Back to School Headlines
Back to school. Back to school. To prove to dad that I'm not a fool.
Good morning, Edmonton.
Bouncing off this morning’s photo, how about we lead with some school stories.
New schools dressed to the nines for opening day (Edmonton”s got lots of new schools for this year.)
Hardisty welcomes new students (Yet, school closures remains a shadow on the new year.)
Group protests against Bill 44 at Alberta Legislature
—–
Now I want to tell you a story.
This is a story about a city with an airport right in the middle of it.
I want you to picture this city, and its central airport. On a sunny afternoon.
The city decides to close this airport and create something new in the middle of the urban landscape. It’s not every day that kind of opportunity presents itself to a city.
This city is a thriving capital. The airport, a historical one at that, doesn’t have as much use as it once did, as passenger traffic flies out of different international airports now.
There’s a design competition. Dozens of proposals are put forward. A half-dozen options are chosen to be explored further, before one design is selected as the next incarnation of this airport. The design will pay homage to the history of the site, but create something different that will benefit the city, and its residents.
A city with an airport right at its centre. Not used as much with the international traffic elsewhere. Potential for something that can be used by more of its residents in new ways.
I want you to picture that city.
Can you see it?
Now imagine that city is Berlin.
—–
Sorry, I couldn’t resist going all A Time To Kill on you after I read about Berlin’s airport redevelopment.
Don’t forget to check the Berlin designs (which all focus on the land becoming a park of some sort), including the new kingdom of bees.
Edmonton’s airport potential, and thoughts from one of the short-listed designers, is the story in our news today.
from the Edmonton Journal:
Oilsands PR machine ready to hit Ontario
Premier’s mute button on for 48 hours
From the Calgary Herald: Alberta reviews how Dirty Oil film got cash (So the arts and film grants will soon become part of the propaganda department? More on film stuff from SEE, below.)
from the National Post: Alberta to review rules on water in oil sands (Ah, government, getting a report on a report. Next up: a task force.)
Fort McMurray launches plastic bag ban
Phone rebate limited to current customers (I wonder if I’ll get one.)
from the Edmonton Sun:
Maintenance on LRT route (You can’t get to Clareview this long weekend.)
Alberta takes boycott battle to U.S. firms (Now imagine we spent this kind of time, effort, and money, on figuring out how to generate our power from renewable, green, resources.)
from the Edmonton Examiner:
City launches bus route from Mill Woods to NAIT
from 630CHED/iNews880:
MADD Edmonton speaks out over Khabibulin legal troubles (Does he have “troubles,” or is he just a drunk driver?)
Changes at 630 CHED start Sept. 1st (What the Corus newsroom isn’t touting in their story is the fact they’re turfing other long-time Edmonton radio voices. This, and a quip or two on Twitter, has me thinking of doing something local/Calgary related in the headlines soon.)
from CBC Edmonton:
Online safety statistics incomplete: AFL
from CTV Edmonton:
Alta. woman returns home after undergoing controversial procedure for MS
from Global Edmonton:
Beverly Motel shut down for 30 days (But I had just booked a luxurious stay…)
City funds solar power (More like, rebates solar power.)
from Vue Weekly:
Failure to enforce (There are rules?)
from SEE Magazine:
Let’s hope that was a really important call (Driving while phoning. Scary stuff.)
Local news is back in the news, as CBC fights Shaw and Bell.
September 1 Headlines
from the Edmonton Journal:
Renner dismisses oilsands toxins report (I’m sorry, could someone float me a link or business card, is Rob Renner’s title Environment Minister or Oilsands Minister?)
Buyers gain the edge in Edmonton resale housing (I was pretty sure they had the edge for the last two years.)
We’ve got a couple of health stories from the Postmedia Network: Alberta schools to help push med students toward rural practice and Alberta health doles out $44M to boost health grads
From the Calgary Herald: Former speakers slam ‘bully’ Kowalski for abuse of power
from the Edmonton Sun:
‘No bodily functions’ signs working in inner-city park
Huge send-off for Gord Whitehead (Buried in this Graham Hicks column is the real question: Why does Edmonton’s news-talk station, 630 CHED, have no Edmonton news-talk programs, but two such shows out of Calgary? Are we taking crazy pills here at the edmontonian by always talking local?)
From the Calgary Sun: Alberta funded anti-oilsands film (We can’t have that. That’s not what arts and film grants are for, they’re not for art. They’re for government-approved art and film.)
from 630CHED/iNews880:
Kids back to school (Try not to run them over, with their little bag lunches and backpacks.)
from CBC Edmonton:
Garbage-to-biofuel plant launched in Edmonton (Come on, we’re all thinking about the end of Back to the Future now.)
Councillor calls for public vote on airport (Linda Sloan doesn’t care if the petition is legitimate, as long as those nice people tried really hard to do something. Gold stars for everyone!)
from CTV Edmonton:
Oilers goalie Nikolai Khabibulin appeals sentence (That was fast. I mean, he was only sentenced yesterday. The good news, if you can call it that, is that this means he can be at training camp. I think that will leave Edmonton with 23 goaltenders. It’s going to be a long year, Oilers fans.)
Delays expected on LRT as students head back to class (A good problem to have in one way; it proves that people will ride transit if it’s more frequent and connects to more parts of the city.)
from Global Edmonton:
Twilight not allowed to reopen
from CityTV Edmonton:
Police name Vader a suspect (This is in the case of the missing McCanns.)
End of August Headlines
Summer is over.
Deal with it.
I can’t deal with it.
from the Edmonton Journal:
Two Edmonton firms charged with asbestos violations
Skateboard park underway to serve Fulton Ravine area
Albertans retain their appetite for eating out (Mostly, I eat waffles.)
From the Calgary Herald: Alberta rejects therapy to quit smoking
from the Edmonton Sun:
Edmonton neighbourhood renewals done by 2025: City
Council guns plan for airport vote questions (I thought we’d make it a day without anything on the City Centre Airport.)
from the Globe and Mail:
Wildrose cries foul after Alberta clerk censures party for press releases (Even the Liberals think the rule books are being broken out more for the Wildrose.)
Edmonton school board sues gas firm over 2008 fire
from 630CHED/iNews880:
Gov’t still not convinced after river study (You and your “science.” Over at the Journal, Graham Thomson has a few things to say about water monitoring in Alberta.)
from CBC Edmonton:
4th candidate enters Mayoral race (Another mayoral candidate says we “deserve great.”)
Not boycotting oilsands, 3 U.S. firms say
And it appears everyone has a story on the arctic cruise ship passengers who came through our city after the ship hit a rock, way up north.
August 30 Edmonton Headlines
I knew it.
