings and chart a way forward. You will notice that we did not stop and write a project charter, assign a project manager and do a project plan. This change effort had grown from an organic process and organic it would stay. Now we did have plans an structure, but none so rigid that would not allow for a course correction. Prior to the meeting we pulled the extended leadership team together, so this was all IT Directors and their managers to talk about what we were embarking on. We reflected on the past and all the great “World Class” successes that Edmonton IT had. We talked about engaging the managers and staff further in the upcoming changes. We also spoke of our plans to pursue outsourcing for IT at the City of Edmonton. Outsourcing had be hanging around like a dark cloud over the heads of the IT staff for somewhere between 5 and 10 years. We had study it, we had experts consult on it and analyze it, but we had never decided to pursue it or to stop pursuing it. We decided to move forward with it, and if it made business sense to implement it. I told the managers that I was planning on sharing this with the staff the next day and was giving them a “heads up” so they were not surprised. Well, I did not expect one of the managers to leave the meeting and send out an email in advance of my announcement to all staff. When I discovered that late in the day I was sick, I felt terrible for the people who would go home thinking that this was going to impact them in some significant way. I felt that way because we had not even gone to market yet with an RFP and I wanted to give people the opportunity to be part of the project, so they could be cause in their future. I spent the night planning what to do, how to both be accountable and transparent and open. Putting open to the test. So on May 6th I knew what I needed to do, I needed to address the matter of outsourcing first otherwise that moose would be on the table and in our way until I spoke about it. I was not prepared for what happened next. I started by explaining that we would be pursuing and that news of that leaked out the night prior. I said “I take full accountability for that happening” and I apologized to the team. I explained to them how some of them must have felt when they heard the news. I explained how I felt when I found out the news had leaked, then ….. I lost my composure, meaning I started to cry. Why, because I value everyone on the team so much, who they are as people, their contribution and to think that some of them were upset or concerned hit me hard. Not much you can do when you lose it like that except wait….. and then carry on. This was the first time that this happened to me and I know it will not be the last. Immediately after that we took questions from the floor, and I answered them if I could or said, don’t know yet. We then spent another 30 minutes collecting questions that I answered shortly after the meeting. Now for some people this created huge angst that to the date of this post has continued, others on the team have embraced our new culture and are being cause in their own future. I am still concerned about those that are not being cause, they are missing a huge opportunity, but I guess for some of them they have yet to decide, that is all it is and it happens in a moment. The fact that they have yet to decide that there are possibilities drives me even more to help them see what their future could be. Now back to the all branch meeting. After the information on outsourcing and a Q&A we moved into a very exciting time, a process called “Rich Pictures" or "World Café". It was exciting as I believe that as a group of 300 we made a choice. We choose to move away from how we had been, to where we want to be. With the help of a team of internal and external people we held a 300 person “World Café”. So there we were in our Town Hall groups of 10, flip charts and coloured markers on the table, people were asked to draw, without speaking they way it currently was. Meaning how they felt everything was, from customers to management, from teams to individuals. Over a 30-minute period we ended up with a collection of rich pictures. These pictures tell a story of the way it was, and most importantly became our motivation to change. My next post will talk more about this change, in particular our new set of values our branch collectively created.

The Streets Speak

lpeters — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:56:26 +0000

City Hall is adorned with murals and while they might look like graffiti to some, in fact it is a creative demonstration of citizen engagement – particularly from two normally marginalized groups: youth and people living in homelessness and poverty. Youth from the City of Edmonton Youth Council (CEYC) and iPulse made this project happen over the last year. It was so great to be able to say that I played a part in helping them realize a dream and bring a voice to stories that may otherwise go unheard – that’s the Streets Speak project. And really, who doesn’t love hearing about amazing, inspiring work being done by this city’s youth? Lucky for me I get to work with an amazing bunch of them on a daily basis. CEYC volunteers are what make my job exciting (and sometimes my inbox really full)! They have monthly meetings where the over 30 General Assembly members attend to learn about the City and give a youth perspective on things. Many of them, with their unbridled passion, meet WAY more often than that on their different areas of interest in ‘subcommittee form’. There’s obviously a subcommittee on homelessness but also ones on transportation, the environment and policy. Since they all have such great stories to share there’s really no point in me trying to be the commentator’s voice on all of it – THEY’LL be sharing some of their own experiences and stories here on the blog really soon! From meeting City Councillors and providing input on City policy to volunteer recruitment and hosting events like Youth Week and Mock Council – these youth have experienced it all (and I think) are pretty excited to tell you about it in their own words. Stay tuned. While you’re waiting, go down to City Hall and check out the Streets Speak murals – on display for a couple more days until February 27th.

Peak Oil and Planning Edmonton’s Future

cbeddoes — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 07:02:28 +0000

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend a lecture at City Hall by Richard Heinberg, an award-winning author and educator. Heinberg, who hails from the Post Carbon Institute in Santa Rosa California, is a futurist and leading international commentator on Peak Oil. He is the first speaker in the City of Edmonton’s Distinguisher Speaker Series that will help inform The Way We Green, Edmonton’s new environmental strategic plan. Heinberg's topic was peak oil and how this trend could impact Edmonton’s future.

Part 1 [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gflv7j15fgc&rel=0] So what is peak oil? Peak oil occurs when new discoveries of economically viable oil deposits and related production begin to decline over time. In his presentation, Heinberg said the US used to be the world’s foremost oil producer. But oil production in the States peaked in 1970 and has been in decline ever since. A similar trend is happening world wide. As Heinberg explained: “Global oil production falls when loss of output from countries declining exceeds gains from those expanding.” In other words, one barrel of oil is now being discovered for every five being consumed and world oil production has been flat since 2005.

Part 2 [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZY_n6fCgwA&rel=0] On the day of Heinberg’s lecture, the Wall Street Journal reported: “A shortage of oil could be a real problem for the world within a fairly short period of time.”

Part 3 [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-G3hQdST-s&rel=0] Could this shortage of oil affect Edmonton? Surely we have a huge supply nearby in the oil sands? Well, this is where things can get complicated. The costs of mining and extraction from the oil sands are significantly higher than those with conventional oil. Heinberg added another twist in that it is not only the quantity of oil produced that constitutes a challenge but the cost.

Part 4 [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ml5_ULJi8I&rel=0] He explained how the supply of oil affects our economy and how our standard of living is related to a narrow crude oil ‘price band’. If prices are too high, the economy slows down, for example, the cost of air travel and food production increases. If prices are too low, investment decreases and economic expansion is limited and the building of our infrastructure diminishes.

Part 5 [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O_G-kg_Ado&rel=0]

Richard Heinberg suggested that we view fossil fuels not as an end point but as a bridge to a future of renewable energies and that we plan and act proactively while we still have the opportunity to do so.

Part 6 [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-sWEXYKEMY&rel=0] In the coming months, we will be posting updates on the main City website (The Way We Green) and on the Transforming Edmonton Blog, including more videos from our speakers’ series and reporting on the progress of Way we Green planning process.

Inside the Open City Workshop

dserink — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:00:21 +0000

It’s been quite a journey for me these past few months. I’ve had the pleasure of working with some amazing and dedicated colleagues organizing the November 21 Open Data Workshop and building the Open Data Catalogue. Shortly after that workshop and release of the data catalogue, fellow blogger Ashley and I had the good fortune of attending and being inspired by CityCamp in Chicago. Since then I’ve been working with even more of my colleagues on the next steps, including the upcoming March 6th Open City Workshop. The majority of participants in last year's Open Data Workshop were from Edmonton’s technology community. And like the bulletin board systems that predated today's internet, these early adopters helped explore this new ground. But in order for these concepts to thrive, the value they represent needs to find a home in the minds of a broader collection of individuals and leaders in the community, academia, private sector and the public service. Even more importantly, we need representatives from all of these groups together: talking, collaborating and sharing insights and ideas. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Open Data Workshop participants brainstorm ideas about the principles of open data."][/caption] Government 2.0 isn’t about brandishing technology like a panacea, nor does it constitute simply pushing government services onto the web. With any successful technology, it will evolve with time until it becomes effectively invisible until, for example, we try to lock our car door with the keys still inside. So what does that have to do with government? Let's take an icy intersection as an example. How many drivers (or their ABS systems) on a given winter day discover the dangers of a particular strip of black ice for themselves? What if you instructed your vehicle's ABS computer to share the where and when of the incident with a common, open system, one that belongs to the public? Cars coming by later could then warn their drivers, or maybe display a caution symbol on in-car navigation systems. Just as importantly, as this information comes in, it becomes possible to very quickly and accurately pinpoint trouble spots as they form. The first steps towards this would (were I to wager a guess) involve some imperfect data, perhaps drawn from traffic volume and accident rates, and the initial applications of it will probably only be available as web or mobile applications on phones belonging to tech-savvy early adopters, it would be some time before this might appear as a "no-tech-skill required" feature in vehicles and navigation systems. But Government 2.0 is more than just improving traffic safety and other services. Sure, these sorts of solutions and innovations would emerge, and principles of "openness" help to remove a lot of the barriers, but I like to think of it as the enabler of this sort of idea and vision. The example above is just my own idea, I haven't yet vetted it, so maybe it's not even a good idea. But it's safe to say I'm not alone in this, there are many more ideas both good and bad out there in the community. Sharing our ideas with others and getting their feedback allows us to discern the great from the good, discover if others have the same sorts of ideas, and then perhaps move from concept to reality. In sum, the way I look at it, what an Open City really does is enables the community and its members to: 1) bring their ideas together and share them, 2) to develop and build on those ideas, drawing out the best and most visionary of them, and 3) take part in making those ideas a reality. Government then, is the platform that enables this to happen, it always has been, but now we have new approaches and new tools to bring us closer to that reality. These are not easy problems, and there are no perfect solutions to any of them, but we're taking steps. Open Data, for example, speaks primarily to #3, enabling those with technological inclinations to bring new ideas to life. With time, some of those technical barriers will fall, but I believe there are other possibilities to enable more of the population to work together towards initiatives like open data and open gov. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Despite the number of laptops present at the planning sessions for the Open City workshop the event on March 6th will be an inclusive conversation that doesn't focus on technology alone."][/caption] This Open City Workshop (which I think you'll find is a bit different from what you might expect from a government run event) is just one way we're working towards sharing and developing ideas together, and maybe more possibilities will emerge from it. I know I have more ideas to share, I hope you do too. So what does an Open City mean to you? Come to the Art Gallery of Alberta on March 6 (or participate online) and let us all know!

The contents of this post are licensed under a Creative Commons Licence.

Open City Workshop Webcast

rloro — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:08:05 +0000

The cameras are in place, participants will soon be starting to arrive at the Art Gallery of Alberta (and online) for the Open City Workshop. Join the LIVE (bilingual)WEBCAST here. We will be broadcasting all day, so check out the video feed or if you're participating remotely you can also join our chat room to get involved in the conversation. You can also follow the conversation on twitter with the #yegdatag #openyeg hashtag UPDATE: We are working hard to get the video archive of the panel up soon. So stay tuned.

Workshop Agenda

9:30 – 10:00 am Registration
10:00 am – 12:00 pm Morning session and activities featuring panel discussion
12:00 – 12:45 pm Lunch (provided on-site)
12:45 – 4:00 pm Afternoon session featuring collaborative break-outs

With over 160 people registered today is sure to be a day full of interesting conversation on the topic of open government, the City's Open Data initiative. We'll also be joining up with the Gov. 2.0 Camp in New England over our lunch hour. Great minds think alike.

South LRT in the Corner of the Eye

gmcelheran — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:31:05 +0000

Nobody expects to see this train. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="LRT on 111th Street travels the median of the roadway"][/caption] Sure, there’s been construction in the middle of 111^th Street in south Edmonton for years, wreaking all kinds of traffic havoc for motorists and pedestrians alike. With a project of this magnitude, with perpetual traffic detours and delays, everybody knew something big was coming. But now that it’s here, the South LRT is catching people by surprise. You see it in drivers’ faces as the train cruises down the roadway median, zipping between vehicles on 111^th Street. Drivers do a double-take, eyes wide, when they see a train fly past at 70 km/h, where no train used to be. Right now it’s just commissioning, which is the comprehensive testing process for new LRT. The trains, the electrical systems, the signalization… everything’s got to be running smoothly, perfectly, before the South LRT can safely open to public service on April 25^th, 2010. We’re getting there. New commissioning tests are completed every day. Which means from now on, trains are moving on the South LRT tracks, in perpetuity. Anyone crossing 111^th Street needs to know that trains are there. Things have changed at 111^th Street intersections between 23^rd Avenue and 61^st Avenue. The intersections are wider; new traffic signs, signals and gates are operational; tracks are running through the middle, and trains are starting to move on those tracks. Drivers and pedestrians are beginning to interact with trains. With all the changes, commissioning wrapping up and trains starting to roll, the main question for the City is how to keep South LRT intersections safe. Specifically, what can the City do to prevent four types of collisions: train/car, train/pedestrian, car/car, and car/pedestrian? [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="South LRT intersections include several safety features"][/caption] Designing and building the intersections to be as safe as possible is one answer. Spreading the word about traffic safety is another. But no solution is foolproof, in part because every solution is pinned to the underlying fact that no government can control all the actions of its citizens. When it comes to traffic, people break the law. If they did not – if every person who ever came into contact with the South LRT always obeyed every traffic bylaw to 100 percent accuracy – there would almost never be any collisions. But people make mistakes. The best their government can do is to try to minimize the frequency and consequence of those mistakes. Safety features at each South LRT intersection help to achieve this goal. So does the City’s TraXSafe program that teaches how to stay safe around LRT. Public safety is a shared responsibility, though, so a return to defensive driving and safety fundamentals is the best measure any citizen can take. It will take time for people to grow accustomed to the changes at South LRT intersections. So take the time. Be patient. Go slow. Everyone will get where they need to go, safely, if we all take a little extra time to watch out for each other. For more information visit the City’s TraXSafe program at www.edmonton.ca/traxsafe

How does the Youth Council work?

smitra — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:10:22 +0000

Just as Lyndia promised in her post a few weeks ago, members of the City of Edmonton Youth Council are going to start blogging. I'll be the first to post about my experiences with the Youth Council, in particular about my position as Youth Council Chair and how I work with the General Assembly. Although the majority of the Youth Council's work is done in separate subcommittees (which will be discussed in later posts), the heart of the City of Edmonton Youth Council (CEYC) is the General Assembly (GA). The General Assembly is made up of all the members of CEYC (currently about 35 volunteers) who meet the first Wednesday of every month to hear updates from the Exec about the goings-on of the different subcommittees, as well as participate in social events and/or educational presentations and discuss issues concerning the GA as a whole. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="MC for the Streets Speak mural series event at City Hall, February 16. 2010. "][/caption] Contrary to what you might expect, as Chair I do not manage the agenda of the GA meetings. Rather, the meetings are run by a speaker chosen from the GA, a position that is rotated to a new GA member every month. At first glance, the role of Youth Council Chair seems to be straightforward. In practise, however, the position of chair is rather open-ended. When I first ran for Chair in the summer of 2009, I was aware of the position’s official duties, which included planning and coordinating executive meetings as well as providing leadership for the Youth Council as a whole. I soon found, however, that it was up to me to decide exactly what 'providing leadership' meant. The previous CEYC Chair had chosen to focus on heading the Homelessness Subcommittee. I however, felt that it was more important to allow my excellent executive to complete their tasks as they saw fit. I thus have chosen to provide a supporting role, sitting on three of our six subcommittees. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="478" caption="CEYC Transportation Subcommittee"][/caption] And therein lies the most important duty of the Chair, in my opinion: regardless of the level of direct control the Chair chooses in exert in any given subcommittee, it is absolutely essential for the Chair to provide support and direction for the Youth Council as a whole. This can range from providing feedback for the executive to fulfilling the duties of the paid Coordinator when he or she is unavailable. This year, I felt that it was critical that CEYC improve the overall participation and attendance of the GA. This is a responsibility shared by the entire executive but the Chair needs to be especially aware of any problems facing CEYC at any given time. As the head of the City of Edmonton Youth Council, the position of Chair is absolutely vital. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Accepting the Youth Week 2009 Proclamation from Councillor Iveson"][/caption] It has been an absolute pleasure to serve as the Chair of the City of Edmonton Youth Council so far, and I look forward to the rest of my term!

Making Every Hour Earth Hour

tmunro — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:25:21 +0000

Last year at this time I was busy planning for Earth Hour. My friends and I had been talking about having a dessert potluck and Earth Hour seemed like a good opportunity. I emailed out the invites, cleaned the apartment, got out the board games - after all if you are going to turn out the lights, having the TV on seems a little counterproductive. I thought we were all fine and good until the day of, when I realized that, not being much of a candle person myself, I had a total of three candles in my entire apartment. Now, I have a bit of a reputation amongst my friends. I tend to call up with strange requests: can you bring a chair? Can you bring your favourite pair of shoes? This time it was “can you bring candles?” [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Candlelit dinner for Earth Hour 2009 (cc) Jeremiah Armstrong/WWF-Canada "][/caption] As usual, everyone came through. One of my friends even showed up with cookies that she had iced to make them look like the Earth, an impressive feat from my less than skilled baking perspective. It was early enough that we never needed to turn the lights on. We just lit the candles once the sun had gone down. We sat and played what was one of the more painful games of Trivial Pursuit. It went on forever, until we were changing the rules to make it easier for someone to win. We also ate a lot of sugar. Earth cookies, chocolate chip crumble, lemon squares to name just a few. So what have I learned for this year? Many of the candles that we used were made of paraffin wax, which uses petroleum. Although, I wouldn’t go buy new candles just for the event, I am trying to be more careful with the rare one I do buy to make sure that it is made out of beeswax or soy. Less sugar! Five people and five desserts is enough to make everyone a little bit loopy before the night is done. Board games are good, but this year I’m going to try something different. I’m trying to see how many of my friends I can get down to City Hall plaza for the City event. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="2009 Earth Hour Event in Churchill Square (cc) Jimmy Jeong/WWF-Canada"][/caption] I think it will be cool to see all the lights go out (and that way I don’t have to do any cleaning). We will also definitely make sure that we use public transit or carpool to contribute even more. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Earth Hour 2009 in Sir Winston Churchill Square (cc) Darren Jacknisky/WWF-Canada "][/caption] The most important thing I have learned though is that it isn’t that hard to make little changes. In 2008, my power usage in March was at its highest at 356 kWh. In 2009 I was at 230. Since March I have kept my power usage below this level each and every month. And I can tell you that I’m not sitting in the dark, but I am thinking about the choices I make. How do you plan to make every hour Earth Hour?

Elementary ways to save power

mthurber — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:54:29 +0000

Sometimes my job is a lot of fun.

As part of the City of Edmonton’s Earth Hour celebration on March 27, the Office of Environment decided to have a contest with Edmonton elementary school children. We asked them to give us their top five ways to save power. The entries will be put in a draw barrel and the winner will get to come to our Earth Hour event on March 27 and use a giant light switch to turn off the lights of City Hall and a few of our other downtown buildings.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Edmonton Skyline before Earth Hour 2009 (cc) Darren Jacknisky/WWF-Canada"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Edmonton's downtown skyline during Earth Hour 2009. (cc) Darren Jacknisky/WWF-Canada "][/caption] At first I didn’t know if this contest would be of interest to the kids but the entries are coming in fast and furious. I’m impressed with the quality of suggestions they’re making (although they don’t all strictly relate to power usage) and I thought I’d share some of them with you. The spelling of some of the words is half the enjoyment of the entries so I’ve decided to reproduce them exactly as the students submitted them:

Turn off the lights when the sun is shining.
If you have glasses only clean them once in a while
We don’t use our washing machine / dish washer to clean our staff and we use our hands to clean them
Close the laundry when you’re gone
swich lights to floorenss lights
Don’t use more than 10 batteries a day
Only use the laundry machine when you are doing laundry
you shouid tern off the washermoshene
Fill up the dish washer totally (but not so your dishes won’t get clean) don’t just use your dishwasher for 1 cup!
Never put all the lights on and then you are going some where and forget to turn them off.
Spend time outside instead of staying indoors and wasting technology
Use thick windows to keep the hot air in and the cold air out
I can eat fruits instead of cooking food like pizza and fruits are more healthy than pizza

These young Edmontonians clearly understand that reducing our environmental impact is not just something we do one day a year. Their suggestions show the every day choices and actions we can make to reduce our energy consumption. But we all have to start somewhere. Many of these students are sure to be gathering with their families for our Earth Hour celebration on Saturday, March 27 from 7:30-9:00 p.m. on City Hall plaza. I hope you can too. And if you can't make it, that you at least switch off your lights and turn off the 'washermoshene'.

Engage Your City: Feedback Loop

mkontz — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 16:54:54 +0000

First of all, apologies for the big gap between posts. Getting all the information from paper into electronic form has taken much longer than anyone expected. Our working group is having a bit of a shake-up. Some of our volunteers are no longer able to offer the amount of time they had previously, so we’re moving slowly (but we're still moving). We have all the notes you all wrote on the tables entered now, but it’s taking a while to get everything organized. I hope I will have more for you next week. Secondly, thank you to everyone who provided feedback on the first Engage: Your City Your Voice event through our surveys, over twitter, and in the comments on my last post. Your feedback is important as we build Engage into a series of events. And because your feedback is so important, I’ll take this post to share with you some of the themes that came out of your feedback and how the working group is planning to move forward.

photo credit: mastermaq

Generally speaking, the majority of the feedback we received was quite positive. It's very apparent that you think discussion is important and you want to participate in your city, and you think that Engage: Your City, Your Voice is a good way to do that. That’s exciting for me because it means there’s a large group of people out there who want to contribute to making the city better. There were, of course, constructive criticisms and the working group is taking them very seriously. There were 4 big things that stood out amongst the feedback. And as with all feedback, there were good and bad comments on each. 1. Venue: Opinion was pretty evenly split on City Hall as a venue for this type of event. Lots of you really love City Hall and thought it was an inspiring place to hold the event, especially given the topics. The other half thought the space was too large and too loud for good discussion. The working group thought City Hall was a great venue, especially for our first event, but we are planning to try different venues around the city in an effort to try and reach different groups of people. 2. Accessibility: Nearly everyone who provided feedback was glad the venue was easily accessible by public transportation. The working group will definitely keep this in mind as we book spaces for future events. 3. Audience: Some people felt the audience or participants were not diverse enough. A number of people felt that this was the same general group of fairly privileged people providing opinions on inner city issues and homelessness without including homeless people and people from lower income neighbourhoods. Part of the reason the working group wants to try different venues is to try to reach different groups of people. We will also try other ways of getting the word out about our events to engage with a more diverse crowd. 4. Facilitation: There were mixed reviews on this as well, but generally the comments agree that we need to have better trained facilitators to make these events meaningful for everyone that attends. Our facilitators are volunteers and have varying experience with facilitation, but the working group will prepare them better for future events. Thank you all again for coming out to Engage: Your City, Your Voice – Life in the Urban Core. I hope you’ll continue to attend our future events (including the upcoming Community Challenge, there will be a post about this from Tegan next week) and bring your passion and enthusiasm for Edmonton.

Take a Yoga Break

dlaing — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:25:11 +0000

Many of us spend too much of our work day in a cubicle, sitting at a desk, looking at a computer screen for long periods of time. Unfortunately, this environment can contribute to our body’s physical and mental stress and negatively impact productivity at work and our individual health. Doing any activity for a long time without a break can be hard on the body. It’s a form of repetitive stress injury. If you have ever sat for a long period of time you will notice that when you get up to walk somewhere your body feels stiff. That stiff feeling is our muscle’s response to being stuck in a shortened position, like sitting, for a long time. That’s why regular stretch breaks feel so great. In addition, working in front of a computer screen for extended periods of time is not only tiring for the eyes but we tend to lose our ability to focus on our work as the mind also gets tired and starts to drift. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Our bodies weren't designed to sit all day. Schedule regular stretching breaks throughout the day to help you stay focused.(cc) Pragmagraphr"][/caption] For all these reasons, taking a little time to get up from your desk for a change in scenery, and get a bit of physical activity will do wonders for our bodies. Physical activity breaks are necessary to keep our mind and body energized during the course of the day. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Jogging through the University farm as a midday break"][/caption] [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Sometimes it's as simple as heading out of doors with your coworkers for a quick stroll near your office. Replace your coffee break with a walking break."][/caption] There are many reasons why you should take breaks during the day. Here are my top reasons to move your body at work (and at play).

Energizes you for the day.
A mental break will improve concentration, stamina, reaction time and memory.
Improves your mood, better relations with co-workers.
Helps to make the work day more enjoyable.
Physical activity can help people manage stress.
In addition, can send a positive message to employees.
Increases productivity and effectiveness at work. A change, through physical activity, is as good as a rest.
Stretch breaks help to promote good posture.
You are worth the effort!

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="185" caption="click to view larger for more details"][/caption] By making an effort and building in the habit to move more and sit less, you will positively impact your health and quality of life now and in the future. Being physically activity is a great way to spend quality time with family, friends, and co-workers. Sometimes it might be as simple as choosing to walk or cycle to work or during your errands or heading out with some of your co-workers for some lunchtime Yoga. Never tried Yoga? Well tomorrow is your chance! Join Active Edmonton Wed. Mar. 24 at 12:10pm for a Yoga break. Yoga at City Hall is the perfect midweek gift for your mind, body, and soul! I hope to see you there. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333" caption="Some conference participants in Seattle take a break from sitting with a guided Yoga session. Tomorrow's session in City Hall might look very similar. (cc) kk+"][/caption]

Photo Gallery: now in stunning technicolor

rmoyles — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:30:31 +0000

It’s been too long…. Wow, time has flown since my last blog post. It’s great that others across the organization are also contributing – takes some of the pressure of regular updating off, and keeps readers interested, I hope. Along with this blog, one of the other cool online tools we’ve been developing is an official City of Edmonton photo gallery. We’re putting our photos here so people can use them (with conditions, more about that below) and see what our city looks like and what’s going on here. We've continually adding new photos as they become available. And we're talking high resolution images of the Edmonton landscape, City Hall, our park system (lots more from parks are on the way).

And then of course there are photos of the many events and festivals that take place in Edmonton throughout the year. We've been adding pictures of those too.

All these images are free to use (for non-commercial purposes of course). Maybe you want to encourage your relatives to come and visit you in this beautiful city - now you can send them to gallery full of pictures to help convince them. Maybe your son or daughter could use some photos for a school report or presentation - we have pictures . You can even use these photos for art projects. However, you must only do so under the following conditions (apologies for the legal-ease but it's important that we all try to understand this):

Attribution — You must attribute the work to the City of Edmonton (but not in any way that suggests that we endorse you or your use of the work). Noncommercial — You may not use this work for commercial purposes. Share Alike — If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under the same or similar licence to this one.

Pretty simple. We post photos and you can use them. But what about photos that you have taken? Pretty regularly, we get asked whether we want someone else’s photos – this can be a tricky question, kind of like when a not-distant-enough relative gives you a favorite knick-knack for a house-warming gift. So to avoid all the embarrassing social awkwardness, we’ve setup a group on Flickr where everyone can share their photos of Edmonton with others. It's the best of both world's really, you get to keep the credit and show off your photography skills. By sharing in this group your photo might also be profiled on the blog. Of course, you can do this on your own, and many already have, but come join the party and share with us all. It’s safe in cyberspace, and one person’s knick-knack is just about guaranteed to be another person’s treasure.

NextGen and the Community Challenge

tmartin-drysdale — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:00:22 +0000

As a recent newcomer to the city, I initially viewed Edmonton as another large city where individuals are lost in the large population and my community came from my network of family and friends scattered throughout the city and province. A large city can be very overwhelming to someone who grew up in a small farming community in northern Alberta. Up north it is quite common to know all your neighbors, and the sense of community and personal belonging is quite strong when it is on a smaller scale. I didn't think it was possible to experience those same feelings in a larger city, until I started volunteering for Next Gen and partnering with the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues. The city as a whole is large and sprawling, but when you start dividing it into 150 regions or leagues, you suddenly realize that it is very much like a patchwork quilt of smaller communities and local neighborhoods. You realize that although you may not be able to make a huge difference in the city as a whole, you can certainly make a difference in your local community league and in your own backyard. Edmonton was the first city in Canada to establish a community based organization, with the first one forming in 1917. These leagues are the history of Edmonton and the people who formed them did it with passion and dedication to their local communities. Our generation needs to continue building these communities. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="NextGen held its first Community Challenge event back in July 2009 over 50 interested young people meet with 30 seasoned community league executives. The session facilitated by the NextGen Special Projects Committee and the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues. "][/caption] The Edmonton Community Challenge, a grassroots event currently in the works for June 2010, was an idea that came about from that very concept. How do we empower and encourage our generation to make a difference in their own backyard and their local community? Next Gen and the EFCL partnered up in 2009 and a new idea was born - a fun event, open to all ages, that would reward participants for their participation, civic pride, and their desire to do some good for the local community. Getting to know your neighbors, having fun with your family and friends, contributing to a local charity, and winning a cash prize for your community league for a community project – how many more incentives do we need? [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Discussion during the July 2009 event was focused around helping leagues become more welcoming and more engaged with people under 40 - a target demographic identified by leagues last year."][/caption] Teams of all ages representing a number of Community Leagues throughout the City of Edmonton will participate in a month long challenge to win a cash prize that will directly benefit their Community League. The events will take place throughout the month of June 2010, and will include a Neighborhood Cleanup on June 5, 24 Hour Bike Tune Up on June 12, and a Canned Food Sculpture Competition on June 26. Points will be awarded to teams based on criteria established for each event. The winner will be announced on July 1, at the Canada Day celebrations in Churchill Square. How can you get involved? The first step is to encourage your community league to participate and organize a team. The second step, tell your friends, family, coworkers, local barista or postman and rally the troops! We will be launching a new website within the next week, so keep checking NextGen's website for more details.

The First Harvest

acasovan — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:19:18 +0000

The snow has melted, the winds are blowing at 90 km/hr, snow warnings are in full effect, and it's still light out when I leave work. Must be spring in Alberta! This is the season the compost team has been looking forward to for months. In October, City Hall started composting. I’m happy to report that just six months later, every single office in City Hall is now contributing to the vermicompost. With 11 collection containers and over 150 staff members participating, we had more than enough compost to start our initial harvest. Thanks to the wonderful support from Herb Gale, our fabulous volunteer Master Composter, and the fantastic work of Mark Stumpf-Allen and Karen-Lewis Caron in the Waste Management Branch, and all the employees and City Hall guests who have been contributing their organics, we now have humus that’s ready to nourish the plants in and around City Hall. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="First Harvest! Separating compost. Half was put into additional containers to mature. First batch of compost will be ready just in time for National Composting Week, May 2- 8. "][/caption] Armed with small rubber containers with hole-punched lids, we proceeded to extract half of the compost. Since the red-wiggler worms that we use in our vermi- compost are quick to reproduce, we were even able to pick some worms out and donate them to staff who have been interested in vermicomposting at home. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Preparing for worm donation. These worms went home to a loving family who were ready to start their own vermicompost."][/caption] Herb does an excellent job working with the custodial staff to maintain the bin. He ensures that the compost is the right moisture level, only organic materials are being put in the bin, and all the waste is properly buried. Since the bin receives contributions on an ongoing basis, all the materials were at different stages of decomposition. When we started extracting, we started moving all the material around. Despite some unpleasant smells, which Mark assured me were normal, (large amounts of decomposing food... who would have thought) the process was actually really fun. When we were done getting the more mature material at the bottom of the bin, we gave the remaining contents a good stir to get some oxygen, and then we put a layer of leaves and some soil on top to create a new bed for incoming contributions. Within an hour, the smell had subsided and more was being added to the bin. The three small containers have remained untouched. By the start of 20th National Composting Week, May3- 9th, we will be ready to spread the humus over the plant and flower beds in and around City Hall! For more information about composting at your home or business there is a lot of information available our website or in theWaste Management Branch Compost Brochure. We'll be sure to keep you updated on all the events planned for National Compost Week! Stay tuned.

Lights Out

tmunro — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 14:30:39 +0000

I like the dark. I mean real dark, not the ambient glow of the city. When it’s dark I’ve seen bats, owls, and flying squirrels, meteor showers, the Northern Lights, and the constellations. I used to lead nighttime hikes in the river valley and the hardest thing was to convince people they didn’t need their flashlights. It’s too hard on your eyes, going from dark to light to dark again; and the light of the flashlight is enough to make the skittish, like flying squirrels, disappear. This is why I like Earth Hour. It’s not about the drop in power consumption during that hour, although that may provide an incentive to some, it’s about being able to see. I went down to the Earth Hour event at city hall plaza on Saturday night with several friends. It was great. The crowd materialized around us, eventually reaching 350 people. The fire barrels and bannock roasting provided some nice ambience to the event. And the entertainment really kept with the spirit of Earth Hour featuring a magician, an accordion group, a drumming group, and a juggler. There was also the small and cute child, with ideas to change the world, who helped to turn off the light switch that was bigger than her. [caption id="attachment_611" align="aligncenter" width="409" caption="City Hall before Earth Hour 2010 lights out."][/caption] One of the things I noticed when the lights went out was how few lights had to be turned out in some buildings. I think it’s a good sign that several of the office towers were already dark, hopefully they look the same every week. The most striking lights were those that illuminate the outside of buildings like City Hall, when they went out, you noticed. [caption id="attachment_613" align="aligncenter" width="409" caption="City Hall during Earth Hour, the lights on the pyramid have just gone out."][/caption] It made me think, do I notice when the lights are on? We have so much excess light; decorating streets, highlighting buildings, advertising products and companies to relatively empty streets. Sure, it can look nice, but after awhile you fail to notice it anymore. Wouldn’t it be more effective to only turn these lights on when there are special events happening? Another reason that we have too much light is for safety. People feel safer when there is light. But according to the International Dark Sky Association there isn’t actually a clear link between safety and light. Think of it this way, if it’s really dark out the criminal will have to use some sort of light source to see what they’re doing. And, I don’t know about you, but I’ve been blinded by some exceedingly bright light on a building or street light that actually prevents me from seeing into the dark beyond it because my eyes just can’t adjust. It’s not that I think we shouldn’t have light; personally I couldn’t handle reading by candlelight. But wouldn’t it be nice if wildlife wasn’t actually limited by the amount of light in our city, if we could see the astronomical events that are supposed to be so cool, if we didn’t have to go camping to remember what they sky looks like; in short, if we could take the idea of Earth Hour, to turn off all non-essential lighting, and make Earth Hour happen all year round? And remember, the lights are just the beginning, how much else do we use that we really don’t need?

Volunteer and Make a Difference!

mrladha — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 17:42:31 +0000

The snow is melting, spring is here and that means National Volunteer Week is near! National Volunteer Week is celebrated in April, this year the 15th to the 21st, from the east coast to the west coast of Canada to recognize the contributions and selfless humility of their dedicated volunteers. Canadians have a rich history of lending a friendly hand where needed. From Girl Guide leaders to the cooks at the local homeless shelter to those who build orphanages in underdeveloped countries, volunteers are the pillars of our great nation. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption=" photo credit (cc): pixelens photography"][/caption] Volunteers willingly share their time, energy and resources for a variety of reasons. Some may volunteer as a means of connecting with others and some may volunteer to gain work experience. However, all volunteers share a common desire to make a difference and have a positive impact on their community. This brings people of different ages, careers, schools, religions and ethnicities together and to create a strong social network. As the youth of Canada, it is upon us to uphold this great tradition of giving and sharing. We strongly encourage every student to get involved, whether it is at school events, the local homeless shelter, or on the global scale. All of the youth involved in the City of Edmonton Youth Council are volunteers (for at least a one year term). The great thing about volunteering is that the opportunities available are endless! The key is to find or to create a capacity where you can make use of your passions and talents. Check out www.youthvolunteer.ca or the City of Edmonton’s own volunteer opportunities. The knowledge, skills and satisfaction you will attain from sharing your time and knowledge are priceless. Get out there and start to make a difference! It also helps to recognize those that make a difference! If you know a youth in your community who is making the impact and is an inspiration to others, nominate them for an Edmonton Youth Excellence Award! This is the Youth Council’s first ever award project for youth 12-23 years old. It’s not just for those who are achieving the most but also those who have shown growth and tremendous effort. It’s important to recognize Edmonton’s youth and our volunteers’ efforts!

One big STEP towards taking 10,000 steps a day!

dlaing — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 19:44:56 +0000

The notion of walking 10,000 steps everyday can be daunting for many. The mere thought of such a large number can be enough to stop you in your tracks! Pedestrian beware. It’s that negative self-talk that is the culprit stopping us before we even get started! Before you get stopped in your tracks again, let’s think this through . . . are you an able bodied individual who uses walking as a regular mode of transportation to get from point A to point B? If you answered yes, then your body is capable of walking 10,000 steps. Maybe not all at once, but over the course of the day adding up all your steps may surprise you. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Goals are important when starting any new fitness routine. Events like the upcoming Little Big Run can act as a catalyst to help us get active after a long winter."][/caption] You may not have realized it, but your body is half way there. Physically you have the capacity to step, so now you just need to shift your brain (the other 50%) into its “Can do” gear, put the dimmer switch on your negative self-talk and away you go! To help arm you for walking success, here are a few pointers to sustain you for the long haul! Set a goal and keep your eyes on the prize! Walking for health is great but, adding a measurable goal or purpose to your activity creates a short term incentive to strive for. For example, register yourself in a 5 km walk/running event this spring like, The Little Big Run (LBR), Sunday, May 30. Ready – set create a plan!

Get to it . . . Plan a strategy, create your plan! On average people can walk a 9 minute kilometer or a 15 minute mile pace. Based on this info, you can realistically expect to complete a 5 km walk in about 45 minutes. Start slow and increase your walking time over the 6 weeks leading up to the event. Here’s a sample 6 week progression that will get you to a 5 km walking distance (assuming that you will be committed to doing a training walk four times per week).

Week	Mon.	Weds.	Fri.	Sun.
1	15 min	15 min	20 min	20 min
2	20 min	20 min	25 min	25 min
3	25 min	30 min	30 min	30 min
4	30 min	30 min	35 min	35 min
5	35 min	35 min	40 min	45min
6	40 min	45 min	40 min	LBR

Stay on track! Be consistent and pick 2 – 3 enjoyable walking routes. Make a date with a friend or family member/s to go for regular walks. This is a great way to keep you motivated and accountable to your program. Patience! Don’t expect to get there in a day or a week. Give your body time to adapt and gradually build up your endurance to walking the longer distances. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Walking with friends, family will help you to stay motivated and accountable."][/caption] To learn more on how to create a successful walking program, at Active Edmonton’s next free event, Wed. April 14, at City Hall from 12:10 – 12:55 pm. Visit www.edmonton.ca/activedmonton for details. If you joined us for our Annual Winter Walk or Yoga in City Hall, this is the natural next step to help you to continue to live a healthy lifestyle.

South LRT Opens April 24

gmcelheran — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:42:07 +0000

We made it! After four long years of construction the next major milestone on Edmonton’s road to urban sustainability is just ahead. While City Councillors and local media had a sneak preview last week, the official grand opening of at the new LRT Stations at Southgate and Century Park is scheduled for Saturday, April 24 2010. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Last stop, Century Park! The South LRT extension is the most recent milestone on the City of Edmonton's path to building a more sustainable community. "][/caption] Everyone is invited to attend the ceremonies at both locations. The Southgate ceremony starts at 10 am on Saturday; Century Park is at 10:30 am. We are closing the northbound lanes of 111th Street temporarily at both stations to accommodate spectators, transit enthusiasts and citizens of all walks of life. After the ceremonies the Edmonton Transit System (ETS) is hosting a community fair at both locations. The more the merrier – please come down and join the party. Bus service to both locations is available, despite the road closure. Alternatively, take the LRT to South Campus and jump on a shuttle bus to Southgate or Century Park. LRT service is free from 9 am to 6 pm. LRT to Century Park won’t be available until 11 am, after the ceremonies. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Immense Modes (right), a public art project at Southgate Station. The extension from Health Sciences to Southgate and Century Park covers 7.631-kilometres. This will serve communities of southwest Edmonton and provide new connections to business areas like Southgate Mall.."][/caption] Parking is also available at both venues. At Southgate, the administration at Southgate Centre Mall has graciously offered mall parking – for one day only! – to all patrons of the Southgate grand opening and community fair (please note: LRT parking will not be available at Southgate after April 24). Motorists can park at Southgate, take in the opening ceremony and check out the community fair inside the LRT station pedway and at the Southgate Mall centre food court. At Century Park, motorists can park at the new temporary Park & Ride lot that’s opening 1,100 new stalls the same day, April 24. After the opening ceremony the ETS Community Fair continues until 5 pm at a nearby pavilion, with entertainment, tours, displays and a mini farmers’ market. Free LRT service to both new stations begins at 11 am. Partygoers can jump on the train to shuttle back and forth between the parties at Southgate and Century Park, free of charge. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333" caption="When the South LRT opens in a few days, passengers will be able to ride in the same seat from Clareview to Century Park through a total 15 stations, covering 20 kilometres in 34 minutes!"][/caption] In the midst of all the merriment we’d do well to remember that four years is a long time to endure a major construction project, as residents, businesses and commuters of the 111th Street corridor can attest. The City of Edmonton owes its gratitude to all the people who put up with major disruptions for such a long time. Their contribution to the successful completion of the South LRT is invaluable. This is their celebration, and a testament to their patience and goodwill. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="372" caption="Continuum, part of a series of sculptures at Century Park Station. Explore the station and check them all out."][/caption] But the South LRT is also the product of a massive amount of work. So the City of Edmonton also thanks the hundreds of consultants and contractors who built the South LRT, and the taxpayers of Canada, Alberta and Edmonton for making their work possible. Bottom line: the South LRT belongs to Edmontonians. Please use it. In 2007 the complete 7.6 km extension was projected to double LRT weekday ridership in Edmonton from 50,000 daily riders to 100,000. We are on track to meet that goal; help us get there. Regular LRT service to Century Park begins Sunday, April 25 2010.

Edmonton Youth Council: Policy – It’s more fun than you think!

jhoffman — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:21:17 +0000

The city of Edmonton Youth Council, in cooperation with the wonderful staff of City Clerk's Office and Councillor Iveson, recently put on the second annual “Mock Council Meeting”. This event, originally established to educate on the procedural matters of City Council, was again a huge success and featured 3 items on the agenda: A business revitalization funding request, an administrative inquiry into the possibility of a 24-hour transit system, and finally a city-wide ban on trans fats. Here are some of the photos from the event.

Next on the horizon for the Policy Subcommittee is an exciting fact-finding project about youth in Edmonton. The details currently in the works, but we hope to launch an Edmonton-wide survey of junior high and high school students to find out what youth want Edmonton to look like in the future. It could be very useful to not only our other subcommittees, but to City Council as a whole!

In other news, Youth Week is kicking off with the Youth Excellence Awards presentation on Saturday May 1^st, so be sure to stay tuned for more tales of inspiring young Edmontonians! Get more information online at www.edmontonyouthweek.ca

I’ve filled out the carbon footprint calculator, now what?

tmunro — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 21:16:19 +0000

I spend a lot of time working with the Zerofootprint Edmonton Kids Calculator since it’s the focus of the school environmental program that I deliver. There is also an adult calculator that I don’t get to use as much. You can find the link to it on the side menu at www.edmonton.ca/ecovision. If you’re like me, you have probably used this calculator once then never come back. You find out what your footprint is and then you move on. But I’ve decided that I’m going to try to use it as a long-term tool. I started using the Kids Calculator because I wanted to see how low I could get my individual footprint so that I had a sort of baseline for the students I talked to. I was stunned by the difference that some things make over others. For example, being vegan (eating nothing that comes from animals), reduces an individual footprint by more than two tonnes of CO₂. Although it’s a great tool, the Kids Calculator tends to be very general and I began to wonder what changes I could make, and how much of an impact I could have, if I was using the adult version. The nice thing is that the calculators on the City of Edmonton website are designed especially for Edmonton. I think this makes it more useful for me because, for example, reducing electricity use in Edmonton has a greater impact than it does in other places because of the high proportion of coal used to generate our electricity. I’m going to attempt to reduce my footprint by making changes in different areas of my life. For example, my husband and I will try to go vegetarian for a week, or I won’t drive my car for a week. I’m even hoping to use this as an incentive to do some of the things we’ve been meaning to do for ages but just haven’t found the time, like setting up a compost bin. At the end of each challenge, I’ll report on how successful I was and what challenges I faced in completing the task. I’ll also use the Zerofootprint Edmonton Calculator to figure out what my new footprint would be if I was able to maintain my changes. What I really hope is that my efforts will do two things: decrease my impact on the Earth and hopefully, inspire someone else to not just calculate their footprint, but to find ways to make it smaller. At the moment I have a carbon footprint of 7.4 tonnes of CO₂. To put that into perspective, it would take an average of 686 trees to absorb that much CO₂ every year. To be honest, I’m not sure how far I can reduce my footprint. I’ve already agreed to 3.64 tonnes in reductions through commitments on the website. My challenge is to make sure that I have met all of those commitments, but I’m really hoping that I can do some extra as well. Mission One: Go carless. For the first two weeks of May I’m going to see if I can go without a car. That includes going to meetings or seeing friends. I have had the U-Pass – which turns my University ID into a bus pass – for the past 8 months so I tend to keep my car parked most of the time anyway. But the U-Pass ends at the end of April, leaving me to decide how I want to get around without my car. I’ll let you know how it goes.

I wish my bike would do that!

tmunro — Tue, 11 May 2010 18:41:49 +0000

I have been attempting to function without using my car for almost two weeks now. Some things have been really easy; I don’t like to drive to work anyway given the convenience and lower cost of transit and the even lower cost of riding my bike. Already though there have been some challenges, like the large dump of snow we had on May 4th, and the fact that I crashed my bike a couple weeks ago and I’m still suffering from some pretty severe knee pain. So far, I’m still car-free but I have carpooled twice. And my husband took the car to a composting workshop held at the John Janzen Nature Centre. He was all set to bike until we realized that getting a compost bin home on the bike was not something that either of us is currently equipped for. In the meantime, I have read about two very cool places that use bikes to generate electricity. The Crowne Plaza hotel in Copenhagen has attached power generators to the stationary bikes in their fitness room. As a guest in the hotel you can receive a meal voucher if you generate 10 watts of electricity on the bike. This takes different lengths of time depending on your fitness level but on average it will take about 15 minutes. The second place is a health club, Go Green Fitness, in Orange, Connecticut. They attached generators to their 25 spin bikes and sell the electricity generated back to the grid. At the end of each spin session they announce how much electricity was generated. So far they have reached a maximum of 1122 watts. Inspired, I looked up whether this was possible for my personal bike in my home, and it is, but not with the money, time, or expertise that I have. But imagine the applications for the future if we could adapt this in our homes? You could run your toaster by pedaling your bike. Or even better, your kids would have to generate the electricity for their video games by pedaling a bike while they play. We could get fit and get green at the same time. Until this technology becomes available in my home I’ll stick to saving money and helping the environment by traveling the city on my bike thus allowing me to avoid gas costs and gym memberships.

Churchill Square - An every day place to gather

rloro — Mon, 17 May 2010 21:46:05 +0000

With the Works Festival, Street Performers Festival, Taste of Edmonton, and Cariwest Festival just around the corner, soon Churchill Square will be a hub of summer activity. But it's not just the festivals that draw in the crowds. Working in City Hall I get a chance to see how Churchill Square is used on a daily basis.

Last week I was photographing the celebrations of National Compost Week at City Hall and I noticed that the square seemed particularly busy. All of the tables alongside City Hall pool were full, there were long line ups at the hot dog stand on the corner across from the Art Gallery of Alberta, and the square was full of people eating lunch, reading, playing basketball, and people watching.

Even though I like the excitement of the summer festivals... there's always something interesting to see at the Works, I like to see if any of the returning street performers might recycle old jokes, Taste of Edmonton provides a tasty lunch, and my mom is from the Caribbean so I have a special connection to Cariwest... it's really that every day use of the square that I like best. Maybe it's because I don't have to wait for the event to happen, I don't have to buy tickets or tip anyone, I can just walk right down to the square and find a spot in the sun (or shade depending on my mood) to read or eat lunch, have a meeting with my colleagues, or if I'm feeling particularly athletic, shoot some hoops (one of my women I work with will even play in heels). Even in the cooler months I've taken a minute or two to stop in the square to collect my thoughts after a meeting or taken photographs of the sun glinting off of the City Hall pyramid (and I'm not the only one who likes to take pictures in Churchill Square). Public spaces like Churchill Square are there for citizens to use, so it's great to see the square bustling with activity on ordinary days when there are no big events or festivals to draw us in. And with gorgeous weather forecasted for the remainder of the week, it's a perfect time to get outside and visit the City's public spaces, be it a nearby square or community park. Let the weather serve as your incentive. These places are meant to be gathering places, so find a reason and gather there.

Living Car-Free: Is it Worth it?

tmunro — Wed, 26 May 2010 18:27:43 +0000

What could be more Albertan than a snow storm hitting the city two days into my car free trial? What could be more frustrating than injuring my knee two weeks before I commit to going car free? But a little bit of snow wasn't about to stop me (or the many other Edmontonians who kept walking and cycling during this short reminder of winter weather).

Spring snowstorm photos: Tom Young

To be honest, I thought I would have an easier time with this whole experiment. I have lived in Edmonton without a car and managed just fine with public transit and my bike in the past so I was quite surprised when I added up my mileage and discovered that, although I had not personally driven anywhere, I had accumulated the same amount of car kilometres as I had cycling kilometres. I was even more surprised, this time pleasantly, to learn that my bike and walking trips had saved me $50 regardless of whether I would have normally used the car or taken the bus. Overall, I avoided four trips in the car as the only occupant (I car pooled instead); three car trips were completely avoided (including walking to and from the Muttart bedding plant sale with an armful of plants); and I avoided seven bus trips (walking or biking instead). Here’s what I found most interesting though: spending time walking and cycling increased the time I spent with my husband because we would arrange to meet and then travel home together, something we wouldn’t do with either the bus or the car. And showing up on my bike to visit my three-year-old niece inspired her to practice riding her bike in the basement. We would have gone outside except for the snow on the ground. It also improved my mood and when I got home from each trip I was more willing to do other activities, like cleaning, because of my increased overall activity level. So how much did I reduce my footprint by? Well, I started with a footprint of 7.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide. If I was to consistently maintain the reduced car trips that I did for the past two weeks my footprint would be 6.5 tonnes of CO₂. The reduced number of trips on public transit would further reduce my footprint by 0.1 tonnes for a total of 6.4 tonnes. Not bad. If I was to pay an organization to offset this amount it would cost between $140 and $240 depending on which organization I chose. I’m going to keep trying to reduce my footprint though, rather than offset it. Mission #2 is no meat. If you are looking for some resources or events relating to reducing car trips in Edmonton check out the 2009 Local Motion project in Parkallen and Park(ed) Day on June 19^th.

Recap of Youth Week 2010

ddeluca — Mon, 31 May 2010 19:55:52 +0000

Happy belated youth week everyone! For those of you who didn't hear about it Youth Week is the one week in a year dedicated to telling youth how truly awesome they are. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Checking out the new promo materials at the Edmonton Public Library table."][/caption] [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="Sometimes the fun required a bit of work. During the launch on Saturday by Stanley Milner Library, participants had to work for their refreshments, powering the smoothie bike."][/caption] As you can imagine, Youth Council had some pretty big plans. The biggest thing I participated in was the Youth Council’s first ever Youth Excellence Awards, which is basically another way of recognizing youth who are doing the right things and have great stories to share. We kicked off the afternoon with games (Wii, hula hoops, and some seriously awesome chalk murals), free food, and for the first time ever (at least that I've seen) bike-generated smoothies! I even got to try my hand at a little public speaking, by giving out a few awards. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Mayor Stephen Mandel congratulates one of the winners during the Youth Excellence Awards."][/caption] [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Mayor Stephen Mandel and Councillor Kim Krushell with one of the winners of the Youth Excellence Awards."][/caption] We handed out nineteen awards in five categories: arts and culture, science and technology, volunteering and community, environmental leadership and strength of character. Each winner walked away with a big pat on the back from the City of Edmonton and one hundred dollars. Over all the Youth Week kick off was a big success and recognised a lot of great young people who are doing lots of really cool things for the community. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="DJ_CreeAzin was one of many performers helping celebrate the kick-off of Edmonton Youth Week. It was a concentrated week full of fun, interactive activities that highlighted our issues, interests, abilities and diversity as young people. Celebrations in Edmonton were part of an international event held in numerous cities and provinces across Canada and around the world."][/caption]

Charles Labatiuk Environmental Excellence Awards

mthurber — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 22:22:06 +0000

The Charles Labatiuk Environmental Excellence Awards are one way the City of Edmonton recognizes the environmental dedication of its employees.

The awards, named after the late Charles Labatiuk, a Waste Management Branch engineer and dedicated environmentalist, are presented in three categories: Innovation, Continual Improvement and Leadership. This year the Office of Environment, which administers the award program, received 25 worthy nominations. Of those, 9 were short-listed and today, one winner was chosen in each of the three categories.

Innovation:

Carmen Linman from Community Facility Services – Cemeteries, won the award for introducing the concept of green burials in cemeteries. These burials don’t use caskets or urns and make use of trees or rocky outcrops as grave markers. This option is now being introduced at all Edmonton cemeteries.

Continual Improvement:

Greg Sorenson and Don Tymchak from Fleet Services won this award for their work in supervising the City’s fuel storage sites. Fleet Services makes every effort to ensure there are no leaks from its fuel storage facilities and Greg and Don created the measures to either prevent leaks or to deal with leaks quickly and effectively.

Leadership:

Wendy Lasksosky from Drainage Services won the award in this category. Wendy helped create, design and implement the ISO 140001 program in Drainage Services. ISO 14001, called Enviso within the City, is an internationally-recognized, peer-reviewed environmental management system. It can take a year or more for a branch to satisfy all the requirements to receive ISO 14001 designation and Wendy was instrumental in making that happen for Drainage Services.

The City of Edmonton is proud of employees like our Charles Labatiuk Environmental Excellence winners who go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure their work has only positive impacts on the environment.

The Every Day Challenge: Making Sustainable Transportation Choices

jbaxter@edmonton.ca — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 15:56:09 +0000

This week is a busy one around Edmonton. Not only is it the beginning of bike month, but it's also Environment Week and the National Commuter Challenge. I've been out with the ETS Community Relations team at several events, promoting the new bike racks featured on additional bus routes (maybe you came by and entered your name in for a draw of a new Dahon foldie bike). Folks from the Office of Environment (Karen and fellow blogger Colin) were there with information about the CO2RE program, as well as well as Chris from Sustainable Transportation, answering questions about all of the different alternative modes of transportation like carpooling, cycling or walking (who would have thought that walking would ever be considered an alternative form of transportation?). What always comes out of events like these (what do you expect when you put a transit guy next to environment and sustainable transportation) is a conversation about Edmonton's current transportation situation and its longterm sustainability. Did you know that Edmonton has one of the highest car dependence rates in Canada and citizens are spending more time in their cars, driving longer distances? This is one of our city's biggest challenges that we're always trying to address across all departments, be it through services provided by ETS, programs provided by Transportation, Environment, or Community Services (think Walkable Edmonton or LocalMotion), or through policy like our Transportation Master Plan. But how are we as residents of Edmonton trying to spend less time in our cars? What is helping us make different decisions when it comes to deciding how to get around the city? When are we choosing to take transit, carpool, walk or ride a bike? These decisions are part of an every day challenge that we all face when trying to make our city more sustainable. Sure, participating in events like the Commuter Challenge are great ways to start, but what happens once the week is up? What about all the other weeks of the year? We've begun to ask Edmontonians for their stories about how they choose to travel every day using more sustainable modes of transportation. James, an employee in our IT department, was the first to share his story, explaining how transit, in particular the recent expansion of the LRT system, has helped him reduce his dependency on his vehicle. Instead of driving to work, now he can take the LRT decreasing the time it takes him to get to work by up to 50%. But hey, don't take my word for it. Hear it from the man himself. This is the first of what will become a series of videos and stories about how different Edmontonians are choosing alternative transportation modes. We're calling it The Every Day Challenge, building on the principles of events like the Commuter Challenge, except we plan for this project to be ongoing; our end goal being a city where our first choice for transportation is always the most sustainable one, be it taking transit more, walking, cycling, carpooling, or any other alternative mode that lessens our dependence on the single occupant vehicle trip. Stay tuned to the blog as we post more stories from Edmontonians like you who are already making these choices. You can also check out the event and discussion on Facebook (this one is hosted by the Transit Rider's Union of Edmonton) or add your thoughts to the growing conversation on twitter (official hashtag #yegEDW, but also check out what people have been saying at #yegtransit #yegbike #yegwalk). Coming up next, tales from your not-so-average pedestrian and a self-professed fair-weather cyclist who still managed to ride all but three months of the winter.

A cure for recycling anxiety

jhong — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 18:19:01 +0000

Edmontonians are passionate, proud recyclers. Due to the relative ease of the all-in-one-blue-bag recycling program, about 90% of single family residents and 80% of the apartment/condo dwellers have been diligent participants in the program. It is obvious that the same percentages do not apply to City residents' commitment to other "green" life choices such as carpooling, water conservation, composting, or say...cutting down on air travel. I'm not trying to guilt trip, I'm simply pointing out that recycling is our low hanging green behaviour fruit; and since it is the easiest way for us to alleviate a bit of our environmental cognitive dissonance, we tend to take it more seriously (but not too seriously). That said, who hasn't asked "Can I recycle ?" at one point or another. The City posts on its website a detailed breakdown of which materials go into Recycling or Garbage vs. what needs to be taken to an Eco Station. Realistically though, not everyone wants to consult the full list every time they are stumped by an obscure type of packaging that appears to be potentially recyclable. Come on! Just tell me if I can recycle this pizza box or not; and what about those clear plastic containers that the strawberries are sold in? As an employee of the Edmonton Waste Management Centre (EWMC), here is my expert response: use your best judgment and let us take care of the rest. Our recycling process is designed, and runs with a lot of forgiveness - in other words, it's flexible. The recycling plant uses a combination of mechanical processes (i.e. screening, magnets, electromagnetic currents – I’m serious!) and manual sorting to separate the co-mingled blue bag material into the different material types: cardboard, paper, glass, metals and plastics. A bit of contamination is expected and permitted by the downstream markets which take these materials from us and turn them into new products. What all of this means is that if the packaging container in question is dry and relatively clean, just toss it in. If the pizza or take-out box has a little grease stain, toss it in. Well, how big does the grease stain have to be before it can't be recycled, you ask? Use reasonable judgment. You should know better than to throw out a pizza box with gobs of cheese or slices of pizza stuck to it. However, there are some definite NO NO items, specifically stringy things such as Christmas lights, garden hoses, wires, etc. These items can get wrapped around and caught on the conveyor belts and pulleys in the plant, causing motors to burn out, other damages, and production delays that can easily be in the tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars range. You may have also heard that shredded paper should go into garbage not recycling. This is also TRUE. The recycling equipment is not designed to handle tiny pieces of paper. Shredded paper will either stick to the conveyor belts which could have sticky juice or pop stains, or fly off the belts due to its lightweight. Put the stuff in your garbage and it will be composted just like the food and yard waste. There is so much more that I can divulge, but there is no better way to understand the processes, and to increase your own recycling competency than to see the plant, in its full magnificence, in person. In fact this upcoming Saturday, June 12th, from 9AM to 4 PM, we will be hosting an Open House for the general public. Come on down with friends and beloveds to take in one of the many tours, scheduled to run every 25 minutes, and see all the different ways in which our city is conserving energy and resources through progressive waste management. Other stops on the tour include: North America's largest co-composting facility – that’s where your garbage goes to become top quality compost), the e-waste recycling plant, education and research facilities, and the future site of the world’s first municipal waste to biofuels facility. Everyone raves about Edmonton’s recycling program, but that is just the tip of the ice berg of what makes the EWMC the most state-of-the-art waste management site in North America. So come and see beyond the recycling; come see the big picture. You won't be disappointed.

Getting Ready for Car-Free Day

tmunro — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:41:52 +0000

One of the interesting things about ecomobility (getting around via people powered options) is that many of the people who do it are not thinking about being more environmentally friendly. During the spring and summer I bike, inline skate, or walk as much as possible for three main reasons: it’s cheaper than either a car or transit, I get to work out on my commutes leaving me more time for other things, and I feel better after a bike ride through the river valley. In the winter I rely more on the bus and walking. I have to say walking onto a pre-warmed bus always seems a lot better than standing outside and scraping ice off my car windows. On Saturday, June 19th I hope to find out what other people think of when they are inspired by ecomobility. Active Edmonton, Walkable Edmonton, and Mountain Equipment Co-op’s Bike Fest 2010 are putting on a Car-Free Day from noon – 4 p.m. The event is taking place along 102 Ave. between 104 St. (the Downtown Farmer’s Market) and 100 St. The area will be closed to cars, but open to the creativity of Edmontonians who enter the Park(ed) Stall Contest. Individuals or groups can register and decorate a parking stall along the road, and visitors will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite stall. I’m really looking forward to seeing what Edmontonians come up with; especially after the little preview park that the organizers (Dot from Active Edmonton, Ian from Walkable Edmonton, Karly and Corinne from Mountain Equipment Co-op) set up last week. I already know I’ll be stopping at the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues to see their living local stall “intersection repair” and get a glass of lemonade, in my reusable mug of course. What do you see when you think of ecomobility? To find more out about Park(ed) Day, and to register for a parking stall visit www.edmonton.ca/activeedmonton

EcoVision Annual Report

mmellross — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:52:09 +0000

Last week the City of Edmonton released its EcoVision Annual Report. This document is basically a report card on our environmental status – both for City operations and in the community. We look at all the work done by the city that may have an impact on the environment and evaluate it against specific measures.

The report is not a bragging document. Sure, there are environmental initiatives that we’re doing that we’re incredibly proud of – like our pest control systems and our waste management systems – but there are also areas where we need a lot of work – like in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We strive to make this report as clear and as accurate as possible. We not only report on what is happening with each of the programs, we also rate them by whether or not they are meeting the measures created for them. For instance, under toxic substances, the report card shows that the status of this area is good in that the City has reduced the amount of toxics used in our operations and is likely to continue, as non-toxic options present themselves, into in the future. On the other hand, the measure of community greenhouse gases is showing that Edmonton is not meeting its target on reducing greenhouse gases (in fact they are continuing to rise) and that trend isn’t likely to get better by the time of the next report. The Council and administration of the City of Edmonton take this report seriously and use it to work on areas that need improvement. But we hope that you will also read the report and think about how you can have a positive impact on the environment. The protecting the environment is everyone’s responsibility. Until we all make the commitment to do better – drive less, use less water, keep toxins from going down the drain, stop idling our cars – this report will always show areas that need improvement. To read the full EcoVision Annual Report visit www.edmonton.ca/EcoVision Also, make sure to follow the progress of the public consultation of our developing Environmental Strategic Plan over at www.thewaywegreen.ca

Celebrating our Aboriginal Peoples (all year long)

dfrancis — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:45:29 +0000

While National Aboriginal Day was officially on Monday, celebrations have been happening all week long and will continue until Sunday, June 27th. These events are a chance for all Canadians to celebrate the cultures and contributions to Canada of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. This year's theme is "Power of Youth, Wisdom of Elders. Setting aside a day for Aboriginal Peoples is part of the wider recognition of Aboriginal Peoples' important place within the fabric of Canada and their ongoing contributions as First Peoples. Recognizing these contributions is important to the City, and with the support of the Aboriginal Relations Office (ARO) we try to do so all year long. The ARO publishes an annual newsletter called The Bridge that highlights some of the special initiatives and partnerships the City has undertaken throughout the year to help build and sustain relations with urban Aboriginal people. One of the great stories we highlighted this year was about Kerry Kaboni, the first ever woman supervisor for Playground & Utilities.

Groundbreaking Achievement Kerry Kaboni, first ever woman supervisor for Playgrounds & Utilities

It’s been 18 years since Kerry Kaboni started working at the City and her sense of commitment to the place grows stronger every year. “I took advantage of the education and training that the City offers to employees to compliment my previous education. I kept pushing for something better and eventually I made it,” she beams.

Kaboni is the first ever woman supervisor for Playgrounds/Utilities at the City.

Three years ago, and after 15 years as a provisional seasonal worker, she moved to the full-time, permanent position that has her leading a Playground and Infrastructure Maintenance team of 14 people. Together they do playground inspections and repairs, minor landscaping, park furniture repair, chain link fence repair and bollard/bumper post installation.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="We first met with Kerry back when there was still ice on the City Hall fountain. While the ice rink has transformed into a pool for the summer months, Kerry is still responsible for supervising crews that provides maintenance throughout the year, whether it be operating a zamboni or the safe installation of playground equipment."][/caption]

A Canadian certified playground inspector, she also assists in park/playground development with City of Edmonton landscape architects, planners and community project managers in ensuring equipment and amenities in City parks are safely installed. She also works closely with community recreational coordinators to establish community needs.

Kaboni began her journey with the City in 1992. She worked as a seasonal employee from April to August each year and studied during the other months. “It was a friendly place for students,” she recalls. When she decided to go on to university, she found her employers quite willing to accommodate her. “Even today, I am still grateful for that and I feel I still need to give something more back to the City.”

