August 5 Edmonton Headlines
Welcome to the end of our short August week, Edmonton.
Edmonton’s playing major catch-up on infrastructure – our roads, public buildings, LRT, etc… – some might even say we’ve got an infrasturcture debt that’s way past due. That’s an important factor to remember when talking about pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into a downtown arena, without any clear plans on all of the exciting, truly revitazling buildings and infrastructure that is supposed to go around the arena.
And, even then, it might not be the best way to spend all that money. Other cities don’t seem to be getting ahead after dumping money into a new arena or stadium. Is a downtown arena truly going to change our city, or is Edmonton simply following the lure of big promises and the fear of upsetting a fan base?
Speaking of the fan base…sounds like the Oilers would look for close-to-home options if the downtown arena plans fell through.
Good for iNews/CHED for trying to balance a story about how newsrooms should try and tell a more honest, full story about life in Edmonton and drop the “If it bleeds it leads.” approach. Wait, no, I take that back. They “balanced” it with a story full of sensational quotes that says nothing about whether crime reporting is accurate.
They did not try to counter the claims that our homicide rate is “unacceptable” and our city unsafe. Probably because there’s nothing as quotable in that. (More on this story below, in the PC leadership race.) Here’s your balance: crime is dropping in Edmonton, and across Canada, and Edmonton is experiencing a 2011 jump in homicides for unclear reasons.
That doesn’t take anything away from the victims of crime and their families. It might even help catalyze people into more action on crime prevention if crime stories made up a more representative portion of news coverage. Right now it’s so prevalent you’d think very little else goes on. That is indeed the perception that makes it into newscasts and newspapers outside of Edmonton.
It’s nice to see a Journal columnist saying we’re safe in Edmonton. That, however, doesn’t make the front page as homicides routinely do.
We should hear from the chief of the Edmonton Police Service next week with some new plans and approaches to crime in Edmonton.
I really thought I could end the week with a little less on crime reporting. Especially with downtown arena in the Headlines. Shows what I know. (more…)
August 4 Edmonton Headlines
Good morning, Edmonton. How’s about we start with scary crime again?
I want to write a little more about a new website launched Wednesday later, but suffice to say Edmonton newsrooms are still going to for easy quotes on murder and crime.
Councillor Kim Krushell is paraphrased (not directly quoted in the story) as blaming northern Alberta workers getting out of hand for some of our troubles. Why would the CBC then try and back that up with stats?
Premier candidate Gary Mar wants to be the next leader of the Alberta Progressive Conservatives so he can tackle our “unacceptable” murder rate. Don’t worry, the story doesn’t get into details about whether or not we have an unacceptable murder rate, or how this year fits into Edmonton’s annual crime patterns, it’s just a tough-on-crime line from a politician served up to keep the newswheel spinning.
The interesting thing about that 630CHED/iNews880 Gary Mar story this morning is that it follows a Wednesday afternoon story talking about this new push to have a better conversation about crime in Edmonton. It took all of 14 hours to run one story talking about how easy, sensational quotes and a lack of research in stories is more fearmongering than reporting, and jumping right back to the short “objective” piece that doesn’t challenge what anyone says about how scary and violent Edmonton is.
This is where objectivity is crap.
If the reporters, editors, producers, and everyone else involved in getting a story out to Edmontonians aren’t walking around absolutely terrified of being killed why do they let people talk about our city like it’s a horrible place to live? I know they aren’t doing it on purpose; there are deadlines, and the people quoted answer the phone right away. But the irony of running a story about how a new premier will clean up our streets hours after one calling for better, more researched, fair stories better not be lost on every “journalist” in Edmonton newsrooms. This isn’t about your audience misinterpreting your stories, this isn’t about one or two people that are always quoted, this is about how the stories are put together and presented. The Chief can come out and tell us we’re in a fairly safe city every day, but if newsrooms sensationalize our crime what’s the point?
It’s also interesting to note a line like this in a Sun editorial: “…Alberta’s capital city has recently become known more for its violence than anything else.” How does that happen without the newsrooms pumping out story after story about how violent it is? News coverage has about the largest role to play in how a city is viewed from the outside. I challenge Edmonton’s newsrooms to tell a more balanced Edmonton story.
Unless staff members of the newsrooms really are terrified to leave their house. Then I guess this is their story.