I knew if I sat inside on that one nice weekend that summer would end early.
Time to head to MEC and grab some fall cycling gear so I can feel like I didn’t let my bike sit there, again.
The good news (for all of us) is that, outside of oil and gas, we appear to be finding new ways to fill the provincial government’s piggy bank. The bad news is we’re just drinking and gambling to do that.
At least we have plan B?
from the Edmonton Journal:
Airport land contamination ‘minor’ (Any side of the City Centre Airport debate you’re on, this is a good news.)
Power-line rally offered glimpse of next election (Still on the Stelmach no-show.)
Empower people to revive democracy
Alberta to announce website to track employer safety records (If there’s a lot of information on the site this could be a fantastic tool.)
St. Albert parents ante up for full-day kindergarten
Three more cat killings in Edmonton bring mutilation total to eight
Noodle chain sprouts a franchise plan
Edmonton Food Bank does OK at Eskimos game (They did VERY ok.)
Edmonton book festival shuns literary for ‘real life’
Scott gets misty over his love affair with Edmonton (McKeen’s winding down his City Hall column with a few non-City Hall bits and bites.)
Mentoring African youth will help them adjust to life in Canada
Young Edmonton researcher honoured
$10 million winning Lotto Max ticket sold in Edmonton (Time to check your ticket. Perhaps this will be the best Monday ever.)
from the Edmonton Sun:
Alberta: spirit to achieve, rooms to rent
Could be worse: at least you’re going somewhere (Could this be our future if Don Koziak gets us all into cars?)
from the Globe and Mail:
Elevated levels of toxins found in Athabasca River
from Metro Edmonton:
Gambling on Edmonton’s voter apathy (I’d bet on Mandel.)
from 630CHED/iNews880:
Khabibulin found guilty on three charges
8,600 attend Rock the River at Telus Field (Rewritten news release? They certainly weren’t taking the photos.)
from CBC Edmonton:
Twilight Afterhours Club wants to reopen (Just as the Iron Horse has new restrictions placed on it.)
Edmonton police seek beating death witnesses
from CTV Edmonton:
Celebrity tweet brings notoriety to Edmonton (I think the mayor needs a sense of humour, it’s all publicity. And CTV needs to show something they’re willing to spend this much time talking about. Otherwise aren’t viewers sitting there asking the TV “What did she do? What’s so bad?” Way to respect your audience.)
from Global Edmonton:
Grand opening (A new park for kids.)
End of the week Headlines
Good morning, Edmonton.
It's time to just relax after another tough week.
Are you ready for what should be an election campaign dominated by the City Centre Airport Debate? If the petition goes through, and we have a question on our election ballots about keeping the airport open, or closing it, it will likely overshadow ward debates, other city issues, and the very important public school board election.
What is this, round 3, 4?
Thursday, Envision Edmonton delivered their petition signatures to the City Clerk’s office. At least one councillor is questioning some of the tactics to get to this point.
This is probably going to be messy, which is too bad, since it should just be a reasoned question of where Edmonton goes in the next few decades.
Hey, maybe closing the airport would save us money on the northbound LRT.
But enough about that airport. There’s going to be plenty, PLENTY, of time to write about that. Because 2009 never happened.
AIRPORT!
from the Edmonton Journal:
Premier justified skipping meeting (As I read this, they’re saying the Premier doesn’t have to be an MLA, engaged in his actual constituency.)
Portal to Albertans’ health data open wider
Community paper’s financial woes threaten crucial local voice (Should we save all old forms of media in their current incarnations, or help them evolve to new technological, information, business, consumption models? This basically asks for money. And takes digs at blogs and volunteer writers. I didn’t realize the Rat Creek Press had an office at Edmonton City Hall.)
from the Edmonton Sun:
Provincial report suggests 20% of northeastern Alberta could be protected
U of A home to new geomechanical centre (More on the U of A from the Globe and Mail.)
from The Canadian Press:
More major U.S. corporations join boycott of Alberta oilsands fuel (You’re going to recognize all four companies.)
from CBC Edmonton:
We’ll turn to the CBC for some animal news. Falcon nests find home under bridge and a Black bear sighted in Edmonton.
from CTV Edmonton:
Habitat for Humanity controversy (This one in our city, not St. Albert.)
from Global Edmonton:
Fourth anniversary of Stephanie Stewart’s disappearance (She was a fire tower worker near Hinton.)
Did we mention the airport was in the news?
Thursday Headlines
That's Richard Daley, volunteer coordinator of the Londonderry Police Information Centre, posing outside of the police chiefs conference with an old-school ride.
It’s a big day, Edmonton.
The Envision Edmonton group says they’ll be delivering 100,000 petition signatures, 85,000 of them legitimate, confirmed, city voters, to ask city council for a plebiscite about keeping the City Centre Airport open, on our municipal ballot, October 18.
Verifying the signatures will cost the city about $100,000.
Since I doubt they got 30,000 signatures in their last week, it appears they held back just a little with their number reporting throughout the 60-day period. That probably allowed them to keep the pressure on, by implying they needed more, more, more. Or they just weren’t counting petition signatures sitting on counters at various Edmonton businesses.
Any way you cut it, this city appears to be on a(nother) collision course over the City Centre Airport. Yay!(?)
—–
And, if I had $100-million for every headline like this (which happens about every three months, most years) I’d be nearly as rich as the oil companies: Stronger oil price helps Alberta’s budget.
Oh, and Alberta’s government isn’t ruling out a provincial sales tax, though the Premier says “not on his watch.” But Graham Thomson still thinks Ted Morton has uncanny luck with budgets.
from the Edmonton Journal:
Edmonton public art seen as public cost (Business won’t have to pay to include public art in their designs.)
Survey finds demand for downtown dining, entertainment (If you needed a survey to learn that people want restaurants, shopping, and entertainment in a city’s downtown, you should just write me cheques, and I’ll tell you obvious things.)
Mural plants seeds of rebirth for community
Edmonton-based Stantec buys Ashen + Allen (They have been buying and buying.)
Internet scam artist hits ‘new low’
from the Edmonton Sun:
Turnover at Edmonton airport soars (That would be the Edmonton International Airport.)
Edmonton DATS workers get pay raise
Odd pairings in the city (Sometimes a business doesn’t get to choose its neighbours.)
from Metro Edmonton:
What makes a professional police officer? (From the police chiefs conference.)
Police seeking collaboration (More chiefs.)
from the Edmonton Examiner:
from 630CHED/iNews880:
Chief Boyd ready for the future (Police chiefs again.)
from CBC Edmonton:
Blackett defends TV is ‘crap’ remark (I read this to make sure it was a new story. It is.)
from CTV Edmonton:
Premier Stelmach a no-show at powerline meeting (The empty chair and name card always look embarrassing.)