Kaboni completed a Commerce degree in Human Resources at the University of Alberta. “When I graduated, I didn’t have visions of grandeur. I often say I grew up in steel toe boots so if I ever did pursue HR jobs, I wasn’t sure how I’d fit into the office attire,” she jokes. That said, she has a desire for new experiences. “I’d like to take on new challenges. I want the management that hired me to see that I’m not just willing to stay where I am but that I’m willing to go other places and move around.”

Married for eight years and a mother of one son, Kaboni wants her life to be an inspiration to her son. “I’m big on schooling. If you were to talk to my son he would tell you that his job in my house is to get an education” she says laughing. That is no surprise given her family’s history of outstanding academic achievement. “My entire family has been an inspiration. I saw all of my family go on to higher learning. I have relatives who have been successful in a variety of prestigious careers.”

Born in Lansing, Michigan, USA, and a member of Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve in Ontario, Kaboni lost her mom at age 13. She has taken one major positive from that painful experience, “It brought us closer to our dad and made us more focused” she says of herself and her three sisters.

“I think everything happens for a reason. I was put on a path and I just can’t wait to see tomorrow.”

My Latest Foray into Improving My Own Energy Efficiency

tmunro — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 19:25:18 +0000

I live in an old townhouse and I’m a renter so these two realities significantly restrict my ability to make energy efficiency improvements. But I keep working on it. My latest challenge was to make my windows more efficient. Both my living room and bedroom have south facing windows that are more than 3 meters wide and are not double-paned. I went and picked up several rolls of energy efficiency film. With some degree of trepidation I cleaned the windows and unrolled the film. I wasn’t sure how easy it was going to be to cover each window but with sweat dripping from my brow as I sat on the couch thinking about it, I decided I might as well dive right in. I was pleasantly surprised. The hardest thing was actually cleaning my windows (again, they are old). The film was easy to cut and even easier to apply. I put most of the pieces up by myself with very little struggle. And what a difference it has made! My husband has his own personal weather station that tracks the temperature outside versus inside. On the hottest days since putting up the film the indoor temperature has been 2C cooler than on comparable days before the film. That might not seem like much but I’ll take every degree I can get. I’m also looking forward to seeing if it makes a difference in the winter. Oh to be able to sit in the chair in front of the window throughout the year without fear of sunburn or frostbite. The window film is available at hardware stores and some paint stores. I paid about $30 a roll, but it was worth every penny. I used glare control downstairs and clear upstairs. You can also get decorative films but I’m not sure if these do much for energy efficiency. A side benefit is that the film helps prevent your furniture and other items from fading in the sunlight. You can also get window insulation kits. I’ve used this in past winters. It creates a kind of artificial storm window. The only problem is that my cat has discovered sitting in the window and tends to make holes in the plastic. The benefit of the energy efficient film is that it goes right on the window (and is removable) so that my cat can’t make holes and during the summer the windows can be opened and closed as normal. You can find more information about improving window efficiency in the CO2RE Home$avers Windows booklet http://www.edmonton.ca/environmental/programs/home$avers-booklets.aspx

Volunteering with Youth Council

fadegbuyi — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:00:37 +0000

Last month Service Canada for Youth held a Job Fair at Canada Place. Job seekers were encouraged to wear job interview appropriate clothing and bring resumes. Despite the rain outside, Canada Place was full of life and energy as enthusiastic youth and adults circulated several booths including UPS and Fairmont Hotel in hopes of acquiring a position. With re-application and recruitment for the City of Edmonton Youth Council (CEYC) imminent, the opportunity to be apart of the Job Fair was very much welcome and appreciated.

A group of motivated individuals, CEYC can offer youth aged 13-23 with a chance to provide feedback and input to City Council, municipal government and various civic committees on issues affecting youth as well as work on their own youth related projects. Once a year CEYC forms a working group known as ‘recruitment’ and new members are sought out through mediums like word of mouth, media advertising and opportunities such as the Job Fair. Interested individuals are encouraged to visit the CEYC website for more information on Youth Council and to apply online by September 26: While a volunteer opportunity such as being apart of CEYC allows you to help the public, meet new people and hone new skills, the same can be said for a summer job. Unfortunately most employers view a summer job as spending time and effort training somebody, keeping this employee on for a short time and being forced to find a new individual and training them for the long-term. Fortunately, for post-secondary students and individuals a like who have long standing commitments such as school that a year-round job interferes with, a summer job is still an option!

Canadian Job Bank, another initiative set forward by Service Canada, is an excellent job search site that puts scam-infested sites like Kijiji and Craigslist to shame. What especially sets apart this site from the rest is the Student / Youth Job Search section that allows students and youth to browse through a compilation of legitimate jobs that last only the course of the summer. Jobs range from working for companies like Nintendo Canada or as a sales associate for a clothing store.

The City of Edmonton is also active in providing students and youth with public job opportunities through student recruitment. Programs like the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) and Summer Temporary Employment Program (STEP) allow students to gain valuable work experience.

Both a volunteer opportunity and a summer job can provide youth with boundless opportunity and a chance to make a difference in the community.

Sharing The Way We Move

lmcnabb — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:00:09 +0000

How looking at how you get to work can save your cash, your environment and even your health Many of us are used to the convenience of our personal vehicles, and the concept of freedom and independence that we attach to them. The truth, though, is that there are costs to be paid for our ‘vehicular addiction’ that we often don’t consider.

More cars on the roads mean a larger environmental footprint; there is no denying that emissions add up and negatively impact the world around us. In addition, large volumes of vehicles result in greater wear and tear on road infrastructure, making maintenance expenditures (and therefore taxes) higher for residents. And then there is the cost to our well-being. Air quality becomes an issue, particularly for people with sensitivities to the chemicals emitted by vehicles. And the tendency we have developed to take our car on every tiny trip just because it is fast means that many of us are not getting the kind of exercise we need to stay fit and healthy.

photo credit: djking

Consider, if you will, the following: Your wallet: According to Statistics Canada, the average Canadian household spends over $12,000 per year on transportation alone - more than food and second only to housing. Even those driving as little as 12,000 km per year are looking at annual driving costs of between approximately $8000 and $10,000, varying with the make and model of the car. The more you share your commute via carpooling, using public transit, cycling around town or just plain ol’ walking, the more you save. Your health: The congestion and volume of traffic on the roads can be a major source of stress for many drivers. Studies have consistently shown that employees who commute by means other than a single-occupancy vehicle demonstrate lower levels of stress, higher morale, and lower blood pressure. The environment: The environment is everyone’s business. Using fewer cars means less pollution, conservation of habitat, and less demand for new roads and parking lots. Using fewer cars also means less production of greenhouse gases, a major contributor to climate change. When you carpool, take mass transit, cycle or walk – even once or twice a week – you can feel proud that you are helping the environment. Many of you have already made the switch, and we applaud you for your insight and initiative! In fact, Edmontonstories.ca has launched a terrific contest that invites you to tell us all about how Edmonton moves you. What do you do to Get in Step, Get in Gear, Get on Board, or Get Together? What do you love about your commute? We want to hear from YOU. Submissions can be in the form of a poem, a moment/story, picture slideshow, essay, video or even a Haiku! Get creative! Tell us and you could win a Grand Prize of a twelve-month ETS pass or your choice of: A $100 gift certificate to your running/walking/bike shop of choice A $100 Future Store gift certificate Two $50 gift cards for your favourite coffee shop of choice A 4GB iPod Shuffle The contest runs from Monday, August 9 until Friday, September 3, 2010. For contest information or to enter, please visit http://www.edmontonstories.ca/sharing/move. Remember – even making one small change in your daily or weekly transportation routine can make a difference. Buy a couple of transit tickets, check out the City’s free carpool matching program (www.carpool.ca), pump up the tires on your bike, or tie up your laces and start walking. Challenge yourself to give it a try and let us know all about it!

Cariwest Provides an Environmental Insight into Edmontonians

mthurber — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:50:23 +0000

As part of the development of The Way We Green Strategic Plan, we've had a series of Public Surveys where we've asked Edmontonians to give us your ideas about sustainability, the environment and what Edmonton needs to do to ensure we live in harmony with nature. Most recently some of our summer students have been out and about asking Edmontonians what they're thinking about Edmonton and how we can all work together to preserve and sustain our environment. Our summer students are going to be providing some regular updates from the street. Here's the first update.

Hi, I’m Tristan! As a Research Student for the City of Edmonton, I was fortunate to be at the recent Cariwest Festival with my co-worker Chris, engaging the public about ‘The Way We Green’. A bright, sunny day and the vibrant energy of Cariwest promised lots of people, and it was interesting to get an insight into public opinion. Although there were many people at the festival who passed by us to enjoy the many booths, booming bass, and dazzling colors – there were quite a few who did stop to chat with us. Some people had heard of ‘The Way We Green’ initiative, and knew a little bit about it, while others were being introduced to it for the first time. There was also a large diversity of ideas and opinions as to what Edmonton should do to make the city more Green. Here are a few of the suggestions that stood out for me: One person was quite passionate about pesticides, herbicides, and how harmful their short and long-term effects can be to the environment, and more importantly, to human beings. They raised the concern that these products are being used in children’s playgrounds, hospitals, and in parks. A mother from the suburbs advocated strongly for public transit, specifically busses, as she felt that the current transit system is doing an inadequate job of meeting the transportation needs of her school aged children. I must admit, I can relate to wishing that buses came more frequently and had routes running at later times of the day than is currently offered. An enjoyable experience was hearing a woman speak of Edmonton with love, reminiscent of a mother whose child has grown and gone. Although she herself has since left Edmonton, she said hearing about ‘The Way We Green’ evoked a feeling of pride. I was pleased to hear a couple of Edmontonians share with me all the things that they already do to be environmentally friendly – they said that they have two composters, one outside and one inside (Vermicomposting!) Awesome! The first person to introduce vermicomposting to me was my Dad when he finished the Master Composter/Recycling Program. I’m excited to find others who do this. A lot of people seem to have an aversion to having worms in their houses, but not those two, who were also recyclers and long time gardeners. They might have also had rain barrels – very useful this summer! In any case, it was thrilling for me to connect with others who do these sorts of things. Of course I know a few people who compost, use rain barrels, garden, etc., but a troubling number of my friends and family don’t and speaking to some of the people today infused me with a touch of hope. Make sure to check out the picture above to get more insight into what was being said at the festival – and you can always go to TheWayWeGreen.ca to contribute to the growing discussion!

Have your say! With an apple tree or an iPad

mthurber — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 19:16:22 +0000

If you've been been out enjoying these last days of summer at the assortment of Edmonton festivals, you might have run into one of our summer research students who have been continuing to ask Edmontonians to give us your ideas about sustainability and what Edmonton needs to do to ensure we preserve and sustain our environment. Here's another update from one of our research students Emma Sanborn, who was on-site at Hawrelak Park for the Celtic festival to talk to Edmontonians amidst the bagpipes and chain mail.

The first thing I say when I approach someone these days is “Hi! I’m with the City of Edmonton.” That’s because “these days” I am a Student Researcher who engages the public in the City’s new environmental plan ‘The Way We Green’. The more I talk with my fellow Edmontonians, the stranger my opening line has started to sound however: aren’t we ALL with the City of Edmonton? It’s become clearer to me that we are all with the City of Edmonton, I just happen to be one of the lucky people with the task of gathering the concerns and dreams of the people of this beautiful city. I guess you could call me a concern-and-dream-catcher...and at the 3^rd Annual Celtic Festival, I caught a bit of both. Light-hearted Celtic melodies floated lightly on the breeze in Hawrelak Park on this lush green August afternoon. One of the performers aptly commented “Edmonton, now what a beautiful place. Does it get any more beautiful than this??”

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Irish Dancers performing a two-hand reel at the first Celtic festival held in Hawrelak Park. Three years later Edmontonians were still celebrating. Photo credit: Bill Hately"][/caption]

However the first comment that appeared on our public whiteboard urgently cut through this airy fairy mood, and demanded “Stop buying throwaways! (like dusting cloths and disposable diapers).” This kicked off further discussion, both on the whiteboard, and amongst festival attendees. I quietly listened as a fully-armed and impressively bearded man (dressed in authentic chain mail), and a vendor from another tent, debated Edmonton’s transportation system. I’m happy to say the men settled the situation with iPads instead of swords (they both completed ‘The Way We Green’ survey on iPads, and duelled within the comment box). Upon returning to the whiteboard from this heated iPad battle, I saw someone had drawn a lovely apple tree and wrote “walk more” above it. Beneath this apple tree, in the gigantic scrawl of a child, “Lo chlyn evyn,” was cryptically scrawled, a comment I think the City should take into deep consideration... My work as a Summer Research Student has made me realize several important things: we are all with the City of Edmonton, and we all have opinions about Edmonton’s future environmental policy. It’s absolutely essential that these opinions are communicated through pictures and comments on a whiteboard, discussions in a park, and completed surveys. Debate and discussion only help strengthen and shape the environmental policy of the beautiful city of Edmonton, which so many of us call home.

For more information on The Way We Green and how you can participate, visit www.thewaywegreen.ca

(Blog post also appears on thewaywegreen.ca)

Be Idle Free Video Contest "Controversy"

mthurber — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:15:26 +0000

Interestingly enough, this contest sparked the interest of an Edmontonian with a different view point. He made a video about why idling is good.

Take a look for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDQyVfYmYdA

If you feel differently, make a video explaining why, and enter the contest at: www.edmonton.ca/beidlefree

Or if you have a child age 7 to 18 - challenge them to enter the contest. There are great prizes to be won!

We've all been told idling cars is bad for the environment. There is even a Be Idle Free Video Contest for youth ages 7 to 18 in the Edmonton Capital region. The contest challenges youth to make a video about why people shouldn't idle their cars. Interestingly enough, this contest sparked the interest of an Edmontonian with a different view point. He made a video about why idling is good. Take a look for yourself:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDQyVfYmYdA&rel=0]

If you feel differently (and you're between the ages of 7-18), make a video explaining why, and enter the contest at: www.edmonton.ca/beidlefree If you're not within the age category, tell your children, students, nieces and nephews about it - and challenge them to enter the contest. There are great prizes to be won!

A summer of fun and learning

dfrancis — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:37:44 +0000

For eight weeks this summer, a steady stream of kids visited playground Green Shacks in East Edmonton to enjoy recreational programs based on Aboriginal culture. Some 512 kids from communities including Abbottsfield, Rundle Heights, Bannerman, Overlanders and Belvedere participated in the Flying Eagles program. At the Abbottsfield Playground, more than 12 kids (some days a lot more) gathered each weekday to bake bannock, make dream catchers, bead and craft. During one of the last beautiful days of the summer, I had my own chance to visit one of the Green Shacks, having my own day at summer camp (of sorts). Together with Gord Stewart from the Aboriginal Relations Office, I went for a brief visit to Abbotsfield to see the Flying Eagles program in action. Judging by the level of fun and excitement from the kids who were participating in activities that day, getting children from across Edmonton to learn about Aboriginal games, crafts, stories and other activities has never been easier. By the time we arrived, kids had already created some paper craft teepees and were about to practice their aim with some archery and try their hand at preparing bannock over the fire. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The Green Shack is the centre of activity for the program. The rear wall of this shack ominously predicted the end of summer. However, we were in denial on that sunny day."][/caption] [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Inside the Green Shack at Abbotsfield were shelves full of craft supplies. When they ran out of room on the shelves, drawings started to line the ceiling and hung from the rafters."][/caption] The Flying Eagle program is operated by the City’s Community Services department. It is a drop-in recreation program that teaches life skills and creates awareness about Aboriginal traditions and culture among children ages 6- 12 years. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Practicing their archery skills."][/caption] Spearheaded by the City and community partners, the Flying Eagle program is designed around the Aboriginal teachings of the Medicine Wheel in which the Eagle – the messenger of prayers to the Creator – is located in the east, the program service area. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="One of the Green Shack Recreation Coordinators takes time to talk with one of the participants."][/caption] [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Preparing bannock over the fire. For some of the kids, this was an activity that was part of their family life during celebrations or camping trips. They shared stories about how they had prepared it in the past as well as their favourite way to eat bannock."][/caption] According to Vicki Schneider, Program Manager with East Playgrounds who helped organized this year’s program, “The kids all had some great summer fun. The biggest success was their exposure to the Aboriginal culture and the opportunity we have to share the beauty and positives of the culture with all children.” The program which has been in operation since 2004 will continue next year. Maybe if I'm lucky I'll get another chance to spend a day at summer camp.

September Resolutions: A New Year for Youth

lpeters — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 15:30:04 +0000

When people think of the fall they usually think of “back-to-school” even if they haven’t been to class in years! September for young people might as well be the start of the new calendar – exciting challenges, new people abound and all kinds of great things to learn. Many students don’t call these their New Years’ resolutions but that’s basically what they are: day timers, class schedules, determination to achieve more than last year…

But sometimes it’s more than just school that youth have fantastic plans and goals for greatness. At the Youth Council we get a chance to hear about all kinds of fantastic plans, ideas and dreams of the new recruits applying to join the General Assembly. Last year over 78 young people between ages 13-23 submitted their online applications and the current Youth Council members got to hold over 30 interviews and finally selected 16 strong candidates last year.

Now they’re at it again! It is new year for youth and not just because the United Nations declared it the International Year of Youth. For Youth Council the applications are already rolling in but we want the opportunities to be available to all youth in Edmonton. So if you know someone who has September Resolutions to set – invite them to consider volunteering with us in 2010/11. Applications can be submitted online and must be received by September 26th. For those with a focused interest in the Environment, they can join up with the CEYC’s Environment Subcommittee as a member of the High School Eco Council. The first meeting will be held on September 27th. This is a shorter term volunteer opportunity to learn about the local environment and contribute to Edmonton’s The Way We Green plan. More information for the Eco Council can be found here but contact youthcouncil@edmonton.ca before September 20th!

Being Active: Great for the Environment or Our Environment: Great for being Active

dlaing — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:10:11 +0000

There may be many secrets in life we may never figure out, but when it comes down to attaining good health and well-being it has never been a secret. It just comes down to regular physical activity- moving more and sitting less! For many, walking and cycling are two of the more popular activity choices that can easily be done. Or is it? If it’s so easy, why aren’t more people doing it? The truth is, we live in a society where almost everybody owns a car. Many people will choose to drive even a few blocks to get to a destination, not ever considering that walking could be a healthier choice; or sometimes faster! We have developed a habit of being driven everywhere and for children; that’s all they know. Coupled with this reality, we have created an environment that supports this. Edmonton for instance, is a car friendly city. There are many resources spent on building, repairing, and developing roadways to support cars with very little going towards supportive infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists. This potentially eliminates much of our opportunity to walk. Consequently, we struggle with finding time to be more physically active or to take a walk in the park. Although, we cannot place all the blame on lack of environmental supports the physical environment does impact an individual’s choice to walk and as a result be more physically active. Back in June we held the first Park(ed) event where we played with the physical environment to see how it might impact people's choice to be more physically active. Would people still show up if there was no space for cars? You be the judge. Now, in order to celebrate International Car Free Day (Wednesday, Sept. 22) we invite you to join us for another experiment. This time the fun and activities will be held on 151st Street and Stony Plain Road from 3 – 7 pm. There will be plenty of fun and free activities like Yoga, Tai Chi, and the Big Bike Ride to keep you warm if the weather is a bit chilly. You can also wander around and get the H.U.M. on Edmonton's first Holistic Urban Market, and give your body a shake with Zumba! Join us and find out how you and your family can get eco-mobile. Today in an effort to create healthier communities, there is a growing awareness and interest to engage in eco-mobility strategies to reduce our carbon footprint. Eco-mobility is being mobile but without the use of cars or motorcycles, in other words active transportation. It includes cycling, walking, inline skating, scooters, snowshoes, skis, buses, and light rail just to name a few. It also includes any of the above with an electric drive (hopefully powered by renewables). It is brilliant because when people participate in the concept of eco-mobility the benefits go beyond individual health to supporting environmental health as well. The challenge, as individuals and as a society, will be to break old comfortable habits and conventions in order to create this new and positive shift in behavior. There is no time like the present to take some action. Below are some tips to consider:

Getting Started: Start slowly – whether you’re taking the bus or getting on a bike take some time to learn the routes, find out how long it will take you, and plan some extra time if you need to change or shower when you arrive. Take baby steps. Choose something that you enjoy – if you dislike skating, inline skating may not be your best choice. But don’t let that stop you from trying. If an activity is new to you, like biking, try borrowing a bike for a while before you go out and buy one. Share your ride. Buddy up – instead of carpooling why not bike, walk or take the bus with someone else? It gives you someone to talk to and you can figure out the route together. You may also be able to find someone who has already caught onto the eco-mobility concept to show you the way. Go halfway – can you bike to an LRT station or the bus stop and either park your bike or take it with you. Most importantly - get started – even one day a week can get you on your way to becoming eco-mobile. If you need a destination, just come to the Park(ed) Car-Free Day. There will be plenty to do once you walk, ride your bike, or take transit to get there.

For more information on Park(ed) Car-Free Day and to view the schedule of free activities, visit www.edmonton.ca/activedmonton or www.stonyplainroadbrz.ca

Resilient Cities: Preparing for Future Environmental Threats

mthurber — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 21:25:54 +0000

The City of Edmonton needs to start preparing now for future shocks that could harm our critical systems, says resiliency expert Craig Applegath. The effects of threats like climate change, oil shortages or skyrocketing oil prices, and extreme weather can be reduced in the future by planning in the present.

This past Friday at noon, Applegath, a Toronto-based architect and resiliency expert spoke to a group of about 150 people in City Hall. He says when cities are undergoing planning processes they tend to talk more about environmental sustainability or “what we’re doing to the world” than resiliency which is “what the world is doing to us.”

He says that resiliency is about the ability of a city to bounce back from shocks without its critical systems being destroyed and that sort of resiliency can only be achieved by planning for the future. Applegath says Edmonton must begin immediately to build its resilience by taking six important actions: reducing our energy requirements; increasing our food and manufacturing self-sufficiency; increasing the redundancy in our systems so that if one area fails – such as water or power plants – the city is not crippled; increasing the durability of our buildings to withstand extreme weather; integrate our developments into the environment as opposed to ignoring the environment and; and diversifying our economy and systems in general. For more information on this subject, read Craig’s discussion paper Resilient Edmonton: Why and How. Originally published on The Way We Green on September 23, 2010

Apps4Edmonton – The Gift that Keeps Giving

cmoore — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 18:03:36 +0000

I've been fortunate enough to spend the last week in Ottawa, representing the City of Edmonton in the annual Government Technology Exbibition Conference (GTEC). We are honoured to be here as the 2010 Showcase Municipality. As a leader in Open Government, Open Data and Information Technology Innovation, Edmonton had a lot to offer to this year’s conference. These are exciting and pivotal times for leaders in Technology within Government. It was even evident in the theme for GTEC 2010 – High Performance Government. Our decisions and directions are setting a foundation for the rest of the 21st century. This was a great opportunity to connect with our Municipal, Provincial/Territorial and Federal peers. As we move forward, I’m excited to build partnerships, collaborate, engage in rich conversations and work together to serve our citizens. It’s important City of Edmonton IT to take action, to be the change we want to see. That’s why, on September 14, 2010 the City of Edmonton was the first government agency in Canada to award prizes for an Apps Competition. Apps4Edmonton was a great way for us to show the benefits of open data (read more on (@britl) blog post on iNews880). Everyone who entered the contest was extremely innovative and inspiring people. These developers have a passion for their city and a desire to use their skills and talents to serve their community. In addition to prizes and publicity, the apps4edmonton winners were also asked to join us in Ottawa so the City of Edmonton could showcase their accomplishments to public servants from all corners of our vast country. However, not only did our two apps winners represent the innovative thinking that is taking place in Edmonton but they also left a legacy in Ottawa. A “Gift of Apps” as we call it. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Presenting at GTEC 2010."][/caption] Mitch Ronquillo is the creator of Diner Inspect a great app that merges location information from the Edmonton open data catalog and information from Alberta Health Services regarding health inspections performed in public dining establishments. So first, Kudos to the Province of Alberta and Health services for making this information available on their website, and kudos to the genius of Mitch who “scraped” the data off of the website and imported it into his application. “Scraping” is a technical term used when a programmer has to extract information from a website because the data is not in a machine-readable format. This process takes a lot of time and effort. In order for developers to produce applications using public data in a way that adds value to our city, province and country, we encourage all levels of government to share to their data in an open data catalogue. Once this happens, governments will find that their data will become immensely more useful. Mitch’s app is a perfect example. He has made the province’s restaurant inspection reports easier to use than the provinces website as it displays the information in a map form, one that we are all familiar with, and it rates establishments based on inspection outcomes, and provides you with happy or sad faces, colored from green to red. Now the exciting part of the story ! As Mitch was planning on coming to Ottawa to be part of the GTEC showcase, he challenged himself to create a similar solution for the citizens of Ottawa. He found that the inspection information was available, updated his system and Ottawa Diner Inspect was born. So now Ottawa can enjoy the same easy to use system for checking your favorite restaurant, just like in Edmonton. Mitch is just one of many talented people in the City of Edmonton, who is capable of delivering these types of solutions in a very short period of time. Next let me tell you about two other talented Edmontonians, Sean Healy and Joel Jackson. With their TXT.2.ETS app, you simply text your Edmonton Transit stop number to their phone number (858)779-4952 and within 10 seconds their system sends you back the next six scheduled buses at that stop. It is simple and easy to use, and it works with any cellular phone/device. In addition to making TXT.2.ETS they have also made their API (Application Program Interface) available free of charge, others are using it to build their own apps, now that is playing nicely and creating an open ecosystem. When Sean and Joel arrived in Ottawa for GTEC, they also got the programming bug and challenged themselves to make their app work for OC Transpo. They worked on it all night on October 4th, went to bed at 3:00 am while the database was building and then got up shortly after to test the app. Fortunately for Sean and Joel, OC Transpo provides its routing and schedule information in a GTFS (General Transit Feed Specification), invented by Google and perfected by transit authorities around the globe , just like Edmonton Transit. So in the OC Transpo areas, you simply text your stop number to (858) 367-9243 and voila your next six scheduled bus times are returned to you. These are very exciting apps, gifted to the City of Ottawa from software developers in Edmonton, our legacy of our time at GTEC. Why is this important, well we are in a new economy, one based more on intrinsic values and motivation than on extrinsic drivers, more about giving away and gifting than always getting. Author and speaker Daniel Pink articulates this extremely well in his book Drive , if you are interested in this new economy his book is a fantastic resource. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Apps4Edmonton winners go to GTEC left to right: Chris Martyniuk, Eugene Chen, Chris Moore (City of Edmonton), Ashley Casovan (City of Edmonton), Joel Jackson, Sean Healy, Mitch Ronquillo, Ben Zittlau, Ryan Smulan "][/caption] So thank you to all of our apps developers, and to our apps winners, and to Sean, Joel and Mitch who have made an impact and a contribution to the citizens of Ottawa. I also want to thank the team in IT at the City of Edmonton who have worked long and hard to create our open data presence, and also extend my thanks to the creative and innovative members of the various city departments who have also made their information available. What you have done has made this all possible. Thank You. These are truly exciting times, lets work together to build the future !

Recreation Exploration

cbangel — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:36:50 +0000

It is an exciting time in the City of Edmonton when it comes to recreational facilities. Never has the public or city employees had so much choice in choosing a facility to help them get in shape or to just have fun. Recently the city opened the St. Francis Xavier Sports Center. I thought I’d head down and get some photos of the finished project. Complete with a large gymnasium dividable into 3 full-size gymnasiums, playing space for basketball, badminton, soccer, volleyball, futsal, martial arts, or other activities, the centre is a welcome addition to West-Edmonton. You’ll also find a large indoor jogging/walking track suspended above the gyms with plenty of spectator seating and brand new change rooms and washrooms.

Open to the public since July, St. Francis Xavier Sports Centre offers exciting new sports and fitness opportunities for athletes and the community year-round. We just happened upon a highly talented group of women shooting some hoops down at the gymnasium. Here are the ladies of the Windsor Lancers basketball team, squeezing in a last minute practice before they headed down to the University of Alberta for the 18th annual Pandas HoopFest tournament. They were gracious enough to let us shoot a couple photos of their practice.

I then headed out to the City's newest and largest recreation centre, the Terwillegar Community Recreation Centre, which is almost ready to welcome residents. While the facility is still under construction during our visit, it is sure to be the heart of the southwest corner of the city, full of activity and energy, where people of all ages and abilities can gather to learn, exercise, relax, meet, and have fun. Terwillegar Rec Centre will be Edmonton's premier recreation centre with exceptional health, wellness, and sports amenities. Standing on the site you can’t get over just how large this project really is. Here is a sneak peak of what it looks like so far.

The centre will house an aquatic centre with a 53 metre, 8 lane pool with 1 and 3 metre diving boards; as well as a 5 metre diving platform; leisure and wave pool with spray features, a 30-person whirlpool, lazy river and waterslide, a tot pool with ramp access, and an 18-person steamroom. There will be a large fitness centre with two program studios, a 206 metre indoor walking/jogging track, and a triple gymnasium. For hockey and skating buffs you’ll find 4 NHL-size sheets of ice, with 20 dressing rooms, and room for up to 710 spectators in Rink #1 and between 200-260 spectators on the other 3 rinks. For families with young children there is a children's wing with indoor playground, child-minding room and 3 children's program rooms plus 10 multi-purpose rooms. Those of us at the city can’t wait for the Terwillegar Recreation Centre to open. You’ll find a wide variety of drop-in and registered programs for all ages and abilities at the St. Francis Xavier and Terwillegar Rec Centres. Look for the City of Edmonton’s brand new E-Active Guide for program and registration details available November 1st.

Family Violence Prevention Month Launch

hmorrison — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 23:37:45 +0000

Family Violence affects youth from all cultures. No one has a right to hurt anyone, ever, anywhere. Violence is never a solution. In an effort to increase awareness of this problem, November is Family Violence Prevention Month. The launch and proclamation will be taking place at West Edmonton Mall on November 1, 2010 from noon to 1:00pm (NewCap Stage, Phase IV, Main Floor, West Edmonton Mall, 8882-170 Street. Enter from 178 Street and use either Entrance 56 from lower level of parkade or Entrance 55 from upper level of parkade to go through Scotiabank Theatres and downstairs to main floor). The theme this year is My Voice…Is Our Voice…End the Silence…Stop the Violence…Youth Speaking our Against Family Violence. 10 youth will be speaking about how family violence affects them. Youth are standing up against family violence and supporting their peers. Together they are spreading information on how to get help for their friends who are affected by family violence. Also speaking at the launch will be a graduate from the Youth Emergency Shelter Program and YESS Director, Brad Pickford, who has been working for YESS since 1999 supporting youth. Lynda Steele from Global TV has graciously agreed to be the MC again this year. The Mayor will be on hand to proclaim the month followed by a short, one man play by Concrete Catalyst Theatre called “Routes” which explores the impact of violence through the eyes of a 15-year-old boy living in Mill Woods. The theme – My Voice Is Our Voice … was chosen because youth want their voices to be included and to be heard. Here is what some youth have had to say about family violence.

“The most important thing is to assure them constantly that it’s not their fault” (Female, 15) “I will remember that I am worth something in this world, no matter how many times I’ve been stomped on or degraded.” (Female, 13) “I want to make a difference in the community of every city. I would let people know about what happens in this world” (Male, 17)

Family Violence affects youth – that is the message that we want to be heard. Family Violence is an issue in all of our communities. The City of Edmonton actively raises awareness about family violence and provides direct service to the citizens of Edmonton through the following programs: Last year the Assessment and Short Term Counselling service received calls from the citizens of Edmonton and approximately 1000 of those are family violence related; The Elder Abuse Intervention Team had approximately 600 requests for consultation and direct service and the Domestic Violence Intervention Teams had approximately 1000 high risk family violence files this last year. Family Violence Prevention Month provides the opportunity to highlight the work that the Edmonton community is doing in the area of family violence prevention. Everyone is welcome to attend the launch on November 1st. Come and see displays of artwork and photography and agencies working in the area of family violence prevention.

Asking Questions about The Way We Move

bboutilier — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 16:30:54 +0000

It’s been said – and rightly so – that no city can build its way out of congestion. I would hazard a guess, though, that those of you who have noticed the sheer volume of construction taking place on city streets might wonder if we’re not attempting to do just that! While it is certainly true that we have been spending a lot of time and effort on improving our transportation infrastructure, I assure you that it is all part of a much larger vision. Given the impact of a booming population and the resulting strain on our current system, the City has developed plans to deal with the issue. The Way Ahead, the overall strategic plan and The Way We Move, specifically addressing transportation issues, have led us to one conclusion: we must find a way to move people, as well as goods and services, around the city more effectively and more efficiently. A big piece of the puzzle involves shifting modes of transportation. This means getting away from the use of single passenger vehicles (costly in terms of wear on roads, time and environment) and creating a system where commuters make better use of public transit, carpooling, biking and walking. We are trying to make this possible by expanding the LRT system into residential areas, creating dedicated transit lanes and improving bus service, and creating a network for cyclists and pedestrians.

What else, though, could we do to shift the way people think about transportation in Edmonton? How can we better encourage the use of alternate modes so we can reduce congestion, create a sustainable transportation system and in the end, improve the quality of life for all Edmontonians?

I want hear your thoughts and ideas! I will be responding to your questions and discussion points directly here on the blog from November 3 at 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. on November 4. Looking forward to the conversation.

UPDATE: Thank you for the great response. I'm doing my best to answer all your questions. The dedicated Q&A portion has come to a close, but stay tuned because some of your questions and comments will become the subject of future blog posts.

The Way We Green: White Paper

mthurber — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 17:43:41 +0000

After months of consultation The Way We Green project team has created The White Paper, a document that pulls together all of your thoughts, ideas and feedback on what Edmonton needs to do to protect the environment. The paper discusses the environmental issues using the six topics you felt were the most pressing areas of concern in Edmonton: - Energy and Climate Change - River Water Supply and Quality - Food Security - Air Quality - Biodiversity - Waste Management Using those six key areas, we've developed some proposed policy directions the City of Edmonton could adopt to ensure our environment is protected and sustained today and into the future. Some of these policies could fundamentally change the built form of Edmonton as well as the lifestyles of each Edmontonian. Read the white paper, think about the policy directions it suggests and then come back and visit this website regularly to give us your feedback. Do you agree with the suggestions? Have we gone too far? Have we not gone far enough? We need to hear from you.

Don't forget as well that your best chance for face to face feedback will be on November 3 and 4 at our Public Forum in City Hall.

Pedestrian Safety Campaign Kicks Off

lyarmon — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 09:30:26 +0000

Heads Up Edmonton! Did you know that a pedestrian is involved in a collision with a vehicle, on average, once every day on our streets? Or that 64% of these pedestrians were in an intersection or crosswalk with the right of way when it happened?

To change this, the City’s Office of Traffic Safety and Peace Officers teamed up with the Edmonton Police Service to launch the Heads Up campaign on November 2nd. The month-long campaign will raise awareness amongst pedestrians and drivers about safety at pedestrian crossings, with a goal of preventing collisions, and the injuries and fatalities that happen as a result of those collisions. Most importantly, we want to remind pedestrians and drivers to keep their heads up and look out for each other. We kicked things off by inviting the media to learn about the Heads Up campaign at a busy intersection. We also handed out some educational brochures to passersby.

Keep your eyes peeled for peace officers and police officers this month – they’ll be out and about, educating pedestrians and drivers about safety, and handing out brochures to pedestrians. You’ll also see print ads, posters and street signs.

Guru Digital Arts College students are cooking up some short animations for the campaign. So stay tuned – we’ll be posting one on this blog every week for the next four weeks. Here’s what you can do to prevent collisions: Heads up pedestrians!

Cross with care. Make eye contact with drivers and wait until traffic has stopped before you cross.
Pay attention. Avoid distractions like texting.
Get noticed! Wear bright clothes and reflective gear, especially in low light or poor weather.
Be predictable. Use crosswalks and intersections. Never jaywalk.
Heads up at intersections! Don’t start to cross on the flashing hand or countdown signal. Finish crossing quickly if you’ve already started.

Heads up drivers!

Be alert for pedestrians at all times, especially at intersections and crosswalks, and even more so in low light or poor weather.
Pay attention. Avoid distractions like texting.
See and be seen. Make eye contact with pedestrians.
Watch for vehicles slowing down around you. They may be yielding to a pedestrian.
Heads up at intersections! Follow traffic lights, not the flashing hand or countdown signal. Pedestrian signals aren’t always timed to the light.

For more information on the campaign, visit: www.edmonton.ca/headsup.

I’ll Only Be A Minute…

kyeung — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 16:00:48 +0000

With the weather turning colder, we’re more likely to consider idling our vehicles to stay warm. In fact, over 80% of Edmonton drivers idle their vehicles, with the average Edmontonian idling for over 6 minutes. That’s a lot of wasted gas, not to mention a lot of pollution. But what is “unnecessary idling” and why is it an issue? Unnecessary idling is when your vehicle engine runs for no reason – for example, leaving your car running while waiting to pick someone up, while you run into a store or waiting for a train to pass. As to why it’s an issue, we posed the question to Edmonton-area youth and received some very creative answers. The City of Edmonton, in partnership with the Alberta Capital Airshed Alliance, The Lung Association, the University of Alberta’s Office of Sustainability and the City of St. Albert, ran a video contest for youth ages 7 to 18, focusing on the message to “Be Idle Free”. We received 20 entries into the contest and the winners were honoured November 3 at City Hall. You can check out all the videos at www.beidlefree.strutta.com. The winning videos were:

Grand Prize: Be An Idol – Don’t Idle

Age 7-11: No Idle is Awesome

Age 12-14: Stop Idling!

Age 15-18: Help Mother Nature Heal, Turn Off Your Automobile

Congratulations to the winners, and a big thank you to all participants. There were a number of great entries, but this one is my favourite: So as the temperature continues to dip and we’re shivering in our cars, just remember to “dress for the weather, buddy!” And remember to Be Idle Free: A Minute or Less is Best!

Heads Up! Crossing with Care

lyarmon — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 16:00:33 +0000

The first video instalment in our Heads Up campaign reminds pedestrians to cross with care. Crossing with care means never making assumptions about what others will do. Just because you have the right of way doesn’t always mean it’s safe to cross the street. It’s such simple advice, but that might be why it can be so hard to follow in real life. It’s so easy to forget to cross with care when you’re rushing to catch a bus, or you’re on an important call, or you’re freezing your buns off. But remember, none of these distractions are worth being involved in a collision. Last year, 64% of pedestrians that were involved in a collision were crossing the street with the right of way. Don’t become a statistic. Before you step off the sidewalk, make eye contact with drivers. Indicate where you’re crossing. Check for any cars turning right into your path. And most importantly, wait until traffic has stopped before you start to cross. On the flip side, motorists should also drive with care. At pedestrian crossings, driving with care means making eye contact with pedestrians; looking for pedestrians before turning right; and waiting until they have completely cleared the intersection before you take your foot off the brake. Special thanks to Steve Atamaniuk from Guru Digital Arts College for making this fantastic animation. Stay tuned for another animation next week! For more information on the Heads Up campaign, visit www.edmonton.ca/headsup.

From Words to Photos - What Redevelopment Looks Like

psande — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 19:00:08 +0000

A lot has been said and written about the City Centre Redevelopment Project in the past few months. I have had numerous discussions about it with friends and family members, some of whom were very much in favour of keeping the airport as it is with others being equally interested in what a new vibrant development on this site could do for Edmonton. One of the most memorable conversations was with my brother and dad, where we talked for the first hour or so about the airport, its valued history, the businesses that are there, the health services / medevac flights and the pros / cons of having two major airports servicing Edmonton versus having the Edmonton International Airport as our primary service provider. The conversation then shifted to what we may have in the future if we were to redevelop this site into the vision that City Council has identified: a world class sustainable redevelopment. One of the things that became clear was that the airport in its current form is readily understood by everyone, it has "always" been there, you can see planes taking off and landing. What is more elusive is to try to imagine a different future and then to make it a reality. People in our city have been imagining a different and better future for our entire history. One hundred years ago in 1901 there were 2,626 people living here on the open prairie, now we have in the greater Edmonton area a sophisticated, highly educated population of about 1 million. Many things have changed, including our new awareness of the importance of minimizing our ecological footprint. We have before us a unique opportunity to once again imagine a new future by redeveloping these lands into a sustainable, walkable, family and transit-oriented, world leading design. To achieve this, we are learning from other sustainable redevelopments worldwide that lead the way. We have five world class teams working on their respective submissions : Sweco International AB, Stockholm, Sweden; Busby Perkins + Will, Vancouver, Canada; KCAP Architects & Planners from Rotterdam, Netherlands; BNIM, from Kansas City, USA; and Foster & Partners, from London, UK. The five teams' submissions are due on January 21, 2011. Citizens will have an opportunity to view the display materials associated with these submissions and provide information to the Selection Committee. The Selection Committee will review the submissions and interview each team prior to providing the Selection Team's recommendation of the winning applicant to City Council for a final approval. After Council approves the winning submission and a contract is agreed to with the winning firm, the work will intensify on the master plan design and the detailed plans for the area. Through this master and detailed plan process, citizens will have more opportunities for input. To help jump start our conversation, and whet your appetite with visuals, the five teams provided images from previous projects on urban planning and design, engineering and social, economic and environmental sustainability in China, the Netherlands, Canada, Norway, Germany and the United Kingdom. These are examples of what has been done elsewhere; the designs which will be produced for our competition will be unique to Edmonton. See more of the five finalists previous work in our online gallery.

I thought you might also be interested in what is happening with other central airport redevelopments such those in Berlin, Germany, Austin, Texas, and Denver, Colorado

Austin, Texas, USA - Robert Mueller Municipal Airport redevelopment

Denver, Colorado, USA - Stapleton Airport redevelopment

Berlin, Germany - Templehof Airport redevelopment

As a first step in terms of sharing information with you, I welcome your thoughts on what questions you may have about the City Centre Redevelopment Project, or, on what you imagine may be possible on this site. Let's start sharing this vision. I will dedicate Nov. 16 and 17 to read and respond to comments directly on this post. I'm looking forward to our discussion.

If You Build It They Will Come

cbangel — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 21:00:59 +0000

The City of Edmonton is building its own field of dreams and answering the call of Edmonton’s field-sports community for a world-class tournament facility. It’s an exciting time to be an avid rugby or soccer player in Edmonton. This new facility, called the Multi-sport Tournament and Recreation site, will be equipped to host major tournaments for field sports like rugby and soccer and will offer weekly league players plus high level and recreational athletes a well kept area to get active. Recently I took a trip out to see this site, located at the corner of Ellerslie Road and 50th Street, just off Anthony Henday Drive. The site was at one time, the home of the Strathcona Shooting Range. It has since been remediated. When you drive up to the site you instantly get a feel for its size. It will be 138 acres of sports fields, roadways, parking lots, change houses, lights, stands, irrigation and club houses.

At the moment there is a lot of construction underway on the site. The City is currently working on preparing the site which includes construction of three initial parking lots, internal roadway construction, several storm water ponds, and common area landscaping. The storm ponds will be used to water the fields. Altogether, the City’s contribution will be approximately $25 million, the majority of which has already been funded. Partner sporting groups are responsible for the capital development of their specific fields as well as any support amenities required such as clubhouse, field lights, irrigation, bleachers, sports field fixtures like goal posts, backstops, dugouts, etc, and landscaping within their field and clubhouse areas. You can already see some of the rugby fields have been sodded and the irrigation is in. The rough grade of 14 soccer fields is complete and will enter into varying degrees of development in 2011.

It’s unclear what the final site will look like when it’s finished. Currently the City of Edmonton is looking for an additional sporting organization to come forward with a development proposal for a 21.25 acre portion of the land. This new sporting organization would join the City of Edmonton in its partnership with the other sports organizations that make up the Multi-sport Tournament and Recreation Site Board to develop and operate the site. For more information on the Multi-sport Tournament and Recreation site or to submit a development proposal go to www.edmonton.ca/MTRS.

The Way We Move Challenge

tgolly — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:00:44 +0000

Over the past month my co-workers and I have been working on a special project. We had been asked to participate with the TELUS World of Science exhibition Wings, Wheels & Waves, A LEGO® World of Transportation. With the help of numerous volunteers (our coworkers, friends and family) we built a model of a sustainable city that explains the principles of The Way We Move, the City's Transportation Master Plan. Last week we set up the first part of our exhibit.
As you can see we're not the only ones who get a chance to build a model of a sustainable city using LEGO®. On November 20-21, a contest will be held to challenge families and others to build a portion of this display. My co-workers and I will be at TELUS World of Science to explain how transportation is more than just moving people and how it is essential infrastructure that shapes our city, impacts our sustainability and influences our economic well-being. Everyone interested is invited to participate and help to build our future Edmonton transportation network. You can build anything -- a building, a vehicle, a parking garage, a bike or a park! The displays will be judged by a panel of planners, engineers and city councillors at 3:30 PM on Sunday the 21st. Full details of the contest will be online soon a www.edmonton.ca/TheWayWeMoveChallenge. Hope to see you there!

Heads up! Be predictable.

lyarmon — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 15:00:01 +0000

The second video instalment in our Heads Up campaign reminds pedestrians to be predictable. Being predictable means crossing the street at intersections and crosswalks, and never jaywalking. It can be very tempting to cut across the street, especially if you don’t see any law enforcement officers or oncoming traffic. After all, it seems like everyone does it. The next time you’re tempted to jaywalk, consider the possible consequences. You could get a ticket. Jaywalking is illegal. If you jaywalk, you could get a $250 fine. The next time you jaywalk could be the time you fail to notice a police car or peace officer and get a ticket. Is shaving a few seconds off your walk worth $250? You could be involved in a collision. The next time you jaywalk could be the time you fail to notice an oncoming car. It could also be the time that a driver can’t stop in time to avert a collision. It takes drivers more time to react to something unexpected on the road, like a jaywalking pedestrian. And that extra reaction time can mean the difference between a collision and a near miss. Last year, 56 jaywalkers were involved in a collision with a vehicle. If you’re a pedestrian, being involved in a collision will in all likelihood result in injury or even death. All 56 jaywalking pedestrians were either injured or killed. Is it being hurt or killed worth the few extra seconds you saved while jaywalking? Are you prepared to deal with how that collision could affect your friends and family? Or the driver that hits you? That’s why it’s so important to be a predictable pedestrian. Mitigate your risk by using crosswalks and intersections with care. Whenever possible, make eye contact with drivers. Make sure that any traffic has stopped at the intersection or crosswalk before your cross (check out this blog post for more information on crossing with care). Drivers share responsibility with pedestrians in preventing collisions, and should be alert for pedestrians at all times. Drivers should also watch for other vehicles slowing down around them; they may be yielding to a pedestrian. Special thanks to Nic Kui from Guru Digital Arts College for conceiving and creating this animation. Stay tuned for another animation next week! For more information on the Heads Up campaign, visit www.edmonton.ca/headsup.

Heads Up at Intersections!

lyarmon — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 16:00:15 +0000

The third video instalment in our Heads Up campaign reminds pedestrians to keep their heads up at intersections, so that they can pay careful attention to the signals. There can be confusion amongst both pedestrians and drivers about what pedestrian signals actually mean, so we thought we’d clarify that in our campaign.

Pedestrians:

The walk signal means that you have the right of way. You can start to cross the street, provided that it’s safe. Remember, collisions can happen even when you have the right of way. The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to make sure that all traffic has stopped before you step off the curb. Be especially aware of any vehicles that may be turning right at an intersection Once the flashing hand and/or countdown signal appears, you should not start to cross the street. If you’re already in the intersection, finish crossing. The flashing hand and/or countdown signal allows time for both pedestrians and vehicles to clear the intersection. If you race this signal, you can prevent turning vehicles from clearing the intersection while the light’s still green. This forces those vehicles to clear the intersection on a red light, which not only stalls traffic, but also makes it unsafe for pedestrians who now have the right of way and may be crossing the street while turning vehicles are still clearing the intersection. This places both pedestrians and vehicles at a higher risk of being involved in a collision. Starting to cross on a flashing hand and/or countdown signal is also illegal, and could result in a warning or a ticket. The solid hand means don’t cross. It is unsafe and illegal to cross the street on a solid hand signal. Crossing on a solid hand could result in a ticket, or put yourself or others at higher risk of being involved in a collision.

Drivers:

Although the video focuses on pedestrian etiquette, drivers share an equal role in intersection safety. Drivers should be aware that the flashing hand and/or countdown signal is not always timed to the traffic light. They should follow traffic lights and never use pedestrian signals as a guide. When turning on a green light, drivers must yield right of way to pedestrians crossing the street in the same direction. When turning right on a red, drivers should come to a complete stop and look to the right for pedestrians crossing in front of their vehicle. And remember, pedestrians are vulnerable road users who are more at risk of being injured or killed in a collision. Regardless of whether a pedestrian has the right of way, a driver should yield to the pedestrian and do all they can to avoid a collision. Thanks to Kathy Lightfoot from Guru Digital Arts College for producing this week’s animation. Watch for one last video post next week! For more information on the Heads Up campaign, visit www.edmonton.ca/headsup.

Heads up! Pay Attention.

lyarmon — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 17:17:05 +0000

The final video instalment in our Heads Up campaign reminds Edmontonians to avoid distractions so they can focus their full attention on getting to their destination safely. There seems to be growing concern amongst the media, the public and policymakers about distracted driving. Oprah recently used her global influence to ask viewers to make their vehicles “no phone zones.” Closer to home, the Alberta government passed Bill 16, legislation which restricts cell phone use and other activities like texting, reading, writing and personal grooming while behind the wheel. Research supports this concern by showing just how commonplace distracted driving has become. A recent Leger Marketing survey found 75% of Canadians do something other than focusing on the road while driving. It’s not surprising then, that many studies are linking one in four traffic collisions to distracted driving. This research begs the question: are pedestrians this distracted too? The common-sense conclusion is that no matter how you get around, you should focus your full attention on the road. That’s why the Heads Up campaign asks both drivers and pedestrians to avoid distractions.

Distractions are just so tempting…

Walking and driving can be deceptively simple. Most of us do one or both of these tasks several times a day, so it’s very tempting to switch to autopilot and start multitasking. You might get lost in your own thoughts and realize that you have no idea how you got from A to B. Or you may take a few seconds to send a quick text. Maybe you’re even scrolling through this blog post at a red light…if you are, stop it right now! The problem is that you never know when things are going to change. When it comes to traffic, it only takes a split second for a situation to transform from mundane to dangerous. What if you choose that moment to take your eyes and mind off the road? That decision could mean the difference between a near miss and a collision. The next time you find yourself slipping into autopilot, remind yourself to pay attention and focus on the road. Special thanks to Adrienne Hill from Guru Digital Arts College for creating this animation about distractions.

Heads Up wraps up

The Heads Up campaign wraps up at the end of November. The campaign aimed to remind Edmontonians, whether on foot or behind the wheel, about their role in pedestrian safety. Safety is everyone’s responsibility. It’s up to all of us to take responsibility for our own behaviour and never make assumptions about what others will do. There are simple things that you can do to prevent collisions, and the injuries and fatalities that happen as a result of those collisions. So keep your heads up and look out for each other. Although the campaign is almost over, we hope its message sticks with you and helps you to stay safe on our streets year-round. Please let us know what you think of the campaign by taking this short survey. For more information on the campaign, visit www.edmonton.ca/headsup.

Not everything that’s old is historic

togrady — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 17:24:50 +0000

If you believe the popular misconception that heritage buildings are just old buildings, then you might be surprised to hear that age is not the main consideration when evaluating a building’s historical significance. Yes, most buildings must be at least 50 years old to qualify for the Register and Inventory of Historic Resources in Edmonton, but not every 50-year old building is historic. If that were the case half the buildings in Edmonton would be eligible for heritage grants and the City would be broke in no time! [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="John McNeill Residence"][/caption]

Rather than solely using age to determine heritage, we at the Heritage Conservation Unit with the City, along with our partners at the Edmonton Historical Board, look at the building’s history, its architecture, its potential to provide new information, and its role as a landmark in the city or community. These criteria are used by all municipalities in Alberta, and are similar to those used throughout Canada. (Link to the Amending the Inventory page for a full breakdown of the criteria used.)

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="CPR Station in Old Strathcona"][/caption] [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="Gibson Block"][/caption]

Some buildings might be associated with important historical figures in Edmonton, like the John McNeil Residence, or with an important theme in our past, like the CPR Station in Old Strathcona. Others might have a particularly striking design or important examples of an architectural style, like the Gibson Block or the Hyndman Residence. Still others are valued for their prominence in Edmonton’s physical and psychological landscape, like the MacDonald Hotel.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="Inside the Hotel MacDonald"][/caption]

Most buildings on the City’s Register and Inventory of Historic Resources are valued for more than just one reason, but all are valued for more than just being old. An old building that doesn’t have the added value of history, architecture, or place in the community is just an old building. However, when it adds to our sense of identity and sense of place because of its architecture and historical associations, it’s not just an old building, it’s heritage.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Hyndman Residence"][/caption]

For more information about the Register and Inventory of Historic Resources in Edmonton, check out the Edmonton Historical Board’s newsletter Building Heritage.

North LRT Video Animation Online

gmcelheran — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 15:45:50 +0000

Detailed design of the North LRT to NAIT is 95 percent complete, which means all aspects of Edmonton’s next shift in transportation mode are being finalized. Using engineering analysis the North LRT design team has synthesized over the last 15 months, one of the City’s consultants, ISL Engineering & Land Services Ltd., created a video animation of the entire project from Churchill Station to NAIT. This five minute video offers the latest, most complete vision of the North LRT to NAIT and how it will affect Edmonton’s urban landscape. Please have a look at the video below. Turn up the volume if you wish to hear the commentary that explains features of the North LRT. To achieve this vision, construction preparations will intensify in 2011 with ongoing utility relocations and major roadworks on 105 Street, 104 Street, Kingsway Avenue and 106 Street. Construction of three new LRT stations will begin in 2012 and tracks will be laid from Churchill to NAIT in 2013. The North LRT to NAIT is scheduled to begin operation in April 2014.

Recycle Your Holiday Spirit

slewis — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 17:48:02 +0000

For most of us, our Christmas spirit is rooted in the traditions of food, fun and family, so we put up with the stress of running around, spending lots of money and coordinating schedules. The solution: recycle your attitude towards gift giving. Yes, salvation from stress comes in the form of the three R’s of an environmental Christmas – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="And remember we can get as much holiday cheer out of recycling (both our attitude and leftover wrapping paper) as we can out of giving gifts to family and friends."][/caption] First, you can reduce stress by giving the gift of an activity. Many event tickets can be purchased online, so you don’t need to leave home to do your shopping. Ideas for stress free gifts:

Sports and leisure passes
House-hold cleaning service
Yard service
Magazine subscriptions.
Public transit passes
Movie passes
Tickets to a theatre production, sporting event, concert or other special event

The next step is to reuse everything you can. You can reuse gift wrap or even reuse gifts! Consider hosting a re-gifting circle where you play a gift exchange game with re-gifted items. It's fun and no one has to spend a dime. Finally, when its time to clean up, save your community some stress by recycling your packaging and paper. Bring blue bags in the room when presents are being unwrapped. Leave out the foil paper, the ribbons and the bows – consider saving them for reuse – as they are not recyclable. Finally as a special present to you, check out this awesome video about recycling in the city of Edmonton’s Material Recovery Facility:

The City's History in Good Hands

cbangel — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:57:25 +0000

The City of Edmonton Archives is the last stop for all things historically significant to the City. Located within the beautiful brick walls of the historic Prince of Wales Armouries, the Archives hold the key to the city’s past. Within its collection you’ll find about 250,000 historical photographs, 19,000 plans and architectural drawings, 100,000 images on slides, and 750 private manuscripts. All these treasures are acquired, organized, and preserved under the watchful eye of new city archivist, Kathryn Ivany. “People of Edmonton should be proud of all the things that are done – and hopefully the archives are capturing all the individual achievements as well as the City’s successes.”

Kathryn Ivany has been an archivist for 20 years. Two years ago she came to the City Archives as part of the team of archivists preserving and restoring Edmonton’s history. She has now taken over the helm from former archivist, Michael Payne and her first order of business is to make the archives more accessible to the public and to city staff. “One of the things that we are trying to do is to digitize materials. We want to transform documents and photographs so they are visible on your computer so you can send them to friends and do research that way.”

Ivany says Edmonton is like a treasure trove of history waiting to be discovered. As former president of the local chapter of the Historical Society of Alberta, she has given numerous guided walking tours of the city and its local cemeteries, and even authored a book entitled, Historic Walks of Edmonton. She now plans to draw on all her experience to help guide the important work at the City Archives. “An archive is basically the memory of the city. People need to know what happened 10, 20, even 50 years ago,” says Ivany. “The archives make this information available to City of Edmonton decision makers and employees, to people who are interested in learning about our history, and to professional researchers who are writing our history.” Radio interview with City Archivist, Kathy Ivany from Edmonton This Week. For more information visit www.edmonton.ca/archives

Exploring The Way We Green

bcurtis — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 18:01:25 +0000

Hello fellow Edmontonians! I really like our city. I think that we have an incredible privilege of living in such a diverse city and remarkable age in human history. It is, however, often way too easy to forget just how good we have it here. The LRT is, for me, is a constant reminder of this. Without fail, on the tightly-packed morning LRT ride, I overhear grumbles and grievances about the station waits being too long, or the trains being too crowded, or how bad a job the city is doing at getting commuters to work. I personally feel grateful and in awe that even at -30^oC, thousands of people can be transported all the way across our expansive city quite quickly and in a warm train! Hot showers, bananas in the winter and cell phones are just a few of the other things that I enjoy regularly, but my parents grew up experiencing only occasionally. Things like these have become so common place in our day to day lives that we can be quick to complain when we don’t get what we want when we want it. I find it important to take time to appreciate all of these luxuries we normally take for granted; to reflect on how our ancestors dealt with the same problems we do and how comfortable modern living is in comparison. With this, it is also essential that we consider the resources being used to satisfy all of our desires and conveniences. Are they renewable? Are they being polluted? Will we have enough left for our grandchildren? What about their grandchildren? Can we morally keep living the way we are living right now? The City of Edmonton is transforming. All around the city, Edmontonians are actively asking questions like these and engaging in the protection and conservation of the environment. Community leaders are taking the initiative in raising awareness and making change from the ground up and inside the Office of Environment, the whole crew has been working tirelessly over the last year to develop The Way We Green, the city’s Environmental Sustainability Plan. Together with strategic direction from The Way We Green and the growing grassroots passion for the environment, we can create an adaptable city that exists in harmony with the natural world, remembering that without a healthy environment we can’t possibly have a healthy city. Through my posts I intend on visiting every corner of the city to bring back exciting stories about how Edmontonians are already hard at work greening their communities and businesses. I will also explore city infrastructure to share with you what the city has been doing to lead by example and promote environmental awareness. I will also focus on the primary focal points of The Way We Green plan (Air Quality, Biodiversity, Food Security, Energy and Climate Change, Water Supply and Quality and Waste Management) as I highlight ways that Edmontonians can enjoy a deeper cultural experience while having more fun in the city by supporting events, activities and businesses that help maintain a healthy environment!

Safe, smooth rinks are weather dependent

cwebster — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 18:00:05 +0000

Outdoor skating has become one of the most popular winter activities in Edmonton. From flooding backyard rinks for games of shinny to just coasting around a pond with friends and family, Edmontonians have turned the winter recreation into a local pastime. There are five outdoor skating destinations in Edmonton and each year Parks maintenance staff work hard to prepare the ice so it’s ready for skating as early as possible. The goal is always to have the ice ready before Christmas, but weather ultimately determines when the outdoor surfaces can be ready. Heavy snowfalls require immediate removal and can prevent crews from flooding ice on lake ponds.

The City’s primary focus when making outdoor ice is safety. Alberta OH&S guidelines require an ice depth of 11” before heavy maintenance equipment can go on the ice to prepare the surface. Once the ice is thick enough, all the snow is cleared and flooding begins. Each time it snows, the ice must be cleared again. Large snowfalls can take days to remove from a large area like Hawrelak lake. As the weather changes, so too does the ice as it expands, contracts and cracks, requiring additional attention because conventional flooding is not adequate. Watch what it takes to get outdoor ice ready: It's a lot of work (particularly in crazy winters like we're having now), but having quality outdoor skating opportunities for residents to enjoy makes it totally worth it. more information, visit: http://www.edmonton.ca/attractions_recreation/sport_recreation/outdoor-skating.aspx

Bright Future for Kinsmen Sports Centre

cbangel — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:58:12 +0000

The City of Edmonton is looking at ways to improve the Kinsmen Sports Centre that will give it a fresh new look and feel and keep Edmontonians coming back year after year. This redesign will be driven by the community that knows it best and cares about its future. The Kinsmen Sports Centre has been one of the premier sports facilities in Edmonton since it was built in 1968. For more than 40 years it has hosted many National and International sporting events including the 1978 Commonwealth Games and the World Masters Games in 2005. The facility is also one of the most visited by residents, so we want your help to develop the Kinsmen Sports Centre Master Plan.

You can provide input in two ways: Comment here on Transforming Edmonton, or fill out our online survey that will be available until February 25^th

The study will look at:

How the Kinsmen Sports Centre is used today
Who uses it, and what are their sporting activities?
What are the strengths of the facility, and are there any sporting needs that cannot be met at present?
How does the Kinsmen Sports Centre compare with the best facilities in other cities?
How does the Kinsmen Centre fit within the whole spectrum of sport and recreation facilities in Edmonton, and
What is the best use of the facility in the years to come?

Everyone is welcome to participate. Kinsmen Sports Centre is your facility, so please take part in deciding its future.

Edmonton this Week Podcast

cwebster — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:36:07 +0000

Welcome to the new Edmonton this Week Podcast, an in-depth look at City of Edmonton programs and initiatives that affect your life. Each week, our host, Marvin Polis of the City of Edmonton's Communications team, takes us inside City Hall and around Edmonton to speak to the people who operate our city. Listen to the entire show: [audio:http://www.transformingedmonton.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/ETW_Feb_19th_2011_Full1.mp3|titles=Edmonton This Week (February 22, 2011)] Listen to an interview:

City Centre Redevelopment concepts (more)

Corporate Knights - Edmonton's Sustainability ranking (more)

IBM's Smart Cities challenge (more)

Next Gen 2011 and Pecha Kucha 9 (more)

The Edmonton This Week radio show airs every Saturday at 7:30 am and 6:00 pm on 630 CHED. Edmonton this Week is also available on iTunes Please leave your thoughts and comments below, but note that it may take time to answer specific questions.

Choosing the Best Team – from five Excellent Teams!

psande — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:25:56 +0000

It’s been a busy and exciting time since February 15, when we formally unveiled design concepts and videos from five international teams, as conceptual proposals for the redevelopment of the City Centre Airport lands. In my view, the thought and effort each team put into their submissions, designs, sketches and videos is clearly evident. Their collective passion for world leading environmentally sustainable developments is being focused on providing the best development for Edmonton. The response to the teams’ displays and videos has been amazing. In the first four hours of the concepts going online , we received more than 10,000 page views on our website. The traffic at City Hall has been steady and our community information sessions, which continue to March 1, continue to attract citizens in all corners of the city. If I could emphasize one part of this competition between the 5 teams, it is that we are selecting the best team as opposed to selecting the best conceptual design. The observations that we receive from the citizens will be provided to the Selection Committee to help them recommend the best team to City Council. The display materials that you will see include a team’s conceptual designs and an array of other information that shows how they think when it comes to redeveloping these lands in a sustainable or “green” way. Once the best team is chosen, the City has the opportunity to incorporate components from each of these conceptual designs or from other sources into the final plans. You have until March 1 at midnight to view the designs and plans give us your observations in person or online. In addition to your observations being considered by the Selection Committee in recommending the winning team, your comments will also be used during the upcoming 15-month planning process which will further define the winning conceptual plan and, among other items, roads, subdivisions, land uses, green space amenities, etc. Please encourage your friends, family and neighbours to review the display materials and tell us which team they think excelled and in which areas. Please see our website for dates and locations where these displays may be viewed. Enjoy today Phil

Edmonton this Week Podcast (Feb 26, 2011)

cwebster — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:56:56 +0000

Welcome to the Edmonton this Week Podcast, an in-depth look at City of Edmonton programs and initiatives that affect your life. Each week, our host, Marvin Polis of the City of Edmonton’s Communications team, takes us inside City Hall and around Edmonton to speak to the people who operate our city. Listen to the entire show: [audio:http://www.transformingedmonton.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/ETW_Feb_26_2011.mp3|titles=EdmontonThisWeek_Feb_26_2011] Listen to an interview:

Community Revitalization Levy (CRL) Explained

cwebster — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 22:02:07 +0000

When cities want to fund a large-scale project, but don't want to dip into general property taxes, chances are they'll look at using a Community Revitalization Levy (CRL). Essentially, it's a way of using future property tax revenue from new development inside the CRL zone to payoff the project costs. The idea is that the new public project will encourage private sector investment that otherwise would not occur in the area. The resulting new development generates tax revenue that would not otherwise occur and raises property value within the area. It's this new tax revenue that is used to pay off the project costs - not the property tax being collected prior to development. It's basically a way of making sure there is no impact on tax payers and no taxes are taken away from crucial services elsewhere. Once the initial investment has been repaid, development revenues are directed to the City’s general tax levy. If City Council supports the development of an area and if they support using a CRL as a source of funding, then the City formally requests The Province (Alberta Municipal Affairs) to establish a CRL. From there, City administration prepares a CRL plan that includes details of public consultation, costs, project scheduling and risk and presents it to Council.