Edmonton regulator stands by safety of mixed martial arts
from Vue Weekly:
Bankrupt politics (What is that private health clinic in Calgary, really?)
from SEE Magazine:
SEE’s gone back to school with An education in schooling and Reinventing Alberta’s advantage.
Just about all newsrooms went to hear Lance Armstrong speak. About his Lance-ness.
They also, mostly, had this story about a manhunt ending here in the city.
August 25 Headlines
You’d think kicking things off with a graveyard photo would be a bad omen. Nah. That’s just a photo, from Tanya, of one of the City of Edmonton’s cemetery tours. There’s some serious history in those places.
—–
Hey, you might wonder, why do I note some stories are from the Calgary Herald, but not when it’s in the Vancouver Sun, or sometimes even the Herald? (Check the $14-million homeless housing story/gold award for an example.) Well, most of the newsrooms we’re dealing with (except Vue) are part of news chains.
So when I get a Google Alert with a Journal story that’s posted to the Vancouver Sun’s website I still call that a Journal story. Same with a local story popping up in the Toronto Sun or CBC Calgary. You’ll also notice stories from other cogs in the news chain in the local news products. I think people should be aware of that, just like I try to note when a story is from the Canadian Press newswire.
Not all of the stories you’re reading, seeing, and hearing in local news are actually locally produced. And, as we discussed before, sometimes they’re just repeating a story they heard from another local newsroom (usually getting the same people quoted for their version. And, unlike you’ll often find in blogs and websites, they’re not keen on letting you know when it’s not their story, or not a story they had first.
But hey, there’s a lot of space around the ads to fill. :P
Oh, and I’ll sometimes grab stories from the Calgary Herald, or one of the Calgary branches of these newsrooms, if they seem Edmonton, or Alberta, relevant.
And I should also mention that while the Examiner and SEE are part of larger news corporations, they’re pretty much all original in their weekly production.
from the Edmonton Journal:
Feds put $14M towards housing for homeless in Edmonton (And from the Calgary Herald Alberta homeless program honoured with gold award.)
Twenty-eight Edmonton districts picked for upgrades (New sidewalks!)
Airport redevelopment will benefit Edmonton
‘Stunning opportunity’ for airport land (By the way, Scott McKeen is leaving City Hall and going to focus on profiling people in Edmonton. Oilers blogger David Staples gets to fight with all the City Centre Airport people now.)
Top court absolves fraudsters’ lawyer in $30M scam
From the Herald: Alberta bankruptcy claims rise in June
Green groups want tailings plan quashed (Forget it Jake, it’s Oiltown.)
from the Edmonton Sun:
Edmonton cops raise $40K for charity
Gadgets impress at police chiefs trade show
from the Edmonton Examiner:
from CBC Edmonton:
City asked to pay $350K for skateboard park
Penny auction site prompts consumer warning (You know, if you want to throw a few cents somewhere…)
CF-18s shadow Russian military planes (What is this, the 1980s? Although, the battle for the arctic is an actual cold war.)
from CTV Edmonton:
I’m out.
Post-Party Headlines
Delicious cake.
So, we didn’t actually learn how magnets work last night, but we ate some cake, had some laughs (a lot of laughs actually) and celebrated one year of blogging and podcasting.
Wunderbar was a great venue for the first birthday of the edmontonian and Unknown Studio. We’ve been digging the new vibe of the place (with plenty of live music) and you can’t go wrong with local beers on tap.
But it’s always the company that makes or breaks an event. And we were in good hands with the Studio’s Scott C. Bourgeois controlling the microphone. His wit was matched with hilarious celebrity poetry and autobiographical wisdom read by Josh Classen, Ryan Jespersen, Trent Wilkie, Craig Schram, Colin MacIntyre and the Studio’s other-half, Adam Rozenhart.
Sally also compiled birthday greetings from all of your favourite celebrities, because Star Trek’s Counsellor Troi was unavailable.
Special props go out to Samantha Power for reading Insane Clown Posse’s “Miracles.” We’re all better people for having witnessed a fine a poetry performance as there will be. (Wait, did I just call Miracles poetry??)
Last night was fun, and proved that this city’s got talent in all corners.
(Side note: Reading through the autobiographies I noticed celebrities like to use exclamation points! A lot!)
Now it’s back to business. Or you won’t keep us around for a second birthday.
from the Edmonton Journal:
Plebiscites a tricky form of democracy
Police chiefs back gun registry
From the Calgary Herald: Alberta overhauls immigration rules for family members, temporary workers and Competitiveness council meets in Calgary to plot Alberta’s future (Hey Ed. Hi Doug. So, bet it all on oil and gas? Sounds good. Alright, good meeting everyone.)
from the Edmonton Sun:
High Level Bridge doc at Toronto Film Fest
Police oversight needs civilian touch: expert
from Metro Edmonton:
Don’t forget Lucy, ad campaign urges
from 630CHED/iNews880:
Edm Public Schools gives Riverdale “K” the “OK”
Launch from Edmonton to airport delayed (Of course it is.)
Oilers name new play-by-play voice
from CBC Edmonton:
Beware of fake Taber corn, Alberta producers warn (Yes, this is a real news story.)
from CTV Edmonton:
Envision Edmonton to present petition on Thursday (Dun, dun, dunnn.)
from CityTV Edmonton:
Construction nears completion (So close…)
Oh, and we just happen to have dinosaurs in our sewers.
Edmonton party Headlines
Anyone head down to Louise McKinney Park for the Edmonton Dragon Boat Festival this weekend?
Helloooo, Edmonton!
I’d say the top story of the day, so far, is that the Envision Edmonton group has rounded up enough signatures to force a plebiscite vote on keeping the City Centre Airport open. They’re going to keep collecting signatures, since there will be a margin of error and some will likely be duplicate names, non-Edmonton names, or illegible. The City also has to determine if the petition can be legally binding, since you are supposed to submit it within 60 days of a decision being made.
And council voted to close the airport last year.
Gee, that would sound like an easy question to answer. But there can always be loopholes, things can depend on wording, and precedent-setting cases. So, before this is up to city council to put on a ballot it’s up to the legal department to verify its legality.
from the Edmonton Journal:
It’s do-or-die day for Riverdale kindergarten (If the program closes, can we blame the Dawson Bridge construction?)
Edmonton judge rejects PETA, Zoocheck Lucy lawsuit (Finally, Lucy is free! Or something. At least she doesn’t have to testify in court.)
Decision to match Pakistan donations cheered
More prisons won’t help those with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
Spike in asthma deaths worries health officials (The deaths occurred before our recent smoke attack.)
BioWare co-founder jumps into booming online market
from the Edmonton Sun:
Local soccer tournament with African flavour (This sounds like a great tourney.)
Province worries smoke ban in cars unenforceable
Cop survey backs gun registry scrap (Which contradicts what police chiefs want.)
Reward swells for info on missing McCanns
from CBC Edmonton:
Edmonton Queen gets stuck in mud (So many jokes here…)
Chinese tourists wooed by Alberta tourism
from CTV Edmonton:
Crime fighters meet in Edmonton to tackle organized crime
Of course, the party reference in our headline today refers to our birthday party tonight with the boys from The Unknown Studio. Come have cake!
August 20 Headlines
Hey, it’s Friday.
I know you want to get in and get out.
So let’s do this thing.
from the Edmonton Journal:
City Centre Airport could become transportation hub: Envision Edmonton
Edmonton community leagues want to sell ads on outdoor rinks
Alberta improves energy grades (We’re more energy efficient.)
Helping the planet one tree at a time
Edmonton human remains identified as those of young woman
More cracks in PC foundation (More on housing protection.)
From the Calgary Herald: Government plan sets aside 20% of oil sands landscape for conservation
from the Edmonton Sun:
July busy month for drunk driving busts
Local Muslim association faces rumour campaign
from the Edmonton Examiner:
from The Canadian Press:
Prentice disputes ‘Rethink Alberta’ charges, says oilpatch regulation increasing
from CBC Edmonton:
Nursing home cuts forced caregiver to quit (More on Alberta healthcare below, from the Globe.)
Edmonton team out of Senior League World Series
from CTV Edmonton:
Hennessy, Cheeseman denied standing at fatality inquiry (Wouldn’t they be able to tell the inquiry what they did to help the Mayerthorpe shooting actually happen?)
Family of assault victim makes desperate plea
from Global Edmonton:
Air quality in Edmonton upgraded to ‘fair’ (If the smoke’s got you down, you can always kick-up your day with our smoke and fire playlist.)
And, from the Globe and Mail: Battle brewing over private health in Alberta
Titres de nouvelles d’Edmonton pour le 19 août
Bonjour, Edmonton.
Does anyone else still use the AltaVista (or Yahoo!, I guess) Babel Fish for translating? I know there are other online translators out there, but I just can’t let go of the original.
Speaking of Babel Fish, this confirms what we all knew about Wikipedia. It’s the Hitchhiker’s Guide.
—–
Updating the online theatre review story from yesterday, Brittney has the scorned actor, Jeff Haslam, talking about his attack on two bloggers. I’ll leave my usual sarcasm aside and let you go read his rambling response.
I still think we can all be critics – heard online – and businesses need to start dealing with that reality.
—–
Now, how about some City Centre Airport action!
CBC says selling the airport seems to make the most financial sense for the City of Edmonton. And its taxpayers.
The Journal has this story, talking about how medevac may indeed more of an emotional play of the pro-airport side than one based on facts.
And city staff are preparing to handle the petition signatures. That includes entering all the signatories into a database, verifying signatures as taxpayers living in Edmonton, and confirming the petition’s wording and legality before handing it off to city council.
from the Edmonton Journal:
Alberta tourism minister Ady worries as latest oil sands attack ads roll out (Graham Thomson has some thoughts on this campaign, and its seriousness.)
Alberta promises action on shoddy building practices (I think this province needs a bunch of new housing rules.)
Vaccine’s effectiveness on aboriginal babies tested
Edmonton wanted man tied to July 31 murder (This headline reads awkwardly to me. Was “Edmonton” jammed in there for SEO? Were a couple of words just flipped?)
Edmonton twins stopped brutal sexual assault
North Edmonton residents may hear gunshots and explosions next week (Just another day in the north-end…)
National honours for Edmonton musicians
Nisku’s Ion Printing shows off new $5M printing press
from the Edmonton Sun:
Noisy motorcyclists steer clear of city (Oh well.)
Cyberspace another battleground in municipal election
Run raises $20,000 for veterans centre
from Metro Edmonton:
City welcomes more earthquake orphans
Actors ready for film festival debut (It’s getting close to the Edmonton International Film Festival.)
from the Edmonton Examiner:
Will province gamble with people’s lives?
Library seeks exiled writer (They’d like to have one, they’re not hunting one down.)
East Edmonton couple has best bloomin’ yard
from 630CHED/iNews880:
CN derailment near Fort Saskatchewan worst than first thought
from CBC Edmonton:
Police crime maps don’t show public full picture
Power-line meetings futile: resident (But, even if that was true, couldn’t that be changed if people actually showed up?)
from Global Edmonton:
from Vue Weekly:
Bare minimum (Tailings ponds cleanup. Eventually.)
New home in an old space (Prism moves.)
from SEE Magazine:
The worst job in Canadian politics (Alberta opposition leader.)
Some SEE writers are east of us, missing Edmonton’s more friendly transit riders, and contemplating what we can learn from Montreal.
Oh no…they ate Taco in a Bag!
August 18 Headlines
Bah!
I bet some of these fine people would be more than happy if you wrote about their play.
You ever have one of those days where you’re all ready to do something and can’t help but be distracted? That’s where I am this morning.
I wanted to write about something news-related, and I’m sure I’ll get to it eventually, but my mind keeps coming back to the social media Fringe fiasco. (Which, I guess, is sort of news-related.
If you haven’t heard (you’re clearly not on Twitter or trawling Edmonton Internet for Fringe info), a local food blogger – and lovely person – also writes about theatre. She especially enjoys enjoyed Teatro La Quindicina.
Well, it sounds like at least one member, high-ranking at that, of the theatre group could care less about her enjoyment of their plays, her money, and her online reviews of their work.
Some may say this is what a reviewer has coming; vitriol from the reviewed.
I don’t quite agree.
Sharon Yeo is blogging out of passion and interest, she’s not being paid by a newsroom to review anything. She can take her money wherever she pleases. She can write about what she pleases.
People can certainly take issue with what she said, pointing out why she may be incorrect about a certain actor, the set, or something in the play, but to simply attack her (and then Mack, checking on authenticity of the comment) is no better than being a comment troll.
I’ve taken my share of angry newsroom phone calls, I’ve even had people upset with something I’ve written or said (here, and previously). To a small degree I’ll admit it can come with the territory of “media.” But it better be justified criticism, or you end up looking like a crank.
This, however, just sounds like a local business (regardless of arts grants, theatres need people in the seats) that doesn’t understand there’s not one or two “proper” places for reviews anymore.
The conversation that Sharon would have with people at the coffee shop or restaurant can now be taken to the Internet via blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and more.