Edmonton this Week Podcast (March 8, 2011)

cwebster — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:56:37 +0000

Welcome to the Edmonton this Week Podcast, an in-depth look at City of Edmonton programs and initiatives that affect your life. Each week, our host, Marvin Polis of the City of Edmonton’s Communications team, takes us inside City Hall and around Edmonton to speak to the people who operate our city. Listen to the entire show: [audio:http://www.transformingedmonton.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/ETW_Mar_5th_2011.mp3|titles=ETW_Mar_5th_2011] Listen to an interview:

Train of Thought

Miriam — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:47:07 +0000

The American Federation of State Public Interest Research Groups recently released an interesting video online. In that video, two characters of the television series Mad Men are discussing how they could sell the train as an alternative to the car.

“Cities are getting bigger. Trains are the most efficient, economical, best investment. It’s obvious. We do not need to sell trains.”

So that’s the conclusion Pete and Paul are coming to in 1965. But what if, even if it’s obvious, we still need to sell an idea? In my opinion, it’s obvious that the cigarette Paul is smoking and the alcohol he’s drinking are harmful to his health. Why so? I simply know it, as a result of the numerous public education campaigns I’ve been exposed to. What did marketing tell me about trains, or in general, about sustainable transportation? Not much. However, I’ve been told a lot about cars.

“You won’t get people to walk away from their cars overnight. We’ve been spending years telling them how sexy and powerful they are.”

Nonetheless, I’ve started to dream. About a new, efficient, expanded LRT network with stops close to restaurants, shops, houses. About walking to the grocery store or biking to go to work.

“No parking. No mechanics. No traffic jams.”

What would Pete and Paul say about The Way We Move, our Transportation Master Plan? We won’t know for sure, since they only exist in a 1965 fiction. But I truly believe that even if some ideas seem obvious, we sometimes need to talk about them to keep them alive.

Minimizing Tree Removals for LRT

gmcelheran — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:16:09 +0000

Some residents of Central McDougall and other Edmonton neighbourhoods are understandably upset by the removal of several mature elm trees from the future North LRT to NAIT right-of-way around 105 Street and 108 Avenue. Removing trees for any reason is an unfortunate necessity that no one takes lightly. The City has a mandate to remove as few trees as possible, but when it comes to building major infrastructure like the North LRT this type of impact is inevitable. However, there are best practices to mitigate the loss of trees and ensure the required removals are conducted in a sustainable manner. First and foremost is the landscaping plan for the North LRT. This project will add far more trees and foliage to Edmonton streets than it takes away, and enhance the health and growing conditions of existing trees. Check out the North LRT Project History web page for a look at the project’s landscaping plan documents, like this one for 108 Ave and 104 Street.

Public involvement during the concept planning phase (see document at the bottom of the North LRT Project History) identified the elm trees north of 107 Ave on 105 Street as a highly valued community asset. The City was able to minimize the number of trees that absolutely must be removed, but obviously trees that would be standing in the middle of the North LRT tracks have to go. Small and medium-sized trees are being relocated; trees that are too large to relocate must be removed. Keeping the majority of the mature elm trees in place is not a simple matter. Trees pose risks to LRT, from branches falling or growing into overhead power cables, or fallen twigs and leaves clogging the tracks and compromising a train’s braking ability. That’s why the North LRT team devised a canopy structure that will protect the LRT catenary lines and trackway from these risks. The LRT will travel below the canopy, allowing the City to keep more than 25 of the mature elm trees on 105 Street.

Practicing sustainability also means finding ways to convert a loss into a gain. Some of the elm trees must be removed, but a strategy is in place to salvage and recycle wood from the removed trees. Logs and branches will be donated to an Edmonton school to build a “naturescape” project at a local schoolyard. As students, teachers and parents build park benches and artworks (possibly a tree fort) this summer, the kids will learn about where the wood comes from, and how recycling trees preserves Edmonton’s heritage. Wood unsuitable for the project will be chipped for use in tree wells throughout the City, or composted. As for Central McDougall, the North LRT is quite literally transforming this area of Edmonton. In the short term, parts of this neighbourhood will look like a construction zone, and to be frank the impacts have only just begun. But within three years the communities surrounding the North LRT are going to have more green spaces, a landscaped multi-use trail and state-of-the-art LRT. Taking a longer view, the North LRT will take cars off the road, reduce Edmonton’s environmental footprint, and improve the overall health of the city, especially once the line is extended to St. Albert. By removing a few trees for major transportation infrastructure projects, Edmontonians are improving the city for everyone for generations to come. For more information please visit www.edmonton.ca/nlrt, contact the LRT Message Centre at 780-496-4874 or email lrtprojects@edmonton.ca

City of Edmonton Archives - Kid Friendly?

Elizabeth Walker — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 19:25:13 +0000

Spring is here! And the City of Edmonton Archives is already thinking about summer, summer daycamps for kids that is. The City of Edmonton offers a wide variety of Summer daycamps and the City of Edmonton Archives’ Youth Education Program is offering two exciting camps this year: Soldier Through Time and History Hunters. For full course descriptions see the City of Edmonton Archives News. In addition to summer daycamps, our programmers offer learning opportunities to school groups throughout the school year. For example, City Hall School students spend time touring the Archives, including the vaults which are usually off limits for the public. I say usually off limits…but if you like the idea of seeing our hidden vaults, and maybe hearing ghost stories, we offer tours for the public on Free Admission Day in September. As part of their experience, the City Hall School students write about what they have seen at the Archives. The exercise is called R.O.W.S (Reflect, Observe, Wonder and Sketch). Some things make a deep impression, like Frank Oliver’s moustache. Other students are impressed by the Archives as a whole and are given a deeper awareness of what history means to them personally. Many people wouldn’t think that kids and archives go together but in fact they do. Archives have a lot to offer and it’s never too early (or too late!) to use them. Teachers are often impressed by students who use archival material for their homework. And it doesn’t have to stop there; using the City of Edmonton Archives to research for an entry in the Edmonton Regional Heritage Fair is another perfect example of how archives can help kids learn and grow. Just remember, our reference archivists are always here to help you get started. For full course descriptions see the City of Edmonton Archives News. Watch a video on the Edmonton Archives www.edmonton.ca/archives

Edmonton this Week Podcast (March 31, 2011)

cwebster — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:05:44 +0000

Welcome to the Edmonton this Week Podcast, an in-depth look at City of Edmonton programs and initiatives that affect your life. Each week, our host, Marvin Polis of the City of Edmonton’s Communications team, takes us inside City Hall and around Edmonton to speak to the people who operate our city. Listen to the entire show: [audio:http://www.transformingedmonton.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/ETW_Full_Mar_26th_2011.mp3|titles=Edmonton this Week (Mar_31th_2011)] Listen to an interview:

News Conference: Proposed Downtown Arena

cwebster — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 21:24:06 +0000

[Editor's Note: Please excuse the low sound level on the videos. Using headphones helps.] Edmonton City Manager, Simon Farbrother, and Lorna Rosen, the City’s Chief Financial Officer, speak to media about the proposed downtown arena project on March 31, 2011. The conference follows the release of new reports on the proposed downtown arena which provide Council with additional information for the next phase of decision-making, at the April 6 Council meeting. Read the news release. The April 6th Council meeting can be live streamed here. Opening Remarks Media Questions (part 1 ) Media Questions (part2)

Through the Looking Glass: Acrylic Creates new View at Edmonton Valley Zoo

Dean Treichel — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:24:52 +0000

In so many ways, we view the world through acrylic. Whether peering out the window in a jet plane, or marvelling at a magnificent underwater environment in the world’s best aquariums, we gaze through massive, specially-engineered acrylic panels all the time. Now imagine peering through large acrylic panels to see all the animals that will call the Edmonton Valley Zoo’s new Arctic Shores exhibit home. These panels will allow you to watch the zoo’s seals and sea lion as they dive and swim underwater, or get nose-to-nose with an Arctic fox and ground squirrels. When the Arctic Shores exhibit opens in the spring of 2012, visitors to the zoo will be able to get closer to the animals thanks to a series of custom-designed acrylic panels. Arctic Shores recreates an Arctic shoreline within the zoo, allowing guests to feel like they are immersed with the seals and sea lions in an ocean setting.

So, what makes the acrylic panels in the Arctic Shores exhibit so unique? Besides the fact that they survived an earthquake and tsunami on their voyage from Japan, the panels are notable for their size, the company that manufactures them and how they will enhance the zoo experience. The largest panel will be 40 feet long, nine feet high and four inches thick and will hold back 750,000 litres of seawater. This panel will make visitors feel like they are swimming with the seals and sea lions in their marine environment. The acrylic bubble located just next to the large panel is fully submerged and provides an opportunity to peer into the water and see what it’s like under the Arctic Ocean. Not only will guests experience underwater viewing, they will also experience under foot viewing with our three ice-floe panels. As for the other panels, they will provide opportunities to get closer the other Arctic inhabitants in the exhibit.

What makes this acrylic even more unique is where it is manufactured. There are three factories in the world that can produce large, uniquely shaped and engineered acrylic panels. Based on workmanship and construction timing, the Nippura Company in Japan was selected, and has done a marvelous job of creating these one-of-a-kind components that will transform the zoo’s Arctic Shores exhibit into a spectacular immersive experience. Nippura currently holds the world record for the largest acrylic panel, which is located at the Dubai Mall Aquarium in Dubai, and measures 107 feet 10 inches long, 27 feet 2 inches high, and 30 inches thick. In February, I travelled to Kobe, Japan to review all nine acrylic components before they left the factory for Canada (Nippura requires that the final product be inspected before it is shipped). The photos provide a glimpse of what will be the incredible future of the zoo’s Arctic Shores experience. The panels were then loaded on a ship to be transported to Seattle. From there, the components were placed on a truck and shipped to Edmonton. The panels will be installed at the zoo this spring as weather permits.

Building the Arctic Shores exhibit is a complex construction process and requires a great deal of time and expertise to complete. In addition to the new animal exhibit, guests to the zoo will also be able to explore natural Arctic land formation like pingos and climb on a whale bone play structure. Artic Shores is the first of many projects that will transform the Edmonton Valley Zoo to create unique and intimate experiences with the animals that call the zoo home. For more information, please visit www.valleyzoo.ca/construction

Edmonton this Week Podcast (April 11, 2011)

cwebster — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:47:34 +0000

Welcome to the Edmonton this Week Podcast, an in-depth look at City of Edmonton programs and initiatives that affect your life. Each week, our host, Marvin Polis of the City of Edmonton’s Communications team, takes us inside City Hall and around Edmonton to speak to the people who operate our city. Listen to the entire show: [audio:http://www.transformingedmonton.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ETW_Apr_9th_2011_FULL.mp3|titles=ETW_Apr_9th_2011_FULL] Listen to an interview:

Amazing causes need passionate people: Where will you make your mark in 2011?

Susan Kankkunen — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:26:36 +0000

Edmonton is a city of volunteers. Every year, nearly half of all Edmontonians volunteer their time to support thousands of not-for-profit agencies. From helping City of Edmonton special events to disease prevention organizations, from event clean-up to leading a team, volunteering takes many different forms. Everyone has skills or abilities to share. April 10 – 16 is National Volunteer Week. This is our chance to say thanks to community volunteers for the work they do. It’s also a chance to encourage everyone to consider new volunteer opportunities. One thing I’m sure of, there is a volunteer opportunity for everyone.

In 2010, many City of Edmonton departments benefited from the skills, experience and time of over 13,000 volunteers. These volunteers committed over 200,000 hours to help make the many programs, services and events coordinated by the City of Edmonton successful. Volunteers are a huge part of what makes Edmonton a vibrant place to live by building connected citizens and caring communities. Volunteer Edmonton and the City of Edmonton are regularly approached by youth, newcomers and the recently retired looking to be matched to an organization. The Edmonton Volunteer Fair was created to help Edmontonians find the organization or opportunity that best matches their lifestyles and passion. The City of Edmonton, in partnership with Volunteer Edmonton and West Edmonton Mall, is hosting the Edmonton Volunteer Fair from 11 am - 4 pm at West Edmonton Mall, Phase 1 Lower Stage Level. The event is set up tradeshow-style, where 100 volunteer organizations will be on hand to present their volunteer needs, allowing Edmontonians to find their best fit. It’s our hope that the Edmonton Volunteer Fair will match amazing causes to passionate people. Every day, the lives of Edmontonians are touched by volunteering. I encourage you to be a part of it in 2011. For more information on the Edmonton Volunteer Fair visit: VolunteerEdmonton.com For City of Edmonton Volunteer Opportunities visit: Edmonton.ca/volunteers

Kingsway Before & After North LRT

gmcelheran — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:35:42 +0000

What a whirlwind the 2011 construction season is going to be for the North LRT to NAIT. It’s not like the project has been invisible to date. There’s lots of construction activity happening, especially on and around the North LRT right-of-way on 105 Ave, 105 Street, 104 Street and Kingsway. EPCOR, ATCO and other companies have been relocating utilities on these and adjacent roadways. Here’s a recent shot of the power utility relocation happening on Kingsway that has partially closed the road already.

Bigger Impacts About to Begin With the dynamic duo of SNC Lavalin and Graham Construction recently hired as the North LRT construction management team (see Vancouver’s Canada Line and Calgary’s West LRT for recent samples of their work), engineers and technicians are hustling to get an aggressive 2011 construction schedule in place. In May, the hustle moves onto Edmonton roadways, big time. Starting May 2, 2011 a four-block section of Kingsway will be closed between 102 Street and 106 Street until mid-October. All vehicle traffic will detour on 101 Street and 111 Ave. Pedestrian access will be maintained along the south side of the Kingsway closure. Take a look at this graphic for details:

Kingsway Closure Necessary The Kingsway closure is required for the North LRT project. Essentially, all the Kingsway traffic lanes in this location need to be moved several metres to the south, to create space between the roadway and the Royal Alex Hospital for the future Kingsway/Royal Alex LRT Station. Take a look at this graphic, keeping in mind the goal is ultimately to provide easy access from Edmonton’s LRT network and the adjacent transit centre to health services:

Hands down, this is the most significant construction impact the North LRT project has to offer, for a two main reasons:

On the average weekday Kingsway carries about 17,800 vehicles that will have to detour;
The Royal Alex Hospital is right next to the Kingsway closure (emergency access will be maintained on 102 Street).

When you consider traffic flows and, more importantly, health services, no other aspect of North LRT construction has a more significant impact than the Kingsway closure. That’s why the North LRT team is applying such an aggressive construction model. The goal is to get in, get the work done, and get out in a single construction season. Thinking Long Term If successful, this strategy will minimize future closures of Kingsway during construction of the Kingsway/Royal Alex LRT Station over the next two years. Traffic will flow on Kingsway while the station is being built. By 2014 the City hopes to achieve its North LRT vision. Take a peek at this video for a detailed idea of what that vision looks like. Questions? For the Kingsway closure and all construction activities related to the North LRT the City will be sending out bulletins, updates, newsletters, tweets and media releases. Questions and comments are received at lrtprojects@edmonton.ca

Edmonton this Week Podcast: April 16, 2011

cwebster — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 17:35:10 +0000

Welcome to the Edmonton this Week Podcast, an in-depth look at City of Edmonton programs and initiatives that affect your life. Each week, our host, Marvin Polis of the City of Edmonton’s Communications team, takes us inside City Hall and around Edmonton to speak to the people who operate our city. Listen to the entire show: [audio:http://www.transformingedmonton.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ETW_Full_Apr_16th_2011.mp3|titles=Edmonton this Week (April 16)] Listen to an interview:

Belmont School Newspaper: The Star (part I)

Elizabeth Walker — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 15:49:57 +0000

Every year I watch for the Robins to return because, for me, they are a sign that spring is here. Maybe I was looking in the wrong places but I didn’t see one until April 15^th this year. According to The Star, Robins were singing in the Edmonton area as early as March 2^nd in 1889.

The Star was a handwritten newspaper put together by students of the Belmont School with their teacher, James Bond Steele (possibly the best name ever). We have three editions of the newspaper here at the City of Edmonton Archives, February 1889, March 1889 and May 1890. Together, these papers make up the Belmont School fonds. You may be wondering what a fonds is…basically it’s “archives speak” for all the records created by an individual or organization that were saved together by the creator and came to the Archives as an organic whole. It’s a term used to distinguish records like the Belmont School newspapers from records that are collected over time by the Archives. For example, the City of Edmonton Archives has a large collection called Their Majesties Royal Collection. In this case the Archives actively collects documents, pamphlets, magazines, photographs and souvenirs relating to the British royal family, usually with an Edmonton connection. You can bet we’ll be collecting what we can on the current royal wedding and tour. Here is a scan and transcription of the introduction of the first edition: The Belmont Star Albert Fraser - - Editor-in-Chief Belmont, Alta., Feb’y, 1889. The Star We present to-day the first number of the Belmont Star. It is started for the instruction [and]amusement of the pupils of Belmont[School]. All the news and other matter in the Star will be made up by the scholars. The school-house was put up in 1882, and the first teacher was Mr. Murphy. The old pupils generally leave in the spring, or at hay-making time, because there is more work then than any other time. Some of them stop a week or two in the autumn. New scholars generally begin in spring or summer. There were a few of the scholars sick for a while. Some didn’t go to school for two weeks; some for about a week. There were five examinations, one in 1885, one in 1886, one in 1887, and two in 1888. And a transcription of the local news (pictured above): Local News Simon Borwick - - Editor Robins were singing in town on March 2^nd. Henry J. Fraser saw a band of ducks on March 1^st. Rain fell on the 27^th of February. Eggs are 33 1/3 ^c a dozen, and butter is 40 ^c a pound. The weather was fine all the month, with the exception of one week. There are cracks in the ground 4 5/8 inches wide, and three feet deep. Prairie fires are raging and have done some damage. Mr. Stedman had his house burnt, and others have lost a good deal of hay. This has been a very open winter. The coldest day was Friday, Feb’y 22^nd. It was 28 degrees below zero. Some of the pupils were sick in school lately. Others were forced to make some sudden trips outside on account of their noses bleeding. The ice is melting on the lakes. Mr. William Rowland’s team ran away on the 26^th. The air has been very smoky lately. Harry Fulton left scho[ol] on the 1^st instant. The Ducks The ducks come early in the spring to lay their eggs. They lay them in a bush or by a lake. After she hatches her eggs she loses her feathers and can’t fly till in September. Then all the ducks begin to fly around the country. In the fall they go home to another country and stay till the next spring.

___ Henry J. Fraser

When I first came across these newspapers, I was impressed by the care and attention that had gone into producing them. Some of the topics seem strange and out of my experience. Others, like the news of the robin, show me how people in the 19^th century were very like me. As well as being a lot of fun, the Belmont School newspapers offer a lot of information about the Edmonton area and what life was like in the 1880s. I will be using this blog to post transcripts of the newspaper and to share where my exploration of the material leads. In my next post I’ll be looking at the people who made the newspaper. Thanks to City of Edmonton Archives volunteer Kathryn Merrett for transcribing the material. www.edmonton.ca/archives Go behind the scenes of the Edmonton Archives in this great video

Edmonton this Week podcast (April 23, 2011)

cwebster — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 21:07:22 +0000

Welcome to the Edmonton this Week Podcast, an in-depth look at City of Edmonton programs and initiatives that affect your life. Each week, our host, Marvin Polis of the City of Edmonton’s Communications team, takes us inside City Hall and around Edmonton to speak to the people who operate our city. Listen to the entire show: [audio:http://www.transformingedmonton.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ETW_Full_Apr_23_2011.mp3|titles=ETW_Full_Apr_23_2011] Listen to an interview:

Shopping, working and living within five minutes of transit

Janice Chan — Tue, 03 May 2011 20:37:11 +0000

The City of Edmonton’s strategic plan, The Way Ahead, sets out a vision of a more compact, transit oriented and sustainable city, where more people walk, cycle and use transit than they do today. Good words. Good intentions. But how do you make that happen? Trends in urban design and development around the world point to something called Transit Oriented Development, or TOD, as one of the best ways to encourage the compact, transit-oriented city that our vision imagines. Simply described, TOD is development that happens within 400 metres of a LRT station or Transit Centre. That’s basically a 5-minute walk in any direction for an average person. Properly done, TOD results in a diverse mix of housing, shopping and employment in the TOD area. It also features a network of walkable and bikeable streets and pathways with easy access to the transit station. Good TOD even includes some parking for cars, as well as lanes for buses.

These “station neighbourhoods” created by TOD can become vibrant hubs of activity that are desirable places to live and to visit for their shops, services and public spaces. TOD isn’t a new concept. Elsewhere in the world, the greatest cities all have superior transit systems that encourage TOD development. For example, in Europe space for development is at a premium, so the kind of compact, higher-density development found in TOD has been commonplace for years. It’s natural there to combine housing with shopping, services, employment and public places to create livable communities where people can walk or bike and take transit more often than they use a car. But even in Canada, TOD is becoming much more common as major cities develop and expand their rapid transit networks, even as they try to curb urban sprawl. Cities like Vancouver, Montreal and even Calgary have achieved some notable TOD successes. Check out a report from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) on some Canadian TOD case studies. Here in Edmonton, we don’t have Transit Oriented Development on a significant scale outside of downtown and the University of Alberta. At least not yet. The closest example of TOD in Edmonton is the Century Park redevelopment on the old Heritage Mall shopping centre lands. When the development plans for Century Park were drawn up in 2004, they anticipated the arrival of a south LRT line and a station that would make transit use for residents of the new neighbourhood easier. The development was designed accordingly. And so it has come to pass that the LRT has arrived, even though the Century Park neighbourhood with its green spaces, pedestrian and bicycle networks and retail component has yet to be fully completed. Thanks to City Council’s visioning process that set out The Way Ahead, other plans and visions have evolved that will also lead to more TOD in Edmonton. The Way We Grow (Edmonton’s Municipal Development Plan) and The Way We Move (Edmonton’s Transportation Plan) also seek a more compact, transit oriented, walker and bike friendly city. They have guided the city’s aggressive push to expand our LRT network, so that it will eventually have five major lines reaching out to all areas of the city.

Eventually, Edmonton will have more than 40 new LRT stations – including many in areas where there is a significant amount of land available to be developed (greenfield areas) or re-developed (like the City Centre Airport lands). These are natural sites for TOD. To encourage TOD in Edmonton, as well as to guide it throughout the city for the next 30 years, City staff have been busy developing some draft TOD Guidelines. I’m proud to be part of the team that has been involved in the Guidelines, because I see them as a proactive move by the City to set out the city’s expectations for the type of development that is appropriate near transit stations in any future developments or redevelopments. Basically, we will have the “rules” in place before development proposals are made! The TOD Guidelines recognize that Edmonton is unique and it needs its own unique approach to TOD. Not all LRT stations and transit centres should be developed in the same way. TOD should be developed to respect the character and reality of the local area and in some areas this translates to a very moderate TOD approach . Consequently, the draft TOD Guidelines identify seven Station Area Types that have unique development expectations. This month (May), we’re “going public” about TOD in Edmonton and the draft Guidelines by hosting a series of 5 open houses at locations around the city. There will be a short presentation at each session and members of the Project Team will be available to talk about TOD and the Guidelines. Feedback will help us to refine and finalize the Guidelines before making a recommendation to City Council later this year. If you want to know more about TOD, and the draft TOD Guidelines, join as at an open house. View the TOD guidelines for the dates and locations. You can also find the draft guidelines there, as well as other information and even a link to an on-line feedback questionnaire. I’m looking forward to the open houses and hearing what people think about TOD and our draft Guidelines. It’s an exciting time to live in Edmonton!

Get Closer to Edmonton Valley Zoo's bold new vision

cwebster — Thu, 05 May 2011 16:22:08 +0000

The Edmonton Valley Zoo is moving forward with bold new plans to create a vibrant and engaging place that inspires love and learning of animals and nature. As a part of this new vision, the establishment of the new tagline “Get Closer,” along with the development of all new logos representing a variety of the animals living at the zoo have been officially announced.

Intimate. Inspiring.

The Edmonton Valley Zoo is home to over 350 animals, with a full range of species from different climates and habitats — all here for you to discover, learn about and appreciate. Get closer to them like never before. At the Edmonton Valley Zoo, learning is encouraged through inspiring, engaging, and fun activities.

Nurturing. Natural.

Edmonton Valley Zoo will be a leading example of how a small zoo can make a big difference in our world through its focus on conservation, education and stewardship. The Edmonton Valley Zoo team is passionate about the natural world and promoting environmental responsibility. The zoo models green strategies in all it does to promote environment responsibility and reduce its own environmental footprint.

Cool.

Watch this cool video on Edmonton Valley Zoo's new vision and future development. Enter the "Get Closer" Facebook contest to win a free family pass. Visit the official Edmonton Valley Zoo website to explore even more.

Edmonton this Week Podcast: May 6, 2011

cwebster — Fri, 06 May 2011 14:59:26 +0000

Welcome to the Edmonton this Week Podcast, an in-depth look at City of Edmonton programs and initiatives that affect your life. Each week, our host, Marvin Polis of the City of Edmonton’s Communications team, takes us inside City Hall and around Edmonton to speak to the people who operate our city. Listen to the entire show: [audio:http://www.transformingedmonton.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ETW_Full_Apr_30_2011.mp3|titles=ETW_Full_Apr_30_2011] Listen to an interview:

Belmont School Newspaper: The Star-part II (A)

Elizabeth Walker — Thu, 12 May 2011 21:20:10 +0000

In my last post I introduced the Belmont School newspaper, the Star; today I’m looking at some of the people who wrote it. I was able to find a fair amount, actually this was going to be a single post but I found so much material that I decided to split it into two (hence the awkward part II (A) in the title). I relied mostly on the Archives’ clippings files for my research. As the name suggests, clippings files are collections of newspaper and magazine articles. I’ve seen clippings in these files from as early as 1910. Many of the research questions we receive at the Archives can be answered using these files. Even if they don’t have the answer they are still a good starting point to find further search terms and names associated with the subject you’re researching. The City of Edmonton Archives had its beginnings in the 1930s and, like many Canadian archives, actually began as these types of clippings files with original records mixed in with the published material. This changed as the original material was organized into fonds and collections. Not many archives have clippings files anymore, probably because they are a lot of work to maintain. The City of Edmonton Archives is very lucky to have dedicated volunteers who work to keep the files updated. DISCLAIMER: I should say that this is by no means a thoroughly researched history of these people. I just wanted to see what I could find using the newspaper as a starting point. If you feel I’ve missed something important please feel free to comment. James Bon Steele I’ll start with a quick look at the teacher for whom the students made the newspapers, James Bond Steele (definitely the best name ever). James came from a family of overachievers and many of their personal papers, including James’, are at the Provincial Archives of Alberta in the Steele Family fonds. The most well-known Steele is Sam Steele and the University of Alberta Archives holds the Sir Sam Steele Collection. (For a discussion on fonds and collections, see my last post). Shortly after the creation of the school papers James married Hughina (Ina) McKay and moved to Beaver Lake. Hughina was one of the Belmont School students who contributed a story to the February 1889 newspaper. James and Hughina are buried together in Beechmount Cemetery and are part of the self-guided cemetery tour. The above photograph of James was taken at the time he received his teaching diploma, c. 1880. Simon Borwick In my last post, I highlighted the Local News section of the February 1889 school newspaper with Simon Borwick as editor. We have a clippings file for him which has a 1956 newspaper article where he talks about growing up as the son of a Hudson’s Bay Company blacksmith and watching Fort Edmonton grow to a City which “spread like a pancake.” The Gullions The Gullions were one of the earliest pioneer families in the Edmonton area. I found an article on Caroline Gullion clipped from the February 14, 1956 Edmonton Journal. She was born in 1877 in the Highlands area and she used to walk “three miles through bush and past lakes to attend classes daily at the one-room old Belmont School…that was located near the present Swift Canadian Packing Plant.” Caroline married Frederick James Tyson Flynn in 1897 and died in 1956. Here is Caroline’s contribution to the Girls Department of the March 1889 newspaper (she would have been about 12): Girls Department: March. Isabella Gullion – Editress. The Elephant The elephant is the largest animal in the world. I never saw any. They are found in Asia. It is a very big animal. The people ride on the elephant’s back. They have an elephant for a pet. There are none in this country. It can’t run very hard.

___ Caroline Gullion

The Archives also has a file on W. E. Gullion. His name isn’t on the school newspapers we have but in the articles he talks about his experiences as a school boy. One article states: “Mr. Gullion and other children of his day took all their schooling in the one room of Belmont school in what is now called the Highlands. He recalls James B. Steele, his tutor, as ‘one of the best teachers I’ve ever met.’” He may be the mysterious “Grip” of the February edition (wild speculation on my part): The McLeods We also have a file on another student of the Belmont school, Etta McLeod. Like Mr. Gullion, her name isn’t on any of the newspapers but she also reminisced about her school days. A June 21, 1960 Edmonton Journal article talks about her “walking two miles to school, located where the Canada Packers now stands, and her teacher, a Mr. Steele.” There is also an Edmonton Bulletin article from December 30, 1950 which relates how she arrived in Edmonton in November 1879 with her brother and sister, John and Margaret, probably the John A. and Maggie McLeod whose names are on the newspapers. Their father was Murdoch McLeod who was sentenced to death along with Thomas Scott by Louis Riel’s provisional government; unlike Scott, McLeod was spared. That seems like a good spot to end and leave you wanting more! My next post will be more of the same. I hope you’re having as much fun with these as I did. www.edmonton.ca/archives Go behind the scenes of the Edmonton Archives in this great video

Edmonton this Week Podcast: May 16, 2011

cwebster — Mon, 16 May 2011 19:49:16 +0000

Welcome to the Edmonton this Week Podcast, an in-depth look at City of Edmonton programs and initiatives that affect your life. Each week, our host, Marvin Polis of the City of Edmonton’s Communications team, takes us inside City Hall and around Edmonton to speak to the people who operate our city. Listen to the entire show: [audio:http://www.transformingedmonton.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/FULL_SHOW_ETW_May_14th_2011.mp3|titles=FULL_SHOW_ETW_May_14th_2011] Listen to an interview:

Belmont School Newspaper: The Star - part II (B)

Elizabeth Walker — Thu, 19 May 2011 15:46:57 +0000

Welcome to the second part of my post on the people behind the Belmont School newspapers. If you want some background on the newspapers see my first post in the series. DISCLAIMER: As I noted in my last post, this is by no means a thoroughly researched history of these people. I’m sure I could find more if I was able to devote more time to it. For example, it is hard to find out what happened to the girls when you don’t know what their married names were. If you think I’ve missed anything please feel free to comment. The McKays I came across reference to an article on Hugh McKay that was in the June 21, 1913 edition of the Edmonton Daily Capital. The Archives has microfilms of Edmonton area newspapers ranging from the Edmonton Journal to the Strathcona Plaindealer and, I’m happy to say, the Edmonton Daily Capital. According to the article, Hugh came out west from Ontario in 1882 looking for adventure and by the next year he was homesteading. He asked his wife and six young children to move out to join him. They trekked across the prairies by Red River cart as the railway was not yet completed. As noted in my last post, Ina McKay eventually married James Bond Steele and they are mentioned in the article. Several McKays are in the newspapers, contributing stories and acting as editors and editresses. They had a healthy sense of humour! From the February 1889 edition: I would guess that the anecdotes that don’t have names were written by the Editress. Girls’ Dep’t. Chrissie McKay - - Editress. A Medley. “Mama, I have eaten all my cake, and Charlie hasn’t touched his yet. Won’t you make him share with me, so as to teach him to be generous?”

________

“Papa, I’m afraid our little girl has chicken-pox.” Little girl: “Yes it is chicken-pox; I’ve found a feather in the bed.”

________

Another McKay in the March 1889 edition: Going out to Dine Nearly one hundred years ago some of the inhabitants of Edinburgh kept carriages and maintained such state that one lady is reported to have driven from her own home to the house she was going to dine at, the heads of the front horses being at her friend’s door before the carriage left her own.

___ Willie McKay

Some of my leads are of a more tenuous nature. John A. McLeod served as the Editor-in-Chief for the February 1889 school newspaper. The Archives has a 1920 agreement from the City Clerk’s files between a man of that name and the City for exclusive rights to operate a skating rink at Borden Park. I have no idea if this is the same person but, if I were doing in-depth research, I would look into it and try and get more information. For example, the Archives has a clippings file on Borden Park that may mention the skating rink which could lead me to other sources. I may find the name of the rink and we could even have a clippings file or blueprints for it. You never know where an archives search will lead you. I found several records on the Kernohans (James Kernohan wrote for the March 1889 newspaper). The Kernohan neighbourhood in Clareview is named after a James Kernohan who was a member of the Belmont School board. I found this through a database the Archives has on place names in Edmonton. It was compiled for the book Naming Edmonton: From Ada to Zoie published in 2004. Mrs. Kernohan had a millinery shop in Edmonton from 1888 to 1890 and again from 1891 to 1893. The shop has been recreated in Fort Edmonton Park as Kernohan’s Millinery Shop and Hutchings and Riley’s Harness Shop. The Archives has a non-lending library with some Fort Edmonton Park research materials, including a booklet on the shop. We also have the blueprints of the building at the Fort. This photograph of Frank and Lulu Kernohan was taken about 20 years after the newspapers were made but I still think it fits the theme of this post (plus I like it). I believe James Bond Steele made quite an impact on his students, as seen by the number of positive comments about him and the school I was able to find in the clippings files. If his other assignments were as interesting, and had as much student participation as the school newspapers do, I can see why people were talking about it 60 plus years later. There will be one more post in this series, next time I’ll have a look at the Belmont School. Thanks again to Kathryn Merrett for the transcriptions. I didn’t find anything on Flora Fraser, but I want to end with this snippet from a Lewis Carroll poem that she contributed to the February 1889 (pictured in the scan above) because I like it so much :) “Come, tell me how you live,” I cried; “And what it is you do?” He said: “I hunt for haddock’s eyes, Among the heather bright, And work them into waist-coat buttons In the silent night.”

___ Flora Fraser.

City and Katz Group agree on downtown arena

cwebster — Thu, 19 May 2011 17:36:30 +0000

The City and the Katz Group have approved an agreement framework to build a new downtown arena in Edmonton. While the two organizations still need to develop and agree on a final Master Agreement, this marks a crucial next step. The agreed-upon terms reflect what the City has heard from residents in Edmonton, and substantially meet Council’s conditions from April. The framework puts a cap on the building cost, identifies that the City will own the building and land and guarantees that the Edmonton Oilers will stay in Edmonton for at least 35 years. The agreement framework includes:

The price for the arena building is set at $450M
The City’s contribution to the building is $125M
The Katz Group will contribute $100M
$125M will come from a user-pay facility fee
The City will own the building and land
The Katz Group will operate the building and be responsible for all maintenance, upgrades, operating and capital expense costs

So, what’s next in the Arena saga? Next up will be the negotiation of a final Master Agreement between the City and the Katz Group. This agreement will more clearly define the obligations and responsibilities of each partner and will advance the project to the next stage. Also next - design of the project will start, including discussions with Edmontonians. For more information on the downtown arena project visit: http://www.edmonton.ca/downtownarena

The Way We Think

Miriam — Thu, 19 May 2011 22:09:49 +0000

I have great neighbours. They invite us for dinner, watch our home while we’re away – they are always there to help. In my neighbourhood, we are big car users. The shops are far away so it’s not typical to use our bike or walk to run errands. But that might change! A new pharmacy just opened close to home, and it was quite exciting for my 3-year-old and myself to bike to get there last Sunday. On our way there, my caring neighbours saw us at an intersection and asked us, looking concerned: “Are you guys ok?” They looked rather surprised when we explained that we were crossing this 4-lane road to go to the pharmacy. I think my neighbours are the perfect example of how, as Edmontonians, we rely on cars. So much that it surprises us to see our friends walking or biking for “functional” trips. Thankfully, the City has a plan. To encourage us walk, bike, carpool and use transit. A plan to provide transportation options and make it easier for us to choose sustainable options. This plan is called “The Way We Move”. I invite you to take a glimpse into what a future Edmonton can be. http://www.edmonton.ca/thewaywemove

Encouraging and guiding Transit Oriented Development in Edmonton

Janice Chan — Tue, 24 May 2011 14:51:26 +0000

In my last post on May 3, I shared that the City was “going public” about Transit Oriented Development (TOD) and some draft guidelines we’ve been working on to guide TOD in our city over the next 30 years. So far, we’ve held four open houses where interested members of the public have been able to hear a short presentation on TOD and the draft Guidelines, then ask questions and offer feedback. We’ve also held a number of smaller meetings and presentations with some specific stakeholders groups (like the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues, the planning committee of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce and others). If you’re interested, there’s one more open house scheduled for May 26, at Queen Elizabeth High School, 9425-132 Avenue. The session runs from 6:30 to 9 p.m., with a presentation starting at 7 p.m. Or check out www.edmonton.ca/tod for more information, including a video of our first presentation and a link to an on-line feedback questionnaire. To encourage and guide TOD, the draft TOD Guidelines set out the city’s expectations for the type of development that is appropriate near transit stations for the future. The Guidelines will be used by property owners, developers and their designers as they consider development options. They will apply to any new development or re-development proposals for land within 400 metres of a transit station. What we’re hearing so far is that most people support TOD in principle and look forward to seeing more of it in Edmonton. There are many reasons, but those we have heard most often include:

TOD is an important way to limit urban sprawl, by concentrating more development and redevelopment in existing areas rather than continual expansion of the city’s boundary
It will help the environment through less vehicle use and better land use
More walking and biking means healthier, happier people
A TOD neighbourhood is attractive to people because they can shop, work and play in the same area if they choose, or easily use the LRT to travel to other areas

But people do have some important concerns too. For example, we’ve found that people who live within 400 metres of an existing LRT station or transit centre want to know what changes they can expect in their neighbourhoods if TOD goes ahead and the Guidelines are approved. There is no “pat” answer, because any changes in existing neighbourhoods would depend on a number of factors. For example, market conditions, available land for redevelopment and if property owners are even interested in re-developing. But the bottom line is that unless a property owner applies for a development that requires a re-zoning of the property, there will be very little change to existing neighbourhoods. The Guidelines only come into play when someone wants a change. They are more applicable to developments in new areas, or major re-developments of un-used or under-used lands. The Guidelines also recognize that not all station areas are the same and different station types have been developed accordingly. In the same vein, we also get asked if the City will be “forcing” TOD in mature neighbourhoods, perhaps by buying land and initiating development. The answer is “no” - the City has no plans to force TOD in existing communities. It is up to individual property owners to change or develop their properties to support transit if they choose. That said though, the City may choose to encourage TOD in some areas where it already owns land and where TOD has potential for success -perhaps by developing new parks and other public amenities that are consistent with TOD, and partnering with private developers for housing and other developments (the City Centre Airport lands are a prime example of a situation where the city owns land and could develop it accordingly). Check out more Frequently Asked Questions that we’re hearing about TOD and the answers . So far at least, we’ve found that while people do have questions and some have specific concerns that they’ve shared about the draft Guidelines, most agree that TOD in general is something Edmonton should be encouraging. They see it as key to our future, as do I! For a peek at that future, have a visit with cute little LRT rider, Adam, age 3! With TOD, we’ll see many more Adams and their parents in the years to come.

Weighing in on the Future of the Kinsmen Sports Centre

cbangel — Mon, 30 May 2011 15:30:20 +0000

Since its official opening on January 3, 1968, Edmonton’s Kinsmen Sports Centre has been the home away from home for hundreds of high performance athletes and fitness-minded Edmontonians. It’s also been a venue for some of Canada’s most high performance sports competitions taken in by visitors from across Canada as well as local athletes. The City of Edmonton wants to maintain the Kinsmen Sports Centre’s reputation as a first class training facility and is currently looking at ways of giving the centre a fresh new look and feel that will take it into the future and we want your input. The public is invited to attend: Kinsmen Sports Centre Open House Tuesday, May 31, 2011 Kinsmen Field House 9100 Walterdale Hill 4:00pm – 8:30pm Displays, Preliminary Concepts and Presentations at 5:30 & 7:30 p.m. This is the second open house at the Kinsmen Sports Centre. Back in February of this year, the City embarked on the development of a Kinsmen Master Plan. The plan will outline the future of the Kinsmen Sports Centre, including possible renovations to the facility. In developing the plan, the City asked the public for its ideas and thoughts on what changes would make the Kinsmen Centre an even better facility. Consultants, Canon Design, took the information received through an Open House, as well as an online survey, and have recommended the following enhancements that can be seen in the design concepts provided. (Click on image to enlarge) (Click on image to enlarge) (Click on image to enlarge) The City of Edmonton is now once again asking the public to weigh in on the proposed enhancements. These are only proposed concepts and are not final. The public can view the design concepts and provide feedback through an online survey at www.edmonton.ca/kinsmensurvey or they can attend the May 31^st public open house. For more information on Edmonton’s Kinsmen Sports Centre Master Plan and to fill out the survey online please visit www.edmonton.ca/kinsmensurvey. The survey will be available online starting May 31 until 4:00 p.m. June 7. Everyone is welcome to participate. Kinsmen Centre is your facility, and you are encouraged to take part in deciding its future.

Edmonton this Week Podcast: May 28, 2011

cwebster — Mon, 30 May 2011 20:51:13 +0000

Welcome to the Edmonton this Week Podcast, an in-depth look at City of Edmonton programs and initiatives that affect your life. Each week, our host, Marvin Polis of the City of Edmonton’s Communications team, takes us inside City Hall and around Edmonton to speak to the people who operate our city. Listen to the entire show: [audio:http://www.transformingedmonton.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/ETW_Full_Show_May_28th_2011.mp3|titles=ETW_Full_Show_May_28th_2011] Listen to an interview:

On Your Bike!

Miriam — Tue, 31 May 2011 20:02:00 +0000

This summer, the City of Edmonton will install 18 km of on-street bicycle routes. The project is all part of a larger plan to create an integrated bicycle network, as envisioned in the City’s Bicycle Transportation Plan.

As part of this 2011 program, bicycle lanes and sharrows will be provided along 76 Avenue (Gateway Boulevard to Saskatchewan Drive), 106 Street (51 Avenue to Saskatchewan Drive), Saddleback Road and 97 Street (34 Avenue to 83 Avenue). Bicycle lanes are marked lanes that separate the bicycle right-of-way from motor vehicle traffic and parking. They are separated by solid white lines, and marked with an image of a bicycle and a white diamond.

Sharrows are pavement markings consisting of an image of a bicycle, capped by a pair of arrows indicating a shared use lane. The sharrows guide cyclists on the road, and remind drivers to expect cyclists in the travel lane.

Installing these new bicycle routes will encourage cycling, which is an inexpensive, healthy and environmentally friendly mode of transportation. On June 4, the project team will share the details of these bicycle routes with residents. An information kiosk will be installed at the Southgate Centre. Residents will have the opportunity to review the routes in more detail and ask questions to City staff. For further information, please visit edmonton.ca/cycling.

#AskArchivists Day in the City of Edmonton - June 9,2011

Elizabeth Walker — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 17:34:44 +0000

Have you ever wondered what goes on at the City of Edmonton Archives? Or even what an archives is? Have you ever seen a neat old building and wanted to learn more about it? Or wondered why City planners decided to build a bridge or a road where they did, or what City Council was thinking when they created a bylaw? If you’ve ever found yourself asking questions like these (or even if you haven’t until just now), and you like social media like twitter and blogs, then Thursday June 9, 2011 is your day to ask. The City of Edmonton Archives is participating in a social media event taking place on June 9^th – #AskArchivists Day! The event was dreamt up by some archivists from Denmark and The Netherlands. Archives sign up and the idea is that on June 9^th people use twitter to ask archivists questions about archives in general or a participating institution and its records in particular. Here are some links for more information: Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/AskArchivists Blog: http://askarchivists.wordpress.com/ The City of Edmonton Archives has joined and, while we are looking forward to answering questions from people around the world, we really want to talk to Edmontonians. Therefore, on June 9th the City of Edmonton twitter feed and the Transforming Edmonton blog will be dedicated to the City of Edmonton Archives from 9am to 4pm MST. We’ll be ready and waiting for your questions! If possible we'll answer through twitter but most of your questions will be addressed on the blog. If you’ve ever had any burning questions about Edmonton or archives or archivists, now’s your chance to ask. No question is too small or too big. Ok, it might be too much for us to answer completely online (like what City Council was thinking when they passed a bylaw) but we can give you some pointers on how to get started finding out. In the end our advice might be to come down to the Archives where we can help you in person but you’ll never know unless you ask.

One thing to remember, this is the Archives and our records are useful but they’re not current. So, for example, if you want to know about the downtown arena we may be able to help you about the one proposed in the 1950s, or the one in the 1970s…but don’t ask us about the one everyone’s talking about now. We have to wait a few years until the records are transferred to the Archives before we can help you with that. Archives all over the world are signing up for #AskArchivists Day (98 at time of writing) and we're hoping to create a bit of a buzz with it here in Edmonton. Archives help citizens connect with their governments and with the history of their family and communities. Find out how archives can help you and help us make history by participating in the first #AskArchivists Day on June 9^th!

Today is #AskArchivists Day at the City of Edmonton Archives!

Elizabeth Walker — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 14:55:45 +0000

I hope you’ve got your texting and/or typing fingers ready! Archivists at the City of Edmonton Archives are all set to answer your questions today until 4pm. Do you have questions on how to care for and store family records? We can give you some tips on how to deal with those old shoeboxes full of photographs and letters. Something else to consider, have e-mail inboxes replaced these old shoeboxes? How will you be able to make sure your children can access these digital treasures in the future? Or, do you have records that you don’t think you can keep but you don’t want to throw away? You might want to consider donating them to the Archives, ask us for more details. Are you trying to find out about your family history and aren’t sure where to begin? We can get you started. Maybe you have questions about archives and archivists. Did you know that records management and archives serve to keep government transparent and accountable? Ask us how. Are you wondering about career options and how to get a job in an archives? We can help you with that too. So, this is how it works. Think of a question (or two or three) and ask us!

On twitter using the hashtags #yeg and #askarchivists
Through the City of Edmonton Facebook page
By commenting on this blog post

That’s it! As for us, we’ll either:

Answer your question directly
Tell you how you can find out the answer here at the Archives.
Point you to a resource that can help answer your question

1. We’re hoping the majority of the questions asked can be answered directly through twitter, the facebook page or this blog. If you have a research question that is specific enough, we’ve got a pretty broad range of knowledge and probably can answer you right away. 2. We’re good, but even we don’t know everything. That doesn’t mean it can’t be found at the Archives though. We’ll tell you what kinds of records we have that might help answer your question and invite you to come down to the Archives (10440-108 Ave). There’s no charge to get in, parking is free, and our hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm and Wednesday from 4:30am to 8pm. We’re located in a pretty spectacular building, the Prince of Wales Armouries. 3. You might have a great question that isn’t quite in our mandate but don’t worry, there are several archives in the Edmonton area (not to mention all the great resources available online). If we can’t answer your question we’ll point you to someone we think can. We’re looking forward to your questions. #AskArchivists Day is just a condensed version of what we do everyday, we are information facilitators and we’re here for you. Edmonton This Week interview Edmonton Archives video

Edmonton this Week Podcast: June 11, 2011

cwebster — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:21:41 +0000

Welcome to the Edmonton this Week Podcast, an in-depth look at City of Edmonton programs and initiatives that affect your life. Each week, our host, Marvin Polis of the City of Edmonton’s Communications team, takes us inside City Hall and around Edmonton to speak to the people who operate our city and have big plans for its future. Listen to the entire show: [audio:http://www.transformingedmonton.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/ETW_full_show_June_11th_2011.mp3|titles=ETW_full_show_June_11th_2011] Listen to an interview:

Go Car Free to Support Active & Eco-mobility

dlaing — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 19:30:23 +0000

Many scowl at summer construction season, a time when slow downs and detours impact our regular commute to work and play. But instead of using negative energy, why not look for the up-side? I view this as an opportunity for all of us to re-think how we get around. To curb our reliance on cars and consider more eco-mobile choices that make getting around less stressful and even more enjoyable. Eco-mobility, or active transportation, is a forward moving idea that the City of Edmonton is embracing in an effort to build a more sustainable healthy city. It challenges us to look at how we travel and make eco-mobile choices like walking, cycling, or public transportation, to support the health of our city and our own health at the same time! To help you warm up to this idea and take small action steps, consider these 5 great reasons for taking on an eco-mobile lifestyle this summer.

Gets you up, out and physically active every day!
Being more active and getting outdoors more often improves mental health.
Eliminates the stress of being caught in rush hour traffic.
Active transportation is a great and easy way to reduce your risk for controllable diseases, resulting in an improved quality of life.
Pump prices!

On June 18 you are invited to Park(ed) – Car Free day! Learn how you can get eco-mobile. Lots of activities for everyone to try. Test drive a Segway, participate in an outdoor Spin class, or take a ride on the BIG Bike for Heart & Stroke! Find out more about this free family fun event at www.edmonton.ca/activedmonton Also, Check out the bike mob video below. It was organized by Active Edmonton as a way to raise awareness of alternative, eco-transportation and it was a big success. You can definitely cram a lot more bikes than cars into a regular parking stall. Read more info on the Park(ed) handbill

#AskArchivists Day – Success!

Elizabeth Walker — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 19:14:07 +0000

On behalf of the City of Edmonton Archives, thank you to everyone who participated in #AskArchivists Day on June 9^th! Globally there were 7,476 tweets and 1,698 twitterers for #AskArchivists Day, full details can be found here. We were pretty busy and the event ended up stretching over a couple of days for us as we found more questions to answer. There were 3 questions asked on the City of Edmonton Facebook page, 15 on our blog posts and 19 through twitter. Of the twitter questions, we answered 9 directly on twitter and 10 on our blog post of the day. Questions ranged from requests for advice on how to find information and about what types of research is done at the Archives, to research questions about buildings, genealogy and communities. There was also a lot of other activity on twitter. We were posting tweets about the event both leading up to and throughout the day, most of which were retweeted. My favorite exchange was a retweet of one of our posts (City archivists will be standing by on AskArchivists Day - June 9^th) that someone sent to a friend, who replied “what the heck is AskArchivists Day? Sounds rad!” While this didn’t generate a question as far as I can tell, we got them talking, which was one of the goals of the day. #AskArchivists Day was a lot of fun for all of us here at the City of Edmonton Archives and we had to sit down to recover our breath at the end of the day, even the bunnies…

Stay tuned for the next #AskArchivists Day but you don’t have to save your questions until then. We answer questions all the time! You can ask us at cms.archives@edmonton.ca or at 780-496-8711

Edmonton this Week Podcast: June 18, 2011

cwebster — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:18:58 +0000

City of Edmonton and IBM work towards smarter urban traffic safety

cwebster — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:38:09 +0000

Back in March, the City of Edmonton was chosen among 24 cities worldwide to be part of IBM's Smarter Cities Challenge - an initiative that recognizes cities that are revolutionizing the way they use data and technology to overcome infrastructure challenges and bring benefit to residents. Being a part of this exclusive high-tech partnership means that Edmonton received $400,000 worth of consulting from the American technology giant. And for three weeks in May, a team of technical experts, researchers and consultants in transportation and business intelligence spent three weeks with City staff brainstorming what Edmonton's future could look like. The conclusion? according to the Smarter Cities Challenge team, The City of Edmonton is well-positioned to be a global leader in smarter urban traffic safety. The team looked at how to improve the integration, analysis and transmission of data that can be used for decision making across the City, with a specific focus on traffic safety issues and prioritization of road safety initiatives. Its report makes a number of recommendations regarding an integrated and safer transportation network for all modes: freight, transit, road, cyclist and pedestrian. “Being named a 2011 IBM Smarter Cities Challenge grant recipient recognizes Edmonton's place as a global leader,” says Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel. “This means that the City of Edmonton, with the support of industry experts, will use data to make our streets safer and flow more efficiently. We are starting with traffic safety as a priority that is of utmost importance to our citizens, but the applications of this project are city-wide.” Other recommendations from the team include:

Empower citizens with more timely traffic safety and transportation information via social media;

Simplify performance measurements and align traffic safety measures to corporate outcomes;

Create an Analytics Centre of Excellence to support a Road Safety data governance model and analytics leadership across the organization;

Strengthen the governance and accountability of the City’s Office of Traffic Safety;

Further support open government and open data for traffic safety and transportation.

According to Bernie Kollman, IBM vice president, Alberta Public Sector, “Our cities are challenged by rapid urbanization, aging infrastructure and disconnected systems. Cities are finding creative new ways to collaborate with public and private sector partners, and IBM’s Smarter Cities Challenge is one of those opportunities. Edmonton is well placed to reach its urban traffic safety and transportation vision. The City has a strong culture of innovation and progressive citizen-focused services and has made significant investments in state-of-the-art road safety instrumentation.” With the direction set, the City of Edmonton will continue to look at new ways of using technology and open data to collaborate with residents and transform the way we move in our city. It certainly feels like an exciting time. The IBM Smarter Cities Challenge is a competitive grant program in which IBM is awarding a total of $50 million worth of technology and services to 100 municipalities worldwide over the next three years.

Royalty Exhibits at the City of Edmonton Archives

Elizabeth Walker — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:41:53 +0000

Since everyone is talking about the royal tour, I thought I would too. The City of Edmonton Archives has put together a couple of exhibits in honour of the first visit of state of newlyweds William and Kate. We teamed up with the Loyal Edmonton Regiment Military Museum, also located in the Prince of Wales Armouries, to create a display in the Archives’ reference room. Everyone is welcome to come and see it, there is no charge and parking is free. [caption id="attachment_1836" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="A 1918 letter from George V."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1837" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Detail of a ceremonial officer’s sword with a decorative “GVR” (King George V) hilt."][/caption] Our contributions to the display come from MS-106 Their Majesties’ Royal Collection which is a collection of everything from signatures to commemorative mugs. Although the royal couple is not coming to Edmonton on this tour, we’ve had our fair share of royal visitors. In addition to the display in the reference room, our photograph archivist also put together a rotating virtual exhibit of photographs from past visits. It’s on the homepage of our catalogue and I’m adding some of my favorites here. [caption id="attachment_1834" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Prince Charles and Princess Diana dressed in period clothes for their day at Fort Edmonton Park in 1983."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1835" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Prince Charles and Princess Diana dressed in period clothes for their day at Fort Edmonton Park in 1983."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1841" align="alignnone" width="200" caption="Queen Elizabeth II has visited Edmonton several times. In 1978 she was here for the Commonwealth Games and this photograph of her and Mayor Cec Purves was probably taken at the old City Hall."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1842" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="I love this, the Queen…in hot pink!! She and Prime Minister Trudeau are at a Commonwealth Games event."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1839" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="This photograph is from 1951 (when she was still a princess). She is shaking hands with Edmonton Eskimos captain Dick Huffman and Winnipeg Bluebombers captain Frank Filchock."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1840" align="alignnone" width="198" caption="Here is King George VI and the Queen Mum (Queen Elizabeth), demonstrating the royal wave, during their 1939 visit."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1838" align="alignnone" width="252" caption="And finally, here is a very dapper Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VIII, in 1919. With him is Colonel T.C. Sims (no, it’s not Hitler!)."][/caption]

Transit Oriented Development: A change in the everyday way

Janice Chan — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 18:54:13 +0000

Meet Edmontonian Deanna Crozier and her family. They’ve lived in what is now called the Century Park area of south Edmonton since the early 1990s, in a townhouse development on Saddleback Road near 23rd Avenue. Like most suburban families in “outlying” areas as it was then, they drove everywhere – to work, to school, for shopping, for entertainment. In 1990, the LRT consisted only of the underground downtown stations and the northeast line past Commonwealth Stadium, the Coliseum, and on to Belvedere and Clareview. Out of sight and largely out of mind for south-side dwellers. Eventually the LRT did make it across the river to the University of Alberta. Then, plans were announced to demolish the old and largely empty Heritage Mall on 111th Street and replace it with a new, urban development to be called Century Park. This new development would feature low- and high-rise residential apartments and condominiums, but also shopping, services and public parks and plazas. Deanna says she and her family watched with interest and curiosity as the LRT finally reached Century Park, not far to the north and east of their home. They weren’t really sure what kind of impact it would have on them, if any, other than dealing with an LRT line and crossing points along 111th Street. “As it turns out, it was the answer to all of our dreams that we didn’t even know we had,” says Deanna. “I would not have dreamed we would be so positive about the LRT, but you don’t really appreciate how convenient it is, and, I know this sounds a little over the top, how life changing it is once it is there." Deanna’s husband is a theatre technician and working on major productions requires him to be at venues like the Jubilee Auditorium, the Citadel and Winspear Theatres, the Milner Theatre at the Library and Rexall Place to name a few. He quickly found that the new LRT line can get him to all of those venues with no problems – spring, summer, fall and winter. “He used to drive everywhere,” says Deanna. “Now his car basically doesn’t move. He takes the LRT everywhere.” He doesn’t have to fight traffic, pay for parking, or worry about plugging in and the other issues that driving to work used to pose for him. Likewise, Deanna’s daughter is in university and works part time at the Jubilee Auditorium. The LRT is convenient and easy to catch for both places, but she also uses it regularly to meet friends at Southgate Mall or downtown, and travel to other appointments. Deanna herself works at a location on the south side that isn’t on or near an LRT line, so she still drives to and from work. “But I never drive to meetings downtown anymore, I always take the LRT,” she says. “And we use it for everything else. For example, before the LRT was here if we went out for dinner or a movie, we mostly drove somewhere on the south side. Now we’re much more likely to hop on the LRT and go downtown.” Deanna says her family doesn’t even use the Century Park Park N’ Ride much. In the summer, they will walk or take their bicycles to the station, while in winter or bad weather, they take a short walk to 23rd Avenue where they can catch a ride on one of many passing buses that connect to Century Park. “It is really a different way of living. I just wouldn’t have dreamt that this would happen in our neighbourhood and how truly great it would be,” says Deanna. It’s not surprising then that Deanna is a huge supporter of LRT expansion in general, and also of more Transit Oriented Development around new stations. She also is very supportive of the draft TOD Guidelines that the City have developed and have been gathering public feedback on for the past couple of months. Deanna and her family have now experienced TOD first hand, and she knows how great it can be. As LRT expands in Edmonton, I look forward to hearing many more stories like Deanna’s!

Edmonton's New Open Data Catalogue!

acasovan — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:30:28 +0000

We're growing. On January 13, 2010 Edmonton was officially the fourth municipality in Canada to launch an Open Data Catalogue. Driven by community interest and a passion for innovation, several amazing Information Technology and Corporate Communications employees worked together to create data.edmonton.ca.

Since the launch of the open data catalogue in early 2010, we have received a lot of feedback from City of Edmonton business areas, and external stakeholders. The feedback we have received has been incredibly supportive and helpful for us to grow Edmonton's Open Gov initiative. We've listened. After spending several months collecting requirements from different business areas in the City, and key community members, it was clear we needed to create a new open data catalogue that was more useable, accessible and provided up-to-date data feeds. We are really excited about this new open data catalogue! It allows users to easily visualize the data, request a data set, discuss the data sets, and much more. Throughout the month of July, we are working really hard to get up more data sets including:

Traffic count data
Collision data
Historical municipal census data
Council meeting minute data

With the new site finally up and running! We are now shifting our focus to collecting more data sets to provide to you! In the spirit of being open, here's a list of all the data sets that we are currently working on posting. If you don't see what you are looking for, please send us a request through our new catalogue. We'd love to hear your thoughts on the new data catalogue. Comment on this post, or e-mail us at opendata@edmonton.ca.

Weeding out our worst offenders

Ryan Pleckaitis — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:39:59 +0000

Summer’s in full swing, and so is the City of Edmonton’s fight against some of our worst offenders: noxious weeds. In fact, this year, the City's Community Standards Branch is doing more to hunt down these invasive plants. We’ve increased our staff to nine dedicated weed inspectors. They are responsible not only for responding to citizen complaints, but also for proactively identifying and addressing noxious weed infestations on private and City-owned land. Inspectors have issued over 2500 weed notices so far this year and we’re only just heading in to our busiest time of the growing season! These notices are valid for the entire growing season. Inspectors will check back on properties with weed notices and can have them mowed anytime it's needed. Mowing costs are added to the owner's property tax bill. Weed notice recipients can avoid having to pay any mowing costs through regular and ongoing maintenance of their property right up until the end of the season. We’re also running the Wanted: Noxious Weeds campaign to raise awareness about preventing the spread of these invasive plant species. As part of the campaign, we’ve placed a few common noxious weeds on our “most wanted” list: So what can Edmontonians do to help in the fight against noxious weeds? It's simple. When the grass gets long, it's time to bring out the mower. Cutting weeds not only helps prevent their spread, but also helps to improve the appearance of our properties and is in keeping with good community standards. Of course, the most effective method of weed control is to pull the weeds out right by the root. That's why our campaign slogan is: "Mow ‘em down, pull 'em up and move 'em out!” In the Community Standards Branch, we recognize that most Edmontonians take a great deal of pride in their properties, and work hard to maintain them. We appreciate their continued contribution to preventing the spread of noxious weeds and keeping Edmonton looking its best. For more information visit: www.edmonton.ca/wantedweeds

A sea of pink...

BobDixon — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:01:55 +0000

The Muttart Conservatory is one of Edmonton’s most iconic landmarks, offering a year-round escape into the beauty of the world’s plant life. As a grower at the Muttart Conservatory, it’s my job to create and maintain that beauty for the enjoyment of citizens and visitors.

[caption id="attachment_1903" align="aligncenter" width="473" caption="Bob Dixon, Feature Pyramid Grower, Muttart Conservatory"][/caption] Three of the four pyramids at the Muttart represent different biomes of the world – temperate, tropical and arid. The fourth is the Feature Pyramid which changes several times during the year to provide new experiences for visitors and highlight different seasons and themes. Designing the Feature Pyramid shows is always a labour of love, but this summer’s show, Pretty in Pink… Who Are You Thinking Of ?, is so much more… My sister’s name was Linda May Dixon, and at Christmas time in 2008 she called me to let me know she’d been diagnosed with breast cancer. I was blown out of the water. I have a friend who told me that diagnosis of breast cancer isn’t an automatic death sentence – that there is room for hope. So I gave my sister what confidence and solace I could from long distance. She started her chemotherapy in February of 2009. She called me in September to say that she was having a double mastectomy, and she wasn’t expected to do well. But she came through with flying colours. At Christmas time, she had an operation to remove all of her lymph nodes. She came through that one fine. And then her doctor called me in February of 2010 to let me know that they had done a brain scan and had found multiple tumors on both sides. On June 1st of last year, my sister died. A month later I started a new role as the Feature Pyramid grower. One of the first jobs I was given was to design the 2011 summer show. Normally when we design a show, we look at new products from the plant-breeders, choosing new flowers and novelties we hope the public will like. We come up with a theme, and we put it all together.

But this time, the theme wasn’t coming. My mind was filled with thoughts of my sister. I couldn’t concentrate on designing the show. Every time I turned on the radio somebody was racing for the cure or selling a pink kitchen gadget. I would get a quarter in my change and there would be a pink ribbon on it. And I realized just how prevalent this disease was and how many people it affected. I looked around the pyramid and pictured hundreds of flowers, and I thought – What if they were all pink? It could represent all the women – and men – who have ever fought this disease or been touched by it. It was a celebration of the victory over breast cancer and a memorial tribute for those who had not won their battle. Then I thought of a title: “Pretty in Pink.” It was an old Molly Ringwald movie. It’s flowers. They’re pretty. They’re pink. But the other half of the title – “Who Are You Thinking Of?” – that too was personal. I pictured visitors coming up the ramp, seeing all these hundreds of blossoms, and I thought of my sister, Linda. I wanted other people to experience that – to visit the show and think of their friends and loved ones, here and gone. I hope I have succeeded. The ribbon rising from the floor of the pyramid represents the spirit, if you will, of the Breast Cancer Foundation, rising like our hopes that this disease will be beaten.

“Pretty in Pink… Who Are You Thinking Of?” runs from June 25 to October 2 at the Muttart Conservatory. Bob Dixon, Feature Pyramid Grower, Muttart Conservatory

Technology at the heart of Edmonton's Smart City status

cmoore — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 17:08:37 +0000

Edmonton has joined the ranks of the few Smart Cities in the world. That doesn’t mean we’ve arrived and all the hard work is over, but we’re making gains. Throughout the world the label Smart City has become synonymous with innovation, collaboration, high quality of life, strong infrastructure and savvy urban planning. Cities like Stockholm, Sweden; Curtibia, Brazil; Seattle, Washington and Monterrey, Mexico are considered Smart Cities. Earlier this year, Edmonton was one of only 24 cities worldwide to earn IBM’s Smarter Cities award grant. From my perspective, it really validated my strong belief that technology is and will continue to be at the heart of our transformation.