Of course, what’s not understood by Jeff Haslam, the angry actor, is that he needs this conversation to put people in his theatre. Outside of the Fringe you’re pretty much stuck with theatre reviews and previews in the Journal, SEE and Vue. Newsrooms are stretched thin. They’re not talking about you on a regular basis. But people online can. They are.
Why not embrace the growing online conversation, like the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra or Art Gallery of Alberta does, by inviting some bloggers to talk about their events? Or, invitation aside, at least not attacking someone who would talk about what they’ve been up to, what they’ve seen.
That’s why I say this only is sort of newsy. This is more about the conversation shift that’s continually occurring.
from the Edmonton Journal:
Public debate should not be a mudslinging free-for-all (Where’s the fun in that?)
Airport lobby group keeps donors under wraps
Gov’t backs off on price of warranty (Remember earlier this week when it seemed like the government was kowtowing to some in the housing industry, well, now it’s just a little more obvious.)
Liberal report critical of oilsands development
Eco groups back First Nations call to protect boreal caribou
BioWare’s Mass Effect 2 available for Playstation3 in January
from the Edmonton Sun:
Motorcycle noise bylaw working, claim police
Bedbugs horror in Edmonton (I’m sorry, but the landlord can’t shirk responsibility on tenants bringing in used furniture. That’s a risk, and cost, of being in the business or providing homes.)
Massive train derailment near Fort Saskatchewan
Monster on way out (Anybody ever eat at The Motoraunt?)
from The Canadian Press:
‘Rethink Alberta’ group brings anti-oilsands billboards, ads to UK
President’s Choice Chocolate Chunk Cookies recalled, may contain metal pieces
from CBC Edmonton:
Viral meningitis cases rise in Edmonton
from CTV Edmonton:
New bill to make clear true cost of credit cards
Vigil aimed at raising awareness of abuse faced by people with disabilities
And I think everyone had the crashed CF-18 pilot who vows to fly again.
Headlines in a Bag
Taco In A Bag
I found out what Taco in a Bag is, this weekend. And I thought the Samsonowich was a perversion of food.
Taco in a Bag has two steps. Step one. Step Two.
I guess Step Three would be regret.
from the Edmonton Journal:
Alberta donates $500,000 to Pakistan flood relief
Cash Store rings in new phase of success (I’m pretty conflicted on celebrating the success of a business that doesn’t exactly represent the best we can do. But, if the Journal’s happy about payday loans taking off, I guess I’m happy?)
Edmonton commercial real estate rebounds from ‘sluggish’ 2009
Thrills, chills, giant dinosaurs… (Graham Thomson has an Alberta Legislature quiz for you.)
from the Edmonton Sun:
Many city school cafeterias flunking health inspections (Back to school for the food-prep staff?)
Knowsky neighbours taking streets back
Edmonton launches final attack on mosquitoes (I feel like this drama requires a big, rousing speech from the mayor or something.)
Alberta committee to probe MS procedure next week (This is the “Liberation” treatment we’ve been hearing about in the news.)
People want mandatory helmets: poll
Jail for killer in ’87 cold case
Edmonton model on Smallville (I’ll admit it, I thought of a woman when I heard the term “model.”)
from Metro Edmonton:
Random survey to gauge health in Edmonton (Will it be you? Me? Maybe both of us?)
from 630CHED/iNews880:
Reminder: Sidewalks are for WALKING on (Alright, alright, we get it! You don’t have to break out the caps… Also, on the topic of bicycles and traffic and pedestrians, check out Michael Janz’s thoughtful take on why bicycling infrastructure is important to Edmonton’s future.)
from CBC Edmonton:
Edmonton hospitals ask homeless for advice
Hospital smoking ban flouted: activist (I’ll say that, I swing by the Edmonton General quite a bit and see people smoking pretty close to the doors.)
from CTV Edmonton:
Edmonton fundraising dinner for flood-ravaged Pakistan
Major banks announce cuts to mortgage rates (Once you get that sweet rate, come look at my condo. I’ll give you a deal.)
from Global Edmonton:
Envision Edmonton cancels community league offer (I think, rightly so. Even though, hours earlier, they said the idea was being well received.)
And I’m pretty sure everyone had this story, on a boy falling over a second-floor railing at West Edmonton Mall.
Monday, August 16 Edmonton Headlines
Good Monday morning, Edmonton.
I’m slow to get going this morning, since I was trying to ignore most things this weekend. It sure made me realize how many Google Alerts I have coming my way each day.
You know who is probably trying to ignore things since the weekend? The Eskimos.
There are bright spots in Edmonton’s sports scene, however, like our little league team competing at the World Series (as seen in the Global story below) and Paula Findlay kicking butt in the triathlon.
from the Edmonton Journal:
Dead fish at Ma-Me-O outnumber visitors (I’m no expert, but that is a terrible tourism slogan.)
Alberta fears hike in home prices (This actually sounds like the home building industry fears a hike in people keeping them from shoddy work.)
Liberals see opening with MLA’s scholarship pledge unfulfilled (This would be good, ole Conservative MLA Carl Benito’s promise.)
Download the Fringe app for these Silly Hall productions (This should give you a chuckle or two.)
From the East, via the South Side
Edmonton escalates war on mosquitoes (Kill, kill, kill.)
‘Cat fight’ ends with village’s dissolution (The Journal’s got some nice back story on this decision to fold the village into Leduc County. We first heard about it from the Leduc Representative/Beaumont News.)
Edmonton fraudster to be deported again (Third time’s the charm.)
100 activists take ‘healing walk’ against Alberta oilsands
U.S.-based retail giant opening in Edmonton (And not even in West Edmonton Mall…)
From the Calgary Herald: Alberta No.1 in new-vehicle sales, latest per-capita figures show
from the Edmonton Sun:
Airport petition drive heads into homestretch
Alberta home to highest booze prices in Canada (Eww…those government run liquor commissions have some of the best prices…)
Pakistani flood victims getting boost from Edmontonians
Edmonton’s Tamil community rallies for refugees
Study finds bike helmet legislation a good idea (I wear my helmet all the time.)
‘Collective pride’ for Metis lawyer
Campaign’s rhetoric unsupported by thin numbers (Are that many people really planning vacations to Alberta?)
from Metro Edmonton:
Inaugral expo brings fighters, fans together
from 630CHED/iNews880:
Hugs earn peanut butter for Edmonton Food Bank (Hug it out.)
McCann reward fund-raising effort to be launched
from CBC Edmonton:
BP spill puts Alberta birds at risk: expert (And you thought the birds only had to worry about oil, and tailings ponds, here.)
from CTV Edmonton:
Envision Edmonton offers money for signatures (Legal, but there’s always a question of how something looks.)
Also, somebody else let CTV Edmonton know the Edmonton Capitals didn’t turf their homophobic-slurring manager, he quit after being suspended by the league.
from Global Edmonton:
Long-distance fans (Following Edmonton’s little league champs.)
from CityTV Edmonton:
Fringe on track for record year
from the Globe and Mail:
Alberta dean denies college offered admission to Omar Khadr
Mondays are always so busy!
p.s. Anyone catch Sally doing our first “morning show” today? (It’ll be in our livestream loop with Saturday Night with Samsonow until we figure out how to upload shows as videos.)
Edmonton’s luckiest headlines
Yikes/wow.
It’s usually good advice to avoid walking under ladders, smashing mirrors, and having black cats cross your path. But this being Friday the 13th and all, maybe you just take an extra step or two to avoid that. I’m just looking out for you.
Interesting to me:
SEE Magazine does a story on Edmonton-Mill Woods Conservative MLA Carl Benito’s promise to donate his salary to students. Nothing much said by other Edmonton newsroom.
SEE does a follow-up, six months later, and other news outlets start jumping on the story. Did people just start reading SEE? Did reporters take this long to figure out who Carl Benito was? Is summer slower, allowing reporters more time to scan for stories to repeat, and follow?
Victoria’s Secret opens its first Canadian store in Edmonton and you can’t keep Edmonton newsrooms from covering the story.
Not saying the first Victoria’s Secret in Canada isn’t newsworthy. And I know it looks way better than a boring old “politician lies” story.
Just something kicking around my old noggin’ in that whole “people want entertainment and celebrity” news argument. I think news and information consumers sometimes get what they’re given.
Now here’s what’s happening in Edmonton:
from the Edmonton Journal:
Cities don’t just happen — they’re planned, for better or worse
From the Calgary Herald: Students nab more summer jobs: agency
Angel investors fund Edmonton’s Empire Avenue
Southgate Mall celebrates 40th birthday
from Metro Edmonton:
Locally shot TV drama green-lighted
Repairs continue on LRT’s north line (Enjoy the weekend. Buy a car.)
from The Canadian Press:
Superbug prompts Alberta Health travel warning (There can be treatment here.)
from 630CHED/iNews880:
City calls 3 strikes parking policy a success
More signatures for Envision Edmonton (They’re closing in on 78,000.)
Winners announced in annual “Front Yards in Bloom” competition (You can check out the winning yards.)
from CBC Edmonton:
Little Leaguers brawl at N.B. tournament (Edmonton’s going to the World Series.)
from CTV Edmonton:
Omar Khadr trial on hold for at least 30 days (His lawyer collapsed in court.)
Twitter helps food bank reach fundraising goal (Twitter and Edmontonians. Good stuff.)
Back from Internet purgatory headlines
Soon that scaffolding will be full of actors. Or something.
Hello again, Edmonton.
Thanks to Sally for taking over the headlines yesterday, when my laptop just didn’t feel like doing anything. And then, when it sort of did, it didn’t feel like getting on the Internet.
I felt like I was living in 1994. And I hated it.
Thank goodness my Blackberry was working. Or I would have flipped out.
In other words, when 2012 happens and the world descends into John Cusack’s worst nightmare I am not going to handle the lack of electricity, and Internet, well.
from the Edmonton Journal:
Even $1 hotdog requires receipt, Edmonton election workers told
Churchill Square: Let there be life between festivals (Even the Edmonton Public Library is getting into the swing, putting their book sale in the square.)
‘Petition drive has peeled back the scab’ of the airport debate
TEC: A little TLC for tech startups
Marriott to build hotel Edmonton International Airport (Missing a word, this headline comes off “Hotel Good. Hulk Smash.”)
From the Calgary Herald: Alberta is world’s best place for mining: report And Alberta takes wait-and-see approach on Net gaming
from the Edmonton Sun:
Local Pakistanis pooling support for flood relief
Edmonton’s Somali children ‘Reach Ahead’
Best Bar None program off to a good start: City (Will you be looking for the approval when hitting the town?)
Unclaimed cash, items may be yours (And you don’t even have to send a Nigerian businessman your bank information.)
Perseid meteor shower set to impress Edmontonians
from Metro Edmonton:
This pre-Fringe picture shows the quietest this sidewalk will be for 10 days.
U of A tries community approach
from the Edmonton Examiner:
Tight timeline for airport petition
from The Canadian Press:
ERCB approves waste plan at Kearl oilsands
Oil company fined for Alberta spill
from CBC Edmonton:
City orders cleanup but slow to clean own lot (Do as I say, not as I do.)
Health Canada studies home air quality (Including here in Edmonton.)
Alberta issues warning about concrete firm
from CTV Edmonton:
Fatality inquiry into infant’s death yields long list of recommendations (Where’s Alberta’s independent children’s advocate? Over at the Journal, Paula Simons has questions, and recommendations, of her own.)
from Vue Weekly:
Necessary damage (The anti-oilsands ad campaign could wake us all up.)
And, in shameless self-promotion, I’m the guest on this week’s Vue podcast. Sam Power and I talk municipal and school board elections, blogging, EdmontonPolitics.com and how to save rock ‘n’ roll.*
from SEE Magazine:
Wildrose playing politics (On the City Centre Airport.)
Hey, look, CTV also reads SEE Magazine.
*We may not actually discuss how to save rock ‘n’ roll. But I’m sure I had it on my list of things I hoped she’d ask me about. Surprisingly, in a conversation about local politics, it did not come up.
Next Best Thing Headlines
This is about as Rudy as it gets, folks. It seems that the coach is putting me in the big game. The big news game. The big news headlines game.from the Edmonton Journal:
Edmonton’s Chateau Lacombe Sold
Ex-Edmonton Capitals manager sorry for gay slurs
Edmonton’s civic election gets a dry run
Edmonton Police find bomb in stolen car
Maximum Fighting steps into ring with Winspear
from the Edmonton Sun:
Seized drugs and weapons nothing to worry about: Expert
from 630CHED/iNews880:
from CBC Edmonton:
Internets be Breakin’ Down!
Headlines are going to be late this morning, you goodlookin’ folks. Thanks for your patience.
Edmonton’s hail Headlines
You doing any storm cleanup this morning, Edmonton?
From the amount of leaves, and some branches, I saw knocked down by last night’s hail, and storm, I bet a few of you will have some cleaning to do. I also know there’s some flood damage, of the basement variety, to be dealt with.
But as long as we all made it through another summer storm, it’s all good.
Don’t forget to check the links we posted last night to find some of the best lightning and storm photos.
from the Edmonton Journal:
MLA’s promise comes back to haunt him (More on SEE’s story about Tory MLA Carl Benito and his “scholarships.” Seems the premier’s office is exerting some pressure on their rookie politician.)