Last summer we published an Open Data Catalogue and offered Canada’s first Apps4Edmonton competition for anyone in the region with an interest in developing municipal applications for smart phones, mobile devices and PC web browsers. I blogged about this last October in The Gift that Keeps Giving. From the competition, 32 new applications were developed and work continues to bring on new data applications that benefit all of us in Edmonton. You can now download from your smart phone apps that give out listings of all restaurant inspections, the times of buses and any delays, bike paths throughout the City, Fringe Festival activities and the list goes on. The City’s Transportation Branch relies on technology to encourage more people to use public transit and enhance the rider experience. In February 2011, City Council approved the Branch’s Smart Bus Pilot Project that will give users real-time schedule information, and offer transit officials immediate data on service problems and security issues. In making the experience for people using public transit easy and friendly, ridership increases and we further establish our reputation as a green city. And Transportation’s efforts are paying off. From 2000 to 2009, the percentage of people using public transit increased by 60 per cent.

The IBM Smarter Cities team also recognized the Transportation Branch’s innovative use of technology in positioning Edmonton to be a global leader in smarter urban traffic safety. Through Wireless Edmonton, our city has more than 20 areas where you can connect to the internet using your mobile device. Last May, the City’s Great Neighbourhood initiative held a Connections 2011 event for all residents to find out more about what the City is doing. For the first time, residents could attend in person or connect online. We have just begun to explore what information technology can do for Edmonton. Plans are underway to bring on Cloud computing -- obtaining and storing information through the internet -- to increase collaboration among City employees and residents, improve access to services and over time avoid major costs in new technology applications. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to go into Google mail and create a personal account. The benefits from this tool that resides in the Cloud are amazing. As you can see, the City of Edmonton already has a strong foundation of technology to build a Smart City. I am totally confident we will continue to build on that foundation. What do you think about the direction in which we are headed? Do you agree that technology should play a critical role in the transformation taking place at the City? Let us know.

How to double sustainability with LRT

Jennifer Rubuliak — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:06:14 +0000

Construction of the North LRT to NAIT is well underway. Crews have been working hard during the 2011 construction season, removing buildings, relocating utilities, and, most significantly, relocating roads such as Kingsway. The project is on schedule to open to public service in April 2014. Obviously there’s lots of work planned between now and then. When the North LRT opens to service it will provide sustainable transportation options to thousands of Edmontonians, but as construction progresses the City and its contractors are always exploring ways to make North LRT construction as sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible. So far the City has found a few ways to enhance sustainability during construction:

Asphalt and concrete Asphalt removed from Kingsway and other roadworks is used as dust-free; clean surfacing for construction lay-down areas around the North LRT project. Excess material is recycled at the City’s aggregate recycling facility.

Buildings The City avoids removing buildings for its capital projects as much as possible, but several buildings had to be removed from the North LRT right-of-way. Whenever feasible, houses are relocated rather than demolished (four houses were saved from the North LRT project). Materials such as wood, brick, concrete, steel and other metals from demolished buildings are recycled. Approximately 90 per cent of material from the removed buildings was retrieved through this process.

Alternative Transportation A multi-use trail will be built adjacent to the North LRT in accordance with the City’s strategic plans, The Way We Move and The Way We Green. Both plans encourage people to use motor vehicles less and increase use of active modes of transportation (such as cycling, running and walking) and of transit.

Trees Saving as many trees as possible is part of the City’s mandate. Trees obstructing the LRT right-of-way are relocated as often as possible; trees that can’t be relocated are removed, but the wood from the trees is donated to grade school landscape projects and artworks. Leftover organic material is chipped for use in tree wells throughout Edmonton, or mulched and composted.

Landscape Extensive landscaping is incorporated into the North LRT design, to add green space and trees to Edmonton’s urban form.

Water Design of the future MacEwan Station allows rainwater to be collected and used for irrigation. LRT operation alone accomplishes sustainability initiatives. Once the North LRT to NAIT is in full operation it’s expected to add approximately 13,200 weekday riders to Edmonton's LRT network. Ridership will continue to grow exponentially as Edmonton continues to grow and the LRT extends further west, northwest, northeast, south and southeast. Building and growing a sustainable city requires careful consideration of reusing and recycling whenever possible. As Edmonton continues to grow the City and its contractors have a responsibility to be ever conscious about the future – not only of Edmonton, but of the planet as a whole. Recycling is only one of the many steps people can take to practice environmentalism. To learn more about Edmonton’s environmental strategic plan, visit www.edmonton.ca/thewaywegreen. To learn about various recycling programs in Edmonton, visit www.edmonton.ca/recycling

Summer Fun in Edmonton: A History of Outdoor Pools

Elizabeth Walker — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 19:24:37 +0000

The History Hunters summer daycamp is happening at the Archives this week and it has me thinking about what kids do in Edmonton in the summer and what it’s like to grow up here (I’m also partially inspired by the Archives Society of Alberta theme for last year’s Archives Week; Growing Up Albertan). My idea of summer is biased towards swimming as I spent as much time in water as I could as a child, and it seems an appropriate focus given the rich history of Edmonton’s pools and with the re-opening of the Queen Elizabeth Pool in its new location.

There are a number of excellent wading pools in Edmonton today (at City Hall and on the Legislature Grounds for example). The Archives has several photographs of early wading pools. [caption id="attachment_1965" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Wading pool in Borden Park in 1913"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1968" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Wading pool c.1920, I love the sailboats!! "][/caption] Edmonton really shone when it came to pools however (and still does with facilities like the new Terwillegar Community Rec Centre). In 1917 a pool was created in Mill Creek Ravine by building a dam across the creek because “Ponds and small lakes in and about the City are not suitable for bathing purposes, and the river, as past experience has proven, is very dangerous.” (RG 8.10, Special Committee Reports, File 62.) The first full swimming pool was the Queen Elizabeth Pool (aka South Side, Riverside, and Tipton Park) which opened on August 2, 1922. Borden Park Pool (East End) and Oliver Pool (West End) quickly followed; both opened in 1924. There was a need for them (as noted above) due to the lack of ‘watering holes’ in the area and the dangers of swimming in the North Saskatchewan River. Looking at the newspapers of the day, Edmontonians were obviously very proud of these pools and attendance was high. Despite this the pools ran at a deficit but the City Engineer justified this in a December 1927 memo: These Pools have become a very important part of Edmonton’s summer recreation facilities and as a result the standard of Swimming and diving which has been developed among the younger people is remarkable, and in addition to this, the benefits of health and contentment in my opinion, far outweigh any small deficit. Admission in 1927 was .10¢ for juniors, .05¢ on school days, and .25¢ for adults. Season passes for juniors was $5 and $9 for adults. A 1935 newspaper article reports that in 1934 the combined attendance of the three pools was 115,079 of which 102,666 were juniors. According to the municipal census, the population of Edmonton in 1934 was 79,773. The innovative design of the pools was recognized in the April 1925 Municipal Improvements Magazine. They particularly admired the filtration system, the way concrete was used, and the long term thinking that went into the design as careful consideration was given to minimizing the damage from frost heaving. The Archives has the original blueprints for all three pools. The new pools did have some controversy at first. A July 14, 1924 City Council meeting heard a delegation lead by Mrs. P. S. Poston, Ernie Walker and Rich. Cross “protesting against the order excluding colored people from the swimming pools.” The order restricting access had been put in place by the commissioners in 1923. Council ruled “That the order excluding colored people from the Swimming Pools be rescinded and the same rules apply to colored as to white people.” (I took these quotes from the City Council meeting minutes. Also, a copy of the letter the delegation sent to Council was printed in the July 12, 1924 edition of the Bulletin). [caption id="attachment_1973" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="This photograph is from the 1920s but we’re not sure which pool it is as they were all based on the same plan. I like the fence crenellations."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1975" align="aligncenter" width="456" caption="This 1927 swimming certificate gives an idea of how swimming was taught in Edmonton"][/caption] A May 26, 1936 article reported on the ongoing debate about whether men should be allowed to bare their chests while swimming or wear full suits like the one worn by the man on the diving board in the photograph beow. At the time, full suits were required. The Borden Park roller coaster seen in the background was built in 1915 and dismantled in 1935 due to safety concerns. We have several photographs of the pool with the roller coaster in the background and it does look a bit rickety. The Archives has a 1929 contract to lease the land “in occupation by a certain Roller Coaster erected therein being approximately One Hundred Feet by Four Hundred and Seventy-five feet.” (Contract #1384, July 17, 1929). [caption id="attachment_1978" align="aligncenter" width="289" caption="Borden Park Pool c. 1932"][/caption] Beginning in the mid-1980s the City planned on closing the aging Queen Elizabeth Pool due to the rising costs of maintaining it (let alone upgrading it). The importance of the pool to Edmontonians can be seen by how the community rallied again and again to save it until cracks and leaks finally forced its closure in 2004. However, with help from the Federal Government, a new Queen Elizabeth Pool is now open in a new location in Kinsmen Park. Of course, this is just scratching the surface of summer fun in Edmonton. I didn’t even look at summer camps, church events, or the very popular Klondike Days. I had a hard time choosing photographs because there are so many great ones. If you’d like to see more, go to our online catalogue and search using keywords like summer, pool, playground, etc. Better yet, if you can, come to the Archives. We have even more photographs to look at in our reference room. And please feel free to share your summer memories through the comments section. On a side note, I have noticed that many early Edmonton photographs have a dog in them somewhere, see if you can spot them in the photographs I’ve put up today (there are two). Unless otherwise noted, information in this post came from the City of Edmonton Archives clippings files. City of Edmonton Archives Follow Edmonton Outdoor Pools on Facebook

60 Years at Riverside Golf Course: A Diamond in the Rough

cbangel — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 20:02:09 +0000

Regarded as one of the best municipal courses in the world, Riverside Golf Course is celebrating 60 years of exceptional golf played alongside river valley creatures and ball-thieving squirrels. Officially opened in 1951, Riverside was built on the site of the old Dawson Mine which provided Edmonton's coal for many years. In fact, many of the numerous dips in Riverside's fairways are the result of the settling of the mine's tunnels, giving golfers a slightly new challenge year after year. Norm Seehagen, who has played at Riverside Golf Course since its opening, told the Edmonton Journal in an interview, "Two weeks after the sod was put down we were playing golf." "The course was longer and much narrower than it is now," Nick Balash, 82, told the Journal. "And the rough was a lot thicker."

Riverside was such a favorite in its early years that its original golfers, called the Riverside Rats, lined up at 2 a.m on Thursdays to get tee times for the weekend. The dedicated golfers would pitch tents and camp out in sleeping bags. The calibre of golf at Riverside has produced many professional golfers over the years. And not to be forgetten, the Riverside Ladies, were not to be out done by the men. In the spring of 1954 Mrs. Paris Willey (wife of the Head Professional at Riverside) organized 14 women to start the Riverside Ladies’ Club. The Ladies League hosted the Edmonton Open Golf Tournament in 1956 and has been members of the Edmonton, Alberta and Canadian Ladies’ Golf Associations since inception of the club. "This place is filled with stories," says Bob Weatherby in an interview with the Edmonton Journal. One such story is the claim that Riverside member, John Elligott was golfing with his wife Ruth, ( President of the Ladies League in 1969 and 1970) his daughter Barbara, (active member of the Ladies club) and his son John Junior, when the family foursome completed a feat few could imagine. They scored a hole in one, birdie, par and a bogey to give them a 1,2,3,4 on their scorecard.

If you’d like to become part of the Riverside Golf Course’s history, golf challenges and special pricing will be available the week of August 22, 2011, in celebration of Riverside’s 60^th anniversary. So lace up your golf shoes, throw your golf bag over your shoulder and come down to Riverside Golf Course and see what the City of Edmonton has to offer.

Edmonton this Week Podcast: Sept. 10, 2011

cwebster — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:54:13 +0000

Listen on iTunes

Listen to an interview:

Back to School with City Hall School

Towards a greener future: The Way We Green

Late Night Bus Service Pilot

The Edmonton This Week radio show airs every Saturday at 7:30 am and 6:00 pm on 630 CHED. Please leave your thoughts and comments below, but note that it may take time to answer specific questions.

Summer Fun in Edmonton (Part 2)

Elizabeth Walker — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:38:18 +0000

My summer fun post became a two-parter, so if you were looking for the dogs in my last post and could only find one it’s because one of them is in these photographs. I apologize for any confusion caused. The first post was all about pools because of my love of water but, apart from swimming, I also remember spending hours on swings and climbing all over equipment in playgrounds. The Gryo Club of Edmonton was formed in 1921 and built the first playground parks in the City. They funded the playgrounds through annual carnivals and members also maintained the parks and supervised them from May to August each year until the City assumed responsibility for them. We have photographs available online but, unfortunately, finding aids for the Gyro Club records held at the Archives aren’t online yet (we’re working on it!). However, they are available in our reference room if you can come to the Archives. We have everything from a masterplan of their wading pools to committee papers and scrapbooks. The first Gyro Park opened in August, 1922 in Patricia Square (now Giovanni Caboto Park) and Gyro Park #3 (now Tipton Park) received an Edmonton Historical Board plaque in 1981. It opened on June 21, 1924 and some of the original slides (like the one in the photograph below) were still being used when the plaque was awarded. They were huge! [caption id="attachment_2023" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="May Day in the 1920s"][/caption] Some of the children are holding sailboats so they may have just come from the wading pool pictured in the last post. [caption id="attachment_2025" align="aligncenter" width="384" caption="Another Gyro Park, July, 1948"][/caption] Finally, here’s a nod to a couple of other sports popular in Edmonton, let me know if I missed any that you think should be included (who knows, I may be able to put together a third post): I found a few summer baseball pictures but this is my favorite so I chose it even though it’s from March, 1949. Some of the kids are more interested in the camera than the game… I don’t have much information on this photograph. Do you know where this is? Please comment if you do. City of Edmonton Archives cms.archives[at]edmonton.ca (replace [at] with @) 10440-108 Ave (780) 496-8711 M-F 8:30am-4pm Th 8:30am-8pm

Broadcasting vet brings passionate new voice to City radio

cwebster — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 16:11:23 +0000

Edmonton, I'd like to introduce you to Wade Sorochan. Though chances are you've already met. After 30 years interviewing city residents, celebs and politicians on Edmonton’s airwaves, Wade’s become a respected voice and passionate spokesperson for being informed and getting involved in civic affairs. That’s why we’re happy to welcome him as the new host of Edmonton This Week, our weekly radio show and podcast which starts its new season this Saturday, September 10, on 630 CHED (7:30 am and 6 pm). I sat down with Wade to chat about his time as a broadcaster in Edmonton and why he thinks Edmonton this Week is an important way for people to stay informed and get involved. Tell me a little about your time as a broadcaster in Edmonton. Well, I was born and raised in Edmonton so have been fortunate to spend my whole career here. I started in radio back in 1980 when got my first break on CJCA’s Bill & Bill Show, which was then the top rated talk show in Alberta. I worked for a while behind the scenes then became a feature on the program, nicknamed “The Tone Arm” because of my knowledge of music and how I used music to enhance the show, which at the time was not really done in the talk show industry in North America. I love talk and information radio and I eventually hosted my own talk show on CJCA called Life Talk With Wade Sorochan, which was similar to The Bill & Bill show in that it was really a two and a half hour free-for-all. We had guests like celebrities and experts, but I really just wanted to let Albertans talk about whatever they wanted to talk about. In the end, the show became very successful as one of Edmonton’s most interactive radio shows. What are the ingredients for a great interview? First it comes down to what makes a good interviewer: Someone who is a good listener, who is very inquisitive and knows the subject inside and out. If you have those qualities, your guest will feel comfortable responding to the questions and you'll be prepared for a line of questioning that may arise that you didn't plan on. You have to always be thinking about what the listener might want to know and try to provide that information through the interview. What drew you to the City’s Edmonton this Week radio show on CHED? I’ve always thought the show was a great vehicle for people to learn what’s going on in the city and about the programs and initiatives the City is constantly working to provide. People don’t get a lot of opportunity to go behind-the-scenes and hear from the people who actually work to make Edmonton a world class city. There’s so much amazing work being done all the time and I think the more people learn, the more they will be proud of their city and the more they’ll get involved. What do you hope listeners take away from the new season of Edmonton this Week? They should take away the fact that this city is not stagnant. Especially these days you can almost feel it moving forward like a freight train; moving to be a leader in so many different areas – technology, transportation, economic revitalization. And when you hear that you think: ‘Wow, the City is really doing something for me here.’ When people get complacent I believe it’s because of a lack of knowledge. This show gives you that knowledge of what the City is doing and then hopefully you’ll understand that they’re doing it for you. To make your life better in the city that you live in. I hope we can really get to that this season. One addition I’m excited for this season is a new chance to provide feedback on topics and suggestions for the show through email. People can get in touch with the show at etw[at]edmonton.ca (replace [at] with @) and let us know what they want to hear more of on the show. We really want the show to be timely with what’s happening this week. Hence, the title “Edmonton this Week” I guess (laughs). What keeps you living and working in Edmonton after all these years? I just love this city. Like everyone I gripe about the weather, but you know what? I have so much to be thankful for in Edmonton. My roots are here, my family, and when I look around at the growth and really feel the rhythms of the city there’s amazing things happening all around. The more I stay informed, the more I really delve into what’s going on in the city, the more I’m invested in it. It becomes more than just a city. It becomes my city. And that’s an important feeling to have. I hope that I can bring some of that passion to my time as the host of Edmonton this Week. The Edmonton This Week radio show airs every Saturday at 7:30 am and 6:00 pm on 630 CHED. Edmonton this Week is also available on iTunes Please leave your thoughts and comments below, or email the show at etw[at]edmonton.ca

Licensed Cats Come Back

Sarah Croll — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:11:14 +0000

Animal Care & Control Officers like me see a lot more lost cats during the warmer months. Sadly, many of these cats don’t make it home. Only 9 per cent of lost and stray cats are reclaimed by their owners at the City’s Animal Care & Control Centre. Many of these cats would have made it home if they were wearing a pet licence. A licence makes it easy for us to contact the owner if their cat is found. It’s also the law: failure to obtain a licence for your cat could result in a $250 fine. Make sure your cat is always wearing its licence. Even if it’s an indoor cat. All it takes is an open door or window for your indoor cat to slip out and get lost. It’s also a really good idea to tattoo or microchip your cat. These forms of permanent identification allow your animal to be identified should it come to the Animal Care and Control Centre. Be sure to update your contact information regularly as an animal’s identification is no good if the phone number is out of service!

The City of Edmonton currently has an education campaign to remind cat and dog owners of their responsibilities. Animal Care and Control Officers are also patrolling Edmonton to promote responsible pet ownership. Learn more at www.edmonton.ca/pets. Watch a video about the City's Animal Care and Control Centre.

Koko and Lala are grandparents! New Red Panda cub thriving at Edmonton Valley Zoo

Mary Lou Reeleder — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:04:04 +0000

The Edmonton Valley Zoo has a tradition when it comes to naming animals. The zoo staff member who first sees a baby has the privilege of naming the new arrival. When Sandy Helliker looked through the nest box camera on August 1, she was the first to glimpse the zoo’s latest Red Panda cub. She named the baby Qiji, which means “miracle” in Mandarin. Sandy, the Animal Care Team Lead at the Edmonton Valley Zoo, has hand-raised seven Red Pandas born at the zoo but this time mother Pip is doing all of the parenting. I asked Sandy a few questions about Qiji and her mom. What makes Qiji so special? What makes Qiji so special is that her mother, Pip, who was hand raised, is successfully rearing her offspring. That’s a real accomplishment for us for a couple of reasons. First, it means our breeding program is successful and second, we know we are providing Pip with everything she needs to feel comfortable enough to do the mothering on her own. That’s a real accomplishment with a hand-raised animal. The zoo has produced a number of cubs over the years and Pip is the first cub of all of the cubs that has successfully produced any offspring. On top of that, she is raising the cub on her own, which we are very proud of. How is baby panda doing? At about seven weeks old, Qiji is doing incredibly well. Mom has been taking excellent care of her – doing everything she should. Qiji has been showing just exactly the same type of weight gain as the hand-raised cubs (we don’t do a lot of hands-on work right now, the only time we touch the baby is to weigh her) and developing at the same rate as the hand-raised cubs. Qiji still eats and sleeps a lot but she is getting more active. We have a nest box camera so we can watch what she’s doing and we see her starting to get a little more active. She is starting to play with her feet, she is laying on her back and rolling around. She seems to be progressing physically and mentally exactly like she should. She was a milky chocolate colour when she was born. Her colour has started to darken up and she is starting to get a little bit of red tinge to her hair. Mom continues to nurse her. Baby pandas are usually weaned between 7.5 – 8 months. Where is Qiji living? In a nest box that’s about 1.5 feet wide, 3 feet long and 1.5 feet tall. It has a little vestibule and two openings; one on the top and one on the side. The nest box is dark because in the wild the nest would be dark. We have an infrared camera to observe the pandas in the nest box, which is really an invaluable tool in our day to day care. The main nest box is inside the non-public area of the enclosure but we have put other nest boxes in a few places in the yard because in the wild Red Pandas change nest boxes when they move around looking for food. How would you describe Pip as a mom? It is really amazing watching Pip because she is doing such an awesome job. For example, when she decides it’s time for the baby to nurse, she will pick Qiji up, lay on her side and put Qiji on her tummy for feeding. It is really neat for us to see that type of behaviour. We have never had a mother panda that has actually raised her own young so we are learning as well. Pip is very attentive, caring, doing everything she should. She is still protective but she is letting us do what we need to do to ensure the baby is doing well and that she is doing well. Can people see the baby panda? It’s hard to predict whether a visitor will see Qiji. Two weeks ago, Pip started taking Qiji outside the nest box for the first time, and then people could get a glimpse of her. Typically pandas don’t take their babies out of the nest box until they are about 90 days old. But it was unusually hot for that time of year and Pip starting taking the baby outside. We took precautions – no road traffic, no construction near the enclosure – so we didn’t disturb them. Now that we know she is doing okay we are relaxing some of those restrictions. You are asking zoo visitors to help collect information about the pandas? Yes, as long as the weather is suitable, we’ll have a log book by the enclosure for people to make observations and write about what they see. If Pip and Qiji aren’t out in the yard, then just log the time that you were there and that the pandas weren’t visible in the yard. If you see Pip outside in the yard by herself, log it. If you see Pip in the yard nursing the baby, write that in the book. People can give us some very important information by just logging what they see going on in the yard. If people say Pip took the baby into one nest box and then moved her to another nest box, then we will learn what nest box she may like using and which ones she may not like using. How will the information from the log book help you? We will learn more about the pandas’ behaviour, particularly when zookeepers aren’t around. Animals can act differently when we’re around compared to when the public is around. Sometimes when animals hear the staff moving around in the non- public areas, they will be expecting to get fed and they will be sitting and waiting at a gate; maybe not doing what they would do if the staff weren’t there. What’s in the future for Qiji? Qiji is a very important part of Red Panda Species Survival Plan. Her grandparents came to the Edmonton Valley Zoo from Japan, and those genetics are very important because they aren’t exhibited in the North American Red Panda population. When she is old enough she will go on to do her part to increase the population within North America of Red Pandas. In Spring 2012 I expect she will go to another zoo where she will have a boyfriend waiting for her. Is it hard to say good-bye? We know from the beginning when we expect a panda will be leaving us. We know they are going to a good facility that has the knowledge and skills to take care of them. I have visited the pandas that have gone to the Toronto Zoo and the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wisconsin. It was really nice to see how they are housed, that they are being well taken care of, and talk with their keepers. When you visit them, it gives you a sense of satisfaction and confirms that it’s a good thing that we are doing. And the Edmonton Valley Zoo is well known for its expertise in red pandas. Yes, I was told this summer at a Red Panda Species Survival Plan session that any of the neo natal questions that they get for the refulgens (or styani) subspecies, they just forward them to be me now because I have hand raised so many. I have talked to keepers from Canada, US and Europe about hand-raising babies. Qiji was 135 g at birth and is currently a healthy 710 g. The father is Ralphie who came to the Edmonton Valley Zoo in 2009 from Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg. Qiji’s grandparents are Koko and Lala who came to the Edmonton Valley Zoo from Japan in 2004. The Edmonton Valley Zoo will continue to provide updates about Qiji on this blog. Read news release View photos

Confessions of a Driveaholic

Pam.Hnytka — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:19:58 +0000

Three months ago I started a new job at the City of Edmonton. I’m part of a new team working to encourage Edmontonians to change the way we get around the city – to leave the car keys behind and take transit, or walk, or cycle, or carpool to get where we’re going. I knew the City was expanding the LRT and adding bike routes to our streets. I’d read The Way We Move – the City of Edmonton Transportation Master Plan – and liked its vision for a future Edmonton with an interconnected transportation system where citizens can walk, bike, bus and train efficiently and conveniently to their desired location. The thing is . . . at my previous job, I drove to work. Every day. By myself. In my car. But, with this job I knew I needed to put my money where my mouth is. If I’m going to talk the talk, I better walk the walk as it were. So, I bought my transit tickets and got ready for my first day of work and the LRT ride downtown. Here’s how I did . . . Car-free commuting – take one: short lived enthusiasm Getting ready for my first day of work, I was so anxious and fussy about my clothes, my hair… suddenly, while I started out early, now I was running late. So, I grabbed the car keys and I was off. Car-free commuting – take two: sadly . . . ditto Car-free commuting – take three I finally got my act together and walked-jogged to Health Sciences LRT station, caught the train, and made it to my office… 15 minutes earlier than I thought I would. Hmmm. That was fast and pretty easy. The train was busy, but not uncomfortably crowded. And a heck of a lot cheaper than parking downtown. So far so good? Not so fast . . . I tried to keep up the habit of the car-free commute. LRT to work in the morning then LRT or, if the weather cooperated, a nice relaxing walk home. But . . . as happens in new jobs, I got really busy and I fell off the wagon – or train in this case. I found ‘discount parking’, and started driving again. Fast forward 3 months later . . . Changing how we travel in the city and making travel choices that are sustainable – taking the bus, cycling, walking, carpooling – is not always easy. Let’s face it, changing one habit for another? Very tough stuff! We need to understand that taking baby steps and making good choices when we can is the way to go. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing, and that’s ok. The good news? I am more aware of my travel habits. I haven’t surrendered my car keys completely, but I am taking the LRT when I can . . . one day at a time! My commitment? It’s up to me to stick to it, to make sure I ask myself every time I reach for the car keys, “Do I need to drive, or is there a better way?” Learn more at Parked Car Free Day! Join the City on 106 St. between Whyte Ave and 84 Ave Thursday, September 22 from 4-7pm for fun free family activities and learn more about The Way We Move – the City of Edmonton Transportation Master Plan. You can also check out the new bike lanes and get some tips on how you can kick the car habit – even once a week. Visit TheWayWeMove.ca for all the details.

Safety for Motorists and Cyclists

Stefanie Price — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 21:51:44 +0000

The City of Edmonton has launched a campaign to help motorists and cyclists learn to play nice. As the City completes the construction of 21 kilometers of new on-street bike routes to help people choose cycling as a safe, healthy and efficient way to get around the city, motorists and cyclists will be sharing the road more and more. With all the new routes and the pavement markings that come along with them, motorists and cyclists may be wondering what the new markings mean, and how they are expected to share the road. [mtouchquiz 3] Now that you are filled with knowledge about the new bike routes, remember to share the roads and be safe. If you really want to be safety savvy, just visit OneRoad.ca

They’re safest at the end of your leash!

Sarah Croll — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:48:19 +0000

We all know we should keep our dog on a leash, but Animal Care & Control Officers like me often encounter dogs that aren’t being leashed properly. These dogs are at risk of running away and getting lost, of biting other dogs and people, or of getting hurt themselves. Their owners are also at risk of getting a $100 fine. Use a leash so you can properly control your pet, and keep your dog and the people around you safe. Make sure your leash is no longer than 2 metres (6 feet). Even if they’re on a leash, your dog must stay 10 metres (32 feet) from schoolyards, playgrounds, sports fields and picnic areas. Stick to permanent trails in these areas.

The City of Edmonton is reminding dog and cat owners of their responsibilities with an education campaign. Animal Care and Control Officers are also patrolling the city to promote responsible pet ownership. Learn more at edmonton.ca/pets.

Belmont School Newspaper: The Star - part III

Elizabeth Walker — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:11:53 +0000

This is my final post exploring the student newspapers created at the Belmont School in the 1890s. I’m continuing my exploration by looking at the School itself. Thanks to all of you who have followed me this far! If you’re new to the series, see my first post for the background. First of all, Belmont School is not to be confused with the Belmont Elementary School located at 132A Avenue NW, which opened in 1979. That being said, I’m having trouble pinning down exact dates for my Belmont School. I can say that it was established by the Northwest Territorial Council on May 9, 1885 as part of School District 23, Division 24 and was located at Section 31, Township 53, Range 23, and West of the 4^th Meridian. This information was found in two books from the Archives non-lending library: School Districts of Alberta: A Listing of All Protestant Public Schools organized in the Province of Alberta by Dale Holtslander and Pioneer With a Piece of Chalk: The One-Room Country Schools of Alberta 1885-1892 by William Peter Baergen. Yet, there appears to have been one or more versions of the school in existence prior to 1885. I have an 1881 reference to singing classes being held on Saturday evenings in the Belmont School. The June 10, 1882 Edmonton Bulletin reports on a public meeting about a group that was attempting to get the School running again. I haven’t found when the School actually started, how long this hiatus was or what happened between 1882 and 1885. I’m also not sure how long the Belmont School was in existence. While researching the students behind the paper, I came across two references from the 1950s that the Belmont School had been located at the site of the Swift’s Canadian Packing plant. The plant’s clipping file has a June 8, 1907 article reporting that the ground was being broken for the plant and predicting that the area was soon to be the “Chicago of Canada” (the plant was the only Canadian branch of the Chicago based company at the time). The first day of operation was either September 13 or 14, 1908 (I found conflicting dates). We have an aerial shot of the plant from 1934. I won’t put it up here but you can find a scan of it in our online catalogue; just search for EA-160-508. The excerpt from a 1927 map below shows that there was still a school at Belmont (indicated by the arrow type symbol) so I believe it co-existed with the packing plant for at least that long. But sometime between 1927 and the 1950s it seems the plant expanded and the school closed. But I don’t know whether the two events are related or not.

If I were able to spend more time researching this topic, there are several other resources I would like try. The Bulletin is a goldmine of information so I’m sure I could find more if I were able to go through it thoroughly. Other records that would be useful (but that we don’t have) are Government Acts relating to schools (which can be found at the Legislature Library), attendance records and meeting minutes of the school board. One of the realities of research with original material is that not everything is all in one place. And, in this case in particular, one of the reasons that there are so many places to look for records is that I’m dealing with some fuzzy jurisdiction here. Our mandate deals with material relating to the City of Edmonton while the Provincial Archives of Alberta is province-wide (including Edmonton). While Belmont was subdivided in 1912, it wasn’t annexed to Edmonton until 1961. So where does our mandate begin and the Provincial Archives’ end? That is the question and it is dealt with on a case by case basis. Archives try to respect each other’s jurisdiction but, at the same time, if a fonds is donated to the City of Edmonton Archives where the majority of the records relate to Edmonton but there is a small part that deals with a provincial organization, we try not split the fonds up. As I’ve said in previous posts, a fonds is supposed to be, as much as possible, an organic whole reflecting the creator’s activities and interests. Some would argue whether they can ever be that but there’s no question they wouldn’t be if you start pulling them apart. So, in order to research the Belmont School further I would have to go to other archives, especially the Provincial Archives. Also something to consider, organizations like schools often have their own archives, like the Edmonton Public Schools Archives and Museum. Not that I have any indication that the Belmont School was ever part of the Edmonton administration but it’s worth an e-mail or phone call for the sake of being thorough. This is where a reference archivist can be your best friend, they’re not there to do research for you but they can definitely help point you in the right direction even if that means referring you to other archives.

Archives do share when we can. For example, we have some images in our holdings where copyright actually belongs to the Provincial Archives. We keep our copies for reference purposes (i.e. you can come in and look at them and use them in your research) but we don’t reproduce them, instead leaving that to the Provincial Archives. The photograph of the Belmont School below is an example of this arrangement. We have photographs of the School taken by this photographer (Charles Mathers) but copyright is held by the Provincial Archives. If you’d like to know more about this picture or if you would like a copy, please contact the Provincial Archives at 780-427-1750 and cite the reference number B9493.

Another angle I explored at the City of Edmonton Archives is what school work and studying was like in the 1890s. We have a collection of school books and many of them are contemporary to the time the newspapers were made. These weren’t necessarily used at the school but I can speculate that books very like them were. Looking at the student newspapers, I can glimpse the context they were created in; for example, the layout (headings, columns etc.) is modeled on the Edmonton Bulletin. The style of writing is very similar as well; the chatty tone and the mix of international, national and local news snippets including everyday things like the ice melting and the return of the birds in the spring. There are differences of course, mainly the jokes, poems and stories which I haven’t come across in the Bulletin. Also, I haven’t seen an equivalent of the Girl’s Department in the Bulletin. I’m not sure what they based it on; maybe they thought it up as a way to include the girls. Please comment if you have any theories. It’s also interesting to note that there is a marked difference in the handwriting from the 1889 papers to the one from 1890. I’m not sure if this is simply because a different hand was doing the writing or if it was a different style being taught. Here is a ca. 1914 photograph of students of the Belmont School; unfortunately we don’t have any names. It’s later in date than the newspapers but I think you can still get an idea of what their class was like. The numbers are about the same: the March 16, 1889 Edmonton Bulletin reports that Belmont School had 27 pupils, compared to 71 in Edmonton and 22 in Fort Saskatchewan.

I’ve had fun with these student newspapers and I hope you have too! Please feel free to comment if you have questions or anything to add. Scans have been made of all three newspapers and are available online as part of the Archives Society of Alberta's online database, just search for Belmont School to see them. I’ll end with my favorite story (and another Fraser), from the March 1889 edition:

Thanks again to the Provincial Archives of Alberta for providing the picture of the Belmont School.

Help Us Beta Test the new ETS Trip Planner

cwebster — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:33:46 +0000

The newest version of the ETS Trip Planner is available for public testing until the end of October. ETS aims to continuously improve the technology behind its online tools to provide products that are efficient, effective and easy to use. It's with these goals in mind that ETS invites people to try the new Trip Planner and send in their feedback. The main page of takeETS.com contains a link to the beta version of the Trip Planner in the right column. There you will have the opportunity to test drive it and provide your comments via the “report a bug” or feedback link. Developed jointly by ETS and the City’s Information Technology Branch, some of the new features of the upgraded ETS Trip Planner include:

Integration and automation of detour and bus stop closure alerts

Improved usability and layout of the Trip Planner interface

A new Trip Planner engine for quicker results and better trip solutions

Ability to get a School Service Summary by school session

Beta test feedback will be used to refine the Trip Planner prior to its full launch, so feel free to leave comments below. Thanks for participating!

Edmonton this Week podcast: October 13, 2011

cwebster — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:03:12 +0000

Listen on iTunes

Listen to an interview:

A Little Bit About Photographs at the City of Edmonton Archives

Elizabeth Walker — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:18:10 +0000

It’s October, the happy month of fall colours, Thanksgiving and Hallowe’en! [caption id="attachment_2263" align="aligncenter" width="326" caption="1949 was a good year for trick-or-treating in Edmonton, three bags full and one tired trick-or-treater."][/caption] Since photographs are such an important part of my blog posts, I thought I’d go into a bit more detail about photographs in archives, how we take care of them, how we reproduce them, how they are used, etc., and have a bit of Hallowe’en fun at the same time. Photographs give an immediate, often emotional, connection to the past. Street scenes, familiar buildings, clothing and hair styles, holidays and festivals, they all connect us with who we are and where we come from. Many of us have photographs, similar to the one below, of ourselves and our siblings/friends dressed up for Hallowe’en. [caption id="attachment_2268" align="aligncenter" width="330" caption="ca1915. It looks really warm; I usually had to wear a coat over my costume."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_2272" align="aligncenter" width="408" caption="1933. This looks more like my Hallowe’en memories."][/caption] Once photograph prints and negatives are processed into our collection they are housed in acid-free boxes, each with their own acid-free envelope. In the past, reference copies were made (they are available in our reference room). Now we digitize as we can, often as part of grant projects. These scans are made available on our website and in our reference room. We also accept photographs that are born-digital. The scans and born- digital photographs are treated just as carefully as their analogue counterparts. For example, we keep preservation copies of our digital photographs in tiff format which saves the image without compression. Our use copies are saved as jpegs because they are more manageable (tiffs are huge files). [caption id="attachment_2275" align="aligncenter" width="454" caption="Prints and negatives are kept in envelopes that are in folders that are in boxes, all acid-free. The card on the left is an example of the reference cards kept in our reading room. If you’re curious about the photograph, go to our catalogue and search for EA-134-1."][/caption] People order photographs from us for many reasons; from personal to educational, decorative to commercial. Photographs from our archives are framed and decorate homes, offices and restaurants; they are in books, academic papers, newspapers and magazine articles. The images we put up online belie the quality of the copies we reproduce, they have to be of a fairly low resolution or the files are too big and they would slow down the site. They also have the big blue watermark. When someone orders a copy we use the much smaller gold watermark (as seen in the first image of this post). To watermark, or not to watermark…this question causes some discussion amongst archivists. One of the main reasons we watermark is to provide identification and to credit the Archives. We used to just ask people to cite that the image came from us and the catalogue number may or may not have been shown. We often receive phone calls requesting a copy of a photograph seen in a publication or on a wall somewhere. It can be time consuming to track down an image when all you have is that it’s a hockey team from around the 1960s. We have a lot of those! Not to say we won’t find it, it just takes time. The watermark makes it easier. Of course there are other reasons. The watermark and the low resolution help discourage people from copying and using our images without giving credit to the Archives. They are also to discourage copying for commercial use. We’d rather people came through us because, (let’s face it) photograph sales are one of the few ways we have of recouping some of the costs associated with collecting, caring for, and making these images available. The purpose of archives is not only to safeguard the records but also to provide access to them. Is there a contradiction here? Are we creating barriers? We would argue no, we do provide access because, if you want an image for casual interest or for reference purposes, it’s available for you to copy off the website or to photocopy in our reference room. But, if you’d like to display one of our images or use it in a publication, we can provide you with a really good print or digital copy for a nominal fee. We take pride in the quality of the images we provide and we have invested in specialized photograph reproduction equipment. Our scanners have dual “high optical” lenses and the printers have more inks. For example, our photograph printers have 4 different types of black. The end result is a rich image with lots of detail, fuller colours and subtle shading. [caption id="attachment_2279" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="1933. Wish I knew which store this is, please comment if you know or have a theory…"][/caption] I will end with a plea, label your photographs!!! Who, what, when, and where! Future generations (not to mention hard working archivists) will thank you. Oh, and our photo-archivist would be unhappy if I didn’t add that if you are going to write on the back of a photograph, use a soft pencil like a 5B or higher. For digital photographs, you can add details in the properties (right click on the image to get to properties). [caption id="attachment_2281" align="aligncenter" width="347" caption="Actually, I’ll end with this photograph from 1948. The dog’s expression is priceless. Sadly (or perhaps fortunately) I didn’t find a picture of a dog in a costume."][/caption]

Carpool Week: Share the Ride and Win!

Stefanie Price — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:15:22 +0000

Carpool Week October 24 to 28, 2011

Carpooling, even once a week, could save you more than 10% of your commuting costs and a lot of traffic aggravation. You can save money on gas, parking and vehicle maintenance. Carpooling is also an efficient and sustainable way to help reduce road congestion and CO2 emissions. You know carpooling is a good idea, but where to start? Finding carpool buddies is a lot easier than you might think. 5 easy steps to carpooling: 1. Visit Carpool.ca to find a match. Don’t have anybody to carpool with? We can help you with that. Visit Carpool.ca to sign up and find others who share similar destinations and schedules. 2. Review your matches and get to know them. Depending on your location, you may receive multiple matches. Send a quick email to your matches and have a brief conversation. This will help you determine whom you get along with, share your preferences (driver, rider or shared duties) and decide on schedules. 3. Make the arrangements. Carpooling is more flexible than a lot of people think. You can take turns driving or one person can drive depending on your agreed upon needs and desires. Before you begin carpooling, discuss costs and determine how they will be shared. Establish the ground rules and create a backup plan just in case something comes up. Finally, set up a meeting location and time. 4. Ready, set, carpool! Now you’re all set to begin carpooling. 5. Repeat step 4. Depending on your schedule and lifestyle, you may be able to carpool every day or only once a week. That is okay; carpooling is there for you and you can use it when it works best for you. It’s that easy! You can also consider carpooling with other families on your children’s sports teams, or start a grocery carpool with your neighbour—you’ll have more money for treats when you get to the store. Visit Carpool.ca to sign up for free and get your matches. During carpool week, October 24 to 28, you can also enter to win an iPad 2, Kindle, free fuel or GPS systems!

Edmonton this Week Podcast: October 22, 2011

cwebster — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 15:14:53 +0000

Listen on iTunes

On this week's show:

Neightbourhood Empowerment Team (NET) working with McCauley to reduce violent crime

Kris Andreychuk — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:01:07 +0000

My partner, Constable Chapman Lee, and I are going about this by focusing on ‘risk factors’ – things that increase the likelihood of someone being either a victim or perpetrator of violence. There is much to be said about root causes; however, the one factor we immediately picked up on is the over consumption of alcohol. This was based on our initial observations has been echoed countless times over the past month by residents, business owners, organizations and, yes, even those we’ve caught drinking in public. There are a few products that we are particularly curious about - a few brands even - based on their prevalence and the loyalty of the consumer. In academic circles they’re referred to ‘harmful alcohol’ or ‘single serve malt liquor’; in pop culture they’re better known as ‘forties’. As the name implies they’re a large serving (1.14 L or 40oz), high alcohol (7-11%) and cheap, incredibly cheap (starting at $5). As simple as a solution may seem, it is extremely complex. It is, after all, addictions driving this. So, instead of assuming we have the answer, we’ve decided to ask the question. Over the past month, we’ve been connecting and building relationships with our city’s most vulnerable people and connecting them to services based on need and locality. These connections have allowed us the opportunity to pose important questions about violence and risk, which has given us the chance to start to better establish the scope of the issues and consider possible solutions. This is much of what we’ll be doing over the next few months: impacting the frequency and severity of violence by focusing on, and limiting, risk. If you’re in McCauley you’ll probably see us around. If we’re not on the street, we’re most likely in one of the incredible restaurants in the area. Feel free to say hi – we would like to hear your thoughts on safety in McCauley. We’re fairly recognizable. I have a ‘NET’ symbol on the back of my black jacket and vest and Chapman… we’ll I assume you know how to spot a police officer. Feel free to buy us a cappuccino or some green onion cakes.

North LRT to NAIT construction from afar

Jennifer Rubuliak — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 21:04:53 +0000

Last spring, Brad Smid, LRT Design & Construction Project Manager, took a helicopter tour of downtown and northwest Edmonton. The purpose? To get a bird's-eye-view of the future North LRT route and bring back footage to help residents and City administration visualize where the North LRT to NAIT will run less than 2.5 years from now. Check it out: From ground level, it's difficult to envision the future North LRT and what it will mean for the way we move in the city. We focus on construction impacting traffic, businesses and neighbourhoods in the MacEwan, Kingsway and NAIT area, when the conversation should really be about how these areas will benefit from accessible public transit when the project is completed. However, progress is being made. Kingsway has been relocated, the tunnel portal on 105 Avenue and foundations for Kingsway/Royal Alex Station and MacEwan Station are being built and track slab is being laid on 104 Street, Kingsway and 106 Street. [caption id="attachment_2353" align="aligncenter" width="473" caption="Relocated Kingsway between 102 St & 106 St open"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_2358" align="aligncenter" width="473" caption="Construction crews constructing tunnel portal on 105 Ave between 101 St & 103 St"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_2360" align="aligncenter" width="473" caption="Track slab laid on Kingsway & 104 St with starting of Kingsway/Royal Alex Station foundation construction in background"][/caption] Hopefully the helicopter video and animated NLRT videogive you a better idea of what the North LRT will look like once it’s complete and in operation. Aggressively expanding Edmonton’s LRT network will bring us one step closer to having a more sustainable, compact and environmentally friendly transportation system and a revitalized downtown. For more information on North LRT, visit www.edmonton.ca/nlrt Tell us your thoughts and hopes for the future of public transportation in our city by commenting below.

Edmonton this Week Podcast: October 29, 2011

cwebster — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 17:09:39 +0000

Listen on iTunes

Listen to an interview:

Alcohol key risk factor in McCauley

Kris Andreychuk — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:42:29 +0000

Kris Andreychuk is a social worker with the City of Edmonton and a member of a specialized Neighbourhood Empowerment Team working in the McCauley neighbourhood. Kris and his partner, Constable Chapman Lee work with the community to identify and implement ways to prevent violent crime from reoccurring. 1 = 8… Seriously. One 40 oz (1.14L) bottle of 10.1 % alcohol is equivalent to eight regular cans of beer. That means three of these bottles is equal to a flat (24) of beer, twelve bottles brings you to nearly 100 cans… you get the point. What’s crazy is that this isn’t even the highest alcohol 40oz bottle available. Just as a point of clarification, 40 oz referrers to the volume of a single serve beer. They’re typically high in alcohol and are relatively inexpensive. How does this relate to McCauley? Glad you asked! In our past blog entry, I made reference to alcohol, specifically high alcohol single serve beer, as a ‘risk factor.’ It’s important to note that when I say risk, I’m referring primarily to victimization – not perpetrating violence. That being said, we have seen and heard plenty about violent behaviour associated with the consumption of these products – it’s just not as common as the consumers being victimized. To date, we have had face-to-face interviews and dealt with over 110 community members consuming alcohol in public. This is a complex issue, and we’re curious about it, so we’ve been asking questions when given the chance. Questions relate to what’s being consumed, why, what would be consumed in the event that the preferred product was no longer available, where people are shopping, the social aspects of drinking, what a solution could looks like, etc. People have been very candid and their responses, insightful. The responses, related to ‘what,’ have shown a clear preference – inexpensive, high alcohol, and large servings. This speaks to the ‘why’ as well. Pretty straightforward. The responses to other questions, however, are far more complex. They have already broadened our understanding of the issues and have informed our approach, both short and long term. Over-service is the issue – whether it is regular or high alcohol beer. However, there are certain products that certainly are not part of the solution. Essentially, these bottles are power packed with alcohol in a large volume. This is something that we’ll be impressing upon merchants in the coming weeks and something my police partner Chapman and I have been communicating to community members since day one. The goals of our Neighbourhood Empowerment Violence Reduction Team are to connect and build relationships with vulnerable people in McCauley, collect our findings to broaden the scope of the issues and communicate with you, the larger community, via social media. As simple as this seems, these three actions have ballooned into quite the undertaking. We’re now a month and a half into this project. With two and a half months left we are left with a great deal to do. Again, if you spot us in McCauley, feel free to stop and say hi. We’d love to hear your perspective on how we can work to make our City safer and more connected. Want to know what we’re up to day-by-day? Follow my Constable Partner Chapman Lee on Twitter!

Stay In The Know About Snow

lmcnabb — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 22:20:23 +0000

Anyone living in Edmonton last winter probably remembers that we saw enough snow to last a lifetime. Does the term ‘Snowmageddon’ ring any bells? Between November 2010 and April 2011, nearly 160 cm (or 63 inches) of the white stuff fell throughout the city. And just to compound matters, we were hit with a number of freeze-thaw cycles that saw the snow pack on residential areas break down and make many areas nearly impassable. Streets became dangerously obstructed as people parked their cars outside of windrows, and in many cases Edmonton Transit had to be rerouted because the narrow lanes. What became patently clear was that changes were needed. A detailed operational analysis and peer review of our procedures took place, and a number of excellent suggestions were made to improve the way we do our job. The snow policy has been updated and new equipment purchased to improve residential service, a seasonal parking ban has been created (to be called as conditions require) to help get roads cleared faster, and important adjustments have been made to the way we communicate with citizens about winter road maintenance activities. There are a number of changes that have been brought into effect for this winter:

A seasonal parking ban has been created for residential bus routes. The City of Edmonton will call a ban with a minimum of eight hours notice. At that time, vehicles must be moved from those routes with the ‘Seasonal Parking Ban’ signs; those not moved after the eight hours will be tagged and towed

Once priority routes are plowed, crews will move into residential areas to blade to a 5 cm snow pack. Even if there is another snow event that requires additional work on priority routes, crews will NOT be removed from residential areas until the blading cycle has been finished

If the snow pack on residential streets cannot be maintained at 5 cm, crews will plow down to bare pavement where required

As important as the changes to the way we do our job are the changes we have made in the way we let citizens know what we are doing. We will still be sending out announcements through the media and posting them to our website, but we are taking our communications to the next level this year. Posts are going to be made through the City’s Facebook and Twitter accounts to keep residents up to date on our activities. In addition, we have introduced a new email notification system that will let subscribers know instantly when a parking ban has been declared/ended, when residential snow maintenance begins and, when spring arrives, when we will begin street sweeping. Another new feature will mean that when crews begin work in residential areas, citizens will be able to find out exactly when equipment will be moving in. Through our new interactive map, residents will be able enter and address and find out exactly when crews will start work in a given neighbourhood. No amount of either equipment or communications can prevent the snow from falling; we do, after all, live in Canada. Our commitment, however, is that we will keep Edmonton roads in good winter driving condition, and let you know what we are doing and when we are doing it. To subscribe to the email alerts, to access the interactive road maintenance schedule, or to find out more about winter road activities, please visit www.edmonton.ca/winterroads.

Edmonton's Cutting Edge Traffic Management

gmcelheran — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:43:13 +0000

The task was two-fold: create a video promoting Edmonton to an international audience of thousands, while at the same time explaining the most cutting-edge aspect of the City’s Intelligent Transportation System (ITS), to play repeatedly on a big screen at the 2011 ITS World Congress held in Orlando, Florida in September 2011. The first part was easy. Edmonton is a unique metropolis, not just in Canada but in North America. We are the northernmost big city on the continent, built at a crossroads in the heart of Western Canada, covering a region the size of Puerto Rico. The strategic economic importance of this city in this province in this country at this point in history is hard to overstate. The second part was more complex. Such is the nature of ITS. The video explains it best: Here’s the gist:

Like many big modern cities, Edmonton has elements of ITS (cameras, roadway sensors, electronic messaging signs) built into several major roadways.

Unlike any other city in the world, Edmonton is experimenting with software that creates predictive traffic modeling to offer real-time solutions to traffic congestion on Yellowhead Trail.

Here’s how the innovation works:

Cameras and sensors currently monitor traffic flow on the Yellowhead.

The new software takes the data feed from Yellowhead and automatically adjusts the traffic lights to maximize traffic flow based on a predictive algorithm (read: lots of complex math).

Whenever there is an incident causing a traffic jam (e.g. a collision or construction) the software does three things:

Adjusts traffic lights on Yellowhead to improve flow, based on historic data.

Posts information about the incident on the overhead Dynamic Message Signs to tell motorists of trouble ahead and suggest detour routes.

Adjust traffic lights on the suggested detour routes to maximize their traffic flow.

All of which means a traffic jam can be cleared more quickly and efficiently. Several mainstream media have covered Edmonton’s traffic technology. As the video mentions, the only other two cities in the world that are looking at this technology are London and Hong Kong, and both are interested in the results of the Edmonton pilot project. So is BMW. The company is developing software for in-vehicle navigation systems that could tap into the predictive data feed and provide notifications to drivers more directly. Imagine driving a car that tells you: ‘Traffic jam ahead, take next turnoff to avoid.’ Over the long term, the City plans to build more grade-separated interchanges on Yellowhead Trail. But such projects are expensive, disruptive and decades away from completion. ITS offers medium-term solutions to traffic problems, and with its pilot project Edmonton is showing the world what is possible.

The Edmonton Valley Zoo's Red Panda cub continues to thrive

Mary Lou Reeleder — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 22:00:09 +0000

Qiji, who was born August 1, is doing extremely well under the watchful eye of her mother, Pip.

A public observation book is beside the viewing window in Pip and Qiji’s enclosure for zoo visitors to record any activity they see and help zoo staff monitor the pandas’ behaviour. Read an interview with Qiji's caregiver Sandy Helliker, the Animal Care Team Lead at the Edmonton Valley Zoo. Be sure to check back for more updates on Qiji's growth and development.

Ducks and Wolves and Ending Violent Cycles

Kris Andreychuk — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:36:26 +0000

Kris Andreychuk is a social worker with the City of Edmonton and a member of a specialized Neighbourhood Empowerment Team working in the McCauley neighbourhood. Kris and his partner, Constable Chapman Lee work with the community to identify and implement ways to prevent violent crime from reoccurring. We’ve now been in McCauley (A.K.A. Chinatown, Little Italy, Church Street, etc.) for eleven weeks. It’s hard to believe, but this marks the halfway point of our team’s violence reduction deployment. Whereas a traditional N.E.T. is implemented over two to four years (a timeframe I am certainly more familiar with), Violence Reduction Teams are working with the community for a period of four months. During the deployment, teams investigate the conditions that lead to chronic crime and social disorder and identify and implement ways to reduce and prevent crime from recurring. [caption id="attachment_2479" align="aligncenter" width="466" caption="Smashed 40oz beer bottles are not an uncommon sight"][/caption] Being that we only have four months, teams need to keep their area of focus narrow. There are undoubtedly some challenges with this timeline—but there are also benefits. Being aware that our ‘expiry’ date is December 31, 2011, we’ve been able to shave down our objectives and make them both realistic and achievable. With this focused approach we’ve had the opportunity to, in a short period of time, develop a fairly solid grasp of the problems in McCauley. Based on what we’ve seen thus far, we believe there is much to be said about the ‘ducks’ and the ‘wolves’ in McCauley. Yeah… you read that correctly. In their paper, Sitting Ducks, Ravenous Wolves, and Help Hands: New Approaches to Urban Policing, William Spelman and John E. Eck use this animal analogy to discuss the complex nature of crime and victimization. According to the authors, there are three key elements that are required in order for a crime to be committed: a perpetrator (wolf), a target (duck) and an opportunity to commit the crime. In the case of McCauley, the ducks are the older generation of vulnerable community members. These folks have a long history of ‘living rough’ on the streets and have been in the community for years. The wolves, on the other-hand, are the younger, marginalized demographic who also ‘live rough’ but are relatively new to the area. This accounts for much of the violence we’ve seen in the community; vulnerable on vulnerable. These young wolves victimize the ducks in the community’s most vulnerable locations; usually for alcohol, food, clothes or whatever money they may have. [caption id="attachment_2480" align="aligncenter" width="482" caption="A man sleeps on the streets of MCauley"][/caption] It’s a sad and relatively unknown reality of the violence in our city’s ‘distressed communities’. It’s the vulnerable victimizing the vulnerable. This, of course, impacts more than just the victims who are directly involved. In a sense, we are all victims when it comes to violent crime. Beyond the obvious harm is causes, it escalates the fear of crime, causes us to perceive our neighbourhoods differently, and discourages community engagement. Perception of crime is powerful. If you perceive your community as being unsafe, you’re less likely to participate. If you don’t participate in your community, the likelihood of it becoming unsafe (i.e. a vulnerable space) increases. It’s a vicious cycle, but the good news is that it’s possible to turn the tide. Meet your neighbours, get involved in your community league, shop local, plan a block party, buy a dog and walk it. Crime prevention and community building do not have to be difficult—have some fun! McCauley has its challenges—riddled with complexities—and there’s no way to sugar coat it. However, there are unquestionable strengths in this community as well. Compassion, history, culture, diversity, thriving local businesses—as important as it is to acknowledge and respond to the challenges in our communities, it is equally important to not allow these challenges to overshadow what we know, and love, about the people and places of McCauley. Curious as to what will unfold over the remaining weeks? Follow my Constable Partner Chapman Lee on Twitter for real time updates and highlights.

ETS Concert in Motion: Behind the Scenes

cwebster — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 22:11:28 +0000

Recently, Edmonton Transit System (ETS) teamed up with local musician Colleen Brown and Councillor Don Iveson to create "a concert in motion." The initial goal was modest: Showcase ETS' new commuter tools for ETS Trip Planner and promote their upcoming Twitter take-over. The result was something a little more amazing than your average advertising spot however. A weird blend of creative energy and passion for positive change that had everyone involved tapping their toes for the day-long shoot. Curious to learn what went on behind-the-scenes I sat down with ETS marketing masterminds Nathan Walters and Priya Bhasin-Singh for a chat about where the idea came from and how the day unfolded. And look, I even snagged some set photos! [caption id="attachment_2464" align="aligncenter" width="495" caption="The production team after a long day's shoot"][/caption] TE: How did the idea of a Concert in Motion come about? Priya: It started with our move onto Facebook. We’re always looking for new ways to build loyalty with our riders and communicate with them on another level – add a bit of the fun and personality side of ETS. TE: Was it created to promote the new ETS Trip Planner? Nathan: Well, yes and no. The video is part of a larger campaign to formally launch our social media offerings. This includes the ETS Trip Planner as well as the Twitter addition which launches before fall’s end and our presence on Facebook. TE: Why opt to do something more creative and ambiguous in intent, rather than a traditional video ad spot? Nathan: We really want to drive home the fact that ETS is exciting, full of energy and still very much relevant. And in order to do that we really had to take a non-traditional approach. The video is actually based on a Feist performance on Jimmy Kimmel where she’s performing on a bus in very much the same way and it seemed to fit nicely, because at the end of the day that’s our business. When our collaborators at Red the Agency pitched this to us, it was an easy decision. [caption id="attachment_2459" align="aligncenter" width="308" caption="Councillor Don Iveson rocks the stand-up base"][/caption] TE: How did Colleen Brown get involved? Was she always your performer of choice? Nathan: We wanted a performer that commanded a presence locally and who would be seen as being relevant and full of energy and Red the Agency suggested Colleen Brown. And actually, the timing worked out perfectly because she was coming out with her new album, Dirt, at the same time as we were launching our campaign. TE: Tell us a bit about the shoot. Priya: We put out a call-to-action on our Facebook page to get people involved as extras and that really got our community intrigued in our page and wanting to be involved on the day. It proved to be a great way to connect with people in the community. Nathan: Yeah, even our approach to that was non-traditional because usually for shoots like this you’d hold a formal casting and such, but this was very much an inclusive process. Very different way of doing things. [caption id="attachment_2452" align="aligncenter" width="466" caption="ETS bus #rock picks up some more music lovers"][/caption] TE: How long did it take to shoot the video? Priya: It took one day to shoot the video. One very long day. And then with editing I’d say about a month to fully complete the video. Nathan: The nature of the concept, having the musicians board the bus and play their parts as the song builds, was a challenging one and took rehearsals and many takes, but we got it, and are all happy with how it turned out. TE: How many times did you play the song then? Priya: (laughing) Enough that we were humming it for the next couple of weeks. Nathan: We’ll also be uploading the ‘Making Of’ video to give those that couldn’t make it out to the shoot an inside look of how the project came together. I encourage people to ‘Like’ ETS on Facebook so they can catch this great video as well as the latest offers, contests and special events. And the end result: For more behind-the-scenes pictures head to ETS on Facebook

Edmonton this Week Podcast: December 3, 2011

transformingedmonton_wpalns — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:44:34 +0000

Welcome to the Edmonton this Week Podcast, an in-depth look at City of Edmonton programs and initiatives that affect your life. Each week, your host, Wade Sorochan, takes you inside City Hall and around Edmonton to speak to the people who operate our city. [audio:http://www.transformingedmonton.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ETW_December3_2011.mp3|titles=ETW_December3_2011] Listen on iTunes

Listen to an interview:

Recognition of the Importance of Archives in Society

Elizabeth Walker — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:49:55 +0000

I’d like to share some exciting international archives news; I’ve got my archivist hat firmly on for this post! Recently, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, better known as UNESCO, formally adopted the International Council on Archives’ (ICA) Universal Declaration on Archives. The Declaration was first written by archivists in Quebec. It was further developed by the ICA who made it available in 20 languages. I won’t go into the Declaration too much, but please have a look at it. Instead, I’m writing today to answer the question, what does it mean?? The Declaration and UNESCO’s adoption of it is important because it gives world-wide recognition to the roles of archives and archivists in society:

as memory keepers,
as instruments of transparency and accountability,
for retaining corporate knowledge, and
for informing future decision making

The Declaration covers the many roles archives play in businesses, organizations, governments, and society in general. It also outlines how trained archivists support these roles. Good archives don’t just happen (the old adage junk in/junk out comes to mind); the Declaration shows the importance of having the right policies and laws, compliance, funding, and accessibility in order to fully support archives. The better the archives the better they are able to fulfill the important roles outlined in the Declaration. I should point out that this Declaration mostly applies to an archives’ role with regards to records management. Not many people associate archives with records management, we are better known for our historical role. However, archives and records management are part of the same process, each equally important in ensuring the right information is available to the right people, at the right time. There is a theory in North America that likens the process to a lifecycle, records managers deal with records while they are current and active (alive) and archivists deal with them when they are inactive (dead). While it does illustrate the process, it’s not a perfect metaphor. For instance, saying a record is inactive doesn’t mean that it isn’t important; it just isn’t likely to be required on a daily or monthly basis anymore. Also, I don’t mean to imply that the two phases are separate, good records are ones that are created with the whole process in mind. Records managers and archivists work together. In many parts of the world they are much more integrated even than they are here in North America and the two roles are synonymous. So how does the City of Edmonton Archives fit into all of this? One way the City of Edmonton shows its commitment to Edmontonians is through The Ways. In particular, Section 1.6 of The Way We Live: Edmonton’s People Plan is about government and citizen interaction. The City of Edmonton Archives supports this commitment through access to the historic municipal records at the City of Edmonton Archives. In addition, the Archives is working with the Office of the City Clerk to ensure that the right records are being created, organized, and preserved for eventual transfer to the Archives. Apart from our role as the official repository of the records of the City of Edmonton, we also have records from Edmonton organizations, businesses and citizens. People often ask us, not only whether their records (whether personal or otherwise) are suitable for donation to the Archives, but also for advice on how to manage their current records. We have created guidelines to hand out but we are also happy to talk to people, whether one-on-one or through presentations to groups. We also offer courses, usually in the fall (keep an eye on our Archives News page for course listings). Now for some fun with our records; I wanted to demonstrate how the principles in the Declaration are held up through research at the Archives. I got derailed a little bit but bear with me please. I started with photographs; this is from our collection of Edmonton Bulletin photographs: [caption id="attachment_2503" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The first meeting of a new City Council, November 5, 1949 held in the Civic Block (former City Hall)"][/caption] This photograph is of Sidney Parson’s first council meeting as Mayor. The former councilor won a hotly contested mayoralty race and the Edmonton Bulletin reported that voter turnout was one of the highest ever in Edmonton. This may have been because there was also a referendum (more about that later). I looked at this picture and thought about the kinds of records that were generated which we have at the Archives. For one thing, I can tell you that the pictures on the wall are of former City Councils and we have them here at the Archives. The most important records though are the meeting minutes. I think it’s safe to say that the woman with her back to the camera was taking notes. The man next to her is probably George Docherty, the City Clerk. We have most of the City Council meeting minutes available in our reading room. The more recent ones are available through City Clerk’s and many of those are online. I looked up the minutes for this particular meeting; here is a scan of the introduction: The minutes list the questions asked in the referendum. They recorded the results as well, here is an excerpt: I’d like to draw your attention to questions 8 and 9. First of all, for adults it was a comfort station but it was ok to say toilet for children? This is where I got derailed, I confess. I could have gone many different ways. After all, this was a referendum about going into debt with the public’s money, and for all kinds of civic works too, from upgrading the High Level Bridge to purchasing firefighting equipment. Both interesting subjects, it’s true, but no, I went with comfort stations. With some pretty interesting results though. All kinds of paperwork is generated when public buildings are constructed. We have records on several comfort stations but I focused on one that was just south of Whyte Avenue on 104^th Street. We have correspondence with the architect, including the contract (I could tell you how much a comfort station cost in the 1950s if you’re interested). We also have other types of records ranging from clippings files to details on renting office space (there was actually an office attached to the comfort station with the idea that it could be self-supporting). We have a lot of blueprints as well. I’ve been itching to put a detail from a blueprint in one of my posts. I think they are so beautiful and interesting and we have a lot of them (our blueprint archivist estimates that we have over a million). [caption id="attachment_2506" align="aligncenter" width="461" caption="A detail from a blueprint we have for the South Side Comfort Station. (This type of blueprint is technically called an architectural drawing white line print)."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_2507" align="aligncenter" width="466" caption="Detail from a blueprint for the South Side Comfort Station. This is the best photograph I was able to take but it doesn’t do the original justice. Most blueprints are too large for us to copy in house so we have to send them out if a researcher wants a copy."][/caption] I didn’t research much further so I don’t know how long it was there, but please feel free to comment below if you know anything about this or any other comfort station built in Edmonton in this time period. I went from international news and transparency and accountability to comfort stations. But I think this seemingly frivolous paper trail does demonstrate how you can track the way the government spends public money. And it’s somewhat topical given the ongoing debates about putting public washroom facilities on Whyte Avenue. It could even inform the debate. Did they work out in the 1950s? How about in the 1960s or 1970s, etc.? Were there problems and, if so, what was done to solve them? Why aren’t there any on Whyte Avenue anymore? Can we learn anything from what was done previously? I happened upon this line of investigation because I was looking at pictures of council meetings but there are endless possibilities for further research to see how the records at the City of Edmonton Archives support the needs of people in terms of understanding where we came from and how we got here, keeping government transparent and accountable, retaining the corporate knowledge of the City of Edmonton, and helping with decision making. I’ll close by inviting you to have a look at the new rotating exhibit of holiday themed images we have on our online catalogue.

A New Heart for Mill Woods

Corey.Toews — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:35:27 +0000

Forty years ago a unique planning process, the Mill Woods Development Concept, was set to transform urban development in Edmonton. The goal for Mill Woods was straightforward – create a place for people, a community with a strong sense of place, well connected to its surroundings. Planning for Mill Woods began in 1969 to create a new city in a suburban environment that would one day be home to 120,000 people. Edmonton’s mayor at the time, Ivor Dent, described Mill Woods as having the potential to become a showpiece for urban growth. Mill Woods Town Centre was planned to be the urban heart of Mill Woods. Housing, shops, services and employment would be within a short walk of high speed transit and well connected through high quality public parks and open spaces. This plan was never fully realized. The economy weakened through the 1980s. The pulse of Mill Woods Town Centre slowed as an LRT extension from downtown failed to materialize, residential densities came in lower then anticipated and commercial development took on a very car-oriented form. Today there is new commitment to expand and invest in public transit. It is no longer a question if LRT service will arrive in Mill Woods but rather when. City Council has approved the concept of an LRT line to Mill Woods, and preliminary engineering work has begun. As a result we need to do things differently, plan our neighbourhoods better and encourage greater transit usage in more compact and walkable communities. Recently, we held our first public workshop to introduce the station area planning project for Mill Woods Town Centre. The Mill Woods Station Area Plan will explore opportunities for transit oriented development in Mill Woods Town Centre in advance of the arrival of LRT to Mill Woods. What we heard at our first workshop was a desire to firmly establish Mill Woods Town Centre as a focal point -a vibrant and exciting downtown - for Mill Woods. We’re excited to get underway with exploring how we as planners, in collaboration with residents and property owners, can begin to revisit and enhance Mill Wood’s urban heart. Through the station area planning process we seek to transform the neighbourhood into something which better embodies the quality and character of the Mill Woods community. To quote from the 1970 Plan for Mill Woods, “The Mill Woods residents will look to their town centre for stimulation and enjoyment. Every effort should be directed to achieve this result.” Sometimes looking backwards provides the greatest direction to move forward. Your comments are always welcome as we move forward with the Mill Woods Station Area Plan. Contact information and additional information is provided on the Mill Woods Station Area Plan webpage.

Get Closer to Qiji at the Edmonton Valley Zoo

Deleigh Yobb — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:23:39 +0000

Qiji, the Red Panda baby at the Edmonton Valley Zoo, was 5 months old on Jan 1, 2012. She is a very active and friendly young red panda cub. In the mornings while the adults are eating their breakfast, she runs around and is very playful. Like all baby Red Pandas, we have had to teach her basic manners when interacting with the keepers. Qiji is encouraged to bite the stuffed toy, not the hands that hold it. She likes to wrestle with her little yellow ducky and play tug with her purple octopus. Qiji has been chewing on bamboo for a month now. Mom, Pip, is starting to wean her, so Qiji is a little unhappy about that, but is starting to discover how delicious yam, apple and banana taste. Apples are her favourite and she loves stealing small pieces from her mother’s dish, even though she has her own dish of food. The vet did a physical on Qiji recently and she is currently teething. She is growing up and becoming a big girl. She weighs approximately 1.5 kg and is still growing. Adult Red Pandas usually weigh around 6-8kg. Through the eyes of the nest box camera, Qiji and Pip are often seen play wrestling. In the mornings, you can see them curled up together sleeping. They have a close relationship. Mom checks on her often during the day. If Pip wanders outside on a nice sunny day, you usually only have to wait a few minutes before you see Qiji following her. On the colder days, Qiji stays inside curled up sleeping. At nap time, Qiji has a giant stuffed bear she sleeps on top of outside the nest box, with mom napping close by. She has met her Dad ‘Ralphie’ through the wire fence, but we will wait until the New Year to introduce them face to face. She has the same coloring and personality of her father. She loves to climb things (as does her father) and has had needed assistance a few times from the keepers - sometimes she climbs up but is too scared or has trouble climbing back down and the keepers are more than willing to help her. Qiji loves to run outside on warm days, under mom’s watchful eye. Get Closer to Pip and Qiji at the Edmonton Valley Zoo this winter – they love to run around outside, climbing and frolicking in the snow.

Edmonton this Week Podcast: January 14, 2012

tsimonsmeier — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:44:01 +0000

Listen on iTunes

Listen to an interview:

Imagining How an LRT Station Can Strengthen a Neighbourhood

Michael Strong — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:26:09 +0000

As you may be aware, the City of Edmonton is planning for a more sustainable future by encouraging Transit Oriented Development (TOD) around existing and future LRT Stations – almost 60 in total. Transit Oriented Development refers to development that is planned and integrated around a transit station. Its aim is to create more attractive, liveable, and compact neighbourhoods based on pedestrian-friendly design and a well connected mix of land uses within roughly 400 meters walking distance of a transit station. My work, alongside a team of talented consultants and committed community members, seeks to find out how TOD can strengthen and preserve the character of the McKernan and Belgravia neighbourhoods while capitalizing on the benefits of the existing LRT station. Put another way, we are looking at how we can make both community and LRT station work better together through TOD planning. To date, we have conducted research on the area, spoken with local community leagues, and on November 22, 2011 held our first Public Open House Workshop at the McKernan Elementary Junior High School. We had an excellent turnout with about 120 people attending to hear about the project and share their own knowledge of the area with us. At the meeting, our team displayed some boards about the project followed by a presentation, a little Q&A, and then a series of break-out discussions based on a workbook we prepared to help facilitate things. The information we collect will inform what policies, redevelopment concepts and design guidelines will best support TOD in McKernan and Belgravia neighbourhoods. Overall I’d say we received excellent feedback from the Open House Workshop which we will post a summary of on our webpage when ready. This will help us ensure the project’s final recommendations are grounded in the community’s aspirations while reflecting local conditions, opportunities, constraints, and collective solutions. But don’t worry – there’s still time to have your say! If you haven’t read the workbook and sent us your comments – please do! Alternatively, you can always share your thoughts here on this blog. So I open it up to you… what do you think of the current area around the McKernan/Belgravia station? Do you walk and do errands in the area? How might the neighbourhood immediately around the LRT station change over time? What new uses or amenities could make the neighbourhood around the LRT station more interesting, attractive and liveable? What do you think? We want to know.

The City Commissioners’ Papers

togrady — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:53:20 +0000

Do you remember what life was like before computers? That far away time when, if you wanted to communicate with someone you would call them, or more likely write them a letter? Though it may seem like a lifetime, it wasn’t that long ago that the main form of communication between the City and the public was the written word. The City of Edmonton Archives is responsible for maintaining the documents created by the City that have permanent value, and many of these are in the form of letters. In fact, one of our most useful collections for researchers is the City Commissioners’ correspondence – a collection known as RG-11. Of the thousands of documents in the collection, some of my favourites come from the 1950 “Put Edmonton on the Map” Campaign, an initiative by Mayor Sidney Parsons which solicited suggestions from citizens to re-brand Edmonton.

Greeting card submitted by local artist George Weber as part of the “Put Edmonton on the Map” Campaign. The City of Edmonton Archives has a significant collection of Weber’s artistic work.

Another greeting card submitted by George Weber

RG-11 1.3 File 251 “Good Old Edmonton” by Beatrice Liddle submitted as part of the “Put Edmonton on the Map” Campaign.

“Big Ed” by Ed C. Patey submitted as part of the “Put Edmonton on the Map” Campaign.

When Edmonton became a city in 1904, council adopted a commissioner system to oversee the running of the municipality. According to the Public Works Ordinance of 1900, the Commissioner would have “all the powers, rights, authorities and immunities that might have been exercised or enjoyed by council” and that the council “shall have no authority in respect of such works.” To offset the power of the commissioners, council decided to make the mayor, by virtue of his office, one of the commissioners as well. Initially, the City of Edmonton appointed three commissioners, Mayor K. W. MacKenzie, was Chairman of the Commission Board, J. H. Hargreave, Commissioner for Public Works, and George J. Kinnaird, Commissioner of Finance. Over the years the number of commissioners would change – ranging from a maximum of five to a minimum of two. The responsibilities of the commissioners remained the same; to oversee the administration of the rapidly growing city of Edmonton. Commissioners, appointed for an indefinite period, signed contracts, hired and fired department heads and city employees and oversaw the spending of annual budgets to a maximum of two hundred million dollars. In 1983 Mayor Laurence Decore, with the support of Council, replaced the commissioner system with a city manager and deputy manager to oversee the city's civic administration. Interestingly, the first manager and two deputy managers were the former City Commissioners.

This image presents the last members of the Commission Board before it was dissolved in 1984.

From 1904 until 1983, the City Commissioners were involved in every aspect of municipal operations. As a result, their correspondence files contain an incredibly diverse array of information from all branches of the City. The Archives’ collection of Commissioners’ Correspondence starts in 1906 and goes until 1983. If you were to stack the paper vertically it would be 225 metres high – more than twice as tall as Edmonton’s CN Tower! The information found in RG-11 is useful for people researching their houses, genealogists, local historians and social historians, and the collection presents a wonderful addition to the holdings at the City of Edmonton Archives. Seventy-three metres of this collection have been indexed to make them more accessible to researchers, and there is an online finding aid available. Check it out – you never know what you’ll find!

Another One Rides the Bus

gmcelheran — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:58:28 +0000

It would be difficult to nail down exactly which initiative contributed most to the 5.2 percent increase in ridership the Edmonton Transit System (ETS) experienced in 2011. It must be part of the overall increasing trend that’s been ongoing since 2002, when Edmontonians were taking almost 300,000 bus and LRT trips every weekday. In 2011, ridership increased to almost 400,000 weekday trips.

Certainly the South LRT extension to Century Park, completed in 2010, helped LRT ridership more than double between 2002 and 2011. And bus ridership is up about 5,000 trips a day, thanks to expanding service to newer communities and greater frequency of service on busier bus routes. But the growth trend and the enhanced service across Edmonton that contributes to it are complimented by popular discount programs and solid marketing. The Universal Transit Pass (UPass), for example, was completely available to NAIT students for the first time in 2011, and UPass sales to NAIT more than doubled from 2010. And the ETS@Work program has proved hugely popular with large institutional groups such as Alberta Health Services. But ETS programs and services are obviously most effective when people know about them. On top of ongoing social media campaigns on Facebook and Twitter, ETS recently adopted text message servicing and upgraded its online trip planner, and a smart phone application is in the works. To keep apprised of ETS developments, or to recommend ways to keep improving ETS, check www.takeets.com regularly.

The Way Edmonton Can Prosper

Larry Wall — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:50:09 +0000

Edmonton is faced with a heightened level of national and international competition to attract financial capital, workforce talent and business investment. That’s the context for the City as it begins to develop an economic development strategy, called The Way We Prosper. The strategy is one of the City’s six strategic plans. The City vision describes Edmonton in the future as an economic powerhouse. The economic development strategy will provide the direction for how the City can play a lead role in the development of a diverse and prosperous economy. The strategy is being prepared in collaboration with Edmonton Economic Development Corporation and in consultation with a wide range of local business leaders, educational institutions, community organizations and federal and provincial agencies engaged in economic development. The strategy is being developed over the course of 2012 with the final product being a plan that will guide the economic development priorities of the City. I'd like to invite you to provide your ideas on The Way We Prosper. An online questionnaire is now available to gather the ideas of Edmontonians. We are also holding focus groups at the end of February 2012 and an economic development workshop in the spring. Watch for opportunities to participate in those forums. The City has hired an impressive team of experts to draft the strategy, led by Millier Dickinson Blais, one of the country’s leading economic development firms with offices in Alberta and Ontario. They are joined by Western Management Consultants based in Edmonton; Location Strategies from Ontario; and Queen’s Executive Decision Centre at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. The team has considerable experience in economic and industry research, sector strategies, business attraction strategies, performance measurement for economic development, strategic planning and community engagement. For more information and to access The Way We Prosper questionnaire visit www.edmonton.ca/thewayweprosper.

1 = What?

Kris Andreychuk — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:37:53 +0000

The deployment of the Neighbourhood Empowerment Violence Reduction Team in McCauley initiated a great deal of interest, and conversation around the issue of high percentage, large volume alcohol. This is an extremely complex matter. It is, after all, addiction that is fueling much of the concern. From what we’ve seen during our time working in the community, the type of alcohol is not as much of an issue as the lack of awareness/understanding of the amount of alcohol being consumed. Although most people are aware that some products are high in alcohol, and come in large quantities, there lacks an understanding of just how potent they can be.

Read the McCauley Interview Results

We’ve introduced an education campaign that intends to fill that gap by providing information to help merchants, consumers and the public at large make better informed decisions concerning what they’re selling and consuming. The ‘1 = What?’ campaign is built on a simple, but powerful message of converting products to ‘Standard Units of Alcohol’. For instance, a 40 oz bottle at 10.1% alcohol is not just one big beer, it’s ‘1=7’ (i.e. equal to 7 regular beers). We have seen interest and surprise from community members, and even merchants, when informed of these equivalencies. In a clear and unambiguous manner, the campaign aims to highlight the conversion in McCauley’s liquor stores. Through posters, window clings and handbills, ‘1 = What?’ will inform all parties of what exactly is being sold and consumed. The conversion requires a bit of work – but from our perspective, it is an integral piece of information. Much in the same way that nutritional information is listed on food to inform healthier eating; labelling the units of alcohol equivalents may lead to better informed decisions concerning what’s being sold and consumed. Three of the four liquor stores in McCauley will be voluntary participating in the ‘1 = What?’ campaign. These merchants recognize the issues associated with over service/consumption and have stated that they want to work with us towards a safer community. The campaign kicks off February 17, in McCauley. Its success will be measured by Edmonton Police Service statistics, over-service enforcement in 2012 and community observations and feedback.

Listen to my interview on 1 = What? on Edmonton this Week

[audio:http://www.transformingedmonton.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/ETW-March3-OneEqualsWhatCampaign.mp3|titles=1 = What? Campaign on Edmonton This Week]

Interested in the results of ‘1 = What?’ and NET in general? You can now follow both Cst. Chapman Lee and me on Twitter for real time updates and information!

Time to talk economics

Larry Wall — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 22:44:55 +0000

I’d like to invite you to join us for some in-depth discussions on the City’s economic development strategy. Over three days – February 28, 29 and March 1 – we are conducting focus groups that will help develop the overall strategic direction for Edmonton’s economic development strategy. Each focus group has a different focus, so choose one that appeals to you and register by going to The Way We Prosper web page. Here are the topics for the focus groups:

Providing a Competitive Business Environment

This focus group discussion will explore the components of a competitive business environment and how the City of Edmonton can nurture a business friendly environment that sustains and grows in investment and jobs.

Capitalizing on our Economic Strengths

This focus group discussion will explore Edmonton’s economic strengths and the opportunities that exist to support existing businesses in the City’s core industry sectors.

Advancing our Emerging Industries

This focus group discussion will explore Edmonton’s emerging industries, the advantages Edmonton has as a business location relative to other regions of the province and country, and what the City of Edmonton can do to effectively lever these emerging industries.

Attracting and Retaining High Quality Talent to Edmonton

This focus group discussion will explore the key factors required to attract and retain skilled and educated workers and the role the City can play in making that possible.

Strengthening Edmonton’s Position in a Global Marketplace

This focus group discussion will explore what the City of Edmonton can do to provide recognized value to its regional stakeholders and increase its influence at the provincial, federal and global level. Your insights will be of tremendous value and will assist us in developing a strong foundation for economic growth over the coming years. All participants will receive a copy of the focus group results and will be invited to hear a presentation of the strategy later this year.

Great ideas on how Edmonton can prosper

Larry Wall — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 22:37:10 +0000

We’ve received a lot of great input so far as we work on the City’s economic development strategy, known as The Way We Prosper. The strategy is being prepared in consultation with a wide range of local business leaders, educational institutions, community organizations, federal and provincial agencies engaged in economic development, as well as citizens. Last week, 70 people took part in focus group discussions. That’s in addition to the 150 community and business leaders who’ve participated in one-on-one interviews over the last three months, and the 140 people who’ve participated so far in an online questionnaire. All the individuals and groups have been asked to share their ideas on how the City of Edmonton can diversify economic growth and business investment. The ideas that have been generated will be combined with the economic data and analysis being done by the team of consultants the City has hired to draft the strategy. This work will be shared at an economic development summit being planned for later this spring. The strategy is being developed over the course of 2012 with the final product being a plan that will guide the economic development priorities of the City. For more information and to track the strategy’s development visit www.edmonton.ca/thewayweprosper .

Notification of Community Crime (N.O.C.C.)

Kris Andreychuk — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 17:04:05 +0000

Have you ever imagined having the ability to predict when and where crime is going to take place, and then using that information to stop it from happening... like Batman? This common childhood dream (and adult, let’s be honest), and research from the U.K., is what inspired the Neighbourhood Empowerment Team (N.E.T) to develop the Notification of Community Crime (N.O.C.C.) program and pilot it in three N.E.T. neighbourhoods. A recently completed review of neighbourhood crime in 2011 indicates that the program has had a substantial impact on rates of residential break and enter recidivism (a big word meaning the repeat of something undesirable). The Research N.O.C.C. is research based and outcomes measurable. The project is based on residential break and enter recidivism research presented by Kate J. Bowers and Shane D. Johnson with the European Journal of Criminology in 2005. Although their findings are fairly complex, the important pieces of the research, based on examples in the U.K., are clear.

Repeat break and enters tend to occur in poorer areas, whereas, clusters tend to take place in more affluent ones
Houses next to a break and enter are at heightened risk (compared to those located further away); particularly within one week following the initial occurrence
Houses located on the same side of the street of the break and enter are at greater risk then those on the opposite side

According to the research, taking action based on these patterns two months after, and up to 400 meters from a prior residential break and enter, is vital. Based on their findings, Bowers and Johnson suggest the following actions be taken.

A break and enter should trigger preventive action
Efforts in poorer areas should be on preventing reoccurrence
In more affluent areas, efforts should be on preventing break and enters of nearby homes
There is a narrow window of opportunity, so preventive action needs to be put in place quickly
The homes at greatest risk are on the same side of the street, those of similar structure, and most of all, neighbouring homes
The risk is not greater in homes with identical floor plans than in those with mirror-image floor plans
Clustering is most evident on straight streets

How N.O.C.C. Works Since N.O.C.C.’s inception in 2009 a fairly significant volunteer base has been recruited, trained and organized. N.E.T’s partnership with youth volunteers from Centre High’s Emergency Response Career Pathways (E.R.C.P.), as well as the community at large, has been key to this. Following a residential break and enter, N.E.T. contacts the community member whose property has been damaged and provides the N.O.C.C. crime prevention kit. These kits include crime prevention tips, a home safety audit, and a N.O.C.C. crime prevention poster to help deter thieves. Then, on a bi-weekly basis, N.E.T. and youth volunteers canvass neighbouring properties of prior residential break and enters, speaking with residents and handing out N.O.C.C. crime prevention kits. Up to 25 youth and N.E.T. staff have canvassed in areas affected by residential break and enters. This high concentration of youth volunteers attracts a great deal of attention and the bright yellow and black N.O.C.C. crime prevention posters also facilitate increased visibility. These signs have become a recognizable marker community-wide identifying the areas canvassed by N.O.C.C. volunteers. All pertinent information is documented and hotspot mapped in conjunction with our Edmonton Police Service analysts. In the weeks following the response, any further crime in the immediate area is also documented and mapped. This helps with both the practical functions of the project and the evaluation of our efforts. Some Results By providing tools and increasing community dialogue, this project has resulted in some significant reductions of both residential break and enter recidivism and clustering. N.O.C.C. has now been facilitated by N.E.T. and volunteers in several of our targeted communities. Here are two examples highlighting some of some of the results we’ve seen to-date. Alberta Avenue N.O.C.C. volunteers and N.E.T responded to 54 residential break and enters, canvassing the areas of heightened risk from April, 2009 to September, 2009. At the completion of the pilot, volunteers had connected with approximately 2,700 households in the communities surrounding 118 Avenue, speaking with residents and providing crime prevention kits. Efforts resulted in a significant reduction of both residential break and enter recidivism and clustering. Of the 2,700 households contacted by N.O.C.C., there were only five incidents of residential break and enter recidivism following a canvass [1] Bonnie Doon In Bonnie Doon, the team implemented the N.O.C.C. program for a six month period (November 2009 – April 2010), producing some staggering results. During these six months, residential break and enters dropped 66 per cent, which produced an incredible 30 per cent reduction in 2011 (compared to the average over the prior two years)! N.O.C.C.’s legacy is community mobilization. It gets residents talking about crime prevention in their communities and provides the tools to reduce residential break and enters. Residents canvassed by N.O.C.C. often get involved in other community crime prevention initiatives and proactively become part of the solution. N.O.C.C. is just one of the many unique solutions to common community concerns piloted here in Edmontonby your Neighbourhood Empowerment Teams. Interested in the results of N.O.C.C. and N.E.T. in general? You can follow me on Twitter for real time updates and information!

[1] Recidivism in the areas of heightened risk as defined by the research (i.e. same side of the street and up to two months after, and up to 400 meters from a priorresidential break and enter.

Complete Streets: Give us your Feedback!

KFitzGibbon — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 19:10:48 +0000

From April 2-25, Transportation Services will run an online dialogue about ‘Complete Streets’— and we want your input! “Wait,” you’re probably wondering. “What exactly are Complete Streets?” Complete Streets is a concept. It’s a City of Edmonton initiative that acknowledges a simple truth: when it comes to roads, one size doesn’t fit all. Complete Streets take into consideration a street’s location (residential, industrial, commercial), who’s using it and how they’re using it (cars, bikes, walking). Complete Streets are not limited to urban areas; the principles involved are appropriate for new and mature neighbourhoods, suburbs and industrial areas alike. Complete Streets are safe, comfortable and convenient for walking, cycling, driving or taking transit. In order to help realize the goals of the City’s Transportation Master Plan, The Way We Move, we’re looking for input that will help us create Complete Streets Guidelines. These guidelines will benefit Edmontonians by creating streets that have better land use, that integrate transportation modes, and that encourage active transportation modes like cycling and walking. To illustrate, here’s how other cities are dealing with Complete Streets:

Toronto: http://completestreets.ca/
Calgary: 2011 Interim Complete Streets Guide
New York: Complete Streets: It’s About More than Bike Lanes (Video)

Please go to www.edmonton.ca/CompleteStreets, and get in on the conversation.

From The Ashes

KMerrett — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 22:08:10 +0000

The Alberta Hotel, which was the height of modern when it opened on the northeast corner of Jasper Avenue and 98^th Street in 1904, could easily have disappeared forever in 1977 when its then owner applied to the City to demolish it. The application aroused a storm of controversy. Shabby and down-at-the-heels as it had become, the Alberta Hotel was recognized by Edmontonians as part of their cultural heritage; they urged the City to find ways to save it. Ideas were bandied about on the editorial pages of local newspapers for a few years while the hotel continued its slide into decrepitude. Finally, in 1983, the City made a giant leap of faith when it hired Woolfenden Group Architects to dismantle the Alberta Hotel and to store its valuable parts for some undetermined future reconstruction. Who could have imagined that more than a quarter century would elapse between the 1983-84 dismantling and its ultimate reconstruction by local architect/developer Gene Dub? [caption id="attachment_2766" align="aligncenter" width="428" caption="EA-788-1 shows the south façade of the Alberta Hotel, empty and with ground floor windows boarded up."][/caption] Reconstructed and looking very much as it did when it opened in 1904, the Alberta Hotel has returned to its old spot on Jasper Avenue, shifted just 15 feet to one side of its original footprint, says Architect Dub. Local radio station CKUA, another bastion of Edmonton’s rich cultural heritage, has purchased it and will move in just as soon as the interiors are ready. And when that happens, Dub plans to lease the main floor bar which he will restore to its original glory — to be operated as a local bar and eatery. [caption id="attachment_2760" align="aligncenter" width="456" caption="EA-788-20 shows the beautiful plaster ceiling from the ground floor bar. Sections of this ceiling were saved so it could be replicated in the reconstruction."][/caption] As a volunteer at the City of Edmonton Archives, I recently found myself working on a collection which was donated to the archives in 1999 but which needed to be catalogued. The collection related to the dismantling process and it included, in addition to more than 500 photographs, a number of documents relating to the delicate dismantling project. The donor, William Hamilton Architect Ltd., was the successor firm to Woolfenden Group Architects and inherited the Alberta Hotel demolition documentation. Luckily, individuals within the William Hamilton firm recognized the importance of the documents and photos to Edmonton’s history and decided to place them where they can be accessible to all citizens. The donation from William Hamilton Architect, known as the William Hamilton fonds, can be found in the archives using two numbers. MS-740 contains all the paper documentation while the photographs are all catalogued under the number EA-788.

: EA-788-218 shows the conical cupola being removed from the roof prior to being stored. It was preserved intact, despite its enormous size.

[caption id="attachment_2762" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="EA-788-264 shows pallets holding sandstone blocks, again bound for storage."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2763" align="aligncenter" width="464" caption="EA-788-333 is one of my favourite photos from this collection. We see the wonderful view that hotel guests had from their rooms. However, the open, free-standing door reminds us of the many people who walked through that door and into Edmonton’s past."][/caption]

For the benefit of researchers, the City of Edmonton Archives has now produced an Alberta Hotel “finding aid” -- that is, a document which describes all the material in the archives related to the Alberta Hotel. This aid contains a brief history of the hotel and a short account of its design and the materials used in the original construction. It also lists and describes the various collections in the archives which relate to the Alberta Hotel. [caption id="attachment_2764" align="aligncenter" width="564" caption="EB-26-343 from a 1911 special edition of the Edmonton Bulletin"][/caption]

There are many photographs of the Alberta Hotel in the collection of the City of Edmonton Archives. Photo EB-26-343, for instance, was originally published in a special edition of the Edmonton Bulletin which was published in 1911. The article described the hotel as “[o]ne of the first established public houses” in the city and one which “has always retained its leading position”. The hotel’s distinctive conical turret or cupola is rather faded in this photograph, but it was (and is) one of the building’s most distinctive architectural features. To find out more about the Alberta Hotel, check out the City of Edmonton Archives. [caption id="attachment_2765" align="aligncenter" width="383" caption="Here is the Alberta Hotel in 1967. Take a look at it today and decide if you think it is well integrated in our modern city."][/caption]

Help Create a Vision for Queen Elizabeth Park

MHartlaub — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:18:19 +0000

Queen Elizabeth Park has been a well-loved destination park for Edmontonians for almost a century. Given all the planned improvements in the area, including the new Walterdale Bridge and the repurposing of the Rossdale Power Plant, in addition to the demolition of the old Queen Elizabeth Pool, the time is ripe to re-imagine what this park means to us and to explore options for its future. HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED? The City of Edmonton will be hosting the first in a series of three public events around the development of a high-level Concept Plan for the entire park and a Master Plan for Upper (south) portion of the park. Workshop 1: Idea Gathering Wednesday, April 18, 2012 6:30pm to 8:30pm Old Timers' Cabin, 9430 Scona Rd. NW This event will be a full 2-hour facilitated workshop focused on gathering ideas. In this workshop you will be asked to:

contribute your local knowledge about Queen Elizabeth Park;
tell us what you value about the park;
identify what should be preserved or enhanced;
identify what should to be changed or improved, and;
identify how you would like to see the park used in the future.

WHY ME? Your input at this workshop is important to help us create a vision for the park that will attract, captivate and delight park visitors now and into the future. It will also help us identify priorities for the park that will be used to guide the design of the park Concept Plan and Upper Park Master Plan. WHAT IF I CAN’T BE THERE? There will be an online survey available for two weeks following the workshop which you can use to contribute to the process. A link to the survey will be provided on the project website: www.edmonton.ca/QEparkplan. TELL ME MORE! For more information and to sign up for updates on this project, visit www.edmonton.ca/QEparkplan.

Northwest LRT public engagement kicks off April 10

KFitzGibbon — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:07:01 +0000

The year 2012 is shaping up to be a busy one for LRT projects in Edmonton! Construction of the North LRT to NAIT is underway and preliminary engineering for the Southeast to West LRT is in full swing. Now the Northwest LRT is helping shift the way we move in Edmonton with a public engagement open house on Tuesday, April 10, 2012, at Calder Hall. Residents, community stakeholders and the general public are invited to come learn about theNorthwest LRTand how you’ll be involved in concept planning. Planning for the Northwest LRT recently received an additional boost. The Government of Alberta is investing $250,000 into the concept planning study for the 11km line (read the full article here). Funding for this joint project is a step towards realizing the Capital Region Board’s goal of a regional inter-municipal transit network. City Council approved the Northwest LRT route in July 2010. After the North LRT to NAIT becomes operational in 2014, the plan is to extend the line from the new NAIT station to a future park-and-ride at the city limits near St. Albert. The line will cross the City Centre Redevelopment area, pass over (or under) the CN Rail yards on the north side of Yellowhead Trail and travel north along 113A Street. It will then turn west on 153 Avenue and continue to the park-and-ride at the northwestEdmonton city limits. You can learn more about the latest developments and how to get involved in LRT public events at www.edmonton.ca/LRTprojects.

Food and You

LRetzlaff — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:24:32 +0000

We want to encourage a broad community conversation about food in the city. So every week until our Food in the City conference (May 25-26, 2012) we are going to offer up a "juicy" question about food and agriculture. This week's question starts the conversation by asking about the importance and value of food in our lives. In discussions about our work on the Food and Agriculture Project, we are often asked why we are doing this work. There are many reasons of course, but one obvious reason why this work is so important is because food is so fundamental to our lives. Beyond this basic truth we have also learned that food can be complex. To some, food is a cultural expression or a way of life; to others food is tied to household or business finances; for many the priority may be on how food nourishes their bodies and provides nutrition for their children; and yet others will value how food brings them together with their friends and family socially. So, our question to you this week is: What's important about food, to you? Join the conversation, post your comments, and share what you are thinking with others!

Economic Development Workshop

Larry Wall — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 21:18:58 +0000

Understanding Edmonton’s economic reality and potential I’d like to encourage you to join us at the upcoming economic development workshop on April 30, 2012. This is a key milestone in the creation of The Way We Prosper, the City’s strategic economic development plan. The focus of the workshop will be on Edmonton’s current economic strengths and weaknesses, and the economic opportunities and threats facing the city in the future. Our consultants, Millier Dickenson Blais, will be sharing their research and analysis of the city’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT). Then we’ll facilitate discussions to get your input and critique on the themes that have emerged in our research and consultation to this point. All of this will be the basis upon which a strategic economic plan will be drafted over the next several months. As we’ve shared here already, over the winter, hundreds of business and community leaders, organizations and interested citizens have participated in focus groups, one-on-one interviews and an online questionnaire about The Way We Prosper. The consultations to date show that there are expectations from citizens and business leaders that Edmonton’s economic future be diverse and sustainable so that Edmonton can continue to grow as a prosperous, competitive world city. So please come and join us for The Way We Prosper Economic Development Workshop. Your perspective is important to us and will help shape Edmonton’s strategic economic development plan. Economic Development Workshop April 30, 2012 1 – 4pm Shaw Convention Centre To register for the workshop go to www.edmonton.ca/TheWayWeProsper

The Healthy Food Question

LRetzlaff — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:01:53 +0000

We want to encourage a broad community conversation about food in the city. So every week until our Food in the City conference we are going to offer up a "juicy" question about food and agriculture. Last week we started the conversation by asking about the importance of food in our lives. This week's question digs a little deeper to explore one of the more obvious and important aspects of food: nutrition and health. In many of the comments from last week's post we heard that nutritious and healthy food is important to people. What we often find, however, is that what "nutritious" and "healthy" mean depend very much on who you're talking to. For example, there’s the debate between organic versus non-organic, or having to choose between locally grown versus non-local food. Which is the healthier and more nutritious choice? There are also the variety of diets to choose from – whole foods, vegan, raw foods, paleo diet, low carbs, wheat free, dairy free, sugar free and so on. And there are all those ethnic foods that we love and are important to us. We can also consider the broader issues: does healthy mean healthy for me as an individual or healthy for the planet, or both? Okay, we probably won’t have this debate over every meal. But we'd like to hear what you think. So, our question to you this week is: What does "nutritious and healthy food" mean to you? Join the conversation, post your comments, and share what you are thinking with others!

City of Edmonton Archives’ Virtual Exhibit on Ella May Walker

Elizabeth Walker — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:42:41 +0000

City of Edmonton archivists are launching our first edmonton.ca virtual exhibit on April 25, the first of many! We’re featuring Ella May Walker, a musician, artist, author and advocate for Edmonton's history.

[caption id="attachment_2895" align="aligncenter" width="445" caption="EAA-1-1 Walter House – Ella May Walker painted two of John Walter’s houses and campaigned for their preservation. The two houses are now part of the City’s John Walter Museum"][/caption] We chose Ella May Walker for our first virtual exhibit for several reasons;

She was a really interesting and active lady
We have a rich body of her records in the Archives (artwork, correspondence and manuscripts)
Several of her paintings are currently being featured in the Art Gallery of Alberta’s Exhibit Alberta Mistresses of the Modern: 1935-1975
She had a role in the Archives’ history as she was a member of the Archives and Landmark Committee in the 1940s and 1950s, crucial years for the formation of the City of Edmonton Archives

I won’t tell you too much more about her here, I’ll save it for the virtual exhibit. We also have a finding aid on her records in our catalogue as well as a webpage devoted to her. Before we had our own online catalogue we used the online database provided by the Archives Society of Alberta (ASA). ASA member archives are able to upload both finding aids and scans of records. One of our contributions to the database was on Ella (just search for Ella May Walker to see it). [caption id="attachment_2897" align="aligncenter" width="419" caption="EAA-1-12 Edmonton Refinery – This is one of two Ella May Walker paintings that the City of Edmonton Archives has loaned to the Art Gallery of Alberta for the exhibit Mistresses of the Modern: 1935-1975, which runs from March to June, 2012."][/caption] Since we launched our own online catalogue in 2009 we have been actively increasing the amount of content we have available, especially scans of our images. We have almost 28,000 images uploaded but we still have a way to go as that’s only about 10% of our catalogued images. The online catalogue also has finding aids for our private and civic record collections. First Virtual Exhibit? In one way or another, we’ve had material online in general, and about Ella May Walker in particular, for a while. So what makes this our “first” virtual exhibit? We’re calling it our first because it marks a new way for us to make our material available to the public. We collaborated with the City’s communication and web teams to develop the exhibit on the edmonton.ca website. Their expertise helped us translate our vision into reality. It’s also different because we’re not just providing a finding aid or a description of the records we have, and we’re not just putting up scans of records. We’re telling stories about Edmonton’s history, using the records we have at the City of Edmonton Archives. It’s a bit like this blog, only more in-depth. A common goal in blogging and in creating the virtual exhibit is to show the different types of records we have at the Archives, ways that they can be used, and what kind of information you can get from them. A difference between them is that the blog is an opportunity to engage with people (comments make us happy!). There can be a lot of unanswered questions in archives and many archivists use blogs to tap into the knowledge of the community to try and answer some of them. A virtual exhibit, on the other hand, gives us the opportunity to pick a topic (or a person) and really tell a story based on the records the Archives has on it. We’ll build our exhibits with the idea that you can get as much or as little from them as you want. If you are interested in seeing what Edmonton looked like in the past, you have an opportunity to do that. If you want to know some of the circumstances around the images and documents, we’ll be writing about them. If you’re interested in seeing an example of how the City operated in the past, you can get an idea by seeing the documents. And, if you want to know more, we will have a bibliography (the Archival Documents section) of all the records used in the exhibit. This provides the context that the records come from. Context is important in Archives Providing the context is important because we’re pulling together material from many different sources and this could make them look like they are a cohesive whole when they are not. They are related by subject but not usually through origin. This bibliography will show where these disparate records come from, grouping them by creator rather than by subject. Our exhibit is only one way to tell the story and someone else may tell it differently, even if they use the same material. Having the Archival Documents section gives you the opportunity to look at the records from your perspective, not just ours, and to consider other ways that the story can be told. Another thing to keep in mind is that, by looking at our records this way, you can think about what’s missing. No archives is ever complete and we need to keep this in mind when we’re telling history from them.

[caption id="attachment_2896" align="aligncenter" width="486" caption="EAA-1-5 Fort Edmonton in 1860 Plans to recreate Fort Edmonton were around as early as the 1940s. This painting is Ella May Walker’s vision of what the Fort may have looked like. The recreation of the Fort was achieved with the 1967 opening of Fort Edmonton Park."][/caption]

I had a lot of fun creating our first Virtual Exhibit and can’t wait for it to go live on April 25th. Also, I’d like hear what you think of it! If you have any comments, questions, or feedback on the exhibit, please feel free to comment on this post.

Dear ‘john’

Kris Andreychuk — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:00:54 +0000

It’s time to break up with ‘john’- we’re moving on and he should too.

Sexual exploitation has a serious impact on the quality of life for all Edmontonians.

25-35 is the average age of ‘john school’ attendees
64% of ‘johns’ have children
15 years-old is the average age of entry into sexual exploitation
An average of 100 solicitation arrests per year in the last 5 years

The Alberta Avenue community in Edmonton is stepping up; taking a unique approach to a common community concern. On April 25, a ‘Dear ‘john’ campaign will be launched to discourage sexual exploitation, raise awareness, and encourage participation in the promotion of community safety. The campaign is built on a break-up letter to “john” from the 118 avenue community. [caption id="attachment_2914" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="Click to view image"][/caption] The letter let’s ‘john’ know the relationship is over – we’re moving on and he should too. We want ‘john’ to know that this community is an active one - intolerant of their safety being compromised. Signs featuring Dear ‘john’ messages will be placed along 118 Avenue to act as mobile deterrents, and will routinely change locations so as to capitalize on their visual impact.

Write your own message to ‘john’ in the comment section (below) and Tweet him using the hashtag #Dearjohn. Alberta Avenue is moving on and not looking back, and encourages other communities to do the same.

Commonly asked questions about Street Prostitution (PDF)

History of Walterdale Bridge Goes On

gmcelheran — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 20:59:49 +0000

One of the best parts of living in Edmonton is to stumble across the astonishing link between infrastructure and history.

Take the Walterdale Bridge, for example. City Council’s vision for replacing this 100-year-old structure is best described in this video, which also runs on the masthead of www.edmonton.ca This video explains the City’s vision for the new Walterdale Bridge.

The new bridge will be many things – elegant, contemporary, beautiful. Rather than replace the steel truss architecture many Edmonton bridges employ – basic, robust and utilitarian but rather plain – City Council decided to build a more modern arch design as a signature gateway into downtown.

The historic significance of this decision is twofold: it turns a page on the city’s industrial past, but honours Edmonton’s history as it embraces the future. People have been crossing the North Saskatchewan River and gathering in the Edmonton area for centuries. When the second Fort Edmonton was established around 1801 on the north bank floodplain (now called Rossdale) below the escarpment, it became a trade centre between First Nations, Métis and European cultures. [caption id="attachment_2926" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="Fort Edmonton circa 1871"][/caption] Although Fort Edmonton officially changed locations several times over the years, Rossdale retained its status as a social and commercial hub. Around 1875 a shipwright named John Walter began operating a ferry between the riverbanks. Around 1912 construction began on the 105 Street Bridge that would replace his ferry operation, and eventually bear his name. [caption id="attachment_2925" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="105 Street Bridge circa 1915"][/caption]

Now, a century later, the time has come to build something new.

The condition of the existing Walterdale Bridge was assessed in 2000. City engineers determined it was approaching the end of its service life and rehabilitated the bridge to give it a few more years while City Council considered options. In 2011 City Council approved a concept plan and a $132 million budget to build a bridge that looks like this: [caption id="attachment_2923" align="aligncenter" width="430" caption="Artist’s rendering of the new Walterdale Bridge, scheduled to open in 2015"][/caption] Achieving this vision will require a lot of hard work and ongoing public consultation, notably with First Nations and Métis communities within Edmonton and throughout the province. The Rossdale area has a rich historic cultural significance, perhaps best exemplified by the Fort Edmonton Cemetery and Traditional Burial Grounds located just northeast of the existing Walterdale Bridge, where ancestors of many Edmontonians – First Nations, Métis and European settlers – are interred with honour. While construction will occur adjacent to the Fort Edmonton Cemetery and Traditional Burial Grounds, requiring a boundary amendment and relocation of the information panels at the south end, the Walterdale Bridge replacement project will not displace the memory circle, reinterment area and historic period graveyard. Everywhere in Rossdale – and really the entire river valley – has historic cultural value no one wants to disturb. One reason for building the new bridge right next to the old bridge is because the land has already been disturbed. Over the years the planned construction site has been developed and redeveloped, beginning with the establishment of Fort Edmonton, John Walter’s ferry and construction of the existing bridge. The chance of encountering human or other archaeological remains in the construction area is remote, and the City is conducting extensive archaeological research to minimize those odds even more. Building major infrastructure like the Walterdale Bridge has impacts that create inconvenience for everyone. The existing bridge will remain in operation until the new bridge begins service in 2015. For two years beginning in 2013 both ends of the bridge are going to be a construction zone. But when the new bridge opens the short term pain will be worth the long term gain. Edmonton’s story continues, and the new Walterdale Bridge is an exciting introduction to the city’s next chapter.

Green Food: Connecting Food and Ecosystems

LRetzlaff — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:17:25 +0000

We want to encourage a broad community conversation about food in the city. So every week until our Food in the City conference we are going to offer up a “juicy” question about food and agriculture. Last week's question was the healthy food question that explored nutrition and health. What became obvious from all the thoughtful comments that were shared on last week's post is that health means more than just personal health. So, taking a cue from our readers, this week’s question asks about the connection between food and healthy ecosystems. There are some common assumptions that we are hearing more and more these days around food and the environment. Local food is greener. Eat less meat (particularly beef) and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Organic food is better for our bodies and the planet. There seems to be a lot of evidence to support these kinds of claims. However, we can't help but wonder how we can be sure about how our food choices will affect our ecosystems. Let's say, for example, that I really like how avocados add nutrient value and taste to my meals, and my dietitian even recommends them for my particular dietary needs. How can I be sure whether my love for avocados is a green food choice? After all, avocados don't grow in Edmonton, so they definitely won't be local. I can find some organic ones, but they're coming from so far away. And how about my favourite summer barbeque choice - burgers? I know, eating less meat is supposed to be the greener choice, but if I get the local organic beef I should be good, right? Or is consuming less meat still greener than consuming local organic meat? As if food choices for my personal health weren't difficult enough, now I've got to think about how my food choices also impact the planet! What do you think? Our question to you this week is: What food choices do you think are best for healthy ecosystems? Join the conversation, post your comments, and share what you are thinking with others!

Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk

IHosler — Tue, 01 May 2012 20:11:29 +0000

Jane Jacobs (1916-2006) was an urbanist and activist who championed a fresh, community-based approach to city building. Jacobs saw cities as ecosystems that had their own logic and dynamism which would change over time according to how they were used. Her 1961 book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, introduced ground-breaking ideas about how cities function, evolve and fail that now seem like common sense to generations of architects, planners, politicians and activists.

Jane’s Walk was created in 2007 in Toronto by friends of Jane, and the annual series of free, volunteer-led urban walks has grown from 27 to over 500 walks, from Calgary to Canberra and Sao Paulo to Saskatoon.

While in the last few years a number of walks have been offered in Edmonton, this year for the first time Jane's Walk in Edmonton is being coordinated by a local organizing committee made up of volunteers and staff from the City of Edmonton’s Walkable Edmonton and the Old Strathcona Foundation. We are very grateful to the volunteers who have stepped up to lead a walk and share their knowledge of our interesting communities.

We are kicking off the Jane’s Walk weekend at City Hall on Friday, May 4, with three very distinctive Edmonton walks over the lunch hour led by local experts –

the Heritage Buildings Walk, led by David Holdsworth, Heritage Planner
the Quarters Walk, led by Kathryn Ivany – City Archivist
Derive Downtown, led by Kristy Trinier – Public Art Coordinator

There will also be a number of other walks all around town over the weekend and on Monday evening, so take in as many as you can!

See all the Edmonton Walks at: http://janeswalk.net/cities/list/category/edmonton

The Local Food Economy

LRetzlaff — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:44:08 +0000

We want to encourage a broad community conversation about food in the city. So every week until our Food in the City conference we are going to offer up a "juicy" question about food and agriculture. Last week’s question explored the connection between food and healthy ecosystems. We received great comments that lead to a wonderful image of Edmontonians as healthy people living in healthy ecosystems, buying and eating healthy food. This would seem to translate into a growing demand for local foods here in Edmonton and beyond. As the demand for local continues, the opportunities for local jobs and businesses grow. We're talking about everything from farming, processing, getting the food to the table, storing and warehousing, selling, marketing, cooking, and managing the waste. All of the opportunities in the various parts of the local food economy could create long-term jobs and community wealth for people in Edmonton and the region. Assuming this might all be true, then local food could add a lot of value to Edmonton. But we're not sure if there is a line up of entrepreneurs out there wanting to get into the local food market. When's the last time we saw a potential farmer on Dragon's Den? So, our question to you this week is: What work or business opportunities would you be willing to pursue in the local food economy? Join the conversation, post your comments, and share what you are thinking with others!

Inviting Ideas for New Neighbourhood Building Blocks

KAnderson — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:08:59 +0000

I’d like to invite you to participate in how we design the great new neighbourhoods of the future. Edmonton is a young and growing city, and we are continuously planning and building new neighbourhoods. To meet the city’s growth needs over the coming decades, Edmonton will continue planning and building new neighbourhoods that will provide the homes and communities for many Edmontonians in the future. So over the course of this year, the City is preparing design guidelines for Edmonton’s new neighbourhoods. Through this project, we aim to continue to create and build upon the livability, prosperity and sustainability of Edmonton’s neighbourhoods, both now and in the future. Designing New Neighbourhoods: Guidelines for Edmonton’s Developing Communities, is a key opportunity for developers and builders, new homebuyers, the City, and all future residents to build a better city. The design guidelines for new neighbourhoods will ensure that we continue to invest wisely, act competitively, and that new neighbourhoods advance our collective goals. These high-level guidelines will guide the physical structure and layout of brand new neighbourhoods in our city’s suburbs, and will encourage the continued development of unique and innovative communities. Check out the project’s website for more information – www.edmonton.ca/DesigningNewNeighbourhoods - check out the showcase of promising design practices featured there, and share your ideas with us on what you think the building blocks of great new neighbourhoods are! There are a number of ways you can participate: share an idea on IdeaScale, comment on someone else’s idea, tweet a photo of your favorite new neighbourhood feature using #yegDNN, comment on the blog right here, or send the Project Team an email at: designingnewneighbourhoods@edmonton.ca . The initial ideas generation phase of the project is open until May 22nd, 2012. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Responsible Selling…Healthy Communities

TBoonstra — Wed, 09 May 2012 20:24:16 +0000

Following the kick-off of the 1=What? education campaign, created to inform consumers and retailers of alcohol equivalencies, the Neighbourhood Empowerment Team (N.E.T.) in the McCauley community has been working with merchants and community stakeholders to monitor and mitigate the existing and potential increase in consumption of non-beverage alcohol (NBA) products. Results of a survey NET undertook indicated that approximately 4 per cent of respondents would turn to non-beverage alcohol (NBA) if their product of choice wasn’t available. NBA is sold in regular grocery and pharmacy stores, and contains the pure form of ethyl alcohol. Examples are rubbing alcohol, household cleaners, vanilla extract, some mouthwashes, aftershave, and some cooking wines. Inhalants are usually any product that has a strong chemical content used for sniffing (glue, lighter fluid, nail polish remover, gasoline, and paint thinners. A study found that the most common users are between the ages of 8 and 16 and that 5.6 per cent of Alberta students (under age 18) in 2002 had used inhalants in the previous 12 months. 1 Among those who were receiving addiction treatment in Alberta in 2003/2004, 1 per cent admitted to using inhalants in the previous year. But inner city addictions experts and frontline agency staff indicate the number of people who use non-beverage products as either a drug of choice or a replacement in time of need is underreported. The problem is larger than statistics show. Many non-beverage users turn to these substances because of its accessibility and low cost. 2 This means that retailers of these products can help to decrease the opportunities for abuse by youth and adults in our community. The McCauley Neighbourhood Empowerment Team (N.E.T.) has launched a project called ‘Responsible Selling…Healthy Communities’ to reduce access to these products. My partners, Constable Chapman Lee, Trisha Shackleton and I have been canvassing McCauley vendors and bringing the problem to their attention. We are providing them with strategies for appropriate sales and making them aware of the responsibility they have under the Public Health Act to avoid selling these products for consumption. Many have agreed to partner in the appropriate sale of these products and are happy to do their part in taking care of the community. Some of the strategies suggested are listed below:

Sell these items behind the counter or near the till to prevent ease of theft.
Increase respectful questioning that should occur when someone may be suspected of consuming the product.
Increase awareness of consumer rights as well as retailers’ obligations under the Public Health Act.
Alternately, make a decision not to sell potentially harmful products.

Information is being provided to owners and managers in the neighborhood and we hope that many are now committed to adjusting their selling practices for this community-based initiative. Feel free to give this information to your community! Create awareness of the problem and hold local vendors accountable for their responsibility to the community and to the law. We know that alcohol over-consumption has a correlation to violent crime. Acknowledging that addiction is a complex community concern, the N.E.T. team in McCauley is working to reduce the over-service and over-consumption of high volume, high percentage alcohol and NBA. We are hoping it will be an ongoing initiative, involving all community stakeholders. Follow up on Twitter for updates @Tricia_NET or @Cst_Lee ______________________________________________ 1 Alberta Health Services, AADAC. (2010). Beyond the ABCs Solvents/Inhalants, ISBN 0-7785-0095-0, Available at http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/AddictionsSubstanceAbuse/hi-asa-beyond-abcs-solvents-and-inhalants.pdf 2 Canadian Community Epidemiology Network on drug use, 2009/2010, The Winnipeg site network team, 1-29.

North LRT to NAIT Construction Update

lyarmon — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:37:34 +0000

It’s full steam ahead for the second construction season on the North LRT to NAIT project. We’re keeping an aggressive schedule so we can stay on track to officially open the new line in April 2014. Although work continued on the North LRT over the winter, most of it happened off of major roadways. This year’s warmer temperatures meant that major roadworks for the project were able to start early in March. The first major task of the season began on March 19, when a two-block section of 105 Street between 105 Avenue and 107 Avenue was closed until November to accommodate track construction. [caption id="attachment_3040" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="105 Street/105 Avenue will look similar to this artist’s rendering when the North LRT opens in 2014."][/caption] 106 Street was recently closed just south of Princess Elizabeth Avenue so that contractors can build tracks across the roadway. Following the month-long closure of 106 Street, Princess Elizabeth Avenue will be closed between 106 Street and 109 Street for roughly one month so that a rail crossing can be built just west of 106 Street. The final major roadworks of the season will involve the closure of 111 Avenue for several days at 106 Street to accommodate construction of a final rail crossing. You’ll also see minor roadworks throughout the North LRT right-of-way.

: An artist’s rendering of the rail crossings at 106 Street and Princess Elizabeth Avenue.

In addition to roadworks, the tunnelling operation will continue 24-hours a day, seven days a week until early 2013. Churchill Station will also be undergoing a major transformation this spring and summer. Special track work will be installed just north of the station to allow trains on the existing LRT line to switch to the NAIT line and vice versa. One-third of the width of the platform will be blocked off and LRT will be operating on at reduced frequencies until September. New schedules are available at http://www.takeets.com/.

: The track work being installed near Churchill is one-of-a-kind and was custom-manufactured at a factory in the Czech Republic.

You can also expect to see major progress on the entire North LRT right-of-way. We’re scheduled to complete several major structures this year, including:

Concrete track slabs along the entire right-of-way.
LRT station structures at MacEwan, Kingsway/Royal Alex and NAIT.
A new Kingsway/Royal Alex Transit Centre.
A tail track just southwest of Health Sciences Station, to allow trains to safely switch directions and return to NAIT.

[caption id="attachment_3043" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="A tail track will be built just southwest of Health Sciences Station, between the current LRT tracks and the Edmonton Clinic."][/caption] We certainly have a very busy construction season ahead of us! We’ll keep our fingers crossed for good weather throughout the spring, summer and fall so we can get as much done as possible before winter is back on our doorstep. We really appreciate the patience that motorists, pedestrians and the local community have shown as we’ve worked hard to improve the way we move in Edmonton with the North LRT. We hope that everyone will continue to keep in mind that in just two years we’ll have a new LRT line that provides a sustainable and affordable connection to hospitals, post-secondary institutions and much more. In the meantime, check out our web page or our project’s major construction map for the latest construction information.

Buying and Living Local

LRetzlaff — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:54:29 +0000

We want to encourage a broad community conversation about food in the city. So every week until our Food in the City conference (May 25-26, 2012) we are going to offer up a “juicy” question about food and agriculture. Last week we touched on the local food economy. We wanted to see what work and business opportunities in local food our readers would be interested in pursuing. We’re going to push a little deeper this week and explore the extent to which we’re willing and/or able to walk the talk when it comes to buying local food. One of the common challenges we face in our daily lives is to find a balance between what we believe is ideally important and valuable, and what is achievable within our abilities, time and income. As we have seen in previous posts, when it comes to food, many say the importance of making the local food choice is critical. For more and more people, local food is becoming increasingly valued. We may choose to buy local food based on our values, but many of us will need to make trade-offs either in our budgets or in the time and effort it takes to get to local markets where local food is available. How big a priority is local food for us, and what do we have to give up in order to make local food the priority we say it is? Can we walk the talk? So, our question to you this week is: Are you able and willing to pay the cost to buy local? What are you prepared to do, what changes do you need to make in your life to make the purchase of local food a top priority? Join the conversation, post your comments, and share what you are thinking with others!

Great Ideas on New Neighbourhoods are Flowing in

KAnderson — Tue, 15 May 2012 22:22:05 +0000

[caption id="attachment_3056" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption=""Cool public art is always a nice touch" from Twitter (#yegDNN) @tphambolio"][/caption] Tell us what you think the building blocks of Edmonton’s great new neighbourhoods are! Have you checked out the Designing New Neighbourhoods project website yet? If not, come on over and take a look at the showcase of promising design practices featured on our site, and share your ideas with us on what you think the building blocks of great new neighbourhoods are! The design guidelines are being created collaboratively and your input is important to us. The first week of public input has been a great success, and we are looking to continue hearing from Edmontonians. Some of the popular ideas featured on IdeaScale over the last week include: creating better "way-finding" opportunities in new neighbourhoods, creating walkable streets, building attractive new homes that address the street, designing places for people, and planning for great public transit. On Twitter (#yegDNN) we have received photos of beautiful tree-lined streets, separated walkways and a beautiful pedestrian promenade. Tweets abound about preserving natural tree stands, building with the landscape, investing in nice architecture, beautiful public spaces, and building neighbourhoods that include a variety of amenities and services. These are just a few of the ideas that have been shared with the City so far. The Project Team is looking forward to hearing more great ideas over the coming week via Twitter, email, IdeaScale, blog comments, Pinterest and Flickr. Before new communities are built they must be planned, and this is where your input comes in. The Designing New Neighbourhoods Project will help us plan great new neighbourhoods in Edmonton’s developing suburban areas. The design guidelines will be used when new neighbourhood plans are being prepared in Edmonton’s urban growth areas – Edmonton’s rural northeast, southeast and southwest. These areas are designated for future development but detailed plans for them have not yet been prepared and approved.

Garlic Mustard Pull

CCheung — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:57:49 +0000

When I first heard the words Garlic Mustard, I thought it must be a new condiment from Fat Franks. After attending one of the Garlic Mustard pull meetings held by City of Edmonton and the Edmonton Naturalization Group I learned that Garlic Mustard is actually a plant. And it is not just any plant; it’s a non-native, invasive plant, also known as a weed that grows in the Mill Creek Ravine here in Edmonton. It can be destructive to native biodiversity and habitat, suppresses local plant growth and take over large areas in woodland areas. Garlic Mustard is listed as a “prohibited noxious” weed under the Alberta Weed Control Act, meaning it must be destroyed. Removing Garlic Mustard helps maintain the natural beauty of the Mill Creek Ravine and plant diversity in the area. It is better for the environment when we hand pull Garlic Mustard as oppose to just destroying it by chemicals. In a natural area like the Mill Creek Ravine, the use of synthetic herbicides is only recommended when there are no other options available because synthetic herbicides can kill desired plants. The impact of community weed pulling is more important than just eradicating this invasive species. This ravine is shared by everyone in the neighbourhood and makes this area unique and attractive. It is up to everyone to prevent the ravine from being taken over by invasive plants and destroying its natural beauty. There is a group that will organize a garlic mustard pull four times this year. Please join us to help pull Garlic Mustard from Mill Creek Ravine.

Saturday, May 26, 2012, 9:30 am – 11:30 am
Tuesday, June 5, 2012, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Saturday, July 7, 2012, 9:30 am – 11:30 am
Thursday, August 2, 2012, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Meeting point is on corner of 91 St and 77 Ave.

: Garlic Mustard Pull Poster 2012

Reviewing Your Big Ideas for New Neighbourhoods

KAnderson — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:40:49 +0000

Thanks for sharing your ideas on the building blocks of Edmonton’s great new neighbourhoods. A lot of great ideas, comments and photos were shared over the past two weeks. The project team is combing through your feedback now and will post the “big ideas” on June 4, 2012 on the project’s website. The feedback will be shared with the project’s Design Team, who are actively drafting the guidelines. They will use the feedback we’ve received over the last weeks to build the draft guidelines. The Design Team is looking forward to hearing about what the general public and key groups think is important about new neighbourhood design. Involving a variety of groups with diverse areas of interest and expertise at different stages and in different capacities in the project is essential for success. Thanks for sharing your ideas with us! Just so you know, the Design Team is made up of a diverse group of about 30 people from the local development, urban design, and home building industries, as well as members of the City’s Administration, the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues, Edmonton’s Schools Boards, and the University of Alberta’s City-Region Studies Centre. The Design Team’s work to draft the design guidelines is being supported by a dedicated project team and external consultants with expertise in facilitation and consultation, design and visual identity, and neighbourhood scenario development modeling.

City Harnesses Cloud Power

cmoore — Thu, 24 May 2012 18:19:06 +0000

The City of Edmonton’s IT Branch has a 60-year legacy of innovations and “firsts”. In early April, our announcement with Google to supply much of our office technology tools starting later this year further added to our list of achievements. We are the first major city in Canada to select Google as its main office technology partner. As the City’s chief information officer, I strongly support the shift to Google for most of our office technology tools. It reflects the direction Council has set in the Way Ahead, the City’s strategic Plan, offers the most cost-effective solution and includes all employees. We are following the principle of innovation as we have for many years. The big news for local residents is that going with Google means we will avoid spending $9.2 million in IT costs over the next five years while using office technologies that better meet our needs. Furthermore, over ten years, we will avoid spending $36 million in IT costs. Last August, City Council approved the move to Google after IT analysed the different technology options and an independent third-party assessment and review was done. The city selected the option that provided the best financial and functional fit for the city. Working with Google is not new for the City. Since 2009, Edmonton residents have been able to use Google Maps to get public transit directions. Since our announcement about Google, we have received a few inquiries from local residents. Here are the key ones that we wanted to share with you. What about security of data? Google meets stringent security requirements. A review done comparing Google to several other similar technology companies systems, as well as the City’s current system, showed the company offers an extremely high level of security. It has been successfully implemented at Edmonton Public Schools, the University of Alberta and many states and cities in the U.S. How will personal, confidential data be managed? The City only plans to use Google office technologies for email and basic office tools, not for programs dealing with confidential information. Prior to adopting these tools, each City business area will be required to complete a privacy assessment of the personal information. In all cases, where it is determined that it is not appropriate to store data in basic office tools, an alternative solution will be provided. Are Google office technology tools really better tools? The chief improvement is that City employees can access information any time, on any device (computer, cell phone, tablet) at any place. Previously, 3,000 City of Edmonton employees had no access to email or files. They will now have the same access as every other employee. In addition, Google Business Apps provides the ability to collaborate in real time on documents, spreadsheets and presentations. This cuts down on meeting and travel time and creates a more inclusive process. How does it save money? The move to Google means less maintenance costs since Google Business Apps are located in the cloud (on the internet). Instead of purchasing and installing upgrades, Google upgrades are automatic. Last year alone, Google initiated 125 seamless upgrades. Other office technologies would require IT staff to install those upgrades on individual machines. In addition, Google provides on-line video training for new features as they are released. What about the information we already have on other platforms? The City of Edmonton will continue to have strong relationships with other technology partners, such as Microsoft to supply required server, desktop and laptop operating systems and other products such as SharePoint and Project. ________________ Later this year and into 2013, 2014, City employees will be able to collaborate and access office technology tools from any place, time or device ensuring the same high level of service for all residents. And in the future, our ability to access collaborative tools such as Google’s will enable the City of Edmonton to explore ways to strengthen citizen engagement.

1-Day-a-Week Pledge Campaign Takes Off with Balloon Installation

KFitzGibbon — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 07:00:26 +0000

This morning the City launched its 1-Day-a-Week Pledge campaign with a balloon installation at Old Strathcona’s Wilbert McIntyre Park gazebo. The event coincides with the city’s Environment Week kickoff. The nearly 800 balloons represent the amount of CO2 one person can save by leaving the car at home for one day. This is the first of four installations planned across the City over the summer and fall. Councillor Don Iveson spoke at the launch, saying that the1-Day-a-Week Pledge is "about Edmontonians choosing to make small changes in how we get around.” The 1-Day-a-Week Pledge raises awareness about how choosing transportation like cycling, walking, carpooling or transit for commuting, running errands or for leisure, can have a big impact. The balloons are a visual reminder of the impact of our transportation choices. The installation educates Edmontonians about how our small changes can contribute to keeping our world green. The 1-Day-a-Week Pledge helps the City meet its transportation goal to motivate and equip Edmontonians to make more sustainable choices. This is among the goals set out in the City’s Transportation Master Plan, The Way We Move. Over the long term the City wants to create a holistic Edmonton with an interconnected, multi-modal transportation system where citizens can walk, bike, and take the bus or train efficiently and conveniently to their desired location. Anyone can take the ‘1-Day-a-Week’ pledge. Go to www.thewaywemove.ca and see what a difference you can make!

Environment Week June 3rd to 9th

CCheung — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 20:50:30 +0000

I know that many consider Edmonton to be an oil city and an energy city, at least that’s what I heard from folks I spoke with back home in Vancouver before I came here for my student internship. But I was absolutely delighted to see the energy reduction for Earth Hour this year (3.7% power reduction throughout the city) and the awesome turn out we had for Earth Day (especially after my co-workers warned me about previous years, where Edmonton had snowstorms and what not). So I hope the turnout for Environment Week will be the same or even better. Even though Environment Week runs June 3 to June 9 in Edmonton, there will be feature events and exhibits around the city, starting on the June 2 and ending on the June 10! For detailed information visit www.edmonton.ca/environmentweek . The celebration starts Saturday, June 2 with a kick-off party in Dr. Wilbert McIntyre Gazebo Park, just next to the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market north of Whyte Avenue at 104 Street and 83rd Avenue. This event will have displays from various groups with activities on everything from pedal-powered smoothies to painting a giant Alberta mural, to the mechanics of an eco-car. Starting Monday, there will be daily Eco Solar commercial building tours featuring buildings with technology such as geothermal heating and solar panels. These tours take place from Monday, June 4 to Friday June 8 from 11am to 3pm. On Saturday, June 9, the 13^th annual Eco Solar Home Tour is showcasing 12 different Edmonton and area homes that use solar energy. For detailed information on both Eco Solar Tours visit www.ecosolar.ca . [caption id="attachment_3130" align="aligncenter" width="445" caption="One of the stops on the Eco Solar Commercial Tour"][/caption] The Way We Green Speakers Series is on Tuesday at noon at City Hall. That same evening there’s a Garlic Mustard Pull in Mill Creek Ravine. Wednesday is Clean Air Day with more events all day at City Hall. All week, you can participate in tours of the Waste Management Centre . Saturday is River Day at Rundle Park, and on Sunday, June 10^th there is a Bug-ology event at the John Janzen Nature Centre. And I’ve listed only a few of the many, many events being organized by numerous organizations across the city. Follow the links from here to learn more about what’s going on: www.edmonton.ca/environmentweek . When people talk about Edmonton being an energy city, it takes on a whole new meaning for me. I agree, the citizens here have a lot of energy and I am so glad to be part of it!

Big Ideas for Great New Neighbourhoods

KAnderson — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 19:46:49 +0000

Fifteen ‘Big Ideas’ emerged from last month’s online discussion about the building blocks of great new neighbourhoods. A ‘Big Thank You’ to everyone who joined in the conversation and shared their thoughts about the key features, qualities, and characteristics of our future neighbourhoods! Here are your Big Ideas!