Edmonton man prays for parents stranded by Pakistan floods
Time has come to shake our festive booty (Can more be done to promote our festivals as a package?)
Folk Fest, Fringe parking a growing concern
Edmonton Energy veterans fill summer void
Edmonton-owned stores part of plan to bid for Callebaut (The chocolate will go on.)
from the Edmonton Sun:
MMA promoter sues over cancelled match
Storm leaves thousands powerless
City wants poetry about commutes
from 630CHED/iNews880:
Renner calls for greater reclamation transparency (Transparency is great, but will knowing where reclamation is at actually make the process happen?)
Police still seeking possible witness to a murder
from CBC Edmonton:
Alberta offers cash for greener lighting
Marriage therapists want industry regulated (I thought we were in the tree of trust?)
from CTV Edmonton:
Greyhound bus driver’s lockout looms (It’s looming east of us.)
8/9/10
Did you take in Edmonton's most colourful party? Paul did.
Happy 8, 9, 10 Edmonton.
Isn’t it cool when a date works out, numerically, like that? I say we take that as a sign today is going to be a good day.
Of course, we aren’t responsible for anything bad that happens to you today. We won’t accept blame when you drop your ice cream, or the guy at the cash register doesn’t believe you paid with a $20 instead of a $5.
But it’s 8,9,10 and it’s going to be swell, so none of that will happen.
Enjoy it!
As a total aside to all these good numerology vibes, I’m giving Google Chrome a whirl. My computer and Firefox seemed to conspire to ruin my weekend so I thought I’d at least teach Firefox a lesson by downloading Chrome. I think, since we have a Mac or two around, my computer is taking the hint.
from the Edmonton Journal:
Power spinoff drags Epcor to loss
Nothing ‘retiring’ about Ron Hayter as he bids council adieu
Edmonton developer gets grant for eco-minded affordable housing project
Controversial oilsands ad could hurt tourism (Over at the Sun, Frank Landry raises a good point. Do all the rebuttal ads just end up playing into the hands of those slamming the oilsands?)
From the Calgary Herald: Alberta ending clinic contract (Now the provincial government wants out of the deal with a private clinic.)
North ’24th coming into its own
Edmonton goes to the dogs (Try a fancy hot dog.)
Big, really big. When it comes to giant monuments, Alberta is second to none (Mr. Big Stuff, who do you think you are?)
West Edmonton Mall lands new Hilfiger chain
from the Edmonton Sun:
Firing of Caps manager applauded
from Metro Edmonton:
Sorry kids, but school’s in for summer (Today is the first day back for students at one Edmonton school.)
from 630CHED/iNews880:
Cancer survivor helps raise money during Weekend to End Women’s Cancers
from CBC Edmonton:
Edmontonians rally to aid Pakistan flood victims
Taft leaving Alberta politics (And another opposition leader bites the dust.)
from CTV Edmonton:
Warrant issued for high-risk offender
from Global Edmonton:
Doubting Liberation treatment (There’s a warning about one kind of treatment for MS.)
The great weather surely brought more people out for CariWest. Thanks to Paul for the photos.
Edmonton’s Friday Headlines
Earlier this week I mentioned I’d try to watch for news stories that got followed up by another outlet. Yeah, I didn’t have try very hard.
It’s a practice that seems out of step with the speed, inclusiveness, and information of the Internet.
Here’s what I’m talking about.
The Edmonton Journal had a story Thursday, from a University of Alberta study, about the federal government’s tax credit for youth sports not helping as many low-income families. It’s an interesting story, which I linked you to yesterday.
I would venture to say that when a story is interesting, or important, it can make the rounds on blogs, websites, Twitter, etc… That’s the speed, inclusiveness, and information of the Internet.
A good story zips around quickly through networks of people, or you come upon it when another website *ahem* points you to it. We can all read the story without having to pick up a specific newspaper or tuning into a broadcast. That’s the inclusiveness.
The thing I find interesting is that this is a practice newsrooms can’t get into. Because they’re still tied into their paper or broadcast they feel they have to repeat the story for their audience.
Take today’s Edmonton Sun story on the same U of A sports tax credit study. Or the 630CHED/iNews800 story.
Not really much new information in either of those. But instead of telling their audiences to go read the Journal’s story, or saying “Hey, the Journal had this story, but you should go read the U of A study at the university’s website…” and then dedicating limited Sun/CHED/iNews staff resources to original stories, we get the same story in multiple places.
Now, I’m not saying newsrooms should ignore interesting and important stories. I’m the first to want people to read similar stories from multiple sources. You just better be adding something to the story, even if it’s a biased spin. You could also do new angles, follow-up on the story.
That’s what the Journal did with SEE Magazine’s second story on Progressive Conservative MLA Carl Benito. He promised to donate his MLA salary to scholarships. SEE did a story back in February and followed up Thursday.
In today’s Journal Benito tries to explain he meant only one year’s worth of his salary, doled out to students at his own pace.
That’s the follow-up story you want to see.
This leads me to my second point on attribution. I think the Internet, through blogs, podcasts, Facebook and Twitter, etc… breaks down the proprietary hold on stories newsrooms appear to have. There’s no mention of SEE Magazine’s two stories on Benito, yet anyone savvy enough to read more than one source of news (I wonder where you can find links on a daily basis…) will know where the Journal got the idea for the story.
I think the contrast of traditional news and Internet can be shown in links. Bloggers tend to – but it’s certainly not a blanket statement – note where they found something or where the idea came from for their story or opinion piece. You’ll usually at least see a link, indicating the spin-off.
It’s just too bad newsrooms, on a regular basis, ignorantly believe their audience consumes news only from them. That’s talking down to your audience. It also, as shown in the first example, wastes time on stories we’ve all already seen.
(My argument doesn’t include events or news conferences everyone can attend at about the same time. That’s also the best chance we have to see how the different newsrooms approach stories.)
Today’s headlines after the jump. (more…)
August 5 Edmonton Headlines
I've been noticing mushrooms popping up in more places. I wonder if I should eat them.
Happy Thursday, Edmonton.
Hope you folkies aren’t too tired today. You’ve got a long weekend ahead of you. (Remember to check Twitter’s #efmf hashtag if you’re still searching for tickets.)
Yesterday we talked about interviews done with the 11-year-old boy who watched his family die in a car crash. I didn’t know how I felt about newsrooms interviewing him, and everyone I spoke with (and commented here and on Twitter) had similar uneasy feelings, or outright disgust.