Connections within and between neighbourhoods
Efficient use of land and infrastructure
Accessible goods and services
Navigable streets
Housing diversity
Mobility options
Sense of place and beauty
Pedestrian-friendly street design
Accessible and useable park space
‘Green’ buildings and features
Accessible schools
Urban agriculture
Safety
Sense of community
Neighbourhood destinations

The Design Team is actively using this feedback as it develops the draft principles, outcomes and guidelines for new neighbourhood design. These draft guidelines will be tested through the early fall and ready for public consultation by late-fall 2012. The goal is to bring the draft guidelines to City Council for their consideration and approval in early 2013. Check back on the Designing New Neighbourhoods project website later this year for project updates and for more information about getting involved!

Dear ‘john’, we’re over you

AStratford — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 19:39:25 +0000

Dear ‘john’, the 118^th Ave communities have sent a clear message: They are over you! During the Dear ‘john’ campaign, the 118^th Ave Neighbourhood Empowerment Team (NET) heard countless stories of how sexual exploitation has hurt the community. This frustration clearly translated into action on April 25 when the 118^th Ave communities launched the Dear ‘john’ campaign. The aim of the project was to discourage sexual exploitation, raise public awareness of the issue and encourage participation in the promotion of community safety. We’re happy to say the campaign was a success. Edmonton Police Service records, a public survey NET conducted and social media activity show that when the City, Edmonton Police and the Community work together, we can make a difference! First, Edmonton Police Services statistics indicate some positive trends started during the campaign:

Compared to February and March, April and May, when the campaign took place, there was a rise in “report a john” reports submitted through the Edmonton Police report a ‘john’ website.
There was also a decrease in the number of complaint calls about solicitation. (note: warmer weather may have also played a role here)

As well, NET did a public survey about the campaign to measure public perception. Respondents were overwhelmingly positive:

75 per cent of those who took the survey said it had a major impact on deterring sexual exploitation in the community . One community member wrote, “Thanks to the organizers for all the hard work. I look forward to a time when my kids can play in the front yard without having to witness this kind of exploitation.”

The campaign itself also generated public awareness and discussion on social media, bringing the issue to the forefront of Edmonton’s online community. During the campaign:

There were 1,771 page views on the Transforming Edmonton blog (the most ever!)
45 people wrote their own letters to ‘john.’
159 Tweets with the link to the blog post, and the hash tag #dearjohn was trending on Twitter all day in Edmonton on April 25^th.

The campaign’s use of social media helped the community connect with each other and to other Edmontonians around this issue. Here is some of what the community has had to say…

“Dear ‘john,’ I’m sure you have noticed all great changes on 118th. The Ave is all about arts, dinning and family (…). We have moved on, you are not welcome here anymore (…). How about you find something else to do? Spending more time with your wife and kids would be a great start.”
-Judy
“Dear ‘john,’ The women that you are purchasing are worth so much more than you could ever afford. Every time you pay for sex you devalue her, yourself and your relationships. She is worth more than that and so are you”
-Kimberly
“Dear ‘john’ –Would you treat your own daughters the way you treat ours?”
-Anonymous
"Dear ‘john,’ Your actions cause many ripples of harm and exploitation. You hurt yourself, those you love, children and women in the communities you drive through, and the vulnerable girls and women you pick up. (…) Think about the young boys who see you – what kind of role model are you???? You can break the cycle of harm. Just stop! Get help if that is what you need! Be part of transforming our wonderful communities and great City of Edmonton!"
-Kate

We want to thank everyone who contributed to the project. The effort sparked interest in truly exploring the causes of sexual exploitation and working to end them! The community has let ‘john’ know that he is no longer able to lurk in the shadows, and that this community is aware of him and the best ways to stop him. Although the campaign has ended in the 118^th Ave area there is still much work to be done. Currently the Dear ‘john’ signs are in the process of being moved to other communities. A local safety committee in the 118^th Ave area has expressed an interest in organizing a city-wide public forum on sexual exploitation. The Neighbourhood Empowerment Team will continue focusing on this issue and will work with the community to connect those who are interested in long-term change to the organizations that are working towards them.

Summer Solstice Tree Festival

JEsler — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 21:06:49 +0000

We have short summers, no one will deny that, but Edmontonians know how to make the most of it. Every year here in Festival City there are events across the city for Edmontonians to get out and enjoy the few months of summer we have. It’s no surprise this year the City of Edmonton is introducing a new summer festival planned around the summer solstice and tree planting. The inaugural Summer Solstice Tree Festival is taking place June 23 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm at the John Janzen Nature Centre. The goal of the festival to encourage people to contribute to Edmonton’s beautiful green spaces and lean more about the importance of maintaining and contributing to our city’s urban forest. With all the activities planned, it promises to be a great day. You can register for the Root for Trees 5 km walk/run or register the kids for a Tree-athalon, a 1.5 km run, to kick off the day. All registered participants receive two trees; one seedling to plant at the finish line near Fort Edmonton Foot Bridge and one to take home to plant. Stick around and enjoy bannock around a fire pit, listen to live music or enjoy the solitude of nature with a guided nature walk. If you don’t want to participate in the walk/run, you are still welcome to take part in the festivities and plant a tree. To establish the Summer Solstice Tree Festival the City of Edmonton has partnered with Syncrude and the Edmonton Horticulture Society to expand our urban forest. For the Summer Solstice Tree Festival, Syncrude is providing all the trees and the Edmonton Horticulture Society is hosting the walk/run. Edmonton has the world’s largest urban park and the City’s vision is to expand our urban forest to improve the beauty of Edmonton and the quality of life for all Edmontonians. Maintaining and expanding our green spaces contributes to improving Edmonton’s livability and has social, environmental and economical benefits. Trees improve air and water quality, provide essential homes for wildlife and contribute to pride in our community. On Saturday, June 23 lace up your shoes and join us for the Summer Solstice Tree Festival. Have fun while giving back to Edmonton’s urban forest. What are you waiting for? Register today! For information on the event or to register for the walk/run visit www.edmonton.ca/trees.

Help Name Your LRT: City Kicks off LRT Contest

KFitzGibbon — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 20:00:22 +0000

Edmontonians, stretch your creative muscles and enter to win an iPad by helping the City of Edmonton name current and future LRT lines! Between June 25 and August 15, the City is asking citizens to suggest names in a brief survey, available online at www.takeETS.com/myLRT. The names should fit the following categories:

Traits unique toEdmonton
Non-commercial landmarks famous toEdmonton
Provincial animals

You can enter up to five names in each of the categories. Suggestions will be shortlisted and the final five names announced in early fall. As the City’s LRT network expands, the lines need names to distinguish them. The names should reflect Edmonton’s identity, be long-lasting and be scalable for the five future LRT lines. Naming the LRT lines will benefit both transit users and the community as a whole. An expanded LRT network system must be intuitive, safe and convenient for commuters to navigate. As well, a public transit system plays a central role in helping to shape a city’s identity. This is your opportunity to help shape Edmonton’s image and reputation. It’s your LRT. Help us name it! Take the survey now at www.takeETS.com/myLRT, or learn more about the future LRT network at www.edmonton.ca/LRTprojects.

Testing your ideas on transit oriented development in McKernan/Belgravia

Michael Strong — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 19:40:08 +0000

The McKernan/Belgravia TOD project team has been busy collecting, analyzing and synthesizing feedback we've received over the last few months on design options for the McKernan/Belgravia station area. Our aim is to create a ‘preferred’ design concept that will guide future redevelopment around the station area for the next 25 years. Back in March 2012 a second Public Open House Workshop was held at McKernan School. This meeting presented a set of design options for the McKernan/Belgravia station area in hopes of soliciting further input and direction on the plan from community members. This included a draft vision, set of design principles, and potential development options for the station area based on community input from the first workshop in November. A copy of the presentation, display panels and workbooks can be found here. Of the 80 or so people in attendance that night, we had a good mix of comments and discussion both during and after the workshop. Key messages we heard from people included maintaining existing McKernan School green space and Belgravia Arts Park use, more emphasis on walkability while trying to find ways of reducing traffic through the area, shared-use path connection across University Avenue from the west side of 114 Street, and more emphasis on family oriented housing opportunities.

Since the workshop we have received many more phone messages, letters, and email which we have been busy responding to. All this requires additional testing and evaluation on our part. We had planned to hold a third workshop in June but we are not far enough along in our evaluation and testing. So that work will continue over the summer. A third public workshop is now being planned for late September. The September date will allow us the time to test the feasibility and balance of the ‘preferred’ concept and plan in response to community feedback to date. A draft of the station area plan document will also be provided at the workshop. While we continue our work, we encourage you to continue to share your thoughts and ideas with us either here on this blog or directly. This could be about design quality, green building or even multi-unit family oriented housing (e.g. row housing side-by-side; family apartment units). What do you think? We want to know.

Eco Solar Home Tours in Edmonton

CCheung — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 16:33:10 +0000

Each year during Environment Week, Edmontonians have the chance to see what new and efficient buildings are going up in the City. The 13^th annual Eco Solar home tour took place on Saturday June 9, 2012, the closing day of Environment Week. In and around Edmonton, 12 homes were showcasing the green technologies and sustainable practices they integrated when modifying or building their home. An interesting technology I learned about is the ground source heat pump. I often perceived geothermal as a major industrial power plant system involving deep drilling that produces energy by pumping water into rocks and producing electricity on a massive scale. However, the eco-solar home tour provided me with the appropriate information. Geothermal can be heat pumps, not exactly industrial size, but to pump heat out of the upper layers of the ground from nearby. For example, the ground source heat pump is one type of geothermal available. This can be localized to homes to produce heating for living spaces through in floor heating or by heating up water. [caption id="attachment_3221" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="Geothermal system inside the basement of a home."][/caption] Many people already know about solar photovoltaic systems (solar panels, aka PV) and how they produce electricity from sunlight. But many people are concerned about the cost of panels and installation of the solar PV system. Many people think installing a solar PV system means you need to purchase a battery bank to keep the electricity stored. This is only true if you want to install a system and have your home completely off grid. As I learned from the Eco Solar Tour, there are multiple options for solar PV systems. On the tour, the majority of the solar PV systems I saw were grid tied solar PV systems. It requires no batteries, which eliminates the cost of batteries. How it works is the electricity produced will feed into the grid, reversing the meters that count how many kilowatt hours you’ve consumed. On a sunny day, the number would be going down, reducing your monthly electricity bill. [caption id="attachment_3224" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="Example of a solar PV system."][/caption] Solar PV systems still seem expensive to many people and cost is frequently a limiting factor that stops people from installing new technologies. As I talked to the owner of one PV system, he mentioned an option of buying out the solar panels after the lease is done. I’ve done some research and found one of the local electricity suppliers is offering leased solar PV. Homeowners can choose the amount of down payments they can afford. The owner also mentioned that maintenance and repair is done by the company leasing the panels, which is another advantage to the homeowner. Another smart idea I encountered during the Eco Solar home tour is a multipurpose wood burning furnace. This furnace is special because it heats up the living space as well as water coming into the house. The water is then stored in a hot water tank for usage. This dual purpose wood fired furnace will reduce the owner’s energy cost. [caption id="attachment_3219" align="aligncenter" width="336" caption="Example of a dual purpose furnace that heats water and the living space."][/caption] One eco home owner really went beyond ‘thinking outside of the box’. They saw waste material as a resource and reclaimed used materials inside their home; materials that would otherwise end up in the landfills. The home had several reclaimed materials such as a reclaimed bathtub, wooden pew from an old church turned into window sills, or even old doors. But one of the major features of this home is the used elementary school gym floor. They reclaimed it and used it as their hard wood flooring. And another interesting design they had is using old bricks as the back wall behind their wood furnace. Instead of investing in expensive slabs of granite or marble as the backing, the owners simply used old bricks that were not in used anymore and was readily available at low or no cost. [caption id="attachment_3225" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="The home uses a wood fired furnace for their heating, constructed a wall made of used bricks, and used former elementary school gym flooring."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_3226" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="A reclaimed church pew. A reclaimed cast iron bath tub from another house."][/caption] Not all these technologies are suitable for everyone’s home due to financial or physical constraints. But when you get the chance to renovate or construct a home, the Eco Solar Home tour offers you ideas about alternative features or designs you can incorporate to make your living space greener. Maybe you can produce some of your own energy through solar PV or geothermal or a dual purpose furnace or effective heat recovery system, or even integrating some reclaimed materials. And while it’s never visible, improving the insulation in your home to save energy should always be a priority! If you didn’t get a chance to participate in this year’s tour, you should flag it as a “must do” for next year. For more information about the 2012 tour homes, visit www.ecosolar.ca.

A Museum about Edmonton

KIvany — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 20:59:46 +0000

I love to collect things when I travel and bring them home as reminders of the trip. They help me tell stories about the things I saw and the experiences I had on vacation. Some of those things disappear over time (sea shells break, photographs fade or get filed) but some last and have become part of my life collection that includes my school souvenirs, my wedding album and my kids’ mementos. All of those help tell my story and define what I think is important. If Edmonton were a person, what kinds of things do you think it would have in its memory collection? How could we use that collection to tell other people – new immigrants to the City, visitors, and even our children and families – what Edmonton has been through, what has shaped it, and what kinds of ideals and values it has because of those experiences? What would we include in telling Edmonton’s stories? The idea of establishing a city museum has been discussed many times over the past 60 years. Often, the focus has been on the cost of building such a museum, rather than building an understanding of its potential benefits to the citizens of Edmonton. While Edmonton already has a number of museums and we are looking forward to the renewal of the Royal Alberta Museum downtown, none of these places focus on Edmonton and the region as a subject itself. One of the emerging ideas for a proposed City museum is that it will serve as a place or forum where Edmontonians can learn about Edmonton’s past (including its ancient and Aboriginal past) and connect this with the contemporary life of the city, including its diverse communities and neighbourhoods. The role of such a museum would be educational, but would also build a strong sense of identity and connection with this place. The City of Edmonton, working with the Edmonton Heritage Council, is conducting a study to develop the vision and mandate for a city museum. A public online survey is part of this study, seeking input from Edmontonians on the thematic focus (what stories to tell) of a city museum and what kind of experience (how we would tell it) that Edmontonians would like to have at such a museum. You should log on and express yourself. Share it with your friends and neighbours too, so they can give us their ideas of what should be included and how we should tell Edmonton’s stories.

Draft Economic Development Plan Ready for Review

Larry Horncastle — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 21:25:05 +0000

The Way We Prosper, the long-term economic development strategy for the City of Edmonton, is nearing the final stages of development. A draft of the strategy is now available for viewing at www.edmonton.ca/TheWayWeProsper. The draft economic development plan is the product of extensive research and analysis on the emerging economic and business issues facing Edmonton together with input from many of you in the city’s business community. We believe The Way We Prosper captures the aspirations of 600 business leaders and partners from educational institutions, community organizations, as well as citizens and federal and provincial agencies engaged in economic development. The draft economic development plan contains five major, dynamic, made-in-Edmonton economic strategies to direct Edmonton’s economic and growth agenda for the next decade: • Edmonton – A Confident and Progressive Global Image • Edmonton – Internationally Renowned as a Powerhouse of Industry • Edmonton – An Unrivalled, Competitive Business Climate • Edmonton – An Environment for Innovation • Edmonton – A Vibrant, Livable City On July 18, 2012 City Council will review the draft plan and give direction on the major goals, strategic objectives and associated actions so that we can finalize the plan by the fall of 2012. You are invited to attend Council that morning (starting at 9:30am) to listen in on City Council’s deliberations. www.edmonton.ca/meetings When completed this comprehensive economic development strategy will help drive us toward the diverse and prosperous economy envisioned by the City’s overall strategy, The Way Ahead.

Eco Solar Commercial Tours

CCheung — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 17:11:07 +0000

Many people already know about the Eco Solar Home Tours from previous years, but this year saw the introduction of the Eco Solar Commercial Tours during Environment Week.

Throughout the week, tours were held at a number of locations featuring greener energy technologies at a commercial scale. This inaugural tour included a high energy efficiency apartment as well as a car dealership, office buildings and more. You may be familiar with some of the technologies highlighted, but there are other technologies that are worth noting, as well. Aside from the typical technologies (solar PV, geothermal, heat recovery, etc.) other innovative ideas such as re-usable walls were showcased. For example, at Alberta Municipal Place, walls can be assembled and disassembled according to the demand for office space. Office space can expand or shrink by moving walls, minimizing waste for renovation. The walls have a smart design, a glass section at the top, allowing the maximum amount of sunlight to pass through the office.

Another interesting technology was at Ericksen Infiniti. I was privileged to be there the Tuesday of Environment week and spent time setting up, greeting people, and attending two very informative tours of the auto dealership. One interesting feature they had was in-floor heating, where the floor produces a radiant effect which uses less energy to keep their customers warm.

Solar thermal collectors also caught my eye. This installation heats cold outdoor air entering the building. It works during both summer and winter. During the summer, the sun is higher and therefore heats less air. On the other hand, the sun is lower during the winter season, thus heating more air in these collectors. Many would think retrofitting the workplace could be a million dollar operation. This is not true. Small, manageable projects can make a lot of differences. If your business exists for the next 20 years or more, a lot of potential savings can be had by making your workplace greener. Small Business Eco Challenge: To encourage businesses to work towards making Edmonton greener and more sustainable, the City of Edmonton is hosting its second annual Small Businesses Eco Challenge. Small businesses (fewer than 100 employees) within the City of Edmonton limits are invited to participate for the chance to win prizes. Although small businesses may sometimes encounter barriers to upgrading their operations due to limited resources, they are agile, have greater control over their investment decisions, and are key contributors to our local economy. Entering the challenge doesn’t require fancy technologies. Your business can make simple changes such as using local products, using environmentally friendly products, reducing waste, conserving water, and much more. Little steps collectively can become something big. If you are considering a building renovation, check and see some of the eco tips we have on the city’s website. For more information and to apply check out www.edmonton.ca/ecochallenge Check out the video for last year’s Small Business Eco Challenge Winners:

The question unasked and the unwritten answer – or why it’s not a good idea to send a dead rat through the mail

Elizabeth Walker — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 20:29:40 +0000

Alberta takes its rat free reputation seriously, as recently shown by the immediate action taken after the discovery of two rat colonies in southern Alberta. And no wonder, according to an Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development information sheet on Rat Control in Alberta, a single breeding pair of rats have the potential to produce 15,000 offspring in a year!

That’s why in 1928, when two rats were seen in Edmonton escaping from a railway car full of lumber, it was front page news in the Edmonton Journal. The article reports that Mayor A.U.G. Bury was offering a reward of $5 each. It has a memorable quote, presumably from Commissioner David Mitchell who said, “Bring ‘em to the city hall, dead or alive, and receive the reward offered.” A coworker at the City of Edmonton Archives’ recently showed me a series of letters about this event from the Archives’ collection. The letters are hilarious on the surface and, looking a bit deeper, really interesting with an unwritten conversation in the background. [caption id="attachment_3267" align="aligncenter" width="307" caption="Newspaper clipping from the Edmonton Journal (note: copyright belongs to the Edmonton Journal, this article is reproduced for informational purposes and with the permission of the Edmonton Journal)"][/caption] As it’s a clipping, some things are missing, including the complete date. So I looked it up on microfilm, below is a more complete version. I think the juxtaposition of the images of the two men on either side of the headline is a funny coincidence, or maybe it was an inside joke?

: Front page of the November 1, 1928 edition of the Edmonton Journal reproduced from the Archives’ microfilm collection

The newspaper clipping was attached to the letter below from Johnny and John Stonehocker of Lavoy, Alberta. As an aside, you can see the outline of the clipped article as a sort of shadow in the letter. Newsprint is highly acidic and the acid from the newsletter has affected the paper. [caption id="attachment_3268" align="aligncenter" width="336" caption="Letter to the Mayor and Commissioners of Edmonton, from the City of Edmonton Archives’ RG-11 Commissioners fonds"][/caption]

Here’s a transcription:

Lavoy, Alberta November 9, 1928

Health 08624

Dear Sirs; In the Edmonton Journal edited on November 1 I noticed that two large gray rats had escaped from a lumber car in Edmonton and that a reward of “Five Dollars” was offered for their capture. The gray rat which I am sending to you was found on the railway track at Lavoy. It had evidently fallen off of the train and been killed.

Yours sincerely, Johnny Stonehocker

This rat was picked up on the C.N.R. tracks by my son 14 yrs. old Just fresh as you can see, no doubt it is one of the rats got back on a car & sent here I have lived here for over 25 years & this is the first rat I have ever seen or heard of in this Dist.

John Stonehocker

The word Health and the number 08624 scrawled across the letter in dark ink is the City’s records management of the time; the letter was classified as relating to the subject health and the number is a tracking number given to correspondence in order of receipt.

I think it’s interesting (and a bit sad) that John felt the need to elaborate his son’s story and yet neither of them actually come out and ask for the $5 reward. I’m not sure why, maybe they were being polite? Was it poor taste to talk about money? Or, maybe they knew it was a long shot and couldn’t quite bring themselves to openly ask? They do make it plain that they believe that this is one of Edmonton’s pair that “got back on a car.” I thought this letter was pretty funny, but it gets better. Here is a copy of the Mayor’s reply: [caption id="attachment_3269" align="aligncenter" width="336" caption="Copy of a letter written by the Mayor of Edmonton, from the City of Edmonton Archives’ RG-11 Commissioners fonds"][/caption] The poor man, returning to the office after an illness to find this waiting for him! Interestingly, the Mayor makes no mention of the reward, just the statement: “We have not yet heard anything about the two rats that escaped here but are hoping that they are both dead.” Beneath the polite chit-chat is the question from the Stonehockers: this is one of your rats and we’re sending it to city hall (dead) so, can we claim the reward? And the Mayor’s reply: nothing doing, this isn’t one of our rats so we won’t be paying out a reward. After my co-worker showed me these letters we decided that, although it’s a bit gruesome, it would be fun to write a blog post about them and see what else I could find out about the people and places involved using the records at the City of Edmonton Archives. We have many records created by Mayor Bury and Commissioner Mitchell. The Mayor’s full name is Ambrose Upton Gledstanes Bury (my new favorite name found in the Archives). Bury, a judge, was an alderman from 1922-1925 and Mayor from 1927-1929. He was also the MP for Edmonton-East for 1925-1926 and from 1930-1935. [caption id="attachment_3270" align="aligncenter" width="299" caption="EA-10-1510 Ambrose Upton Gledstanes Bury ca. 1928. This photograph was used as Mayor Bury’s official portrait for 1928 and 1929"][/caption]

David Mitchell was appointed as a City Commissioner in 1924, a position he held until 1937 when, according to an article in his clippings file, he was forced to step down due to ill-health. The article named him the ‘watch dog’ of Edmonton’s civic affairs, likely due to his financial background. He served as an audit clerk, assistant comptroller and then comptroller for the City before becoming a Commissioner. He was also a cricket player; the Archives has several photographs of him posed with the teams he played with.

[caption id="attachment_3273" align="aligncenter" width="305" caption="EA-267-188k David Mitchell ca. 1928"][/caption] I wasn’t able to find anything on the Stonehockers but we have a bit on where they were from; we have a series of clippings files on rural areas and there is one for Lavoy. There are a few articles on people and businesses in the area. The book, Place Names of Alberta Volume III: Central Alberta, told me where it is (east south-east of Vegreville) and that it was named in 1906 after an early settler in the area, Joseph Lavoy. Prior to 1906 it was known by the name of its post office, Dinwoodie, after the first postmaster. We don’t have a clippings file for Joseph Lavoy but we do have one for Walter Dinwoodie (of University of Alberta fame) who was the grandson of the postmaster. I wondered how much a $5 reward meant in 1928. I had a feeling it was fairly significant as it was enough to motivate the Stonehocker’s to send a rat through the mail (I also wonder how much it cost in postage). I’m not up for calculating how much $5 in 1928 would be worth in today’s dollars but I am able to find out a bit about how much it could buy at the time; by using the same newspaper that announced the reward. There were all kinds of sales being advertised by stores like the Hudson’s Bay Company, Woodward’s, James Ramsay Ltd and Johnstone Walker’s Daily Store News (Edmonton’s Own Oldest Store). The Liggett Owl Drug Co. Ltd had a one cent sale on that week too. For $5 you could buy:

You could also use the $5 as a deposit on an electric washing machine. Or you could get an end table with a birch and walnut finish for $3.60 or a wall plaque featuring a “good print of some well-known art subject” for $1.75, $3.00 or $4.00. Men’s suits were on sale for $29.95 and ladies’ wool jersey dresses for $7.95. A shoulder roast of pork cost .21c a pound; you could buy over 23 pounds! I think it’s fair to say that $5 was a significant sum in 1928. Finally, in the course of researching this post, I found that rats hit the front page of the newspaper again in 1950, this time in the Edmonton Bulletin. At the Archives’ we have microfilmed copies of the Bulletin as well as the photographs of Eric Bland, long time photographer for the Bulletin. Bland’s image below was front page and centre on the March 7, 1950 Bulletin. The majority of Bland’s photographs are available in the City of Edmonton Archives’ online catalogue. [caption id="attachment_3275" align="aligncenter" width="336" caption="EA-600-4011 Caretaker Ralph Abraham holds dead rat killed at CNR Colonization Building on March 7, 1950"][/caption] Sources: City of Edmonton Archives Clippings files EA-10 NAPOTA EA-267 EA-600 Edmonton Bulletin fonds Edmonton Journal – City of Edmonton Archives microfilm collection Place Names of Alberta Volume III: Central Alberta RG-11 Commissioners fonds, Series 7, Subseries 7.3, File 70

Edmonton Waste Management Centre Tour

CCheung — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:19:16 +0000

During my summer co-op term with the City’s Office of Environment, I got a chance to visit the Edmonton Waste Management Centre (EWMC). I’d heard a lot about the facility and how amazing it is and wanted to see it for myself. During our tour we visited the Materials Recovery Facility, the Integrated Processing & Transfer Facility, and the Global Electric & Electronic Processing (GEEP) facility. Being a child of the 90s, electronics play an important role in my daily life so I was fascinated by the e-waste recycling facility. I always wondered where my electronic devices went when I dropped them off to be recycled. Do they get disassembled? Smelted? Or does someone fix them and sell them at a second-hand store? I found the answer, or at least part of it. The first thing our tour group saw was the pile of electronics outside of the centre; then just a few metres to the right of that was the neatly organized bundles of scrap metal with various items such as side panels for computers. Inside GEEP, workers were disassembling various electronic devices and removing things like tubes from TVs. Metals are sorted into different containers, such as aluminum and steel, to eventually be recycled into other products. This prevents materials from ending up in a landfill, where they could contaminate the soil and groundwater and take up a lot of space. It is great to see the EWMC recycle a variety of materials. By the end of the decade, their goal is to divert 90 per cent of waste away from the landfill site, most going to recycling or the composter and another portion being converted to bio-fuel. As time passes, electronic products can break down or technology advances and newer and better products come onto the market. Because new products are often fancier and more appealing, old items often get replaced sooner than required and end up as waste. Our tour group was told that some of the electronics that end up in GEEP still work. So as a consumer, consider extending the life of a product before it goes into the recycling process. While recycling is a huge leap ahead of landfilling, we must be aware of the amount of energy it takes to move materials to a facility and to reprocess them into new products. In order to truly reduce our environmental footprint, we need to purchase long-lasting, durable goods that we truly need, and try to extend the life of our products. By doing that, not only will you save money by switching less often, you will reduce your environmental footprint by sending fewer items into the recycling process. If you do have an urge to buy the latest and shiniest electronic device, sell your old device online or through second-hand shopping sites, or donate it. Think of the recycling centre as the last option. Waste Reduction Week (WRW) will again be celebrated across Canada from October 15 to 21, 2012. It’s a great opportunity to reconsider our consumer habits and to develop new habits that have us practicing the 3Rs in the correct order: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Learn more at www.wrwcanada.com and www.recycle.ab.ca/wrw. During WRW, the City will be recognizing small businesses that are taking action to reduce their environmental footprint. The Small Business Eco Challenge awards will occur on October 18 at the Business Link downtown. [caption id="attachment_3299" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="Integrated Processing and Transfer Facility"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_3295" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="Materials Recovery Facility"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_3298" align="aligncenter" width="447" caption="Electronic waste waiting for disassembly in the GEEP building"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_3296" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="Construction and demolition waste will be broken down into smaller pieces before they are recycled"][/caption] The tour was a terrific reminder of how much waste we generate on a weekly, or even a daily basis, across the city. It was also an amazing example of how Edmonton has embraced waste as, not a problem to be swept under the ground, but a valuable resource that needs careful separation and management. If you’re interested in a tour of the Edmonton Waste Management Center, visit www.edmonton.ca/ewmc or call 780-496-6879.

A community comes together to give thanks

AStratford — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 20:12:50 +0000

In the middle of Eastwood is Rutherford Place, a low-rise apartment building, located at 120 Avenue and 82 Street. Within this building is a vibrant community of people who care deeply about their friends, family and neighbours which was made abundantly clear this past Thanksgiving.

The 118^th Neighbourhood Empowerment Team (NET) has been working with residents of this building to use their expertise to develop tenant-led safety initiatives. Over the last nine months, NET has recruited a tenant organizer and they have worked together to develop, administer and analyze a survey on safety and community. They’ve developed projects to address tenant concerns. They’ve organized a meeting between tenants, landlords, Alberta Health Services and the Landlord Tenant Advisory Board. All of these events have been victories for community capacity building but the celebration that unfolded over Thanksgiving really demonstrates how this particular community has taken empowerment to heart.

Irene, the tenant organizer felt a strong need to connect with neighbours and celebrate Thanksgiving. She talked to fellow tenants and asked if they would like to organize a dinner. There was an overwhelmingly positive response to this idea. The landlord supported this idea and provided 40lbs of turkey and other fixings for the feast. Neighbours decorated the hallway and spread the festive energy. Over 30 tenants came for a meal and conversation! The community members connected with each other and celebrated what they were thankful for. This is a beautiful example of a community using their capacity – which has always been there – to share and celebrate with one another. As services providers, we often get bogged down in jargon or defining what the needs are or where the problems lie. This is a wonderful reminder that every community and individual has certain strengths and expertise. This project has been about uncovering strengths and providing the opportunity for them to be used for the greater good. Empowerment is recognizing the tools that you have and actively choosing to use them to make change. Thank you Rutherford Place– I’m grateful for the reminder.

The Edmonton Eskimo Scrapbooks

DSigler — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 16:33:40 +0000

The City of Edmonton Archives acquired a 35-volume set of scrapbooks from the Edmonton Eskimos football team about 10 years ago. The photographs, team and player profiles, and newspaper clippings provide a fascinating history of football in Edmonton. [caption id="attachment_3330" align="aligncenter" width="432" caption="EA-780-1 Edmonton Football Team in 1892"][/caption] The earlier volumes, with material dating from 1880 to 1973, contain many photographs. One of my volunteer assignments at the Archives was to scan the photographs so that they could be made available online. Fortunately for the Archives, I wasn’t being paid by the hour! While doing the scanning, I had the opportunity to peruse these two volumes and learn more trivia than any football enthusiast could ever dream of. The next several paragraphs highlight just a few of the many things I enjoyed. One interesting aspect of reviewing the material was to see how the unique game of Canadian football evolved from its roots in the British game of rugby. As late as the 1950s, many Canadian football teams, and even Canadian football leagues, had the word rugby in their title. The various photographs show the corresponding evolution of uniforms and equipment. Canadian football has nationwide popularity today. It is evident from the early material, that Canadian football was popular in Edmonton even more than 100 years ago. One can also note historical milestones of the game’s continued increase in popularity. For example:

Early 1890's - Competition between teams representing Edmonton and Calgary began
1908 – The Edmonton Esquimox become Alberta champions by defeating the Calgary Tigers Rugby Team 11-2
1910 – The Edmonton team, then playing in the Alberta Rugby Football Union, changed its name to the Edmonton Eskimos
1921 – The Eskimos became the first Western Canadian team to challenge for the Grey Cup (losing to the Toronto Argonauts 23-0)

[caption id="attachment_3332" align="aligncenter" width="432" caption="EA-780-24 Edmonton Eskimos – 1921 Grey Cup finalists"][/caption] Material on the team’s glory years of the 1950s takes you through the building of a championship dynasty. For example:

In 1949, the current professional Edmonton Eskimos team was formed and it joined the Western Interprovincial Football Union (now the West Division of the Canadian Football League).
The team gathered outstanding athletes and outstanding citizens, such as Jackie Parker, Johnny Bright, Normie Kwong, Don Getty and Rollie Miles.
Detailed newspaper accounts are included in the scrapbooks about the 1954, 1955 and 1956 Grey Cup winning seasons.

[caption id="attachment_3333" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="EA-780-48 1956 Grey Cup. Rollie Miles with ball, Normie Kwong (on ground) and Johnny Bright (84) in background."][/caption] The project was completed and many of the photographs are now available for public online viewing. The scrapbooks are also available for public review at the Archives. Another note of interest to sports fans is that the Archives house an amazing amount of material on the early days of most sports in Edmonton. For example, you can:

Read about how an Edmonton hockey team (also called the Eskimos) in 1908 became the first Western Canadian team to challenge for the Stanley Cup.
Look through the collection of material on the Edmonton Grads. From 1923 until 1940, the Grads were generally recognized as the best woman’s basketball team in the world.

I encourage anyone with an interest in Edmonton’s sporting history to visit the City of Edmonton Archives, located in the Prince of Wales Armouries Heritage Centre at 10440-108 Avenue. They are open Monday-Friday from 8:30am-4:30pm and Wednesday from 8:30am to 8:00pm.

Sources: MS-396 Edmonton Eskimo Football Club fonds EA-780 Edmonton Eskimo Football Club

North LRT Breakthrough

qnicholson — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 18:00:58 +0000

It doesn’t look like much.

I’m standing in a tunnel, near Churchill Station, about 6 metres below city streets, in front of a thick concrete wall. The wall is pock-marked with holes, somewhat like a giant slab of fossilized Swiss cheese. It even has a mouse hole up top. A BIG mouse hole. A loud rumble echoes down from the other end of the tunnel. “We’re not going to have a visit from some oversized, pre-historic rodent that’s been running around Edmonton’s underground for the last half-century, are we?” I ask the project engineer. Hopefully. The engineer looks at me funny. “Because of the wall? Moldy Swiss cheese? Mousehole? No?”

He attempts a half-smile, not quite getting what I’m getting at. Too practical-minded, these engineers. “The noise?” “Oh, that’s the articulated excavator, warming up. The night crew is about to start. They’re digging out the last few metres of the other tunnel tonight.”

“Ah.” I say. “ Never mind, then. Can I touch the wall?” “Sure.” And so I do. I touch the final wall that separates north Edmonton from downtown—the wall that engineers placed here in the late 1970s, when Edmonton pioneered Light Rail Transit in North America, and cities across North America looked to our city as a model for the near-future of urban transportation. Engineers put the wall there because they had a vision of what Edmonton might become, and at the core of this vision was an LRT system that extended to all parts of Edmonton, connecting hospitals, schools, businesses—ultimately, communities—with affordable, efficient, and sustainable transportation. The city’s current transportation plan, The Way We Move, expands that vision, and takes our LRT system in directions even those foresighted planners couldn’t have predicted—towards a compact, connected city where daily public transit is a real option for all Edmontonians.

It’s taken us over 30 years, but by the time you read this, that wall in Churchill will be gone. I slide my hand into one of the holes in the wall, try to imagine the rock not there. The hole is just about the right size for… “Hey, do you guys get to use dynamite down here? Can I see that?” The project engineer shakes his head in bemused resignation. Like most non-engineers, I have pretty much zero idea how a tunnel is built. What an articulated excavator is and does is, sadly, harder for me to imagine than a 20-foot mouse chewing its way through the city’s underberlly. Before coming to work for the city for LRT Design and Construction, my knowledge of tunnel construction could safely be summed up as: “Uh, machine goes in, digs up some dirt and stuff, then, uh, dirt gets trucked out.” For all I knew, we really did employ a 20 foot mouse to carve us out a path. No. No mouse. Turns out you don’t get to use dynamite to explode your way to the future, either. Too unpredictable, not to mention city engineers are meticulous about keeping noise levels and community disturbance to a minimum during construction. Instead, workers place expanding grouting in each of the holes, and just wait for it to slowly break up the wall. Then they scoop out the wall.

It’s an anticlimactic finish to what is, overall, a massive project. The new LRT tunnels to north Edmonton run 700 metres, from Churchill station to the new station under construction at Grant MacEwan, crossing under 103A Ave and the new EPCOR Tower in the process. The tunnels were shoveled out every hour of every day, every day of the year, since the beginning of 2012—often in dirty, dusty, claustrophobic conditions. At good times, the work is reminiscent of being a 5-year old, cheerfully digging up the back garden. At bad times… well, imagine being caught in a prairie dust-storm for hours at a time. That’s what it can feel like, working (underground) on the (light) railroad.

But it’s hard to describe what actually happens with this tunnel-building process. So, to capture how the work was done, we took a film crew down for some on-the-job experience with the very people making this project happen. Want to learn how an articulated excavator works? Or glean a short history lesson in sequential excavation? Or maybe you’re just curious about how workers get the tunnel to, you know, not cave in on the train. Well, have a look at the video, and start learning.

Since I’ve been deprived of both my giant mouse and my dynamite, I decide to head out and walk down the new line, to see what sights are on offer under the sun. Exiting the tunnels at MacEwan station, which has risen up from the ground in just the last month, the eye is immediately struck by the emerging architecture. The new station, even only half-finished, already looks pretty stunning, with an sinuous wooden roof shaped somewhat like a frozen wave. It’s the centerpiece to the new MacEwan plaza area, at 105 Avenue and 104 Street, and the beginning point of a new Multi-Use Trail that will extend the length of the NLRT expansion, providing pedestrians and cyclists with a safe and scenic alternate transportation route.

Leaving the station, the first thing I notice is the rail track. It’s right in the ground—as in IN the ground, not ON the ground. If you’ve ridden the existing LRT in Edmonton before, you’ve probably noticed that it generally looks like traditional railroad rails, a design called tie & ballast: wooden crossbeams under long iron rails. But starting at MacEwan and heading up 105 Street, the first thing you notice about the new LRT is that the track runs right through the road, embedded, creating a more seamless integration into the community.

Preserving the individual ‘feeling’ of the various communities has been an obvious project priority from the start. Walking down 105 Street, where the LRT will run right down the middle of the road, you can see plywood boxes protecting the local trees from construction-related damage. Before long, canopies will be mounted to shelter the new LRT line from nature’s continuous arboreal cycle, allowing trees and technology to coexist in communal harmony.

Arriving at 108 Avenue, I notice that the rail has changed again, and sits up on big stone slabs called ‘plinths’. This is called direct fixation, and, except for crossings, most of the rest of the line is built using this technique. We’ve captured the different kinds of rail and a bit of an explanation of how they were chosen and produced in this video:

Continuing up 104 Street, I pass by the Prince of Wales Armouries and Polish Hall, both historic community landmarks of the North Edmonton community. I’m now on one of the city’s busiest arterial roads: Kingsway. Construction has been heavy in this area all year long, and has probably had the most noticeable effect on traffic, as crews worked to get track crossings completed at the intersections of rail and road. The good news is all of those crossings were finished in 2012, meaning fewer major traffic disruptions in 2013. The better news is that Kingsway/Royal Alexandra Hospital area is not only getting a new Transit Centre—it’s getting a real eye-catcher of an LRT station as well, with an elegant chevron-shaped wooden roof.

Further up the line, as I walk down 106 Street, I can begin to see the new landscaping taking shape as I approach Princess Elizabeth Avenue, and the temporary terminus of the North LRT line at NAIT. NAIT station isn’t quite as far along in development as MacEwan and Kingsway/Royal Alexandra, but when completed, like its sister stations, it will have a fully heated area for commuters waiting for the train in mid-February Edmonton winter. With the rapid progress that’s been made on the stations this year, they’re all ready for electrical and mechanical installation to proceed over the city’s snowier months.

It’s been a busy construction season for the North LRT to NAIT, and it’s pleasing to see the tangible progress that’s been made this year. With almost all of the rail in place, the stations rising up, and the new multi-use trail and landscaping beginning to take shape, there’s a lot to be excited about.

There may not be any 20-feet mice roaming around, but, well, we’re past the point of imagination now with the North LRT, and into something real and tangible. If you’d like to get an even more complete sense of what the City of Edmonton has been up to with this project in 2012, have a look at our wrap-up construction video for this year’s work.

So, after all this hard work, what’s in store for 2013? Well, more hard work, putting the finishing touches on the NLRT’s stations, installing infrastructure, and then testing the new line, as it gears up to open in Spring 2014.

When it does, rather than walking it, we’ll be happy to take you along for the ride. For now, if you’re curious, we have an animation that you can check out.

Thanks for coming along on this little trip, and thank you to all Edmontonians for their support and patience with the North LRT to NAIT project. It’s something we can all be proud of, and we promise you it’s worth waiting a little longer for.

Environmentally Friendly Snow Storage in Edmonton

CCheung — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 23:09:43 +0000

Where I’m from (Vancouver, BC), we don’t get much snow and even when we do, it goes away fairly quickly. But with Edmonton’s longer, colder winters, there’s much more snow and it can take quite a while for it to melt. That means the City has to find a place to put all of the snow after it’s plowed off the streets. Many years ago, the City used to dump snow removed from roads directly into the river but this raised environmental concerns due to the amount of salt and sediments entering the North Saskatchewan River. For that reason, snow storage facilities were built around Edmonton during the 1980s. How snow storage facilities work is by storing the snow in piles, letting it melt, and diverting melt water into the storage pond where sediments and contaminants can settle, be removed and safely disposed of. Then the cleaned melt water is diverted to the storm drain where it runs off into an adjacent storage pond. Snow removal and storage is costly but it is necessary to preserve our water quality. [caption id="attachment_3404" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="A pile of snow melting away"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_3405" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="Melt water with high sediment amount draining into waiting pond"][/caption] There are now five snow storage sites throughout Edmonton. I visited two – Kennedale and Horse Hills – along with members of the City’s Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC). Kennedale was established in 1984 and was built specifically for snow removed from downtown. Unlike the newer facilities, the Kennedale site has a packed clay surface to mound snow on. The storage pond is lined with a material called HDPE (high density polyethylene) to protect the pond sides from erosion, and lets the sediment settle while pumping out the water. In order to melt the snow pile, equipment is used to break down the mass. The current issue at the Kennedale site is that clay is being pushed into the pond from equipment use. Any area that is not covered with concrete tends to erode due to flowing water with sediments, which acts like an abrasive stream. The excessive sediments are accumulating in the pond and removing them is a challenge. For this reason, newer snow storage facilities use hard surfaces on which to store and break down the snow mounds.

[caption id="attachment_3407" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="Water flowing into the HDPE lined ponds"][/caption] Horse Hills snow storage site, located on the north east quadrant of the City, is the newer of the two facilities we visited. Here, the surface is made out of a hard, roller packed concrete. A wetland treatment pond was considered in the original design; however, it was revealed that birds may cause a threat to military planes and other equipment at the adjacent military base. Audio bird deterrents have been installed and fences are used to keep out other wildlife. The melt water at this site travels at a very slow rate to allow more sediment to remain on the pad. Once a critical level of water is reached in the first pond, the water can overflow into the second pond. Lastly, the melted water at Horse Hills flows through a long pipe that runs to the City’s storm water system. According to our guide, the melt water ponds are tested weekly and groundwater testing is done, too. This ensures that the total suspended solids (TSS), salt concentrations, and many other parameters, are monitored to ensure the water leaving the site is not contaminating our waterways, thus preventing pollution to the natural environment. It was great to see how the site operates, by minimizing contaminants getting into the watershed. It is also neat to see how this plays a part in the City’s environmental strategy, The Way We Green, and how this adds to what the City is doing to work towards environmental sustainability.

A Little Bit of Christmas at the City of Edmonton Archives

Elizabeth Walker — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 16:27:18 +0000

The City of Edmonton Archives’ online catalogue has a rotating exhibit where we highlight our archival photographs, usually the top 200 requested images. We also put together themed exhibits and sometimes we tie this blog into them, for example the royal visit in July 2011.

Right now we have a fun exhibit up called Holiday and Winter Fun in Edmonton. I thought I’d put a post together with some of my favourite Christmas images from the exhibit and then highlight some other Christmas related material we have at the Archives.

: EA-160-754 “Dowdell House with Christmas Lights” – December, 1931. One of the first homes in Edmonton to display Christmas lights

: EA-600-3521a “Carol Singers” – December 20, 1949

[caption id="attachment_3434" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="EB-28-1198 “Street Christmas Lighting” – Jasper Avenue in 1964"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_3435" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="ET-11-356 “Edmonton During “Big Freeze” – Jasper Avenue in January 1969"][/caption]

We have quite a few Christmas cards in our private record collections and it was difficult to choose which cards to feature. In the end, I managed to narrow it down to two. I really like this simple card from 1937 with its message of peace on the front (a quote from Tennyson’s Ring Out, Wild Bells) and the wish for joy on the back.

: 1937 Christmas card from MS-29 Beatrice Gremm Dunn fonds

[caption id="attachment_3437" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="1937 Christmas card from MS-29 Beatrice Gremm Dunn fonds"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_3438" align="aligncenter" width="432" caption="1958 handmade Christmas card from MS-482 P. Sorenson collection"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_3428" align="aligncenter" width="422" caption="1958 handmade Christmas card from MS-482 P. Sorenson collection. It looks like handmade cards like this were sent to the family of every student of McKay Avenue School!"][/caption] The thorny issue of Christmas shopping hours has caused all sorts of headaches for City administration in the past. A 1955 bylaw (No. 1716) on “the early closing of shops” had 19 amendments until it was repealed in 1967. There were petitions asking for exceptions for certain types of businesses and some of the amendments grant them. Other amendments were to clarify when businesses were allowed to stay open late. Five of the amendments dealt specifically with Christmas, specifying when stores would be allowed to stay open for Christmas shopping. Yet another bylaw (no. 1436, which was passed December 8, 1952) required businesses, with specified exceptions, to close on holidays.

: Detail from cover of Holiday Bylaw No. 1336 – first passed by Council on December 8, 1952. Bylaws don’t usually come to the Archives with fancy covers like this, maybe someone was feeling whimsical?

: Detail from first page of Holiday Bylaw No. 1336

[caption id="attachment_3431" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="Detail from second page of Holiday Bylaw No. 1336. The exceptions to the holiday closures; you could still gas up and go out on the town to some extent."][/caption]

Do you have an idea on a theme for the rotating exhibit? Leave a comment if you do and we’ll see what we can do! Sources: EA-160 Hubert A. Hollingworth EA-600 Edmonton Bulletin EB-28 Edmonton Power ET-11 Gateway Camera Club MS-29 Beatrice Gremm Dunn fonds MS-482 P. Sorenson collection RG-8 City of Edmonton. City Clerk’s fonds Wondering what a fonds is? We have a glossary of archival terms.

Oxford lot draw showcased support for a sustainable Edmonton

VCarnaghan — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 21:19:54 +0000

Being green doesn’t always mean being popular. But the success of a recent lot draw to sell 43 City-owned lots in a new Edmonton neighbourhood gives us plenty of reason to believe that our citizens are ready to take on the challenge of living more sustainably. The City of Edmonton is trying something new in the community of Oxford. Our goal is to create a neighbourhood that offers a varied mix of modern, stylish housing types – including walk-out lake lots, duplexes and even multi-family units – all united by the common theme of sustainability. Houses on the single-family, duplex and secondary suite-serviced lots will be required to meet increased standards for energy efficiency and conservation. Interested buyers were required to take part in a unique public lot draw process to purchase a lot in Oxford. The City sells undeveloped real estate through lot draws only every few years. Turnout for these draws is usually very high – the last public lot draw was in 2006 and over 1,500 people registered for the chance to buy one of 75 lots in the Brintnell area. But this time around our Corporate Properties team wasn't sure if this draw would hold quite the same popular appeal. We thought Oxford’s stricter efficiency standards might scare off potential land buyers. We gained a better idea of potential interest in Oxford after we hosted a fairly well-attended public information session two days prior to registration day. This was the first stage in our three stage plan for the lot draw: an information session, the registration process and the lot draw itself.

The evening information session was intended to help set the tone for Oxford as a unique development. We wanted to clearly explain the above-standard environmental sustainability requirements, and also describe two different incentive programs the City is offering builders to help them achieve even greater environmental results. This was an important step. We wanted everyone to become familiar with the development expectations in this new neighbourhood, essentially to highlight the message that any buyers who want to build in Oxford must be serious about sustainability. The next stage was the lot draw registration. Even though we were uncertain as to how many people would show up to register, we’d decided early on to limit registration to a maximum of 200 people. We figured if the crowds did come, this limit would keep the draw manageable while still maintaining fairly strong odds for those participating. In retrospect it was a pretty wise decision, because boy, did the crowds come. On November 15, 2012 the halls of the northeast corner of City Hall were crowded with people before the sun was even up – some arriving as early as 4 am to get their spot in line. As the time drew close to 8:30 am when the event would begin, prospective land buyers were handed a numbered card and then proceeded to line up to register.

Because there were so many more people interested in Oxford than there were spots, those who arrived later had to be turned away. Unfortunate as it was to have to turn some people away, it was also really encouraging to see such high levels of interest from all types of people. This indicated to us that these buyers want to not only build great houses but also want to take part in setting a new standard for environmental sustainability in Edmonton. The pre-planning was highly effective; the crowd was eager but patient and registration went smoothly. It was neat to see the process take shape. November 28 was the third and final step in the process: the Oxford lot draw. This event took place at the Central Lion’s Senior Centre and the auditorium was nearly full with the 200 registered lot-draw hopefuls and their business partners, friends and family. Some studied the neighbourhood maps and specs quietly, while others huddled to discuss what choice they would make if their name was drawn. As the drum containing the name of the registrants was rolled and the names selected one at time, the excitement was noticeable. After each name was drawn, the successful lot buyer was invited to the front of the auditorium where he or she could choose one of the lots available, and fill out the appropriate paperwork. (Some members of the audience even got cheers when their name was pulled!). A large overhead map indicated which lots were selected so prospective buyers could keep track of which ones remained. Emcee Bill Covey, Director of Property Sales for Corporate Properties, continued to express his thanks to the crowd throughout the night; for their patience going through the registration process (including the pre-dawn arrivals and that long lineup!), and even more so for their desire to support Oxford’s green building standards. Councillor Kim Krushell also gave a short address to thank the buyers for their interest in creating this new, sustainable neighbourhood. To many Edmontonians this neighbourhood will be a must-watch. It will serve as an example of City-supported sustainability and will also be a pilot project to see how this standard might be more widely applied throughout the City in the future. And, after seeing the interest these lots generated, it’s easy to imagine the public and the homebuilding industry being enthusiastic participants in that new standard. Listen to the Edmonton This Week interview on the Oxford Development.

How Will the City Design Streets?

Miriam — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 21:16:45 +0000

If you close your eyes one moment and imagine your ideal neighbourhood, what do you see? What about the different streets? How do they look? How are people using them? What makes them vibrant? As Edmonton continues to grow, we have think about how we want to design our new and existing streets to better serve everyone, from pedestrians to cyclists, from motorists to truck drivers. We want to hear your thoughts about our Draft Complete Streets Guidelines. We will be hosting meetings to share information and get public feedback on the project. You can also find more information and provide your input from January 29 to February 15 at edmonton.ca/CompleteStreets. Meetings Date: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 Time: 4-8 pm Location: Terwillegar Recreation Centre,2051 Leger Road Date: Thursday, January 31, 2013 Time: 4-8 pm Location: City Hall,1 Sir Winston Churchill Square *These meetings will be held jointly with another City project: Designing New Neighbourhoods. Get involved in the discussion. Share your dream with us.

How Will the City Design New Neighbourhoods?

KAnderson — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 22:43:16 +0000

2012 was a busy year for Designing New Neighbourhoods, and we’re gearing up for a couple more busy months in 2013 to complete the project! In May 2012 we asked Edmontonians to tell us what they thought was important when building a great new neighbourhood, and were very pleased with the response we got. To share what we heard, we posted the results - called “the Big Ideas” - on the (Designing New Neighbourhoods) website. If you haven’t yet had the chance, check them out at www.edmonton.ca/DesigningNewNeighbourhoods. Since last spring, the project’s multi-disciplinary Designing New Neighbourhoods (DNN) Design Team has been working hard to prepare a draft document, based on feedback from a range of stakeholders, which will inform the development of great new neighbourhoods. The result of these efforts is a comprehensive policy approach based on a shared vision for the future that will support the creativity, innovation and flexibility needed to build terrific places for Edmontonians to call home. Starting on January 29 and running until February 15 the draft document (Designing New Neighbourhoods: Guidelines for Edmonton’s Developing Communities) will be posted on the City’s project webpage. We will be hosting another online dialogue to hear your feedback on the work that has been produced. In collaboration with the Complete Streets project, the DNN project team will be hosting meetings to share information and get public feedback. Meetings Date: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 Time: 4-8 pm Location: Terwillegar Recreation Centre,2051 Leger Road Date: Thursday, January 31, 2013 Time: 4-8 pm Location: City Hall,1 Sir Winston Churchill Square Designing New Neighbourhoods and Complete Streets information poster boards will be available in City Hall for viewing from January 31 until February 15, so if you’re in the neighbourhood please come in and take a look! We really want to hear your feedback on this draft document and are excited to hear what you have to say about the collaborative vision for great new neighbourhoods. We’re always happy to meet fellow Edmontonians in person, so please stop in at Terwillegar or City Hall to say hello and learn more about these key city initiatives. Stay tuned for the launch of the materials next week!

Bike Routes 2013: Get Involved

Miriam — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 21:44:37 +0000

This year, the City will install 23 km of on-street bike routes. It’s part of a larger plan to install close to 500 km of on-street facilities in future years to create an integrated bicycle network. This will make it easier for Edmontonians to cycle more often and connect to the places they want to go. A bike route can either be a reserved bike lane on the road, or a shared-use lane where cyclists and motorists have to share space on the road. Depending on the characteristics of each route, installing a bike route may involve narrowing lane widths, reducing the number of lanes, closing a road or removing parking. On February 12 and 20, our team will be holding meetings to share information and get your feedback about the plans. Public input will help identify any unknown issues we need to consider before finalizing the plans. MEETINGS Date: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 Time: 6-8:30 pm Location:HazeldeanSchool, 6715 – 97 Street Date: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 Time: 6-8:30 pm Location: Crestwood School, 9735 – 144 Street A presentation will be given at 6:30 pm and again at 7:30 pm. But where will these new bike routes be installed in 2013? Here are the details: If you can’t come to one of our meetings, you can view the design plans and provide your input at edmonton.ca/cycling.

A Vision for Great New Neighbourhoods

KAnderson — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 16:16:13 +0000

We are very excited to be starting public consultation on the vision for Edmonton's great new neighbourhoods today! An online dialogue has begun and I hope you'll take part to share your feedback, connect with other Edmontonians, and spend a moment or two to think about what will make our future communities so special. On January 29 the project team is hosting a public open house at the Terwillegar Recreation Centre between 4 pm and 8 pm. We'll be in City Hall on Thursday January 31 as well - same time. If you're available, please come by to see some great posters, meet the team, and talk “new neighbourhoods” with us. If you're more web-oriented than public-open-house driven, please check out the Designing New Neighbourhoods website to review a full copy of the draft "Guidelines for Edmonton's Developing Communities" and see a PDF copy of the open house posters. For those of you who may want to cut straight to the heart of the matter, we have also provided a "vision summary", which highlights the 12 outcomes that new neighbourhoods will achieve. The online dialogue will be available until February 15th. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Find Good Fortune at the Muttart Conservatory’s Chinese New Year Feature Pyramid

GFroese — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:57:58 +0000

If you’ve ever made a wish on your birthday or when seeing a falling star, the Muttart Conservatory’s Chinese New Year feature pyramid will be a special place for you. Designed in consultation with the Chinese Gardening Society, the feature pyramid brings together flowers, colours and other elements that are traditional emblems of good fortune in much of Chinese culture. Muttart Conservatory Grower Eric Gibson points to the red and gold colours throughout the pyramid as bringers of joy, truth and virtue.

: Muttart Conservatory Grower Eric Gibson

“They’re also thought to scare away bad fortune and evil spirits,” Eric says.

“Chinese folklore claims that the Chinese New Year originated from the myth of the Nian, a beast that comes out around the Chinese New Year to attack people. The Nian is said to be afraid of the colour red.” The good fortune symbolized within the pyramid isn’t just about keeping the Nian away. It also includes prosperity, most vividly seen in trees hung with Hong Bao gift envelopes. “A number of different plants are known as money trees,” Eric said, “such as the jade plant. The ZZ plant, known as Jing qian shu in Chinese, is a very different plant–but it is also considered a money tree because its leaves resemble ancient Chinese coins.” The colourful Celosia, also called the Phoenix Tail, combines harmony with good fortune and has been popular with visitors to the pyramid. Because 2013 is the Year of the Snake, visitors will find a friendly blue serpent in a sea of red and yellow flowers. Snakes are associated with female energy, passion and success. As with most of the Muttart’s unique decorations, the water snake was created by Edmonton artist Memi Von Gaza. Eric’s favourite parts of the Chinese New Year pyramid are the red lanterns hanging throughout. “They draw people’s eyes up and add a new dimension to their experience. They also glow nicely with the new pyramid lights.” More than a year of planning has gone into the development of this feature pyramid, including growing the plants and finding the optimal location for each plant’s different needs in terms of humidity and light. Its work Eric particularly enjoys. He says, “All of the growers have to recognize that there are unique microclimates within the pyramids and choose the right location for each plant.” To Eric, the Chinese New Year pyramid is a special oasis—but he already feels like a lucky guy. “When we’re installing a new pyramid, four growers work over five days to change everything, right down to the bricks. But it doesn’t feel like work to me, because I love it. I’ve loved plants since my grandmother was teaching me to garden, as a child. Now, I’m able to create a paradise.” Bring yourself a little extra luck for 2013: visit the Chinese New Year paradise between now and February 24 at the Muttart Conservatory. While you’re there, look for upcoming events or sign up for a children or adult program. Starting in March, the new feature pyramid will take you Up, Up, and Away.

On-Street Bike Routes: Designing the Right Infrastructure for the Right Area

Miriam — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 20:27:40 +0000

Over the past couple of weeks, our group met with community representatives to gather feedback on the new on-street bike routes that will be installed in the city this year. We started to gather their feedback, and we are now about to show our plans to the public to obtain more input (meetings on February 12 and 20). But how will the public influence the design of the routes? The Bicycle Transportation Plan was approved by City Council in 2009. Through this plan, the locations of the 2013 and future on-street bike routes are already determined. On the technical side, our engineers follow the Transportation Association of Canada’s (TAC) Bikeway Traffic Control Guidelines. These guidelines provide direction on elements such as the appropriate application of different facility types, intersection design and the required signage, pavement markings and design widths. Local input is what will make this successful. So what our team really needs to know is how the design will serve the communities and how we can meet specific needs around institutions like businesses, churches and schools. For example, people will tell us which routes and paths our bike route should connect to in order to meet the community’s needs. Most of the time, our biggest constraint is space. We need to fit new infrastructure on an existing street with a limited width. We also have to balance the desires of the community with the goals of the plan without compromising safety. And we have to take into consideration all the different voices in the community. It’s not easy, and it involves trade-offs. In some case, we will need to remove parking, reduce travel lane widths or transition the bike route to a different facility type. These decisions are not taken lightly, but sometimes they are necessary to ensure the safety and comfort of cyclists and motorists along the routes. Considering public input is essential to help us do our best work. That helps us design the right infrastructure for the right area, whether it's a bike facility on a high-volume cycling route or in a quiet neighbourhood. Get involved! Visit www.edmonton.ca/cycling.

Edmonton - A City of Ideas

sfarbrother — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 21:35:28 +0000

In 2008 our City Council ratified The Way Ahead. We are just a few years into implementation, but it’s not too soon to ask whether our city has grown in the direction Council wants it to.

Today I would like show you a new video we have produced that takes a look at what has changed over the past few years. It takes the point of view of citizens and the differences they can see. It isn’t a report on performance measures, but it leaves an overall impression of the progress we’ve made and the way the face of our city has changed.

This new video is the third in a series. You may recall the first video, A City Well Lived, was about the pride we take in public service. The second, A City Well Built, was about Council’s investment in infrastructure.

Today we premiered the video at City Council and shared it with all of our City employees. I hope this sparks some discussion about the progress we have been making as a City.

Watch the first two videos

Edmonton - A City Well Lived

Edmonton - A City Well Built

Winter Fun in Edmonton – Part I

Elizabeth Walker — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:55:38 +0000

My last post covered the holiday theme of our rotating exhibit, Winter and Holiday Fun in Edmonton. Now, in a two part post, I’m going to look at the winter fun theme. I’ll also look at the new WinterCity Strategy and illustrate what the City of Edmonton Archives can offer to help achieve its goals. The Strategy recently asked Edmontonians to think of ways to embrace winter. The results, and a plan for going forward, have been released in the document For the Love of Winter: Strategy for Transforming Edmonton into a World-Leading Winter City.

Of course, Edmontonians have always had to deal with life in a winter city, as can be seen by the number of winter related images in the City of Edmonton Archives’ catalogue. Some of my favorites, like the image below, were taken for feature stories for the Edmonton Bulletin newspaper. These images make me realize just how much technology has made my life in the winter easier. Many things that are often taken for granted now were more problematic in the past, laundry day for example. What do you do when you don’t have a dryer?

: EA-600-3689b “Wash Day Problem” January 24, 1950 This lady seems to be coping with the cold but the dog can’t wait to get inside.

[caption id="attachment_3596" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="EA-9-340 “Secord House” c. 1915 (this image is actually from a postcard) The house was home to the Edmonton Art Gallery from 1952-1967"][/caption] As demonstrated by the image above, transportation is another aspect of life in winter that has changed a great deal. Interestingly though, in Edmonton’s early days, travel was usually easier in winter than in summer. I’d rather fly over the snow by dog sled or in a horse drawn sleigh than struggle through mud or breathe all the dust thrown up by a bumpy wagon on a dirt road. Especially considering the work I would have to do cleaning my clothes afterwards. But has technology taken us too far? Have we made it too easy to isolate ourselves in little indoor pockets of warmth (whether a car or West Edmonton Mall), removing ourselves from truly experiencing winter? Some people think so, and they’re behind the new WinterCity Strategy. As noted by John Mahon and Tammy Fallowfield, Winter Life Hub Co-Chairs, “…we have, as a community…allowed barriers, of attitude and lifestyle, to reduce winter to a drab stereotype” (For the Love of Winter, p. 14). The Strategy is aimed at changing this. I can think of any number of ways that the City of Edmonton Archives supports the goals of the WinterCity Strategy. Many records at the Archives provide evidence of how Edmonton has functioned as a winter city in the past. This evidence can inform decisions on how to “Provide More Opportunities for Outdoor Activity” (Goal 1) or how to “Incorporate Urban Design Elements for Winter Fun, Activity, Beauty and Interest” (Goal 4). The records at the Archives can show what has worked in the past as well as what didn’t. Where the Archives would really shine though is in the fourth set of goals, those relating to Our Winter Story:

Goal 8 – Celebrate the Season and Embrace Daily Living in a Cold Climate
Goal 9 – Promote Edmonton’s Great Northern Story Locally, Nationally and Internationally
Goal 10 – Kick Start and Lead Implementation of Edmonton’s WinterCity Strategy: Apply a ‘Winter Lens’ to Our City

When I started looking for evidence in the Archives of Edmontonians embracing winter I found so much material I actually had to stop so that I could get this blog post written while it still is winter. One day, we may go further with this subject with a winter themed virtual exhibit. For now, I have a two part blog. Today I’m focusing on daily life and winter festivals, the next post will feature images of winter activities and sports in Edmonton. One of the earliest references we have to a winter event is a 1923 Winter Carnival Souvenir Program (see the scans below). I take the First Annual Winter Carnival statement on the cover with a grain of salt though as most things I found claimed to be the first of their kind. This program features articles like “A Brief History of Edmonton” and “Edmonton and its Sports” which concludes that “…it would be difficult to find a more athletic loving people than the folks in the City of Edmonton.”

[caption id="attachment_3595" align="alignnone" width="204" caption="Front cover of a 1923 Winter Carnival Souvenir Program from MS-273 H. Kroetch Collection"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3601" align="alignnone" width="206" caption="Back cover of a 1923 Winter Carnival Souvenir Program from MS-273 H. Kroetch Collection. An early example of both the economic opportunities that come with winter festivities and the importance of appropriate winter wear"][/caption]

Week long carnivals were even held through the difficult Depression years and there is a fair amount of material on them in the RG-11 Commissioners fonds. In 1935, volunteers from twenty-two Community Leagues ran a winter carnival (with some help from the City) that had three hundred children competing in various winter sports. Organizers in 1937 planned for an ice palace to be built by relief labor and for a “Moonlight Parade” down Jasper Avenue. A letter to the City asked if the street lights along the route could be turned off for the duration of the parade, stating that businesses had already agreed to darken their stores. Lighting was provided by volunteers with flares. The City saw winter carnivals as economic opportunities and in 1937 attempts were made to bring people to Edmonton from the surrounding areas. In addition to newspaper ads, a series of promotional announcements were aired on the CFRN radio station. For example, the script for a February 17, 1937 announcement is, “Come to Edmonton for the Winter Fair. The bus and railroads have reduced rates. There is fun for all, and buying opportunities galore. All roads lead to Edmonton.” I found a $30 invoice from the Sunwapta Broadcasting Co. Ltd. to the City for twenty-six announcements similar to this one. [caption id="attachment_3598" align="aligncenter" width="301" caption="EA-226-8 “McKernan Community League Carnival Queens” c. 1939 We have quite a few images of Carnival Queens, usually associated with a Community League"][/caption] The importance of knowing how to dress for the cold came up several times in my research into winter festivities. The people in the image above seem a little chilly but the little girl below has dressing for winter all figured out. [caption id="attachment_3600" align="aligncenter" width="336" caption="EA-600-3461a “Bunny Stewart in cold weather with her dog” December 12, 1949 The building in the background was originally the Jesuit College. It became the first Charles Camsell Hospital and was demolished in 1967."][/caption] In the 1960s the main winter festival was the Muk-Luk Mardi Gras which ran until 1968. After this, there were several attempts to get a winter festival going, especially in the 1980s starting with a brief revival of the Muk-Luk Mardi Gras. More research is needed as it’s difficult to tell a rebranded festival from a new one. Other events include the Snowflake Fantasy Carnival and the Labatt’s Lite Ice Lantern Festival. This festival featured ice carvers from Harbin,China and coincided with the twinning of Harbin and Edmonton. One of the lasting legacies of the twinning is the Chinese Friendship Gate at 102 Avenue and 97 Street. This is just a brief look at ways the records at the City of Edmonton Archives can complement and inform the goals of the WinterCity Strategy. The winter fun continues with my next post about winter sports and activities in Edmonton. It will feature images like the one below. I’m almost sure that the tobogganer didn’t hit anybody. It looks like a near miss though! [caption id="attachment_3621" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="EA-20-4759 Sledding at Victoria Park c. 1968"][/caption] Sources: Clippings files:

Festivals: Winter Festivals
Muk-Luk Mardi Gras
Parades

EA-9 Richard York Secord EA-20 Community Services / Parks & Recreation EA-226 Jack Manson EA-600 Edmonton Bulletin For the Love of Winter: Strategy for Transforming Edmontoninto a World-Leading Winter City (PDF) Kuban, Ron Edmonton’s Urban Villages: The Community League Movement MS-273 H. Kroetch collection RG-11 Commissioners fonds Wondering what a fonds is? Check out our glossary.

Winter Fun in Edmonton – Part II

Elizabeth Walker — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 17:00:30 +0000

This is the second part of my post looking at life in a winter city, inspired in part by our rotating exhibit of winter images and by the WinterCity Strategy. One of the ideas behind the Strategy is to remind people how much fun living in a winter city can be. We have plenty of evidence of that at the City of Edmonton Archives so for this post I’ve selected some fun images of people enjoying winter. [caption id="attachment_3632" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="EA-10-2219 “McKernan Lake – Skating” November 13, 1913 Located in the area of the present day McKernan neighbourhood, the lake was drained in the 1940s"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_3634" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="EA-160-446 “Snowmobiles – Built in Edmonton” 1937 In the background are the Walterdale Bridge and the power plant."][/caption] The snowmobiles pictured above ran a series of races on the North Saskatchewan Riverice in February, 1937. There are a couple of articles in the Edmonton Bulletin about them. The middle craft, driven by V.C. Hird caught a snowdrift and rolled several times. Fortunately, Hird escaped with just a bump on the head. We have several pictures of these snowmobiles including one of the mangled machine shortly after the crash.

: EA-600-1851d “Pupils Learn How to Ski at Highlands Ski Hill” December 27, 1948

[caption id="attachment_3631" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="EA-600-3994c “Speed Skating Feature” March 12, 1950"][/caption]

We debated whether this is actually on the North Saskatchewan River or not. We know that some carnival events were staged on the river but the angle doesn’t seem right. Please comment if you have any ideas on where this is!

[caption id="attachment_3635" align="aligncenter" width="274" caption="EA-356-5 “Ski Jump on Connor’s Hill” 1950"][/caption] I don’t have much information about the ski jump picture above. If I was able to devote more time to research, I would look through the microfilmed newspapers of the time to try and identify the event taking place. One of the 1937 radio announcements I introduced in my last post promotes the opening of a brand new ski jump at Connor’s Hill but I don’t know if this is the same jump. One way I could find out more information is to look at the Archives’ collection of aerials to see if I could trace the jump through the years. [caption id="attachment_3633" align="aligncenter" width="422" caption="EA-20-5506 “Connors Hill Ski Jump” c. 1978 This isn’t a winter image but I put it in to show the wonderful view from the top of the ski jump. Note that the jump went OVER Connors Road."][/caption] I’ll end this post with a hockey image. We have a lot of hockey pictures in our Archives, both professional and amateur, so I had many to choose from. I chose this particular image because, apart from being fabulous in its own right, it highlights a complication with some photographs found in archives. The copy we have at the City of Edmonton Archives is a print. The picture was taken by the Byron May Co. and their negatives were donated to the Glenbow Archives. So the Glenbow Archives actually have copyright over this image. Archives try to respect each other’s collections so, while we use this image for research purposes and I’m putting it in this blog post, we would refer those who want to purchase a high quality reproduction to the Glenbow Archives as holders of the most original version and of copyright. [caption id="attachment_3636" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="EA-500-213 “Edmonton Ladies Hockey Club” 1910 With all the respect in the world to these ladies, playing hockey in skirts, I can’t help but laugh at their hats."][/caption] Sources: Clippings files:

Snowmobiles

EA-10 NAPOTA (Northern AlbertaPioneers and Old Timers Association) EA-20 Community Services / Parks & Recreation EA-160 Hubert A. Hollingworth EA-356 Ralph Hedley EA-500 Edmonton Chamber of Commerce EA-600 Edmonton Bulletin RG-11 Commissioners fonds Wondering what a fonds is? Check out our glossary.

Designing City Streets: Another Chance to Get Involved

dvriend — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 20:30:33 +0000

Last week, our team met with about 100 Edmontonians. We had very interesting discussions about design possibilities for our new and existing streets.

People appreciate that we are introducing a more flexible approach to designing roadways. They think it’s important that we take into consideration all users of all abilities, including seniors and those with mobility challenges. Some people would like to include more elements for the prioritization of transit. We’ll explore that idea in the implementation phase of Complete Streets.

We also heard that there is a desire for more emphasis on providing bike transportation. People have different opinions on what type of bike facilities they want to see in Edmonton. Some of them want more bike lanes; other ones want more shared-use paths. Some people would like to see some bike boulevards in Edmonton or the construction of cycle tracks.

We’ve done our best in the guidelines to include the latest in design guidance for all of these facility types. We included descriptions about where they are most appropriate and where they are not. For each type, we have a description on what each facility type is, how it works, where it is appropriate to have that type of facility, some key dimensions, and then a short section on snow clearing considerations. Hopefully, the descriptions for each bikeway type will help people get a better idea of the possibilities in their neighbourhoods.

We are offering one more opportunity for the public to get involved in the project. We will be hosting a repeat of the January meetings to share information and get feedback on the Draft Complete Streets Guidelines. Just like the two previous meetings, this session will be held jointly with the Designing New Neighbourhoods project team.

Meeting

Date: Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Time: 5-7 pm
Location: Northgate Lions Seniors Recreation Centre, 7524-139 Avenue NW

You can also find more information and provide your input until February 15 at edmonton.ca/CompleteStreets.

Come and get involved in the discussion.

Public Open House: Ideas Flowing In

KAnderson — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 22:43:29 +0000

Public consultation is now underway! Lots of great ideas and feedback are flowing in on the vision for great new neighbourhoods presented in the draft Designing New Neighbourhoods document. The project team has held two open houses so far and will be holding a final open house on Tuesday February 12^th between 5:00 and 7:00 pm at the Northgate Lions Seniors Recreation Centre (7524 139 Ave NW). All open houses are being held in collaboration with the Complete Streets project. Come on down to meet your friendly city planners and transportation engineers and talk streets and future neighbourhoods! The online dialogue that complements the open houses will be available until February 15th. http://designingnewneighbourhoods.dialogue-app.com We’re staring to get some interesting conversations going on there. Make sure to have your say! You can also start or join a conversation on twitter about these two projects. For Designing New Neighbourhoods follow #yegDNN and for Complete Streets follow #yegCompleteStreets.

Up – Up – Up – Up. Up on Transit Style

Miriam — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 17:45:13 +0000

Ridership Increase Following a trend that began over 10 years ago, more and more Edmontonians are taking transit. Ridership[i] for Edmonton Transit System (ETS) increased by 3.1% in 2012, with the number of trips jumping from 80.3 million in 2011 to 82.8 million last year. Annual LRT boardings[ii] were up by 1.8% in 2012 and have more than doubled since 2003. Factors of Growth Some of the ridership increase can be attributed to population growth and residential development, particularly on the south side of the city. In September 2012, ETS brought significant improvements to its bus service that contributed to the increase:

A new cross-town route between Mill Woods and West Edmonton Mall via Century Park and Leger
A direct link between Ambleside and Leger
A peak period link between Silverberry and Meadows Transit Centre
Route extensions to South Callaghan and South Hamptons
New service to the Pylypow Industrial area
New community bus routes in Capilano and Mill Woods
Additional trips or adjustments on routes that were experiencing capacity or schedule issues

ETS enhanced off-peak service on the most utilized bus routes and added additional service in a few neighbourhoods. This included new weekday late night, week-end morning and week-end evening buses. ETS’ marketing programs also contributed to the popularity of transit in the past year. ETS@Work grew by nearly 20%. Currently, 82 local companies partner with ETS to provide a discount on transit passes for their employees and encourage commitment to transit. The U-Pass also helped consolidate transit as a preferred option for students. It provides 54,000 thousand students from the University of Alberta, MacEwan and NAIT access to regular transit services on ETS, St. Albert Transit and Strathcona County Transit. Change in Motion If we look at how Edmontonians traveled to, from and through the downtown over the past few years, we can see a positive change. More people are choosing to give their car a break and are now walking or taking transit. The proportion of daily trips made by automobile into and out of the downtown has declined from 69% in 2009 to 66% in 2012. Shifting to more sustainable transportation options is one of the City’s highest priorities, as outlined in The Way We Move, the Transportation Master Plan.

Transportation Mode	Daily Mode Share to/from Downtown in 2009	Daily Mode Share to/from Downtown in 2012	Change
Automobile	69%	66%	- 3%
Transit (bus and LRT)	26%	28%	+ 2%
Walk	4%	5%	+ 1%
Bicycle	1%	1%	0%

LRT Facts

Downtown and the University of Alberta’s main campus are the primary destinations on the LRT line:
- The five downtown stations (Churchill, Central,Bay/Enterprise Square,Corona, Grandin/Government Centre) show a total of 29,395 people getting on and 29,135 people getting off the LRT daily
- The two University area stations (University and Health Sciences/Jubilee) show a total of 21,058 people getting on and 21,571 people getting off the LRT daily
- University is the busiest LRT station, with 14,352 people getting on and 15,105 people getting off the LRT daily

On a typical weekday, 87% of the LRT Park & Ride parking spaces (at Clareview, Belvedere, Stadium, andCenturyPark) are occupied by 8 a.m. and 98% are occupied by 10 a.m.

Detailed ridership reports are available at www.edmonton.ca/RidershipReports.

[i] Annual transit ridership figures refer to the total number of linked trips. A linked trip is the complete ride from an origin to a destination, no matter how many transfers between buses (or between LRT and buses) it takes to complete the trip. [ii] A boarding is counted each time a passenger boards a bus or LRT vehicle, even though the boarding may be the result of a transfer from another route to complete the same one-way journey. For example, if a passenger boards three different buses to get to a destination, then the overall trip will add three boardings to the daily total.

Cut My Commute Campaign

Dustin Lafleur — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 17:35:25 +0000

Every day I get to work with a lot of people from around the City to communicate about important City projects. Last month, I worked with two Councillors, colleagues in Communications and Intergovernmental & External Affairs to share with Edmontonians details on a national program. We were filming a short video for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' (FCM's) "Cut My Commute" campaign with Councillors Ben Henderson and Karen Leibovici. Councillor Henderson is Edmonton's representative on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and Councillor Leibovici is currently the President of FCM. Between shots, we kept the camera rolling and asked the Councillors to explain, in their own words, what the campaign was all about. First, we asked Councillor Henderson the same question we were asking Edmontonians-- what does LRT expansion across the city mean to you? Because of her role as FCM President, we asked Councillor Leibovici to talk about why the City looks for help from other orders of government in the first place and what the Cut My Commute campaign is really all about. View the original "Cut My Commute" video. To hear the Councillors' radio interview visit Edmonton This Week's webpage.

The Way We Green Speakers Series: Food Cultures for Sustainability

HWheeliker — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:10:46 +0000

[caption id="attachment_3715" align="alignleft" width="219" caption="The Way We Green Speaker, Raj Patel"][/caption] Sometimes a new perspective is all it takes to provoke us to think and act differently. When I planted my garden last year, my goal wasn’t to grow enough food for year-round consumption. It was to make at least one delicious, nutritious meal from every seed type I planted. Perhaps not a lofty goal, but if you knew my gardening skills, you might think differently. And, after listening to a recent lunchtime speaker, perhaps my goal-setting wasn’t too far off the mark. Despite the frigid temperatures on January 30^th, Raj Patel received a warm welcome from Edmontonians on his visit from California. Patel addressed a crowd of over 100 at a lunchtime event at City Hall, part of The Way We Green Speakers Series. The City of Edmonton was able to bring Patel here because of a partnership with the University of Alberta’s Office of Sustainability and others. His presentation was titled, “Food Cultures for Sustainability.” I wasn’t too sure what that meant, but like most of us, food plays an important role in my life, not just for nourishment and health but also as part of social gatherings with family, friends and colleagues. Think about it, when someone shows up at a meeting with home-baked goods, excitement ensues. When the peas and carrots are ripe for harvest from my garden, I pick and freeze them – those that I don’t eat right away anyway – with sheer pleasure. Patel’s presentation was energetic as he told stories and relayed information in a passionate and knowledgeable manner. He commended Edmonton for its many farmers’ markets, including the ones that exist year-round, and even when the temperature makes us believe that the only type of vegetable available is frozen. He praised the City for developing fresh, Edmonton’s Food & Urban Agriculture Strategy. Patel spoke about Russia banning wheat exports in 2010 and the impacts that had on the world. He expressed dismay about the demise of the Canadian Wheat Board. He shared stories about a landlocked country in South Africa—Malawi—and its economic struggles and how it has regained some traction in its efforts to produce food. He talked about how the division of work between genders in their culture has created health issues for the very young. In an attempt to fulfill all those chores that a mom traditionally performs, combined with her duty to harvest crops, the health of infants is suffering. Men in their culture are now working together to adjust to their new roles, sharing recipes and learning to be comfortable with cooking pots. Through local efforts that rely on the expertise of thousands of farmers, they are growing shade trees in Malawi to improve production because, he said, photosynthesis stops at 104^oF. Who knew? I tucked away that piece of information as a need to know as we encounter hotter weather as part of global climate change. Patel spoke about how shifting the outcome can achieve better results. For example, instead of focusing solely on an outcome of increasing food yields, improving health might be a better goal. If we focus on improving health, then we look after the soil, we shield those who harvest the food from direct sun by working under shade trees, and we might establish community programs to share how food is harvested and prepared. Both genders and all ages can be involved in growing and enjoying food when improved health is our greater purpose. The outcome helps to change how we view and conduct our activities. Several times, Patel reminded us that pleasure and fun can incite change. Patel’s thoughts provoked us to think about our desire and demand for more choices, whether in a grocery store or in a restaurant. And if it’s offered, and only a couple of people buy it, then what happens to the rest of it that nobody wanted to eat? While we seem to have more choices than ever, there is some irony in that. Soft drink companies, for example, will take up prime shelf space and offer pretty much the same thing, but in different colours, or a slight change in ingredients, or levels of sugar or sodium, to make us think we have plenty of choices, while they actually control what we choose. It’s an interesting way to look at a grocery store shelf. Patel urged us to be organized in our efforts, and to rediscover the joy and pleasure of eating in season and in place. We need to make it part of our culture to adapt to our local conditions and ensure we eat nutritious, local food year-round. While the carrots in my deep freeze may not be in season, I grew them in my garden. And although my beets provided for just one meal, my amateur gardening skills don’t prevent me from trying to make local food part of my culture. Check our out next speaker in The Way We Green Speakers Series.

Creative Healing at the City Arts Centre

DOstrem — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 17:54:55 +0000

When you walk into Edmonton’s City Arts Centre there is no sense of self-importance or pretense among what appears to be an entrance filled with second-hand furniture and the smell of coffee coming from a stained pot. However, the talent and the skills realized within the paint and clay splattered walls can be remarkable. A person might even get the sense here that talent is less important than creativity. One does not have to be an accomplished artist to see and feel freely. And this sets the stage for a truly unique new program. The Progoff Intensive Journal Method is described as “inherently organic” and set in a meditative, mindful environment. The course is for everyone. Not just the artsy and certainly not just those looking for healing (yet, who isn’t?). Carol Ladas-Gaskin will facilitate the workshop at the City Arts Centre in Garneau this June. “Intent on reflective, non-critical self discovery, it is not a diary but a medium through which we understand our experience,” Gaskin explains. “And a valuable tool for gaining access to energy, creativity and a deeper than personal connection in one’s life.”

Participants in the workshop are gently guided through non-judgmental entries in provided notebooks. The books are divided into four main sections: Life-Time, Depth, Dialogue and Meaning. Gaskin says the sections provide scaffolding for 19 other subjects such as the Life History Log, Dream Log, Dialogue with Persons and Dialogue with Works. During each section and sub-section facilitators like Gaskin encourage participants to shed any notions of capturing a right or wrong answer, even the instinct to be logical. These are not autobiographical entries like in a diary. They are often images, feelings or ideas based on memories during what is called an “underground stream of recollection”. Many of the entries are meant to outline life events under very personal, often quite visceral, designations. The Oprah Winfrey “ah ha” moment happens when the realization of a pattern takes shape. “Each corresponds to one’s inner and outer life experiences, thereby, allowing for cross fertilization and a feedback system of self discovery and transformation,” says Gaskin. Dr. Ira Progoff developed and refined the Intensive Journal Method in the mid-1960s and 1970s. The method is a great case study for the school of humanistic psychology (Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow) embedded in the belief that human beings are designed to constantly develop and better themselves. One of the pillars of humanistic psychology is the idea that spirituality and self-actualization comes from within. And journaling is a vehicle to get inside. The Intensive Journal process helps students realize links to events or memories or feelings that may be hidden unconsciously. The images are like breadcrumbs leading us to some destination, or clues to the realization that what is going on beneath the surface has a connection to what is taking place out in the world. “When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside of you as fate,” wrote Progoff’s mentor Carl Jung. Progoff says “dreams reach back into the past and call out attention to those experiences that give us a clue with which to solve our present problems,” writes Robert Blair Kaiser in a 1981 Psychology Today article. My critique (and every journalistic writer should have one) would be around knowing for certain that these images, interpretations and meanings have any real grounding. If Freud says sometimes a cigar is just a cigar then maybe sometimes a mental image is just an image, which could be based on something as arbitrary as a poster hanging on the wall or a mood. Humanistic psychologists would disagree saying everything has a meaning and every person has a purpose. Plus, when it comes to giving something a shot for general wellness or stress relief, I would put more stock in this method, even though it’s a bit heady and intense. Humanistic psychology is a lovely way to think about what is at the root of being human, mainly because the school of thought is adamant that human beings are inherently good. Not only that, but constantly strive to be better. It is very much like the mindfulness movement, in which spirituality and a connectedness to the world comes from within. Whether you believe god put it there or not isn’t the point. The point is to first, trust it’s there, and then to reach deep and find it through a creative form that is unique to each individual. If you are interested in the Progoff Intensive Journal program you can sign up using the information below. This program is just one of many at the City Arts Centre with a focus on well-being and makes the Way We Live in Edmonton just a little more interesting. “Within each of us is an underground stream of images and recollections that is nothing more or less than our interior life,” according to Kaiser. I’d say good luck but Progoff would probably say luck has nothing to do with it. So, just have fun! Workshops take place at the City Arts Centre (10943 – 84 Avenue). Log on to eReg or call 311 and use course numbers to register.

Progoff Intensive Journal Workshop (Life Context – Level 1)
Course number: 488522 $250	Friday, June 21, 2013 2:30 – 9:30 pm Saturday, June 22, 2013 9 am – 4:30 pm
Progoff Intensive Journal Workshop (Depth Context – Level 2)
Course number: 488595 $250	Sunday, June 23, 2013 9 am – 4:30 pm Monday, June 24, 2013 9 am – 4:30 pm
Progoff Intensive Journal Workshop (Life Context & Depth Context Workshops)
Course number: 488599 $400	Friday through Monday June 21 – June 24, 2013

Spring Fever and Tulip Mania

GFroese — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 21:36:44 +0000

When you visit the new Muttart Conservatory Up, Up and Away feature pyramid, you may find yourself going a bit “mad” for the beautiful tulips throughout the lofty display. We’ve known tulips could fascinate people since 1841, when the book Extraordinary Madness and the Delusions of Crowds told the world about Tulip Mania. In this mid-1600s fad, people bought and sold rare tulip bulbs for hundreds of times the average person’s annual income. In a sense, many of today’s fads and even the idea of the economic “bubble” can be traced back to tulip mania… but how did tulip mania begin? Muttart Conservatory Grower Eric Gibson says tulip mania can be traced to Persia. “Trade brought tulip bulbs to Holland, where the soil and conditions were ideal, and that introduced tulips to people who had never seen them before.” Once tulips had taken root in the Netherlands, an accident of nature made the already beautiful flowers even more fascinating. The original tulips had petals of a single colour. Multi-coloured tulips first became available because of a virus. The “tulip-breaking virus” created colour streaking and speckling effects in some flowers. Grower James McIvor says, “There’s a huge variety in tulips, with over one hundred species.” Today, cultivation has changed. Most tulips that look broken are the result of breeding rather than the virus. What hasn’t changed is the technique of “forcing” the bulbs to grow and bloom.

“We create the conditions they would have in a milder climate,” James says. “At about 8^oCelcius, roots come out. Then we cool them down, as if they’re going from fall into winter. We take them to about 2^oCelcius, and we hold them there. Some varieties can be held longer than others, which is why you have some early varieties and some that bloom later in the year.” Eric, who chose the tulips for the Up, Up and Away feature pyramid, finds it hard to name a favourite among the blooms… but admits to a special fondness for the parrot tulip. “You’ll see a whole rainbow in one tulip, with feathered petals. I also like the scent of the hyacinths, which you’ll also find in the feature pyramid.” The Up, Up and Away pyramid will echo the uplifting feeling of spring with a hot air balloon display and the vivid colours of other spring flowers, such as azaleas. Visitors to the new feature pyramid should know that they may leave with tulip mania, and they’re certain to catch spring fever.

Transforming Edmonton's Blogger in Residence

smckeen — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:56:53 +0000

I once wrote a newspaper column in which I replaced every mention of the word infrastructure with the phrase naughty bits.

In retrospect, it was a bit indelicate of me. In my defense, I was merely attempting to draw greater attention to the ‘dreary’ realm of civic government.

Dreary? In my experience, that’s the popular belief about City Hall and its relatively mundane machinations.

Me? I quite enjoy the thrust-and-parry of a good infrastructure discussion. I thrill to the intricacies of a general tax reassessment.

Don’t even get me started on rezoning. OMG, I love a good rezoning.

I spent 15 years — roughly half — of my journalism career reporting and commenting on civic government. Such things burrow their way into you over time. Like a tick in your ear.

So yes, I’m feverish about this opportunity to again write about civic government. Mind you, this time I’ll be doing it on behalf of civic government.

My title: Blogger in Residence.

Sadly, Poet Laureate was already taken. As was Mayor, City Manager and apparently any job handling cash, machinery or fragile civic assets. Sigh.

Oh, I know what you’re thinking. You think I gave up my journalistic integrity and sold my talents to big, bad government.

Really? You think I’m talented? Gosh, that’s so nice.

So why did I take this position, knowing full well I’d get the furry eyeball for it? Let me count the ways:

I get to live at City Hall.
Check that. The “in residence” thing doesn’t mean what I thought it did.
I get an office, parking spot and free access to all civic facilities and events.
Really? None of that, either?

So why did I take this job? In all honesty, because it’s a privilege. I love my hometown.

And I truly believe civic government fills a crucial and under-appreciated role in the quality of our lives.

Unfortunately, citizens get a skewed view of City Hall from the news. News, by its very nature, narrowly focuses on tension and novelty.

For example: Edmontonians safely walk across streets millions of times each day. It’s only news when they don’t make it safely.

Not because reporters are bloodsucking sadists. Not at all. It’s because a pedestrian mishap is relatively rare — and because we as people care about other people.

Now, take City Hall. It’s vast network of services and facilities run pretty efficiently for the most part. Buses arrive. Streets are plowed. Facilities open on time.

Then a major snowstorm hits, or a pothole epidemic breaks out, and we’re all cursing the bungling bureaucrats.

When I wrote my civic affairs column for The Edmonton Journal I almost never used the term bureaucrat. The term is loaded — a sneering slur of people who I witnessed working with commitment and care for the city.

That sounds like I’m sucking up. So be it. My experience tells me that Edmonton’s civic politicians, managers and frontline staff work hard to serve this community. No, not all of them. Not all of the time. Certainly not at levels of perfection.

They are just folks, like us, after all. As we all know, there are malingerers and incompetents in the private sector, too.

As Blogger in Residence, I’m not here to tell you that up is down, or mediocre is fantastic. The job, as I see it, is to shed light on things rarely seen. To explain how this humongous corporation works on the inside.

To explaining the intricacies of tax reassessments, or the infrastructure debt, in ways we can all understand and appreciate.

And I promise. No naughty bits.

Living in an Environmentally Friendly Way

kyeung — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:14:48 +0000

[caption id="attachment_3770" align="alignleft" width="203" caption="Photo of Adria Vasil | Credit: Dustin Rabin"][/caption] My mission, should I choose to accept it, was to find a brown banana. What a strange way for me to start this installment of The Way We Green Speakers Series. In partnership with the University of Alberta’s Office of Sustainability, the City’s Office of Environment hosted Adria Vasil, author of the Ecoholic book series and blog, at our Speakers Series in early March. A self-described green version of Dear Abby, Adria started her talk with telling us how she grew up, not with granola, “hippy-dippy” parents, but in a pretty regular home. It wasn’t until the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 that she had an “environmental awakening”. And she started to take a closer look at the products she used. She points out that this movement towards greener products is coming from consumers, as they stand in the shower, for example, examining the ingredients list of their shampoo and wondering, “Do I really needed all these unpronounceable things?” In other words, change starts at OUR level. But there’s a growing concern of greenwashing as companies proclaim their products as environmentally friendly and all natural. In reality, many companies are just changing names of ingredients or replacing them with other potentially toxic things (some of which are under consideration for being banned in Canada). These greenwashed brands are making the legitimate brands look bad. So don’t believe the hype – take the time to look for specifics on the ingredient list, and look for what ingredients to avoid. (Ecoholic has a list called “Mean 15”.) And look for third-party certification. Something interesting that Adria noted was that up to 350 trace chemicals can be found in a newborn baby! That’s a lot of chemicals for a baby to start its life with. In fact, we’re told what “normal levels” of various chemicals we have in our body, but when did we decide that these chemicals are “normal”? So now that we’re already loaded with chemicals, what can we do? We control the things that we can – what we buy and use, every day. It’s best to go directly to natural whenever possible. And this is where my search for a brown banana comes in. An overripe banana is great for baking, but with its great moisturizing properties, it can also be used for facials and dry skin. Using produce as body care products minimizes/eliminates food waste. Of course, you should reduce the amount purchased rather than let things go rotten. But if the produce is about to go bad, then it’s better to find another use for it than to throw it away. For products that we do purchase, we need to speak up or nothing will change. Start by changing your corner of the world, sharing what you learn with loved ones and purchasing true green products for your family. Personally, although I’ve often thought about what I put INTO my body (trying to eat healthy), I’ve never thought much about what I put ONTO my body. But both are as close and personal as pollution can get. Increased awareness of my personal care products? Mission accomplished!

City Readies for Walterdale Bridge Construction: Part 1, Pre-construction Activities

KFitzGibbon — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 20:34:58 +0000

After years of archaeological study, public involvement, planning and design, the Walterdale Bridge replacement project takes an exciting step forward with construction beginning this spring. Leading up to construction kick-off, the City will share details of construction, its impacts and what they mean to Edmontonians.

***

Anyone who has crossed the bridge or walked the river valley trails will have noticed a number of recent changes both along and in the North Saskatchewan River. In late 2012 the shared-use trails surrounding the current Walterdale Bridge were closed and jogging loop detours created. Trail detours will remain in place until construction is completed on the new bridge. In early January, crews began clearing trees from both the north and south banks to allow for access roads down to the river. These access roads have been built on previously disturbed soil. Even so, the project team will continue to take precautionary measures to ensure the area is treated respectfully in keeping with the area’s historic and cultural significance. An archaeologist and a rotation of Aboriginal monitors will be on site for pertinent excavation and in-river construction activities. Once access roads were completed in early February, the project team went to work creating in-river berms that will facilitate construction of the new bridge. The berms and access roads will be in place until the new bridge is completed. Tree removal has also extended on the south bank to accommodate the final road alignment. This will match Queen Elizabeth Park Road and Walterdale Hill Road with the new bridge. When the new bridge opens to traffic in fall 2015, both river banks will be landscaped and new trees planted. Construction on the new bridge and roadway connections will kick off in spring 2013. For more on the Walterdale Bridge project, go to www.edmonton.ca/WalterdaleBridge.

The Friendly Artist

DOstrem — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 21:58:06 +0000

We live in a city that is made up of a myriad of subcultures and communities. No one can call Edmonton just an oil city or hub for cowboy culture any longer. We have lively ethnic cultures from every corner of the globe. Fervent sports enthusiasts’ obsessions reach far beyond just hockey and the professional and urbane tastes of residents are easily recognizable. It’s not surprising that our community of artists has many different and intricate slices of personality and flavours within its own ethos.

Miranda Scott moved to Edmonton from Kingston, Ont. only three short months ago. Her experience as a newcomer to the city’s artistic community has so far been good. She recognizes here the similar natures of artistic circles that exist everywhere. But something she did not expect is such immediate support from Edmonton’s City Arts Centre. Miranda has been making jewelry for six years and will be teaching the Wedding Band Workshop for the centre at the end of April.

“Larissa has been very helpful,” Miranda says of the centre’s program manager Larissa Stetzenko. “I sort of expected to have to do a lot of promotion and have to really reach out and find people, but she has been really great with all that. They just jumped on the idea.”

The City Arts Centre is a facility dedicated to residents of Edmonton. It offers programs at the centre in Garneau and a variety of recreation centres throughout the city. It works a certain angle of the city’s The Way We Live strategy very well; “bringing people together to create a civil, socially sustainable and caring society where people have opportunities to thrive and realize their potential in a safe, attractive city.”

The Wedding Band Workshop is relatively new to Western Canada, says Miranda. A lot of other major cities have gotten on board with the idea of couples building wedding bands for each other. By bringing new programs such as this to Edmonton the city aspires to reach its goals of being a nurturing and supportive government.

And as a newcomer to Edmonton breaking into the arts and culture scene is important for someone like Miranda. She is a craftsperson more than what is considered a ‘pure’ artist, or creator of emotionally relevant visceral forms, that usually have no practical meaning. People need to know they can make use of her services. Miranda owns and operates House on Hudson, a one-person company that makes hand-crafted raw and organic fine jewelry for sale.

The notion of esoteric subcultures within any given arts community is not lost on Miranda. One of the things she finds so welcoming about Edmonton is the warm response she received from the City Arts Centre.

"Sometimes the two different communities tend to naturally separate themselves,” she says. “I don’t know that people consider craft to be an art form, but, people in crafts definitely think so.”

“I’ve only been here three months so it’s still hard to say but people have been very welcoming so far and the (initial support) is more than I could have expected.”

A warm experience for new artists in Edmonton is encouraging for the city. The Way We Live strategic plan strives to “promote Edmontonas an arts and cultural center and encourage recreational, cultural, artistic and entertainment opportunities for all residents,” as outlined in the Art of Living Implementation Plan.

Miranda moved to Edmonton with her boyfriend, an electrical apprentice seeking work, and neither of them knew a soul in the City before moving. She has already enjoyed publicity via the City Arts Centre on Shaw Cable’s Go! Edmonton and has been shown around the City by fellow metal smith and arts centre instructor Meghan Wagg.

“I’ve always been curious about teaching in a more formal setting, especially when you do a lot of custom jewelry, this is part of how you grow as an artist,” Miranda says, adding “from what I have seen of the people I met I am looking forward to the time I will spend here.”

City Readies for Walterdale Bridge Construction: Part 2, Construction Impacts

KFitzGibbon — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:25:38 +0000

***

To accommodate over 32,000 vehicles that travel daily across the Walterdale Bridge into downtown, the current bridge will remain open to traffic during construction. However, construction will necessitate closing either Queen Elizabeth Park Road or Walterdale Hill Road for periods of construction. One or the other will be open at all times and both roads will be open during the winter. During final construction of connections to the new bridge, some short full closures may be required. The public will be notified of road closures well in advance. Access to the Kinsmen Recreation Centre facilities and the John Walter Museum will be maintained. Pedestrian access will also be maintained on the west sidewalk of the existing Walterdale Bridge. Tentative road closures:

Spring-fall 2013: Queen Elizabeth Park Road
Spring-fall 2014: Walterdale Hill Road

For transit users, ETS routes 9 and 52 will be intermittently affected. Route 197 bus stops will be unaffected.

June-fall 2013: Bus stop 2162 serving Route 52 will be closed due to the closure of Queen Elizabeth Park Road. Patrons can use Route 9 at Bus Stop 2290 on Walterdale Hill at Queen Elizabeth Park Road.
Spring-fall 2014: Bus stop 2290 serving route 9 on Walterdale Hill at Queen Elizabeth Park Road will be temporarily relocated.

Full closure, detour and access information is available online. Transit information can be found at www.takeETS.com. For more on the Walterdale Bridge project, go to www.edmonton.ca/WalterdaleBridge.

Part 1: Pre-construction Activities
Part 2: Construction Impacts
Part 3: Out with the Old
Part 4: In with the New

City Readies for Walterdale Bridge Construction: Part 3, Out with the Old

KFitzGibbon — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 21:01:23 +0000

***

The century-old Walterdale Bridge, having reached the end of its service life, will be taken down after the replacement bridge goes into operation in late 2015. While this turns a page in Edmonton’s history, the project team plans to embrace the past by salvaging portions of the old bridge for landscaping or art on the new bridge. City Council considered preserving all or part of the current Walterdale Bridge for pedestrian and cyclist use in 2011. Because the bridge has reached the end of its service life, it would have required extensive rehabilitation to make it a safe, functional pedestrian/cyclist bridge. In two reports to the Transportation Committee of Council—on July 12 and November 15, 2011—administration outlined the required fixes, including upgrades to the bridge deck, pier and trusses, and new railings to meet safety standards. Council chose to follow the recommendation that the old bridge be removed after the opening of the new Walterdale Bridge. After a review by heritage planners from Sustainable Development and staff from Alberta Historic Resources Management, the Walterdale Bridge was removed from Edmonton’s Registry of Historic Resources. It is a standard through-truss bridge of its era, similar to both the High Level and Low Level bridges. These two steel truss bridges remain on the Registry of Historic Resources. For more on the Walterdale Bridge project, go to www.edmonton.ca/WalterdaleBridge.

Part 1: Pre-construction Activities
Part 2: Construction Impacts
Part 3: Out with the Old
Part 4: In with the New

City Readies for Walterdale Bridge Construction: Part 4, In with the New

KFitzGibbon — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:50:34 +0000

***

Over the next several years Edmontonians will face some traffic disruptions, road closures and delays as Walterdale Bridge construction takes place. But when the new bridge opens the short term pain will be worth the long term gain, opening an exciting new chapter in the City’s history and adding a beautiful new addition to our unique river valley. The new Walterdale Bridge will have a number of improvements over the old bridge. It will have better access to existing area trails, including wide sidewalks on either side of the bridge to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists, and provide a seating area and outlook for pedestrians crossing the bridge. The new bridge will also allow for a continuous trail along the north river bank beneath the bridge, something the current bridge cannot accommodate. This trail will align with the future West Rossdale Urban Design Plan and repurposed EPCOR generating station, an area with planned upgrades such as shared-use pathways, a gathering space, and a “touch the water” promenade. Drivers will appreciate the wider three-lane river crossing, as well as enjoy a smooth riding surface that replaces the metal grating of the old Walterdale Bridge. The new Walterdale Bridge will be an elegant structure, with a modern yet timeless feel. Its steel arch design and related artworks will complement and enhance the area’s natural beauty. And in times of celebration, the bridge will have the ability to become a focal point, lighting up the river valley with beautiful kinetic lighting displays. Take a ride across the future bridge and watch a kinetic light show on the final design video. For more on the Walterdale Bridge project, go to www.edmonton.ca/WalterdaleBridge.

Part 1: Pre-construction Activities
Part 2: Construction Impacts
Part 3: Out with the Old
Part 4: In with the New

Solar Energy: An Option for Cold Climates?

HWheeliker — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 22:14:13 +0000

Have you ever wondered whether solar panels are a wise choice for Edmonton’s climate? It can get cold and snowy here; you need only your short-term memory to know that! On February 27, Dr. James Sandercock, Chair of NAIT’s Alternative Energy Technology, presented to a large group of interested citizens at City Hall. He spoke about the long-term outlook for energy sources and requirements; by 2033 there will be a predicted gap of about 12,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity. Could this gap be filled using alternative energy sources and, specifically, solar energy? When we think about installing solar photovoltaics (PV), often we think it’s simply too expensive an option but the price of panels has dropped about 50% in just the last three years. If this trend continues, the cost of electricity generated by solar PV will be the same as that generated by natural gas. In Hawaii and southern Italy, the cost is already equal or, as Jim said, “has reached parity.” NAIT’s alternative energy program is leading edge, providing students with hands-on learning, including determining the optimal tilt or angle for a solar array. The City of Edmonton partnered with NAIT in 2012 to install this array. Jim said that generally speaking, the latitude of a city is a good way to determine the best angle for panel placement. In Edmonton, that’s about 53^o (we are at 53^o latitude). And panels perform best when pointing due south. Which makes me stop and think about new home construction, and whether it is necessary for homes to be oriented so the front door faces the street, or should they be oriented to take advantage of natural heat and light, with roofs angled for optimal placement of solar PV panels? It would be nice to see more neighbourhood designers challenge themselves to consider long-term sustainability when they are at the drawing board. A question was asked about whether an array could produce enough energy to power a home. The answer was, “it depends.” It depends on how much energy you use. Which is why making our homes energy efficient and installing efficient appliances and forming habits like turning off lights, should be practiced before investing in panels. But once we live efficiently, and ensure our homes are reaching an EnerGuide rating of above 80, then solar panels might be an excellent choice – which brings home builders into the conversation. We know they are able to build energy efficient homes, and some are doing that. But as Stephen Mouzon asked (The Way We Green Speakers Series April 17, 2012), why are we building homes to the same standard as California when we have such a cold climate? If you are in the market to build a new home, an energy efficient one will reduce your winter heating bills and summer cooling bills, and improve your home’s overall comfort. Getting back to whether or not solar panels are suitable for our very cold climate, think about this: have you ever gone outside on a cold winter’s day, only to find you need sunglasses because it is so incredibly bright out? For a more complete answer about whether or not we should consider solar energy in Edmonton , visit The Way We Green Speaker’s Series videos to view Jim’s 40 minute presentation. You’ll learn lots!

The fast and furious on Edmonton streets

smckeen — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 19:14:50 +0000

That Edmonton drivers suck is a common belief held by people who visit our fair city.

Oh, the complaints I've heard. We’re rude. We speed. We signal whimsically. We hog lanes, run reds and park like Roombas. Question: Can it be true? Better question: Can we handle the truth? Please consider a five-day survey of traffic on 23 Avenue done in late 2012, in which the speed of 62,890 passing vehicles was captured by a sophisticated sensor. Here are the findings:

Only 40 per cent of the vehicles were NOT speeding.
About 11 per cent were clocked at 75 - 90 km/h!!
And a total of 69 drivers nitwitted past the sensor at speeds in excess of 110 km/h!!!

Note: Nitwitted is a verb if you go 110 km/h or more in the city, you nitwit. The monitoring was done by the City of Edmonton’s Office of Traffic Safety, an unheralded, yet crucial component of the civil service. The office, created in 2006, is believed to be unique in the world, as traffic safety is usually handled at the federal or provincial/state level. The office’s strategic efforts are already paying off. Since its inception there has been a steady decrease in collisions, injuries, fatalities and property damage. Soon after it was formed, the office worked with other units of the Transportation Services Department to review intersections with high collision rates. Such as those curving right-turn lanes which require an Exorcist-like head roll to the back left, whilst rotating your right eye forward to be on the lookout for pedestrians or braking cars ahead. Absent chameleon eyeballs, it’s a challenge. One of these sweeping curves, a Yellowhead Trail off ramp, recorded 150 collisions in five years. At the behest of the Office of Traffic Safety, it was rebuilt in 2009 into a workmanlike, 90-degree right turn. Since then, there have been no collisions. Gerry Shimko, executive director of the Office of Traffic Safety, says the money spent on the off ramp has paid for itself many times over. One study on societal costs from traffic collisions pegged the annual burden to the Edmonton region at $1 billion. I’m skeptical of such claims. But only because dollar amounts can’t capture the emotional scars of traffic injuries and fatalities. But Shimko, who was a cop for 28 years, knows what it’s like when a mother or father, son or daughter, doesn't make it home safely to their loved ones. He and his staff of 27 — 13 of them analysts — are motivated by the knowledge that even a seemingly minor collision can be tragic to an Edmonton family. “We want to create a traffic safety culture,” says Shimko. “The culture in Edmonton? It leans towards a speeding culture.” Research shows that lowering speed by an average one km/h will reduce the rate of collisions by three per cent. Yet in Edmonton, during two recent and heavy snow storms, police handed out 225 speeding tickets. On another day, a woman was clocked at 83 km/h in a school zone — while talking on her cell phone. Unfortunately, such cases are not as unusual as we’d think, says Shimko. So is this negative view of Edmonton drivers true? If so, how did we get this way? Is it somehow part of our self image? The relative youth of our population? The strength of our economy? Likely, we’ll never know. But here’s one thing we can say for certain. To drive well, we must drive consciously. Conscious of the role we play in the safety of self and others. Given the results of the traffic survey mentioned above, I’d suggest being particularly conscious along 23 Avenue. The Office of Traffic Safety happily shares its survey data with the Edmonton Police Service. There will be enforcement. If you get caught, well, that sucks for you. The Office of Traffic Safety is hosting Edmonton's 5th Annual International Conference on URBAN Traffic Safety, April 29. The public is invited to the Run Walk Ride 4 Traffic Safety on Saturday, April 27. You can find the details at www.edmonton.ca//mtsfund

Don’t Drop the Ball: Be Prepared for an Emergency

tsimonsmeier — Mon, 06 May 2013 14:14:18 +0000

Are you prepared for an emergency? Do you know the risks? Have an emergency kit? Have a family emergency plan? An emergency can strike at any time and without warning. An emergency can be human-caused or natural. In the past year alone, Edmonton has experienced flooding, storms, and major fires that have forced residents out of their homes. National Emergency Preparedness Week is May 5 – 11, 2013. The City of Edmonton want to remind Edmontonians the importance of Emergency Preparedness and the role everyone plays in the event of an emergency. You and your family should able to survive for at least 72 hours without power, water and heat. The City of Edmonton’s Office of Emergency Management recommends putting together an emergency preparedness kit that includes:

Water (2 litres per person per day)
Non-perishable food
Flashlight
Blankets
Battery Operated Radio

Your emergency kit should be organized, easy to find, and easy to carry in case you need to evacuate your home. In partnership with ATCO Gas, the Office of Emergency Management has produced an Emergency Management Guide. The guide contains important information including key phone numbers, emergency preparedness tips, and a place to keep important family/emergency contact information. Emergency Guides are available at City of Edmonton fire stations, police stations, recreation centres, public libraries, and City Hall. You can also download a copy of the guide. The guide comes in eight different languages and is used in 22 different communities across Alberta. Attend Get Ready in the Park May 11 Learn how you can prepare for a major emergency and find out how the City of Edmonton and partner agencies work together in the event of a crisis at our sixth annual Get Ready in the Park event. More than 25 exhibitors from municipal, provincial, federal, corporate and non-profit organization will be on hand to give you all the tools and information you need to be prepared in the event of an emergency. Sit in a helicopter, tour a fire truck, watch the search and rescue dogs in action and tour the various displays geared towards the whole family. Although it is not always possible to avoid emergencies, we can be prepared. Why not take the time get ready during Emergency Preparedness Week?

Designing Streets and New Neighbourhoods

KAnderson — Thu, 09 May 2013 22:15:09 +0000

By: Kalen Anderson, Senior Planner, Urban Planning and Environment & Stephanie McCabe, General Supervisor, Transportation Planning

This last year has been an exciting and productive one for the Designing New Neighbourhoods and Complete Streets projects! In May 2012, Edmontonians joined the conversation about what they’d like to see their brand new suburban neighbourhoods and streets across the entire city deliver for them and their fellow residents. Widespread idea generation resulted in feedback on the building blocks of great new neighbourhoods and streets. Dialogue and contributions from the public and stakeholders over the course of the rest of the year led to the development of two draft guidelines documents. In January and February 2013 Edmontonians provided their feedback on these draft guidelines documents and refinements were made as a result. Thanks to this input, both projects will now move forward to Executive Committee on May 13, 2013. Members of the public are invited to register to speak and share their views at the May 13^th Executive Committee meeting and the Committee report and guidelines are now available on-line. These two projects both call for a change in design philosophy. They each focus on the effective integration of transportation and land use, the importance of making great places for people and mobility options for Edmontonians. They stress the importance of undertaking context sensitive design (one-size-does-not-fit-all), and the need to work together to implement innovative approaches and try new things over time to continually raise the bar for our community. These projects are also key implementation initiatives of The Way We Grow (Edmonton’s Municipal Development Plan) and The Way We Move (Edmonton’s Transportation Master Plan). Thank-you so much to everyone who has participated in this project to date! We've appreciated hearing from you and value your contributions.

Asphalt Science and the Holey Roads

smckeen — Tue, 07 May 2013 02:23:45 +0000

We heart Edmonton. We hate potholes. We hate the molar-loosening, coffee spilling, compound-curse- word-inspiring experience of driving — ba-BAM! — over an unseen Edmonton pothole. Potholes mar our collective psyche as much as our public roads. But I was curious: Is Edmonton really the centre of the pothole universe? Well, the City of Edmonton is the only municipality in Canada to fund serious asphalt science. Asphalt alchemy and research is practiced each day at the City’s materials testing lab, under the supervision of engineer Hugh Donovan.

Donovan and his team use high-tech equipment to manipulate — shake, bake, drench, freeze, thaw, vibrate, stretch, twist — and beat the bejeebers out of various asphalt recipes to evaluate the best mix of oil, sand-and-gravel aggregate and filler. And they endure our carping and complaining. Donovan suggests, however, that this isn't some localized plague. Potholes, in fact, are a global pandemic. Sure enough, a bit of Google research reveals that one in three drivers in England claims vehicle damage from potholes. Brisbane Australia is swimming in hard rains and potholes. Even the paved paradise of Honolulu is grumpy about potholes. So Edmonton’s chronic road pox isn't unique, though we live in a climate seemingly designed to grow bumper pothole crops. On average, Edmonton experiences 122 freeze-thaw cycles per year. Water seeps into cracks during the thaw. The sub-surface water then freezes and expands, creating a kind-of road zit. Then it thaws again and along come vehicles to pop those zits. Or at least, that’s one way to describe it. But you get the point — freeze-thaw cycles are to asphalt what tortilla chips and banana splits are to your skin. So far this year, Edmonton has already recorded 125 freeze- thaw cycles. And there’s a lot of fall and winter left in the calendar year. Those numbers inspire Donovan to work even harder. The science suggests climate change will only bring more extreme weather and more freeze-thaw cycles to our roads. Donovan is a welcoming, congenial and obsessed with his work. He’s an asphalt nerd, so to speak. He’ll happily talk your ear off about oil viscosity and aggregate shape, sizes and varieties. But it’s a complex art, getting asphalt right. The variables are numerous: soil type; oil viscosity; aggregate size; ratio of fill or recycled asphalt; construction and compaction techniques. Not to mention, the weather and season in which the asphalt was applied, the type of sealer… It just goes on and on. Donovan says innovations in testing methods are improving asphalt mixes and construction techniques all the time. The team has high-tech testing in the labs, but also a number of test pads on roads throughout the city to test the durability of materials and paving techniques through our full year of vehicle and weather impact. Nonetheless, Donovan isn't predicting a pothole-free world anytime soon. “We don’t want our roads to not perform,” says Donovan. “I personally wish I could fix it all in one day. But even if I had a magic elixir, I couldn't do it all in one day.” Still, Donovan and the City transportation department are dancing as fast as they can to stop the pothole plague. They filled 453,600 potholes in 2012 and did as much road maintenance and replacement as their budget allowed. This year, they've already topped 263,000 pothole repairs. But all this work is like the proverbial thumb in the dike. Much of Edmonton’s vast road system isn't in great shape. Asphalt left too long without proper rehabilitation will heave, crack and erupt in road acne. In the early 1990s, the city councils of the day passed several budgets with no tax increase. Infrastructure maintenance was cut to the bone. No problem back then. But we’re now paying for the sins of those city fathers. Our roads suffer from neglect. City Council recently bumped up the arterial road rehabilitation budget another $9 million per year, and they are considering options for establishing long-term sustainable funding for arterial roadways. That is a lot of money. And City Council must weigh those demands against myriad other civic challenges and aspirations. At the same time, paying for “softer” programs such as for arts and recreation opportunities are crucial to attract and keep families and businesses in Edmonton, who will pay taxes… so we can keep maintaining our roads. Cities function best when citizens are engaged with City Hall. When they talk to their city councillor, read news stories and better understand the true cost and benefits of civic services, facilities and infrastructure. Not to mention, the true costs of cutting budgets. Saving a few dollars on your tax bill today might cost you serious money down the road. Civic budgets are complex, challenging and frustrating. At best, they are a subtle and nuanced balancing act. Then along comes a pothole.

Mural dedicated to celebrate transformation on 82nd Street

AStratford — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:40:28 +0000

The neighbourhood of Eastwood came together on Thursday, May 9, 2013 to celebrate the revitalization of a stretch of apartment buildings along 82nd Street. A mural created by a local artist and residents was dedicated to the community and placed on the west wall of the Mac’s Convenience Store on 120th Avenue and 82nd Street. In 2009, the 118th Avenue Neighbourhood Empowerment Team (N.E.T.) began work around four low rise apartment buildings on 82nd Street in an effort to reduce police calls for service. Crime in and around the buildings, along with on-going tenant safety concerns, prompted the N.E.T. team to work with tenants, landlords and other community partners to renew the area. In one building, Rutherford House, a single-day transformation took place—painting, carpentry, installation of blinds, and some outdoor gardening. Two winters in a row have seen a “Miracle on 82nd Street” when the back alleyway became a festive community gathering place with holiday lights. From building renovations to creative approaches such as the “Eyes on the Alley” project (reducing illegal dumping); these activities have brought people who live in the buildings closer to feeling safe where they live. Although N.E.T. has been involved in facilitating many of the above activities, tenants are now motivated and skilled at helping to keep their buildings safer. “The building feels like a safer place. Safety has changed because we are a more connected community and work with one another to make it safe,” said Irene Peterson, tenant organizer at Rutherford House.

Leading the way with innovative design for streets and new neighbourhoods

KAnderson — Tue, 28 May 2013 15:52:51 +0000

Written by: Kalen Anderson, Senior Planner, Urban Planning and Environment & Stephanie McCabe, General Supervisor, Transportation Planning As our city continues to grow, change and become increasingly diverse, our planning and design strategies need to become more responsive and adaptive. This is evident as Edmonton is continuing to lead the way with two new policies governing how we design new neighbourhoods and streets around the city in the future. At the foundation of these two policies is a collective willingness to embrace innovation and try new things, a tolerance for taking reasonable risks, and a commitment to working together creatively. One policy is about building great new suburban neighbourhoods; the places where we and our friends, neighbours, co-workers, loved ones and fellow citizens make our homes, communities and build our lives together. The other policy is about building great streets – both brand new ones as well as rehabilitating older ones – that not only help us move around efficiently, but also enhance the quality of the journey along the way and become special places in their own right. On May 22, 2013 Edmonton City Council approved the Designing New Neighbourhoods policy (C572) and the Complete Streets policy (C573). These two policies both clearly state that we know what we want our streets and new neighbourhoods to deliver at the end of the day, while acknowledging that there are many different ways to get there. We will be charting these routes dynamically together as creative design solutions are explored over time. In new neighbourhoods, Edmontonians can expect to see diverse, integrated and well-connected suburban communities that provide access to amenities, nature, recreational opportunities and many other key features. No two neighbourhoods will be the same, but all will achieve the 12 outcomes established in the Designing New Neighbourhoods Policy. As we build new streets and rehabilitate our older ones, Edmontonians can expect to see roadways that function both as places and as links. We’ll see streets that respond to and enhance their surrounding environment, and that are designed to enable a variety of travel options. All streets will not be the same. They will be designed to work best for the users of the roadway year-round and respond to the needs of the immediate area and larger transportation system. This vision is established in the six principles of the Complete Streets Policy. Ideas for how to implement these policies are provided in the Complete Streets Guidelines and in the Guidelines for Edmonton’s Future Residential Communities. Thanks again to the many Edmontonians who participated in developing these two projects over the past year. Please stay tuned for updates on how the implementation process for the Designing New Neighbourhoods project is going as well as for how the Complete Streets pilot projects and implementation phases are developing over the coming months and years. With this new policy direction, city-builders, citizens, and political leaders will continue to work together to help raise the bar for our city - a city that is young, vibrant and growing. Being a community of choice for existing residents as well as newcomers is critical to Edmonton’s long term competitiveness. Fostering great neighbourhoods to live, work and play in that are seamlessly integrated with, and enabled by, terrific street design, will help Edmonton create the spaces and places where people want to be.

Second Home$avers Eco Sale a Door Crashing Success!

HWheeliker — Wed, 29 May 2013 21:05:22 +0000

If you were driving by either the south or north end RONA stores very early on the morning of Saturday, May 25, you would have wondered what was happening. People were lined up outside both stores from the front doors to the end of the buildings and into the parking lots. Were the Rolling Stones playing an impromptu concert in the lumber aisle? Was “The Biebs” shopping for a furnace filter? No, it was something even better than that: The Home$aver Eco sale! On Saturday, May 25, the City of Edmonton partnered with RONA and EPCOR to host our second Home$avers Event. The first, in November 2011 was held at five RONA locations across the City. While interest was steady, it wasn't the “door crasher” we had anticipated. So in planning for the 2013 event, the partners decided to further test Edmontonian’s readiness for energy efficient products by offering a range of individual products, in fewer quantities, at just two locations, north and south RONA. I arrived at RONA South for my volunteer shift just shortly before 6 am. As I walked toward the entrance door, I couldn't believe how many people were waiting outside and I wondered if the line-up would even let me in. Fortunately EPCOR anticipated this line-up, based on last year’s rain barrel sale, so they handed customers a paper stub that would guarantee them a rain barrel, allowing time to do some shopping inside. Within minutes of the doors opening, composters, push/reel mowers, showerheads and more products were being loaded into baskets and carts. By 7:00 am, the line-up for the cash registers wound its way toward the garden centre, and back toward lighting and from there, who knows where? Citizens showed enthusiasm and patience as they lined up again to make their purchases. Those of us on the early shift, who expected the sale to end around 1 p.m., began calling our replacement volunteers at 7:45 telling them not to bother coming in: everything was gone! Those who were too late for energy efficient products still took time to talk to the many displayers inside the store: EPCOR water; Landmark Group; C-Returns; the City’s Master Composter and Recycling Program volunteers; and the City of Edmonton. The message from each displayer was essentially the same: conserve water and energy; build and renovate for efficiency; reduce waste and dispose of materials in an environmentally-sensitive manner. City representatives spoke to hundreds of citizens about what they can do to reduce their energy use, and provided lots of ideas for where they can turn to learn more. Needless to say the event was a huge success and I have a feeling that we might be organizing something similar for 2014…better start lining up now.

Supporting the Sacred in Civil Service

smckeen — Fri, 31 May 2013 17:53:00 +0000

[caption id="attachment_3944" align="aligncenter" width="439" caption="City Chaplain John Dowds, left, discusses the annual Wellness Fair he organizes in City Hall with Councillor Amarjeet Sohi."][/caption] Strictly speaking, neither gods nor prophets inhabit the civic infrastructure. The City of Edmonton is a secular institution. Civic services, statutes and levies apply equally and without prejudice to Edmontonians of any and all religions, or no religion. Which is why John Dowds’ role is a curiosity. Dowds, a former Presbyterian minister, is the City Chaplain. His ‘flock’ is the 10,000-strong civil service and he tends it with uncommon grace and humility. “No proselytizing,” he says with a laugh. Dowds grew up in Belfast, Ireland and arrived in Canada with his family at age 16. As a self-described introvert, he longed to fit in. So with diligence and practice he polished the brogue and the lilt off his speech. The soft-spoken Dowds says that as a lad he wanted to be a lawyer. Then came what he can only describe as a ‘shift’. “It wasn't dramatic,” he says. “For me, it was more of an evolution.” In Ireland, during the troubles, the church for him and his family was always more than a place of worship, he says. It was social centre, recreation centre and safe haven. As a young man, an old feeling reasserted itself — church, as heart and soul of community — along with a desire to work with and help people. So, he gave up the bar for the pulpit and in the early 1980s became a Presbyterian minister. “I loved the work,” he said. “I loved working on worship services, teaching and being with people — offering spiritual care.” His ministry eventually brought him to Edmonton where in 2003, he suffered a measure of spiritual burnout. He felt drained and knew it was time to take on another calling. He applied for a few different secular jobs, but wasn't chosen. Doubts arose. Anyone who has left a long-time career understands the feeling of being unmoored, adrift and worrying: Who am I now? Then he saw an ad in the paper. The City of Edmonton was looking for a chaplain. He applied, was interviewed and hired. He’s been in the role seven years now. His neat and cozy office on the main floor of City Hall is devoid of religious signs or symbols. The art on the walls, including a quote from Einstein, are steeped in spiritual meaning, however. It is a fine and graceful line Dowds must walk. Some will argue Christianity is Canada’s founding religion — that he should rightly be preaching the bible as City Chaplain. But, as Dowds says,Canada’s First Nations might quibble. Aboriginal spirituality was worshipped on this land before Christianity. Meanwhile, Jewish people are part of Edmonton’s early history. Muslims and Hindus and Buddhists — and those of myriad other religions — weren't far behind. To honour one faith is to risk alienating another. So Dowds is careful not to favour one or debate another. Followers of any and all faiths — as well as agnostics and atheists — are warmly welcomed into his humble office. “For me, Jesus is the way — the way I choose to practice my faith,” says Dowds. “But to me it’s not right or wrong. It’s just different than others.” He says those views are heretical to some of his Christian friends. “But I don’t apologize for it,” he says. “We don’t have a corner on the truth.” In times of crisis, all people need support, he says. In some cases, that support is in a religious context. In others, the context is spiritual. Mostly, his role is about listening and offering some old-fashioned loving kindness. He offers it to any civil servant who phones or shows up at his office. Might be an employee in grief or crisis. Might be an employee with mental health, addictions or relationship issues. Might be an employee stressed about his or her work. He stresses that he is not a psychologist. His counseling is short term, as a generalist. He refers people to more specialized services when required. Chaplains in police services are not uncommon. But as far as Dowds knows, he is the only municipal chaplain in Canada. As a taxpayer, it pleases me to know Edmonton is leading the way in this regard. To me, the job of City Chaplain signals a government that lives and breathes human values. It reminds us, just as it reminds civil servants, of the essential nature of government work. As the job title suggests, they are in service to their community. Done with conviction and humility, it is god’s work.

Giving Root for Trees

rgibeau — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 15:54:33 +0000

Living in a large urban centre, many of our days can feel lost between the monotony of our commute and the confines of cubicle walls. As we go through the motions of the week, most of us are plugged in and tuned out to the world around us. However, I've always felt like living in Edmonton is somewhat of a paradox. If you've ever taken the time to hop out of your car and venture down one of the many ravines that border our roads, there’s an expansive urban forest that lies in the midst of the towering structures and bustling traffic. It’s like there’s a peaceful escape right in the centre of our hectic city lives. If you make your way down MacKinnon Ravine on a humid evening in June, the trails are awash with the fragrance of lilac trees and a flush of American Elms. Cyclists and joggers will zip by you as the brilliant downtown cityscape breaks through the north-facing trees. To the south, the vast North Saskatchewan River ambles on, urging you to move forward. As Edmontonians, we seem to recognize the invaluable presence of our urban forest. According to a recent Urban Forest Management Plan Survey, our top three reasons for appreciating trees were beautification, nature appreciation and reduced air pollution. But our urban forest is also offering us more benefits than meet the eye. Did you know that trees reduce crime? Calm the speed of traffic? Attract tourism? Reduce energy costs?

The Root for Trees Enhanced Tree Planting Initiative has sprung from the City’s recognition of this resource’s stunning importance. Root for Trees strives to plant a diverse, sustainable urban forest through partnerships with citizens, communities and businesses. The City understands that in order to sustain our urban canopy, the public needs to get educated and involved. Root for Trees Fest is the perfect opportunity for Edmontonians to start learning and taking part. This family-friendly event will be held on Saturday, June 15^th in Government House Park (9938 Groat Road). Come enjoy live music, food, face painting and tattoos, crafts and a fun race for kids while you learn how you can get involved with growing Edmonton’s vibrant urban forest. Over 1,000 trees will be planted, so get ready to help sow your own peaceful escape. Visit www.edmonton.ca/trees for full festival information.

Why Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions?

rwebb — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 16:05:07 +0000

Most of us know how lucky we are to live in Edmonton. We seem shielded from some of the stressors facing other cities but we are not shielded from the affects of climate change and Dr. Geoff Strong, a retired atmospheric scientist, said we need to start taking responsibility for our actions. Dr. Geoff Strong, whose career spans over 30 years, spoke to an audience at City Hall on April 16^th as part of The Way We Green Speakers Series. His primary message was that climate change is real and that its effects are being felt all over the world especially in four distinct regions. In Sahel Africa climate change has increased desertification, drying rivers (some bigger than the North Saskatchewan River), and caused greater competition for productive land, food and water. Dr. Strong believes these changes were contributing to greater conflict in this area and that we were already beginning to see ‘climate refugees.’ In the South Pacific Islands, thermal expansion and melting glaciers are causing rising sea levels that are flooding settlements and increasing cyclone actions. He talked about how rising ocean temperatures are causing the death of coral reefs. In our Canadian north, river flow is increasing, spring break up is occurring earlier. The northern permafrost is also melting and causing damage to structures and the loss of winter ice roads. You might be wondering how events in these regions affect us here in Edmonton? Dr. Strong illustrated that climate change is truly global in nature and that the inhabitants of these regions contribute the fewest per capita greenhouse gases, but are affected the most. This message hits hard for those of us in Canada who have some of the highest per capita emissions on the planet. Dr. Strong stressed that “the problem is with all of us” and the solutions are as well. Some of the individual actions he mentioned to curb emissions include: reduce driving by five per cent, turn thermostats down by a few degrees at night and when no one is home, think about fuel efficiency when purchasing a vehicle or other consumer goods and plant trees to replace those harvested. You can find more ideas on how to reduce emissions at www.edmonton.ca/co2re. With our homes contributing approximately 17 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions citywide, having an energy audit performed on your home is a great place to start. An Energy Advisor will inform you about how to reduce emissions and save you money over the long term. To learn more about the details of climate science and its global effects watch Dr. Strong’s presentation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4Qh9Bvh83A Visit The Way We Green Speaker’s Series videos page for previous presentations.