Over at CTV Edmonton’s blog, their News Director, Glenn Kubish, has taken a stab at explaining their newsrooms decision. (Though, CTV is not the only newsroom to do this interview. I think most of Edmonton’s news outlets spoke with the boy.)
It still feels hollow to me.
If you’re not going to talk to a victim about the event there’s nothing for us to learn from it. An example of this is drunk driving. Having people speak to the devastation such a crime has on real people should, in news theory, register with the audience and make them think twice before drinking and driving.
If you’re going to talk about how this boy still has plenty of family, a community, around him, talk to that community.
I wanted an explanation, just like Kubish’s, to try and assuage my feelings, and, while this is just one newsroom’s perspective, I’ve decided the interview with the boy wasn’t to help tell the story. And that’s just another sad layer to this event.
Update: One month later, comments are being approved at the CTV blog.
Some of the mushrooms are giant.
from the Edmonton Journal:
Rents up, home prices down in Edmonton
Universtity of Alberta buys president’s house for $930,000 (I wonder if they used student tuition for the down payment…I’m kidding of course.)
Sports tax credit doesn’t benefit poor (If that commercial where the kid tries to get a job at the deli taught us anything, it’s that sports are expensive.)
Plebiscite should not be left up to governing politicians: Wildrose (I agree. Because a plebiscite is a vote taken by citizens. Doesn’t mean elected officials can’t decide things though.)
Greenpeace antics give pause for thought (Graham Thomson is back!)
Edmonton Energy Expo welcomes oilsands foes (I kind of want Liege, Belgium to win the 2017 Expo because of my new love of their waffles.)
Telus uses Xbox gaming console for digital TV service
from the Edmonton Sun:
Neighbourhood project gets $481K (It’s a transit-oriented development on Fort Road.)
Oilsands battle set to heat up (There could be more anti-tourism ads.)
CFB Edmonton gets a driving range
A mother’s grief and anger over the unsolved slaying of her daughter (Here’s another example of why you would talk to grieving family; to try and solve a cold case.)
from 630CHED/iNews880:
Koziak to run for mayor (again)
More tragedy for the Thompsons (It appears someone is killing their dogs. Someone may also be killing cats in an Edmonton neighbourhood.)
from CBC Edmonton:
Support for Alberta energy regulator drops
from CTV Edmonton:
City in talks with tenants at City Centre Airport to settle leases (It’s going to cost money? Oh wait, that’s how you settle a lease.)
Crime Stoppers pleads for clues on missing McCanns
from SEE Magazine:
Benito still not talking (If you’re not familiar with Progressive Conservative MLA Carl Benito’s scholarship – think George Costanza’s “Human Fund” – you should start with SEE’s first story.
Edmonton’s August 4 Headlines
I hope my ride to work tomorrow include's some Justin Bieber concert videos.
Good morning, Edmonton.
After making some jokes about scooping the Edmonton Journal on TerraFrog’s big New York launch I think I’ll track a few stories over the next little while to talk more about how/why newsrooms do the same stories.
Also, we think it’s hilarious when a story we do is soon after in the “real” news. It’s so cute when they think we don’t notice.
from the Edmonton Journal:
Doctors echo Alberta reform plans: officials (They’re just talkin’ ’bout reforming health care.)
Many Albertans onside with gov’t handling of oilsands (That may be something to take away from the poll, but I also take away the fact Albertans don’t know about the oilsands if they believe carbon dioxide is being captured. Doesn’t this just point to good advertising over good governance?)
Larger inventory causes drop in Edmonton home prices
Smith plays into Mandel’s hands on Muni
The straight goods on Edmonton street food (Liane Faulder is talkin’ street food, and essentially comes to the conclusion lazy ideas and winter keep Edmonton from having more than hot dogs.)
Edmonton tourist bus yanked (Not the EDDIE!)
From the Calgary Herald: Complaints against Alberta nurses jump
from the Edmonton Sun:
Safety, panhandling among top Jasper Avenue concerns: study
Stelmach to push oilsands at provincial, territorial leaders meet
Food bank demand up, but donations aren’t (The Food Bank is still waiting to see how much money it made on unused Heritage Festival tickets though.)
Valley Zoo’s guinea pigs get added security
from Metro Edmonton:
Alta. firefighters to battle B.C. blazes
from 630CHED/iNews880:
Envision Edmonton petition may be invalid (That would be hilarious. Come on, even if you want the airport to stay open, it would be a little funny.)
Wondering where to park at Folk Fest?
Oilpatch compliance up – complaints down (Unless you’re one of those “one blowout is too many” types.)
from CBC Edmonton:
Police should not investigate their own: union (That’s the police union saying that, too.)
from CTV Edmonton:
Edmonton community rallies around orphaned boy (I don’t know what to think about newsrooms interviewing an 11-year-old boy days after his family was killed, and he was right there. I’m unsure what we’re learning from the story, and we should be learning something from grief stories, or it’s simply sensationalism. Your thoughts? Am I missing the point of the story?)
from Global Edmonton:
Fringe Festival promo (Lots of Fringing this summer!)
It’s August
The first of many Heritage Festival pictures I'm going to force you to look at.
Good Tuesday morning, Edmonton.
I hope you had an enjoyable long weekend. I checked out the Heritage Festival for the first time (more on that later) and loved that sunny, summer weather.
Alright, enough with the small talk, let’s do this.
And this starts with City Centre Airport.
Today sees a City Centre runway closed. That’s one runway down, one more to maybe, possibly, sometime, go. Likely. Sort of. Soon. Or not.
Meanwhile…Envision Edmonton wants to keep the airport open and expand service…Ah, expanded service. You’ll see more of that talk from Danielle Smith in links below.
The only thing I’ll say about that is you should watch how uppity the Wildrosers get when the federal government tells the province what to do or how to run something. Paula Simons is saying a similar thing. But in more words.
from the Edmonton Journal:
Labour boss slams safety postings (Also on the Alberta labour front, From the Calgary Herald: Foreign workers in Alberta bilked by unscrupulous job recruiters.)
Edmonton heart centre emerges victorious
Edmonton Noodle house, water park fined (Something worth noting if you’re looking for a place to eat or water park to play in.)
Food Bank donations fall short at Heritage Festival
Student survey on drinking raises alarm
from the Edmonton Sun:
Edmonton’s Iraqi population growing (Iraq was one of the new additions to this year’s Heritage Festival.)
from CBC Edmonton:
Capital Power buys B.C. electricity plant
Alberta scientists see Alzheimer’s breakthrough
from CTV Edmonton:
Poorer Canadians less likely to survive cancer: study (I wish the news story told us what the study deemed a poor community, or poor person, and wealthy.)
And everyone has a version of this story, where a family has been killed in a car crash and an 11-year-old boy orphaned.