Looking for an excuse to get outside?

lmilroy — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 17:17:57 +0000

I am a Nature Nut! I enjoy getting outside at any time of the year but I sometimes feel guilty that I’m not doing something more productive. However, during the Way We Green Speakers presentation on May 15^th I learned that my walks in the park can help advance science. [caption id="attachment_3973" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="Elisabeth Beaubien"][/caption] Elisabeth Beaubien, who holds a Phd in phenology, came to talk to us about Plant Watch, a group of volunteers who study the bloom times of plants and how they are influenced by weather and climate. The practice of phenology goes back centuries and was used by the ancient Chinese to tell farmers when to plant their crops. The information can be used to predict events such as the best time to spray for mosquitoes or when you are most likely to be affected by allergies. Even the time between when the snow melts and the trees leaf predicts when the greatest danger of wildfires may be. When Samuel Champlain first visited North America in the early 1600’s, the first peoples told him that “when the white oak leaf is the size of a red squirrels footprint” it is time to plant corn. Some springs come early, some late, but regardless, plants flower in the same tidy sequence every year and this information can be put to good use. Today here in Edmonton, you can use the life cycle of native plants to tell you when to start planting your garden. When the blue violets bloom plant your lettuce, when the leaves appear on the poplar sow your potatoes, and when the lilacs bloom put your tomatoes outside. The collective data of Plant Watch show that over the last 100 years, Aspen trees have gradually started shedding their pollen 29 days earlier and that the last frost day has moved one day earlier each decade. I plan to look into Alberta Plant Watch and see how I can have fun outdoors, ease my guilty conscience and maybe learn a few new things along the way. http://youtu.be/8Rfk1qCbux0 For more information on this presentation or others visit The Way We Green Speaker’s Series videos.

Johnstone Walker Limited, “Edmonton’s Own Store”

Elizabeth Walker — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 20:13:14 +0000

With the departure of a couple of franchises and the arrival of new ones, the retail scene in Edmonton has been on my mind lately. I decided to look through the City of Edmonton Archives to see what I could learn about some Edmonton stores over the years, looking at everything from the big chains to the homegrown businesses. The first business I thought of was a homegrown store that I've come across many times in my research for these posts – Johnstone Walker Limited, “Edmonton’s Own Store.” I featured one of their advertisements in the Winter Fun blog. William Johnstone Walker (no relation) arrived in Edmonton in 1885 and soon became friends with John McDougall who urged Walker to join him in the retail business. McDougall even arranged for the purchase of the first merchandise for the fledgling store which, as the railroad had not yet reached Edmonton, came overland by wagon. From the beginning, the focus was on high quality merchandise. The original store was on 98 Avenue, north of Jasper. In 1892, Walker relocated to Jasper Avenue and called his store Manchester House as the majority of his goods came from Manchester, England. [caption id="attachment_3992" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="EA-160-1585 “Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Celebrations” 1897"][/caption] Cecil Sutherland was hired in 1896 and two years later, at just 19, he was appointed manager. Walker’s health had been poor for years and in 1902 he retired and left the store in Sutherland’s charge. Sutherland managed the company for many years and, even after his son, Sydney, took over as manager, stayed involved with the store until well into his 80s. There were many long term employees who were often mentioned in the stores’ promotions. The company had anniversary sales and the big dates were marked with events and newspaper stories, culminating in a 1961 booklet for their 75^th anniversary. In the booklet, 10 employees are featured with employment ranging from 25 to 49 years. [caption id="attachment_3993" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="EA-462-13 “Johnstone Walker Ladies in Delivery Truck” c. 1916"][/caption] The Johnstone Walker store was a feature of Jasper Avenue for decades; there are several photographs of it in our online catalogue. At one point there were five locations, including one in Calgary. The Jasper Avenue store was closed in 1979 and the company focused on their “suburban stores” at Boonie Doon, Westmount and Southgate. A February 21, 1983 article has Sydney Sutherland stating that all the stores except the Bonnie Doon location were closing. I found it a strange article with Sutherland saying the stores were doing fine but he was tired and wasn't interested in running them anymore. A June 25, 1983 feature story on three long time employees states that the company itself was going out of business and that all the locations were closing. The 1980s were a difficult economic time in Edmonton and the end seems to have come suddenly and fairly quietly. Do you have any memories of the final days of the Johnstone Walker stores? Please share them, and any other memories you may have. [caption id="attachment_3994" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="EA-530-1 “Johnstone Walker Store” c. 1950 The location of this store isn't recorded but I think it may be the one at Bonnie Doon. Please comment if you know where this is."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_3991" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="MS-478 Johnstone Walker fonds - coupons for Indestructible Fountain Pens, guaranteed for 5 years. There is only a partial date on the coupon, Saturday, November 19. From a perpetual calendar I know that Saturday fell on November 19th in 1910, 1921, 1927 and 1938. Which year do you think this is from?"][/caption] I’ll be writing on other Edmonton businesses, is there one you would like to see featured? Let me know by commenting on this post and I’ll see what I can find. Or, you’re always welcome to stop by the Archives and we’ll get you started with your own research!

Edmonton: How do I love thee? Let me count The Ways

KMcGeown — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 18:53:42 +0000

Edmonton has a certain something that captivates people who live here. But what? For me, it is the animated sounds, cheerful colours and sumptuous smells that come with the multitude of festivals that invigorate the city season by season—putting a spring in my step as I take full advantage of what each one has to offer. However, I am just one voice among the 817,498 people who live here. The State of the City report, released earlier this year, captures multiple voices that express how people have built their lives in this city and what it is that transforms the daily grind of everyday living into a wonderful, vibrant mosaic:

a transit system that opens up a teenager’s world,
fitness fanatics taking full advantage of new recreation centres,
a passion for parks that augments the accessibility and enjoyment of Edmonton’s renowned river valley,
forward-thinking grants to assist in the construction of energy-efficient homes, and
a community kitchen that offers tasty learning and creates lots of laughter and a stronger social fabric.

The heart-warming stories capture citizens’ experiences of the civic services and programs that have been and will continue to transform Edmonton through our progress in working toward citizen-driven goals set out in The Ways.

In tandem with the report, an online State of the City competition aims to further discover how City services and programs impact the daily lives of Edmontonians. The competition—promoted by the City’s twitter and Facebook pages—asks citizens to submit via email a well-explained photo, short story or video to illustrate how civic services and programs have impacted their lives this year. The prize? One of two iPads—one given away in July and the other in November. What is it about City services or programs that makes a difference in your life? Do you take advantage of your local recreation centre? Do you escape road rage in your daily commute by taking the LRT to work? Do you practise your swing at one of the City’s golf courses? Or is your child going to one of the City’s summer camps? Entries must be submitted via email to stateofthecity@edmonton.ca. Submission deadline for the first iPad closes at midnight on Sunday June 30, 2013. The full citizen stories along with details of the competition can be found at edmonton.ca/stateofthecity.

Edmonton Celebrates Six Years of Choosing Reuse

karnot — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 17:10:24 +0000

[caption id="attachment_4016" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="Reuse Centre"][/caption] When I first heard about the Reuse Centre I thought it was a fantastic idea to have a place that promotes reuse and keeps items out of the landfill. But what I couldn't know at the beginning was how successful it would turn out to be. Now, six years later, Edmontonians donate about 12 tonnes of material every month, and over 700 people each month benefit from the Centre by making purchases. I realize now how important the Reuse Centre is for teachers, artists, daycares, charities and citizens that benefit from the goods donated. I have had the chance to hear the positive feedback from customers and I saw firsthand how teachers incorporated reuse items into their classroom activities. The Reuse Centre is celebrating its 6^th anniversary on July 6, 2013. Since it opened, it has diverted over 726,000 kgs of material from the landfill and helped 105,000 people purchase reusable materials at an affordable price. Just as importantly, it provides a sense of community with two common goals in mind: To be creative and to help the environment by reducing our waste. The success of our Centre is mostly due to the hard work and passion of our staff and volunteers. In 2012 alone, our 400 volunteers contributed over 4600 hours. The Goodwill Power of Work program, which helps people living with disabilities to learn job skills, contributed over 1600 hours last year. Volunteers are the core of our operations and we are very grateful to all of them. [caption id="attachment_4014" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="Reuse Centre Volunteers"][/caption] The Reuse Centre educates children and adults about the importance of reuse and encourages the idea that our earth is worth taking care of. Edmonton is known for its leading waste management system, and the Reuse Centre is an integral part of that. With the environmental issues of today, we often wonder, “what can I do to help?” One way is to donate to the Reuse Centre, items such as crafts, school supplies and party decorations. You can find a complete list of acceptable items at edmonton.ca/reuse. Let’s try and reduce the amount of waste we throw away, by reusing and getting the full potential out of items before they are disposed of. Our future depends on it. I want to see my children grow up in a sustainable world, not a wasteful one.

Go Bagless! Sixty per cent of Edmontonians are doing it

gspotowski — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 14:57:54 +0000

It’s a real joy for me to hear that about 60 per cent of Edmonton households leave their grass clippings on the lawn as they mow. You see, many years ago I was a garbage collector and I remember how my fellow collectors and I had to lift thousands and thousands of heavy wet bags of grass into our trucks and dump them all in a rapidly filling landfill. Looking back, I see it as the hardest and smelliest part of the job. Thankfully though, habits are changing. Since 2005 the City of Edmonton has been actively promoting grasscycling, which simply means, leaving the clippings on the lawn. Since then, lots of progress has been made and we have seen the number of households practicing grasscycling go from about 20 to 60 per cent. Grasscycling is such a great idea, with so many benefits, it’s truly a wonder it’s taken so long to catch on like it has. First, it creates a healthy lawn. Experts like Jim Hole point out that the clippings act like a little layer of mulch that protects the lawn from the sun and the nutrients in the clippings reduce the need for fertilizer. Second, it’s good for you because it saves you all the time and effort it takes to bag and drag the clippings to the curb. Third, it’s great for your garbage collector who doesn't have to handle so many heavy bags of grass. And last but not least, it’s a really effective way to reduce waste. Really effective. Did you know that during the summer months grass makes up almost HALF of all the residential waste we produce? Grasscycling is not only good for you, your lawn, your collector, but it’s also great for the environment and very easy to do. To grasscycle all you have to do is Go Bagless! I mean it, simply remove the bag from your lawn mower and allow the clippings to fall on the lawn. Also, mow often. Talk about a win-win situation. In this case it’s win-win-win-win. Speaking as a former garbage collector, and as someone who now promotes waste reduction for a living, it’s immensely gratifying to see more and more people grasscycling every year. Can’t wait until we’re all doing it. If you want to learn more about grasscycling visit LeaveItOnYourLawn.com

Shop Alberta Ave, Shop Smart

AStratford — Fri, 09 Aug 2013 21:11:45 +0000

Alberta Avenue is being re-energized! The City and the community are working together to improve Alberta Avenue’s streets, businesses, and green spaces. Through the goal of increased collaboration within the business community, the “We Believe in 118” coalition has advanced Alberta Ave’s growth towards a more vibrant community. With over twenty-five businesses already participating, the community’s enthusiasm for the new “Shop Alberta Ave, Shop Smart” campaign is undeniable. This movement aims to connect community members with businesses who are enhancing the safety and vibrancy of Alberta Ave. Ultimately, “We Believe in 118” hopes to create a new social contract between businesses and community members. Edmontonians can help progress this movement in two simple ways. First, we ask retailers to take the steps outlined in our retailer package. These steps are designed to make retail spaces a safer place for shoppers. We also encourage businesses to actively work with Edmonton Police Services to help make the overall avenue a safe place to shop. In exchange for businesses actively working to make their stores and Alberta Ave a safer place, we ask that community members use their consumer power to support local businesses that are participating in the campaign. The “We Believe in 118” coalition identifies these stores on our website and with our logo in the store window.

With community members and businesses working towards the same goal, Alberta Ave can be a safer, more vibrant place for Edmontonians to live and work. We invite you to take part in this movement by following the campaign on Facebook and on Twitter #WBi118. Visit www.webelievein118.com for more information.

Kevin Bacon and Crime Prevention

Kris Andreychuk — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 19:17:18 +0000

The Kevin Bacon ‘Six Degrees of Separation’ theory proposes that, based on his or her film role, anyone in the industry can be connected to Kevin Bacon within six degrees or less. I’d argue that the same is true for the standard concept of crime prevention. That is to say, any activity, within six degrees or less, may conceivably be connected to preventing crime. Let’s use crumbling sidewalks as an example.

If you mend sidewalks in need of repair, there will be fewer obstacles.
If there are fewer obstacles, one is less likely to trip and fall.
If we reduce preventable falls, we’ll reduce frustration.
If we reduce frustration, we’ll reduce tension at home.
With less tension at home, the likelihood of disputes is reduced.
By mending sidewalks, we are reducing violence.

I'm exaggerating. But you get the point. In my opinion, this conventional concept of ‘crime prevention’ is almost too broad. It often gives licensing to do well-meaning, but ill-informed, work. It’s this thinking that has caused the Neighbourhood Empowerment Teams (N.E.T.) to revisit who we are and what role we play in Edmonton neighbourhoods. Although it can be a difficult conversation, it’s an extremely critical one to have. Much of this exercise has been about tightening up the program to make our work more strategic and intentional. I like to think of it as a homecoming – a return to our program’s fundamentals. What we've arrived at is this: We’re really good at reducing residential break and enters, theft from vehicles, theft of vehicles, and assaults. Along 118 Avenue, for instance, residential break and enters have dropped 50% since we arrived in 2009. During our time in Bonnie Doon, residential break and enters were down 45%. Now, we can’t attribute this solely to our efforts, but we’re confident that we've been a major player. The second issue we took on is program creation. At times, programs are a reasonable solution, but they are not the only solution. Sometimes, when approached top-down, they can even do harm. For the purposes of our work, education trumps programs. Programs to deal with crime come and go, but the transference of skills around navigating the system, and knowing what levers to pull when faced with an issue – that’s sustainable. We’ve also taken on a ‘model of practice’ that helps guide our work: the SARA model. It’s a policing model that has been around for some time, but its usefulness is far reaching. It’s an acronym for Scan, Analyze, Respond, and Assess. It encourages work focused on strong indicators, good analysis, and reflection. This is how we weed out the aforementioned sidewalk mending approach to the work. In essence, what we’ve arrived at is a clean and more honest version of ourselves, a model that focuses on the fundamentals as the primary responsibility. If you have one of our N.E. Teams in your neighbourhood, you’ll hopefully now know what to expect, or at least have a deeper understanding. Our teams are still focused on crime prevention and reduction; we’re just a leaner, more focused version of ourselves. For more information, please visit Neighbourhood Empowerment Teams (N.E.T.).

Youth Become HEROs

GFroese — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 19:05:21 +0000

The City of Edmonton believes all teenagers could be HEROs to their community and themselves. That’s the idea behind the City’s new Community HEROs program, which stands for Health, Empowerment, Responsibility and Opportunity. Vanesa Makela, a child and youth program coordinator and one of the program’s creators, says HEROs was developed to provide an exciting and worthwhile opportunity for 13 to 17 year olds.

“We wanted to create something of value for that age group. HEROs courses are chosen to benefit participants, not just now, but throughout life.”

In this unique leadership program, youth have two years to take three required courses from the City of Edmonton, select three from a diverse set of elective courses, and complete 120 hours of volunteer work. HEROs participants will have access to a variety of the City’s popular skill-building activities. Vanesa says, “We included as many City departments as possible to provide a well-rounded experience. We didn’t want all of the courses to be directly about leadership. HEROs participants will develop leadership as they explore nature and participate in sport and the arts.” The mandatory courses focus on problem-solving, working in groups, building confidence and tackling real-world challenges. Program Manager Carole Preston says all the courses chosen for HEROs are interactive, giving youth a chance to learn by doing. “At the end of these courses, they know they had fun, but they may not realize how much they’ve learned until they debrief and see how what they’ve done applies to other parts of their lives.” [caption id="attachment_4193" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="Program Manager Carole Preston at the Muttart Conservatory, one of the City of Edmonton's unique venues for learning and recreation."][/caption] In order to develop something youth would find valuable, the HEROs team took the direct approach: they brought in 13 to 17 year olds and asked what they wanted from a leadership program. “They’re busy people with a lot of options for how to spend their time,” Carole says. “It matters to them that they get something out of the courses they take. They told us they wanted courses of different lengths, held at different times and places, so that they could fit courses into their lives. They also said they wanted options as diverse as cooking, self-defense, geo-caching and zumba. We have all of those courses and we’ll be adding more as HEROs grows.” Volunteering with the City of Edmonton’s Attractions and Recreation Facilities is integral to HEROs. “It’s another way to develop skills through using those skills,” Carole says. “And there are real benefits in terms of school credits and building resumes for work and university.” Youth, parents and teachers who want to learn more about HEROs can find information at www.edmonton.ca/HEROs. To learn more about volunteering with the City of Edmonton, visit www.edmonton.ca/volunteers. The HEROs program will begin this September and registration is open now.

City Committed to LRT Expansion

lrosen — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 19:40:49 +0000

City Council decided last week to focus efforts on securing the remaining funding needed for the construction of the Valley Line LRT - Stage 1 (Mill Woods to City Centre) from our provincial and federal partners. This was an important affirmation of the commitment to the LRT expansion. In 2009, Edmonton City Council adopted a Long-term LRT Network Plan. This plan saw LRT extend from South Campus to new stations at Southgate and Century Park in 2010, the expansion of a North LRT line to NAIT (currently nearing completion), engineering of a Southeast to West line from Mill Woods to Lewis Farms (now underway), and future build out options.

Edmonton has already committed $800 million to the total $1.8 billion cost of the Valley Line from Mill Woods to City Centre. But sharing the cost with other orders of government is critical. For every dollar in taxation Edmonton households pay, less than 8 cents goes to the City. The rest goes to the Province and the federal government. This helps show why the City can’t fund the project alone. LRT benefits LRT expansion projects cost more than any other City project, but LRT remains a top priority for the City because the value is worth the investment. LRT helps Edmonton meet the public transportation demands of its residents and visitors. The Valley Line urban low-floor LRT system also allows us to foster “Transit Oriented Development.” Benefits include:

more compact development around LRT stations, creating places for people to live, shop, work and recreate
greater housing options for students, families and seniors to live, raise a family and age-in-place in their communities
more convenient ways to walk, cycle, or use transit to meet one’s daily needs and access facilities and amenities across the city more easily
alternatives to personal car use, reduce traffic congestion, reduce household transportation costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality.

The City is optimistic negotiations over the next few months will secure commitments from other orders of government to share the costs for the Valley Line because it is vital infrastructure in the Alberta Capital, and a benefit to one of Canada's economic powerhouses. Every LRT project the City has built or plans to build relies on partnership funding from the federal and provincial governments. For example, the City received $597 million from the federal and provincial governments for the Metro Line (North LRT) that is nearing completion. The City has already secured $250 million in funding from P3 Canada, a federal agency, for work on the Valley Line. The City recognizes the financial challenges faced by other orders of government, but a commitment to start funding in 2015—when the federal government has committed to balance its budget—would fit with Edmonton’s planning and cash-flow needs. Council will meet again on November 20, 2013, to determine next steps. Administration is ready to proceed immediately with the project upon receiving further direction from Council. LRT Funding and Arena Funding are Not Related It is important to respond to some erroneous comments about project financing. The downtown arena project and the Valley Line LRT project are not competing for the same funds and decisions about the LRT project are not related to the arena project. The funding model for the downtown arena does not have an impact on spending on other City projects. LRT projects and the downtown arena project are funded from different sources. Of the City’s portion of funding for the arena, $80 million will come from incremental revenue growth (i.e. increased parking revenues) as a result of the arena, and by reallocating the current subsidy paid to Northlands for Rexall Place. Another $120 million will come from the Community Revitalization Levy (CRL). It is important to understand that the arena is a catalyst project that will spur future development. Through the CRL, the growth in tax revenue from that future development is used to pay for the original catalyst project (the arena itself), as well as other projects in the downtown. More importantly, this funding model means Edmontonians’ property taxes will not increase to pay for the arena. It also means the arena will not use provincial infrastructure money, such as Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) funds, which leaves those funds for other City projects. Both LRT expansion and the arena development are important investments in our city’s future. City Council and Administration are committed to advancing transformational projects that advance our ability to offer citizens a high quality of life and continue to attract investment, business and talent to Edmonton.

Holy Toledo!

Kris Andreychuk — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 19:30:50 +0000

Alec and I are off to Ohio! We’re scheduled to present Dear ‘john’ at the 10th Annual International Human Trafficking, Prostitution, & Sex Work Conference at the University of Toledo. The Neighbourhood Empowerment Team (NET) was one of the partners in Dear ‘john’, but it wasn't solely our show, so we’re quite humbled to be representing the team, and Edmonton, for that matter. Dear ‘john’, like most 118 Avenue grown initiatives, is a story of collaboration – of people setting their respective agendas aside and coming together. Not unlike the revitalization itself. This is the story of Staff Sgt. Jerry Nash with the Edmonton Police Service, Judy Allan with Avenue Initiative Revitalization, Christy Morin with Arts on the Ave, Kate Quinn from CEASE, Joachim Holtz from the Alberta Avenue Business Association and, of course, of the local businesses community and countless residents who banded together to drive change. Although the story of our coming together as a community is a romantic and accurate one – the history of sexual exploitation along 118 Avenue, and our relationship to it, is less enviable. We've had a confused relationship with sexual exploitation - with a focus far to weighted on the side of ‘supply’. We, as NET, have historically avoided the issue; unsure what to do in a meaningful way with resident outrage and concern directed mostly at the women who occupy the corners. I would argue that many of these women aren't even seen as people anymore, they've become symbols –a barometer of neighbourhood health and safety. Of something undesirable, something unsafe. One fundamental piece that is all too often missing in this conversation is demand -the ‘johns’. The symbolism associated with the women has a great deal to do with the fact that there here – visible in the neighbourhood. The ‘johns’, on the other hand, are often not. So what about ‘john’? In addition to this being a story of people, it is also a story of tension, of common thread and ultimately of reframing this issue. The ‘Dear John’ letter originated in America during World War II. Often stationed for months or years at a time, servicemen would sometimes find themselves in receipt of this iconic letter, which informed them that their spouse had found someone else and was moving on. The letters were often affectionately worded – but the message was to not come home, to move on. The similarity in title (John) had been sitting with me for a while, but having stumbled upon the history of this letter, the idea of mimicking the approach at a community level was fascinating to me. 118 Avenue and the authors of these letters share common ground. The neighbourhood has not found someone new, but they've found something new – safety, a sense of overwhelming community. It seemed only appropriate that we let ‘john’ know. This is what initiated Dear ‘john’ – a campaign built on a break-up letter from the community. The letter lets ‘john’ know the relationship is over – that we’re moving on and he should too. We wanted ‘john’ to know that this community is an active one – intolerant of their safety being compromised. You can read the full letter here. We approached the issue from three different angles – education, mobilization and enforcement. The Dear ‘john’ letter was hosted on Transforming Edmonton, and we asked that people use the comment field to write their own message to ‘john’. We also announced the hashtag #Dearjohn (more on this later) and ask that people tweet away. We pulled key messages from the Dear ‘john’ letter and printed them on mobile signs. These became mobile deterrents placed on sexual exploitation hotspots upon the request of residents. The purpose was to let ‘john’ know that, at a neighbourhood level, residents were watching, that they were on to him. Concurrent to these efforts, our Edmonton Police Service partners heightened ‘john’ enforcement. Having aligned with the Victims of Crime week of awareness, the timing of these actions was perfect. There are a number of ways one could measure the impact of this initiative. Edmonton’s media community was brilliantly supportive. The told the story eloquently, and shared it far and wide. The same could be said for Edmonton’s, errrr, I mean ‘#YEG’s’ social media community. The content was rich as it was rampant, trending the day of the launch, reaching 2445 people via Facebook. As for the Dear ‘john’ blog, the interest was unprecedented reaching the highest number of views ever on Transforming Edmonton. In the event ‘john’ didn't get the message via traditional or social media, our EPS partners were there during the campaign conducting enforcement stings. This approach was an unfortunately busy one. We’re proud of this work – but there certainly were lessons we learned. Firstly, it is important to do your research before launching a hashtag. The use of #Dearjohn gave rise to a ‘hashtag collision’ with the very popular film of the same title staring Amanda Seyfried and Channing Tatum. This resulted in confusing feed on Twitter – messages about Tatum’s abs beside messages demanding an end to sexual exploitation. At first we were dismayed by this oversight – but it spread the conversation further than we could have ever anticipated. A newspaper in London even picked up on the story as a result of our error. So really, it was a great mistake to have made. Sexual exploitation is a polarizing topic, no doubt. It is a topic that is also characterized by great deal of tension. That said, we feel as though Dear ‘john’ located the common thread - I would argue that it was a desire for safety. Then, through public education, and providing meaningful ways to participate, the campaign transformed this angst into something that had considerable impact. Interested in Dear ‘john’ and NET in general? You can follow Alec Stratford and me on Twitter.

Kick start your excitement for Canadian Soccer in Edmonton!

tsimonsmeier — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 19:51:45 +0000

Edmontonians passion for soccer has grown considerably since 2002 when many of us all watched the passion and spirit of young soccer stars such as Christine Sinclair and Erin McLeod in the FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championships.

Those same stars are about to make a return appearance to our fair city as members of the team that captured the hearts of Canada last summer with their bronze medal winning performance at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. So come on Edmonton this is our chance to show the spirit of our city and kick-off a night of fun, when we host a soccer match between Canadian Women’s National Team and Korea Republic on October 30, 2013 at Commonwealth Stadium.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faOot6Mt5sM&feature=youtu.be

The City of Edmonton and Edmonton Tourism are hosting a contest to win soccer swag and tickets to the game!

How do I enter the contest? The contest takes place from October 15 to 18, 2013. To enter the contest, you must ‘Follow’ the City of Edmonton and Edmonton Tourism on Twitter and: A) Tweet us your favourite Canadian Women’s National Team player, using the #CanWNT and #YEG. OR B) Tweet: I support @CanadaSoccerEN and want to attend the #CanWNT vs Korea Republic soccer match on Oct 30 in #yeg http://ow.ly/pQNcI You are allowed one entry per Twitter account and your tweet must be tweeted before 23:00 MDT on Friday, October 18, 2013 to be eligible. Three winners will be randomly selected in a draw on Monday, October 21 and will be notified by direct message on Twitter. Grand prize

Four tickets to the October 30, 2013 soccer match between Canada Women's National Team and Korea Republic at Commonwealth Stadium.
Four Canadian National Team jerseys.
Four Canadian National Team scarves.

Two Secondary prizes:

Two tickets to the October 30, 2013 soccer match between Canada Women's National Team and Korea Republic at Commonwealth Stadium.
Two Canadian National Team scarves.

Complete Official Rules & Regulations

Want to purchase tickets to the game? Tickets for the match can be purchased at ticketmaster.ca, by phone at 1-855-985-5000 or in person at all Ticketmaster locations. Hope to see you there!

Jasper Avenue Reopens as 2013 Road Construction Wraps Up

KFitzGibbon — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 17:17:10 +0000

Road crews are putting the finishing touches on major construction projects for 2013, including wrapping up the two-year Jasper Avenue streetscape between 100 Street and 102 Street. “It’s been a big year for road construction in Edmonton and we are happy that one of our biggest projects, Jasper Avenue, is done on budget and on schedule,” said Barry Belcourt, Branch Manager for Roads Design and Construction. “We thank local businesses for their patience over the past two years as we have been repairing the LRT station and have worked to improve the look and usability of Jasper Avenue for drivers and pedestrians.” During construction, access to businesses was maintained and efforts were made to minimize traffic impacts through night closures and staging the work on first the north then the south sides. Said Belcourt, “at the end of the day, everyone benefits from improved road infrastructure.” [caption id="attachment_4521" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="Jasper Avenue"][/caption] Downtown’s main thoroughfare was reduced to one lane in each direction in spring 2012 for repairs to Central LRT Station and streetscape work on Jasper Avenue. Streetscape work includes the removal of the central planted median, which has been replaced with a five-lane roadway, including turning lanes. Wider pedestrian-friendly sidewalks feature decorative elements like paving stones, benches and new streetlights, which will be installed in spring 2014. Work on the Central LRT Station concourse underground will continue until December. Overall, 2013 was a big year in construction, with 62 arterial, bridge/interchange and mill/overlay projects, and $265.8 million invested in road infrastructure. Although minor work remains on some road projects into November, most significant project work has wrapped. Construction by the numbers:

Major arterial roads: $87.2 million (25 projects)
Bridges and interchanges: $166.6 million for bridges and interchanges (5 projects)
Arterial milling and overlay: $12 million (32 projects)

This work does not include Neighbourhood Renewal or neighbourhood “triage” locations, which are ongoing into November. For more information on construction projects, visit www.edmonton.ca/roadprojects or www.edmonton.ca/constructiononyourstreets.

NET comes to Queen Alexandra

cmarciniuk — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 19:13:05 +0000

Hello…we would like to introduce ourselves; we are the Queen Alexandra Neighbourhood Empowerment Team. Our team consists of Connie Marciniuk (social worker), Lane Gagnon (youth liaison) and Constable John Beatson. We started in the community on October 1, 2013. Our stay in Queen Alexandra will be fairly short, less than four years, but we are confident that together we can make a positive change. [caption id="attachment_4535" align="aligncenter" width="299" caption="L to R: Lane Gagnon, Const. Beatson, Connie Marciniuk"][/caption] So what is NET? It is a crime reduction and prevention program with much of our work being focused on four indicators; theft from auto, theft of auto, break and enters, and assaults. There are times when solutions can be complicated because crime can be a result of complex factors… which means that detailed analysis, multiple partnerships and diverse strategies are required to address the underlying causes of crime. Check out the posts of some of our colleagues as they share their stories of crime prevention in action. There are times when crime prevention is far easier than it sounds, and everyone can play a role… such as simply locking your doors every time you leave your car. Over the years, NET has worked with many community groups and individuals and has done everything from cleaning up parks and green spaces to orchestrating social media campaigns, educating apartment residents about their rights and helping youth take steps towards healthier lives. But remember, safety has as much to do with the people who live in the community taking small steps as it does with implementing broad crime prevention strategies. We are located in the Old Strathcona Community Station at 7903-104 Street. However, we are there sporadically as we love being out and about in the community, so it is often easier to contact us in the following ways. Connie Marciniuk Phone: 780-975-3921 Email: connie.marciniuk@edmonton.ca Twitter: Connie_NET Lane Gagnon Phone: 780-718-8808 Email: lane.gagnon@the-family-centre.com Instagram: Lane_NET Constable John Beatson Phone: 780-426-8344 Email: john.beatson@edmonton.ca Please feel free to contact us at any time if you have any questions or concerns, or to simply introduce yourself.

Speak Out against Sexual Exploitation

AStratford — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 21:08:58 +0000

Edmonton is a city of builders! We have built a thriving economy, we have a growing arts community and we are building fantastic inclusive communities. We have an engaged citizenry that can accomplish anything when we put our minds to it. On October 28^th inner city residents and the Sexual Exploitation Working Group (SEWG) are asking all Edmontonians to get involved to help end sexual exploitation and sex trafficking in the city of Edmonton. This day marks the launch of the Dirty Little Secret: Speak Out against Sexual Exploitation Edmonton! campaign. The social media campaign aims to raise awareness about sexual exploitation in Edmonton and asks Edmontonians to take part in an active conversation, and to take action to end sexual exploitation!

The campaign will be driven by a short YouTube video that shares a "Dirty Little Secret." The secret is that sexual exploitation is an issue that impacts every community. The impact is wide-ranging, affecting community safety, health and wellness, and economic prosperity. Edmonton has another little secret as well. There is hope! We can stop sexual exploitation! The project was developed through residents of Edmonton’s inner city and SEWG. The project really started back in April of 2012 when 118th Avenue N.E.T team worked with CEASE and the We Believe in 118 coalition to launch the Dear ‘john’ campaign. The campaign was able to use the tension that residents and service providers had towards the issue of sexual exploitation to find a common goal among all partners and work to reframe the issue of sexual exploitation. The outcome of the campaign was a shift from a focus on the vulnerable women and men who work the streets to those who consume and demand sex activities. Within the city, Edmonton Police Service has seen an increase in reports for ‘johns’. As a follow up to that campaign, the Avenue Initiative Revitalization Safe Streets working group met to debrief the project. The working group decided that the Dear ‘john’ campaign showed positive community action around the issue, but that as a community they wanted to learn more about the issue. The group asked that we host a mini public prostitution offender program so community members could learn more about what drives the demand for sexual exploitation. As part of the Sexual Exploitation Week of Awareness, N.E.T. hosted this public event and called it Paying for Sex: the Community Impact. It was at this event that we offered community members a chance to use the power of social media to raise their concerns about sexual exploitation throughout Edmonton. A small group of residents met after that event and decided the format for the Dirty Little Secret video. The residents wanted all Edmontonians to hear from key stakeholders and experts on the issue. They asked these key stakeholders two questions:

What is the community impact of sexual exploitation?
What can Edmontonians do to deter it?

The result is the Dirty Little Secret Video! In the last few months there has been a lot happening around the issue of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation in the city of Edmonton, from the Body Rub Parlour Task force to the controversial Chrysalis campaign. There is a lot of positive action happening around this issue and we would like to see this grow. Both the SEWG and the residents who crafted the campaign want all Edmontonians to get involved, stay informed and Speak Out Against Sexual Exploitation! Sexual exploitation is not an issue that can be solved through a single approach. This is not solely a legislative issue, an issue of poverty, a policing issue, a mental health or an addictions issue. Sexual exploitation/sex trafficking is a community issue. Edmontonians are fantastic community builders. Let's build a community that works to stop sexual exploitation. Share the video, stay informed and speak out! Follow the campaign on Facebook and Twitter #YEGsecret.

City Completes Six Neighbourhood Reconstructions in 2013

KFitzGibbon — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 19:43:04 +0000

The City of Edmonton is wrapping up a big season for Building Great Neighbourhoods in Edmonton, with six neighbourhood reconstructions completed in 2013.

The Building Great Neighbourhoods initiative coordinates three city programs to renew and replace neighbourhood infrastructure and enhance the overall livability of neighbourhoods across Edmonton:

Great Neighbourhoods Capital Program (Community Services)
Drainage Neighbourhood Renewal (Financial Services and Utilities)
Neighbourhood Renewal (Transportation Services)

“We are working hard to improve Edmontonian’s quality of life,” says Stephane Labonne, Director of Great Neighbourhoods “Wider sidewalks, trees, more pedestrian-level lighting and enhanced infrastructure all contribute to a more livable and vibrant city.” The City’s total 2013 investment in these programs was $224 million. This includes:

$ 25 million for 15 Great Neighbourhoods Capital Program projects
$ 23 million for 33 Drainage Neighbourhood Renewal projects
$ 176 million for 124 Neighbourhood Renewal road projects

The $176 million Neighbourhood Renewal investment included $9 million City Council reallocated from the 2013 budget for additional ‘triage’ milling and overlay work on neighbourhood streets. In 2013, the Building Great Neighbourhoods initiative completed reconstruction in six neighbourhoods: Canora, Capilano, Dovercourt, Windsor Park, Terrace Heights and Woodcroft. “Neighbourhood Renewal improves and maintains the way we move within our communities,” says Byron Nicholson, Director of Special Projects for Roads Design and Construction. “We really appreciate communities’ cooperation and patience as we work to improve essential infrastructure in Edmonton neighbourhoods.” For more information on construction projects, visit edmonton.ca/buildinggreatneighbourhoods. Before and after photos of the completed 2012 neighbourhoods are available at photos.edmonton.ca.

The Hudson’s Bay Company Owned Downtown Edmonton

Elizabeth Walker — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 20:14:04 +0000

Have you ever heard of the Hudson’s Bay Company Reserve? I knew it existed but I didn't realize just how much of an impact it had on Edmonton’s development. Basically, the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) owned downtown Edmonton, from the bank of the North Saskatchewan River to present day 118 Avenue and between today’s 101 Street and 121 Street. While most of downtown south of 104 Avenue was sold off in the late 1800s and early 1910s, a large part of the Reserve remained empty until the 1950s. Most of Edmonton’s early development was along the edges of the Reserve, in today’s McCauley neighbourhood in the east and Oliver and Westmount in the west. The City of Edmonton Archives recently teamed up with the City’s Artifacts Centre and Historian Laureate to put together a display on the HBC Reserve lands. The Archives has many documents relating to the development of the Reserve. For example, we have City records from 1912 that show excitement at the possibilities of starting fresh and “breaking away from the old gridiron street plan.” Like the downtown airport land today, it was seen as an opportunity to try new theories of urban living (although they didn't use those terms of course). [caption id="attachment_4585" align="aligncenter" width="410" caption="Part of the exhibit “How the Hudson’s Bay Company Reserve Lands Shaped Edmonton” currently on display at the Prince of Wales Armouries."][/caption] Please stop by the Prince of Wales Armouries and have a look at the exhibit! We digitized several maps that show the extent of the Reserve over the years (it’s weird to see such a large empty space in the middle of the City) and they are also available in our online catalogue. While working on the exhibit I was thinking of my blogs on Edmonton stores – companies don’t get much older than the HBC. So, I thought I’d write a bit about the various incarnations of The Bay on Jasper Avenue. I picked my favourite images, but we have more online. The earliest Bay store was of course within Fort Edmonton itself. In 1890 the company opened a store outside the Fort, located at present day 98 Street and Jasper Avenue. In 1894, they relocated to 103 Street and Jasper Avenue. There has been a Bay building there ever since, now it’s the University of Alberta’s Enterprise Square. [caption id="attachment_4586" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="EA-10-581 “Hudson’s Bay co. Store” 1906"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_4587" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="EA-29-112 “Hudson’s Bay Company Store” ca. 1920s"][/caption] The current Jasper Avenue building was opened with much fanfare and enthusiasm in 1939. The newspapers described it as a thoroughly modern store with the latest designs in heating, windows and air circulation (we have the plans at the Archives). It cost $1 million to build, a huge figure in the 1930s. The building grew as Edmonton did, adding a third story and then doubling in size with an addition in 1954. It was designated a Municipal Historical Resource in 1989, although a bylaw was later passed to allow changes to the building to accommodate other businesses. [caption id="attachment_4588" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="EA-10-584 “Hudson’s Bay Co. Store” ca. 1940. This shows an unusually quiet Jasper Avenue, it may have been taken on a Sunday when the stores were closed."][/caption] The Bay store was a downtown hub and its Christmas decorations were a popular attraction for years, particularly the window displays featuring miniature houses and mechanical mice. By the 1990s however, downtown was in decline, partly because shoppers were heading to malls instead, and in 1993 a new Bay store opened in Edmonton Centre (now City Centre Mall). The Jasper Avenue store closed in 1995 and the building remained mostly empty for years. The newspapers reflect a long and controversial debate over what should be done with the building. One side insisted that a major overhaul was necessary to make it suitable for modern retail while the other maintained that the building’s historical importance needed to be preserved. Eventually, a compromise was reached that would allow changes while preserving historic features like the exterior carvings and the Tyndall stone. Then, in 2005, the University of Alberta bought the building with help from the City as well as the Provincial and Federal Governments. After extensive renovations (that preserved the exterior historical aspects of the lower two levels), Enterprise Square opened in 2008 and it has been a part of the downtown revival ever since. Do you have any memories of the Bay on Jasper? Please share them! [caption id="attachment_4589" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="EA-275-43 “Jasper Avenue – 101 Street (west) Hudson’s Bay” 1960"][/caption]

‘Tis the Season for a Waste-Less Holiday Contest!

mcurry — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 22:20:25 +0000

My first Boxing Day experience working as an attendant at the City’s recycling depots was a memorable one. I remember how the bins were overflowing with cardboard, boxes and paper and it seemed that there was at least twice as much material as usual. It turns out I was pretty close in my estimation, and not only when it comes to recycling. In 2012, the volume of garbage and recyclables collected during the two weeks after Dec. 25 was 12,793 tonnes, compared to 5,666 tonnes two weeks before. With recycling alone, the City collected almost 3,000 tonnes of material. While this number shows the enthusiastic voluntary participation of Edmontonians in our recycling programs, it still means that waste doubles during the holiday season. There are several things we can do during the Holidays to help reduce the amount of waste produced. This can be as simple as giving experiences as gifts, planning for leftovers, wrapping gifts with reusable materials and decorating for lasting memories. I personally enjoy a family soup recipe that uses turkey bones and leftover vegetables. We want to hear from you. Join our Waste-Less Holidays contest and share what you do to reduce waste during the holidays―via Facebook, Twitter (using the hashtag #wastelessholidays) or comment on this blog post. We will feature some of the best ideas along with other Holiday waste-reduction tips on edmonton.ca/wastelessholidays. The prize? A family pass to a City recreation facility and the Muttart Conservatory—a great waste-free gift for the Holidays! Entries must be submitted before midnight MDT on Thursday, December 19, 2013. Check our full contest rules and regulations. To get you started, please find below some waste-reduction tips for the holiday season from our Master Composter Recyclers. When it is time to clean up from the Holidays, it is important to not let a bit of excessive garbage or recycling overwhelm you. Check our What Goes Where Poster and Holiday Recycling page for details on how to sort your waste. Items like Christmas lights and large decorations can cause problems at the recycling sorting facility. Watch this video to see where your recycling goes, and why it is important to ‘know before you throw’. Waste-Less Holidays tips: Start a tradition of making your own edible ornaments. Spend quality time with your family to make gingerbread ornaments and popcorn and cranberry garlands while listening to Christmas music. Waste is nearly nil when you eat your ornaments before taking down your Christmas tree. ―Roch L Buy second-hand. I bought a few trucks at a garage sale this summer and stashed them away for our toddler for Christmas. ―Nicola T Set up a craft table for kids during holiday events or parties. The crafts can be made from items found at the Reuse Centre. ―Roger B Make gift bags from envelopes. Learn how. ―Kylie G I have been saving my mandarin orange boxes to use as containers. This Christmas I am going to have my kids paint them instead of using wrapping paper and put gifts inside them. It reuses the boxes as well as reduces the wrapping paper I use. ―Kristin A During the Holidays, I try and reduce waste by crocheting items for my loved ones instead of buying gifts that include pesky packaging. I also use re-usable gift bags and colourful gift boxes instead of wrapping paper. ―Tara Y Happy Holidays―and remember the three Rs―Reduce, Reuse and Recycle!

Remembering Edmonton’s Aviation History

KIvany — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 18:07:51 +0000

The City Centre Airport closed on November 30, 2013. As part of the City’s recognition of that site’s history, the City Archives was asked to build a “living” time capsule for display in City Hall. With members of staff and our colleagues at the Alberta Aviation Museum I started work on gathering artifacts and images which could tell the story from Hagman’s farm in the early 1920s to City Centre Airport in 2013. The artifacts were collected by City staff as various tenants of buildings on the new Blatchford development site have been clearing out their buildings, and from the Airport Authority as well. Items collected included a wind sock, lights and light covers from beside the runways as well as signal switches which turned them on and off. The Aviation Museum contributed a pilot’s manual from the 418^th Squadron, which was stationed out at the field during the Second World War, and some very fragile pieces of painted canvas and wood which once formed part of a biplane belonging to aviator and later CP Airline executive Grant McConachie. [caption id="attachment_4614" align="aligncenter" width="422" caption="Grant McConachie, who in 1931 started a transport company into the north and throughout western Canada, standing before his Lockeed Lodestar. McConachie's company grew into Canadian Pacific Airlines."][/caption] Looking at the Archives collection of photographs related to aviation yielded some interesting information and a potential new virtual exhibit. We discovered in our collection a display which was developed for the 50th anniversary of aviation in the city, supposedly starting with a short flight in a home-made flying machine in 1909. As well as that exhibit which has hundreds of photographs in it, the Archives resident volunteer documentary photographer, Hubert Hollingworth, also has provided us with lots of images of the airport, aviators and bush pilots, and their machines. Other smaller collections document the special events at the airport (such as air shows and visits of dignitaries and international aviation celebrities) and airplanes of all kinds. Since the display space available at City Hall is relatively small, and there were large artifacts available, the task of narrowing down the selection of images was hard. There are so many tales to tell, from the bush pilots and their daring adventures to the development of freighting and resource exploration in the north, from the home front efforts to train RCAF pilots and navigators to the refueling and repair work to keep planes in the air to assist the lend-lease program supplying Russia with planes during the Second World War, and the growth after the war in commercial trans-Canada flights. We have decided that since the display case will be out at City Hall for a number of years we should continue to change the images and artifacts over time to keep the information fresh and provide frequent visitors with new information. Be sure to check out the little “living time capsule” at City Hall if you are downtown, and keep your eye on our virtual exhibits to see when we reproduce the 50th Anniversary of Aviation in Edmonton display on-line. [caption id="attachment_4613" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="EA-427-4 Pilots Vic Horner and Wop May flew diphtheria serum to Fort Vermilion at the end of December, 1928 in an open cockpit biplane through severe weather."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_4615" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="EA-10-3181-46-4 Women Refueling Airplane 1940. The enlistment of many men for war duty left a labour shortage in Edmonton and elsewhere. Women stepped into roles previously barred to them. The airport companies hired women to fix, fuel and ferry airplanes."][/caption]

Evolving Infill and Public Engagement

jchase — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 16:53:59 +0000

By the early 1990s, the discipline of urban planning widely began using the terms ‘public engagement’ and ‘public consultation’ to describe how groups outside City Hall could contribute to city building decisions. Since then, there have been significant shifts in what ‘engagement’ and ‘consultation’ mean and how they are used in decision making processes. The concept is constantly evolving and we continue to learn. The City of Edmonton often uses public engagement and consultation to share information and provide opportunities for feedback on a range of new plans, developments, and civic projects. Multiple public engagement and consultation events are held each month. As a City, we have been lucky to work with a range of diverse, thoughtful and energetic Edmontonians who have participated and provided feedback on our city building initiatives. Evolving Infill is one of the City’s newest projects. The project aims to use public engagement to generate new ideas and opportunities for changing how the City supports residential infill (new houses in older neighbourhoods) and accommodates population growth in the coming years. This time we are trying a different approach to public engagement: We’re asking Edmontonians to tell us about their own experiences with residential infill and to suggest changes to how we might support infill in the future. We’re doing this instead of asking for reactions to something the City has already proposed. Infill is a complex issue. Everyone has different ideas, perspectives and understandings about what infill means and how it should be done. Planning with complexity is difficult, but the Evolving Infill project aims to capitalize on this complexity to address and respond to neighbourhood change in an effective, creative and productive way. We are collecting stories, perspectives, and ideas that help us to both better understand infill in Edmonton, and to support future residential infill development in meaningful and actionable ways that are responsive to what we learn through the Evolving Infill engagement process. This is a tall order. It is an exciting approach that invites new opportunities and insights as we embark on a journey of learning and building together. Evolving Infill rolls out now through April 2014! Have an idea to share about residential infill? Take part in the conversation. Check out the project website for details and opportunities to get involved www.edmonton.ca/evolvinginfill. More to come!

Top 20 City News of 2013

JasonD — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 17:53:35 +0000

Every day of the year, stories about the City of Edmonton or the civic services we provide make up a significant portion of the news coverage by our local newspapers and broadcast media.

City staff are proud of the services we provide, and the role we play in delivering on the priorities of Edmontonians. But sometimes we face challenges. Thanks to weather, economic factors, funding challenges, or planning issues, we don’t always fully satisfy the people we serve. And we make the news. Other times, we capitalize on opportunities to advance community interests. From international sports events to local innovations, we sometimes make the news for all the right reasons.

Our communications team compiled a list of what we thought were the top 20 City of Edmonton news items of 2013. We want you to tell us which ones you think will have the biggest impact next year and beyond.

Also, please use the comments section to let us know what other stories about the City of Edmonton should have made our top 20 for 2013.

1. War on Potholes: As the previous winter's snow melted for the last time, following a series of freeze-thaw cycles, potholes took over many Edmonton streets like never before. City Council boosted the 2013 roadworks budget by $21 million to accelerate extra rehabilitation work on arterial and neighbourhood roads, on top of the annual investments in place for thoroughfares and the Neighbourhood Renewal Program. Extra crews working night and day set a new record with approximately 750,000 potholes filled for the year. Potholes are sure to return in 2014 due to our climate and geological conditions, but 2013’s major repair season aims to reduce the roadway deterioration and turn around the infrastructure neglect of past decades.

2. Building an Iconic Bridge: Work began on the new Walterdale Bridge in downtown Edmonton, replacing an essential piece of infrastructure that has served Edmonton well for a century. The beginning of construction for the new signature gateway to downtown culminated several years of preparation to establish an iconic crossing of the North Saskatchewan River Valley that will serve Edmontonians for generations.

3. Downtown Arena District Moves Ahead: The final piece of funding for the downtown arena was approved by City Council in May, paving the way for the project to move ahead and contribute to the revitalization of Edmonton’s downtown. Council approved a capital profile (see backgrounder) for the arena project and associated infrastructure. The arena project is a centrepiece in continuing the momentum for downtown revitalization, which has included the 104 Street developments, the Capital Boulevard, The Quarters and the provincial project to build a new Royal Alberta Museum.

4. Community Goes Green: Edmonton’s first Green Neighbourhood opened in 2013. Oxford, in northwest Edmonton, is the first large subdivision where the City of Edmonton set environmental standards that apply to every home. Each Oxford home must achieve at least an EnerGuide 78 rating. Most new homes built in Alberta today meet an EnerGuide rating of between 65 and 72. The builder partners in Oxford must achieve a BuiltGreen silver rating as well as EnerGuide 78.

5. Smart Bus Pilot: The Edmonton Transit System (ETS) introduced Smart Bus technology in 2013, with enhancements to the ETS Control Centre and ETS inspector vehicles. Next, ETS rolled out a pilot of real-time bus location status for routes 111 and 128 and live departure boards at select transit centres. The pilot buses are equipped with technology to provide transit riders and staff with on-time status of the bus compared to scheduled time along the route; next stop announcements to assist customers with visual impairments and people not familiar with the route; and enhanced monitoring for response to emergency situations. The enhancements come as ETS marks a milestone of ridership nearly doubling in just over a decade, increasing from 44 million rides in 2002 to 86.7 million rides in 2013. ETS also celebrated 20 years of accessible bus service and 35 years of LRT operations in Edmonton.

6. Smart Growth Up, In and Out: Edmonton began a process aimed at securing a vital economic growth corridor along the QE II highway and ensuring strong core for sustainable regional prosperity, while focussing efforts to increase density in central areas. In March City Council announced a process to extend the City’s southern boundary to facilitate responsible growth in the region. As the first annexation process Edmonton has undertaken in 30 years, the process is expected to take two to five years. The City also launched Evolving Infill, a project to advance residential infill in the city’s established neighbourhoods. The first phase aims at creating a city-wide discussion of the need to build up within established communities, working in tandem with new density guidelines for new development across the city. The City also increased opportunities for highrise development with the closure of the final runway at the City Centre Airport. This final closure will remove height restrictions on development in the central areas of the City, continuing the trend of new growth allowed by the decision in 2009 to close the first runway.

7. Flooding Prompts Drainage Action: The torrential rains that created catastrophic flooding across southern Alberta clearly made the top news story for the province in 2013. Thankfully, Edmonton escaped the worst impact, and was able to send resources to help with flood relief and cleanup. The heavy rain storms did not leave Edmonton unscathed. Severe flooding in localized areas reinforced the urgency for implementing an enhanced flood prevention program. This fall, Council approved additional projects worth $4.7 million to expedite construction and design activity to deal with immediate needs particularly in Millbourne, southwest Edmonton and various locations throughout Mill Woods. An Expanded Flood Prevention Program worth $162 million will be reviewed for the 2015-2018 capital budget, next fall.

8. Serving up on Sidewalks: The City took steps to streamline approvals for sidewalk cafes, to allow more people to enjoy the wide variety of dining opportunities while enjoying Edmonton’s fantastic summers. A complicated process restaurateurs face include approvals from Alberta Health Services, Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission and two City departments: Transportation Services and Sustainable Development. The City divided applications for sidewalk cafes into two categories to deliver City permits faster. Fees for patios were also reduced for the 2014 Budget with a decrease by 69% for large cafes and 92% for small cafes. Also in 2013, the City revised policies that allow food trucks and street vendors more flexibility in where they park and the hours they operate.

9. LRT System Expansion Made Top Priority: As construction neared completion on the Metro Line and preliminary engineering wound up for the Valley Line, the newly elected Mayor and Council identified LRT expansion as the City of Edmonton's top priority for new infrastructure investment. The City has already committed $800 million to building the Valley Line, and the push is on for partnership funding for the project's $1.8 million southeast to downtown portion from the provincial and federal governments. Earlier in the year, the Government of Canada and City of Edmonton announced a Public-Private Partnership (P3) to speed up Light Rail Transit access for Edmontonians. The financing strategy announcement followed news earlier in the year about the new names for the five current and future LRT lines.

10. Demand for Digital Delivery: To improve accountability and openness, the City expanded its Citizen Dashboard with performance indicators on a range of services, from Fire Rescue response times to tree pruning, from 311 call time to greenhouse gas reduction. At the same time, more City services were made available online to provide greater convenience to Edmontonians, from the new election app to a web process to apply and pay for temporary sign permits, to an app for finding lost pets. Use of the main City website edmonton.ca rose by 13% in 2013, with 10.8 million visits compared to 9.6 million visits last year. The City also released a beta of its next-generation map site for easier use and expanded layers, as well as the enhanced Construction on your Streets map. Edmontonians can now subscribe to receive all news releases by email or through the growing list of social media sites. As part of economic development initiatives, a one-stop-shop website was launched to inform potential investors and developers about the City’s industrial areas, development processes and contacts. The City also teamed up with the Writers’ Guild of Alberta to launch the city’s first Writer-at-Work project. Professional writer Shirley Serviss was selected for the six-month pilot project to write for the City’s Transforming Edmonton blog on City employees and the work they do to deliver civic services to Edmontonians. Serviss will also provide writing workshops and one-on-one sessions for City staff.

11. Infrastructure Construction Tops Investment: The City of Edmonton wrapped up one of the largest construction seasons on record in 2013, with over $224 million spent on the Building Great Neighbourhoods program and more than $265 million invested in roadworks across the city. The Building Great Neighbourhoods initiative coordinates three city programs to renew and replace neighbourhood infrastructure and enhance the overall livability of mature communities across Edmonton. The work on drainage systems, community needs, and neighbourhood roads, sidewalks and streetlights, includes funding unique in Canada to revamp or rebuild full neighbourhoods. The reopening of Jasper Avenue capped of the robust road works construction season that saw the completion of reconstruction on 25 major arterial roads, five major rehab projects for bridges and interchanges and 32 projects for asphalt overlay on arterial routes.

12. Edmonton City Centre Airport Closes: Edmonton City Council directed city administration to request that the Edmonton Regional Airports Authority (ERAA) close the remaining runway at the Edmonton City Centre Airport on November 30, 2013. The move allows the City to move ahead on the Blatchford Redevelopment, which will create one of Canada’s largest sustainable mixed-use developments that offers a walkable, transit-oriented and family-friendly community. Construction of underground infrastructure is slated to begin in 2014. The project team will begin pre-construction work, which includes removal and recycling of the existing runways and other hard surfaces to supply aggregate for future roads. Blatchford will be home to up to 30,000 Edmontonians living, working and learning in a sustainable community that uses 100% renewable energy, is carbon neutral, significantly reduces its ecological footprint, and empowers residents to pursue a range of sustainable lifestyle choices.

13. Waste Not, Want More Recycling: The City of Edmonton celebrated 25 years of recycling services, making Edmonton a world leader in sustainable waste management. Edmonton was the first major city in Canada to implement curbside recycling, and since its inception in 1988 Edmontonians have set out enough recycling to form a convoy of trucks from Edmonton to Lake Superior, Ontario, a distance of approximately 2,500 kilometres. Through recycling alone, Edmonton diverts close to 20 per cent of residential waste from landfill through recycling. The City of Edmonton also celebrated 2 million visits to its Eco Stations in the spring of 2013, resulting in the diversion of 16,093,483 litres of household hazardous waste out of landfill. The first Eco Station opened in 1995 and since then the stations have received: 98,840 tires; 4,773,600 litres of paint; 5,494,443 litres of oil; 5,304,800 litres of household chemicals; 403,349 fluorescent bulbs; 191,144 TVs and 221,392 computer monitors, among many other items.

14. World Comes to Edmonton: In January 2013, Edmonton learned it won a bid to host the 2014 ITU Grand Final Triathlon. The Grand Final, triathlon’s largest race on the International Triathlon Union (ITU) calendar, will attract more than 5,000 athletes and a worldwide television audience of 21 million in 160 countries in September 2014. Then Edmonton learned FIFA - the world governing body for soccer - named our city as one of four Canadian cities selected to host matches in next year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014. The announcement added to the excitement of a spring decision to name Edmonton a host for the elite competition in 2015, when Edmonton is to host 11 games during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015, including the opening match, the bronze medal game, a semi-final, quarter-finals and group matches. To top it off, in September 120 top level professional cyclists from around the world, including Peter Sagan - points winner of the 2012 and 2013 Tour de France, descended on Edmonton for the opening leg of the first Tour of Alberta cycle race. The six-day, 900 km race across Alberta showcased vistas of the Capital City to viewers around the world.

15. Canadian Women's Basketball Team Calls Edmonton Home: City Council has cleared the way for Edmonton to become the home of the Canadian Women’s Basketball Team. This decision supports the city’s ongoing efforts to affirm its reputation as a centre of excellence for sport development, while also aligning with Canada Basketball’s goal of expanding its operations.

16. Food (Council) for Thought: The City launched its first Edmonton Food Council of 15 citizens who will advise City staff on food and urban agriculture matters and will support the implementation of fresh, Edmonton’s Food and Urban Agriculture Strategy.

17. Election Brings Change to Council: Edmonton’s new Council was officially sworn in October 29, following a municipal election that brought change to half of the 12 council members. Former two-term Councillor Don Iveson became Edmonton’s 35th Mayor. Voter turnout of 34.5 per cent (213,585 people) was a slight increase over the 2010 election, likely due to a raft of issues, from roads and transit, to the Arena and city growth. Despite having six new members, the first major business of Council - the 2014 City Budget - was reviewed and finalized in the shortest amount of time in the last decade.

18. Renaissance in Boyle Street: The City of Edmonton and the Province of Alberta joined community funders and supporters to open the $42.2 million Boyle Renaissance Phase I development, which includes housing, services and shared public space that the community needs. The project is a special planning area within The Quarters Downtown Community Revitalization Levy (CRL) Area Plan. Boyle Renaissance Phase II, consisting of a 90-unit seniors’ facility located on 95 Street between 104 Avenue and 105 Avenue, is scheduled to open in early 2014.

19. Economy Shines Brightest: The City of Edmonton’s Chief Economist, John Rose, kept close tabs on the economy in 2013 to help ensure the City plans wisely for population growth, economic activity and social needs, and along they way he helped identify what so many national economists missed: the Alberta capital is Canada’s economic engine.

Employment growth is estimated at 3% for 2013, with 18,000 new jobs added to the Edmonton region's job market, which is significantly higher than the national average.
Net in migration to the City of Edmonton due to the promise of employment and other opportunities such as investment and education, is estimated at 10,000 in 2013, which works out to just about 30 people coming to Edmonton every day this year
Inflation in the Edmonton region has remained unusually low with an average of 1% for consumer products in 2013. CPI will move up in 2014 to the 2% to 2.5% range
home construction activity in Edmonton has surpassed the total annual level reached in 2012—which was the best year on record since the financial crisis of 2008, with over 9,700 starts recorded from January to November 2013. That is an increase of almost 10% from 2012.
Unemployment is expected to average 5% in 2014, which is virtually full employment

While most of North America and Europe are handing in disappointingly tepid results, the Edmonton region’s economy experienced robust growth throughout 2013, setting the pace for solid gains in 2014 and continued promise to outperform Canada’s levels throughout the year ahead.

20. Light the Bridge: City Council decides to support the community-led project to illuminate the iconic High Level Bridge. Funded entirely by donations from private citizens and corporations, the $2.5 million dollar Light the Bridge project remains on track to have approximately 60,000 energy-efficient, coloured LED bulbs installed on the century-old bridge by July 1, 2014.

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The Edmonton Historical Board: Then and Now

Elizabeth Walker — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 17:22:14 +0000

The City of Edmonton Archives share office space with the Edmonton Historical Board (EHB) and they’ve been working on all sorts of interesting things lately so I decided it was a good time for a post on them. The Archives, the EHB and the City’s Artifacts Centre share a common history, starting with an Archives Committee created by City Council in 1938. Although originally formed “to have charge of the Archives of the City” the Committee quickly went beyond this mandate and started to gather as much historical material as they could. Over the years, the activities of the Committee (renamed the Archives and Landmarks Committee in 1947) ranged from running exhibits in places like the Civic Block to placing commemorative plaques around the City. Images of the Committees’ exhibit spaces are evidence of the enthusiasm of their collection activities (as is the richness of the Archives’ collections). [caption id="attachment_4667" align="aligncenter" width="416" caption="EA-10-2413 “Historical Exhibit Opening – Civic Block” August 12, 1958 Mayor Hawrelak (seated on the right) and members of the Archives and Landmarks Committee"][/caption] The artifacts gathered by the Committee were the nucleus of the collections now held by the Artifacts Centre and many are used in Fort Edmonton Park and the John Walter Museum. Other items are in storage as they are outside of the mandate of these museums. There is an initiative underway to form a city museum, and these artifacts could be used there. [caption id="attachment_4668" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="EA-10-2296 “Commer Truck 1910” 1957 James Falconer (far left) and John Easton (seated) ceremonially receiving the keys. The Committee planned to use this truck to generate interest in an outdoor museum."][/caption] The records of the Committee are really interesting to a student of archives like me. One of the first things they did was write to other municipalities, provinces and the Public Archives of Canada, asking what they were doing with their archives. The replies range from a terse, “this City does not have a Committee on Archives” to wonderfully detailed advice on how to set up and run an archives (most of these replies contradict each other). It’s an interesting snapshot of the history of archives in Canada and some of the people involved would be familiar to most archivists. I believe the Committee overstretched themselves and, while they accomplished a great deal, it was unsustainable. By the 1960s they’d reached the end of what their volunteer base could do. For example they were having trouble getting enough volunteers to keep their exhibits open. The Archives and Landmarks Bylaw was amended and the Committee became the Edmonton Historical Board. I found some correspondence between the City Commissioners, James Falconer (chairman of the EHB) and John Janzen (Superintendant of Parks and Recreation) working out a new structure for the Board. This new structure placed administration of the Board and its “properties” within the Parks and Recreation department. The EHB, as well as the Archives and the Artifacts Centre, remain within this department’s successor body – Community Services. The present Board continues to commemorate Edmonton’s history through the annual Historical Plaques and Recognition Awards. They also raise awareness of Edmonton’s history through initiatives like Edmonton’s Architectural Heritage website and the Historian Laureate program (run in conjunction with the Edmonton Heritage Council). Could you see yourself as a member of the EHB? Or even as Edmonton’s Historian Laureate? It’s something to think about and nominations are open! [caption id="attachment_4669" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="EA-20-7199 “Mayor Purves Unveiling Plaque” 1981 The plaque is for the Alex Taylor School located at Jasper Ave and 93 Street."][/caption]

Waste Collectors: Making a Difference Every Day

KMcGeown — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 21:47:46 +0000

Drivers Joe Peden and Chad Mickleborough dish the dirt during a ride along

There is no mucking around with Edmonton’s waste collectors, who roam the City during rain, hail and snow to clear our curbs of garbage and recycling. Their 10-hour day begins at 6.30 a.m. with the roars of around 60 trucks boosting up to disperse across various parts of the city. Each collector has about 700 houses daily per route and they work against the clock to ensure no street is left unturned. It is by no means an easy task, judging by all the meandering lanes and rounded cul-de-sacs they have to contend with, not to mention trying to reverse a giant truck through them. “What makes it tougher are the parked cars on the street blocking our access and making space tighter,” says Joe Peden, as he skillfully moves the truck forward and back to go from house-to-house in a particularly tight cul-de-sac. Some of the garbage set outs were considerate to the collector with bags weighing less than 20kg, but others had bags heaving at 40-50kg, requiring a huge amount of effort to lift and heave into the truck—a serious risk of injury to collectors. Another challenge was bags busting under the weight, scattering garbage across the sidewalk for the collector to try to clear up. Jumping on and off their truck, waste collectors collect 14,000 to 22,000kg per day—and on this particular ride along—gathering 10,000kg of garbage in only three hours. “We definitely don’t need a gym membership,” says Chad Mickleborough. Every now and again he presses the magic button to compact the garbage in the truck, jokingly warning to keep a good distance, “you never know what will spray out” he laughs. Once the truck reaches its maximum 10,000kg, it’s time to deliver the contents for processing at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre before going back to finish their route. “On a good day, I can get it done in one load, but I often need to go back to finish my route when the garbage set out is heavy, like today,” says Joe. This is always the case during summer with all the grass clippings, and fall with all the leaves they have to collect. Once their own routes are complete, Joe and Chad head off to help finish other routes. “We work together to get it done,” they say with pride. Winter brings its own set of challenges; slippery waste collection sites, snow piles limiting maneuvering space, and heavy bags and cans sitting on top of windrows instead of where they should be—on level ground, it’s all in a day’s work for a waste collector. A waste collector’s work is often invisible—we set out our garbage every week and it magically disappears. However, judging by the respect shown by the residents who look out for the arrival of their waste collector with an appreciative “thank you”, our collectors definitely make a difference every day. “One of the best parts of the job is the relationship we build with residents—particularly in communities with older people who greet me on a weekly basis,” smiles Chad. Visit www.edmonton.ca/waste to learn how you can make our collectors’ jobs safer.