Sigh. I guess I’m just leaving my soapbox out all of the time now. (more…)
August 3 Edmonton Headlines
Some days you really aren't getting anywhere.
Good Wednesday to you, Edmonton. Yes, it’s already the middle of the week.
We were talking yesterday, and last week, and when annual crime statistics came out, about context in crime stories. Today there’s a story about a suspicious death investigation at a senior’s home fire in Old Strathcona. Some of the news stories are hinting at the fact police are looking at a suicide as the centre of the crime, which involves another’s death. This CBC story is a little more open about it.
While that wouldn’t make it anymore pleasant – it’s terrible to see people die and others forced out of their home by a fire – this little bit of context as to what might have happened helps people outside of the story know they’re safe. It’s that fear of random crime which is truly scary. And I think that’s where a lot of “tough on crime” talk comes from. Let’s put the context in EVERY crime story, not just as a smaller add-on somewhere else in the newspaper or newscast.
Unfortunately, in a lot of crime stories, without much detail as to what happened you can be left with a feeling that you’re in danger just being in Edmonton, or a certain neighbourhood. It shows how reporting right now (RIGHT NOW!) is fraught with the chances of fearmongering. Police have to be forthcoming with details, and they aren’t always. Sometimes, police are still investigating as newsrooms are working on their second, third, umpteenth version of the story.
We’re more likely to get details, information, and context, at a court case. But, by that point, people usually remember the first story or two about a crime as chosen by newsrooms (make no mistake, there’s no objectivity about selecting one crime over the dozens that happen each day). And, since not every newsroom has a constant presence at the courts, the initial stories usually get more play.
Working on a breaking news story for a day or more might be the best way newsrooms can get out information in a timely manner and avoid leaving any danger up to the imagination. It also means they have time to seek out good, reliable sources of information, challenge people who only seem to be trying to get into the news for a quote, be more careful with sidebar and spin-off stories, and truly be a part of the community they want to serve.
You don’t go around trying to frighten your friends and neighbours, nor would they talk to you a whole lot if you were vague about everything. Why do we allow our news coverage to be vague?
It’s time for you and me to ask newsrooms for a better level of crime coverage. We don’t need them to slap together a story, we need them to dig in and tell us why the stories are important, why the story matters, who and what is shaping our city. We need to demand a better discussion about crime in Edmonton.
Now, let’s see what’s happening in the rest of a pretty safe Edmonton. 
(more…)
Short Week Headlines
Click for more terrible front pages.
Good morning, Edmonton.
While we’re not trying to doom and gloom you, we are going to begin with homicides; stories that are most prevalent in Edmonton news right now.
Overall, Edmonton’s got 33 homicides on record in 2011. That’s the most of any city in Canada. Though, with stories like this and this from the Edmonton Sun you’d think we lived in a war zone. I doubt a death penalty would reduce one year’s higher than usual homicide rate. Let’s remember – ALL newsrooms - that our crime rate is down,down, down.
Also, I think I’ve mentioned this before in Headlines, but the Sun’s staffers should know that the highest penalty for murder in Canada is life in prison with no chance at parole for 25 years. Not 25 years and you’re out. We can also send people away as “dangerous offenders” in Canada, which means they do not have a release date at all. These tiny bits of information, usually added at the end of a story or an opinion piece, do have an impact on how people perceive crime and criminals.
After this weekend’s (and today’s) stories I am now officially pleading with Edmonton newsrooms to stop talking to criminologist Bill Pitt. “Everybody in this city is armed” sounds like the worst crime research ever.
There are connections to Edmonton’s Somali community within our high homicide rate, and within the homicide rate for the last number of years. Police continue to try and work with members of the community to solve the many murders and killings within this population. Though, the crimes reach right across Canada inside of Somali gangs. There are, of course, many Somali-Edmontonians willing to help police, and who want to see the city operate in a peaceful manner.
Detectives, and extra Edmonton Police officers brought in to help solve homicides, are busy. An excellent point made in this story that paramedics and medical staff likely help keep the homicide number down.
While police try to solve as many killings as they can, prevention of crime is going to be the key to keeping homicide rates down on a more permanent basis.
We might have started things off with homicide, though I do hope you don’t think I’ve switched to a “If it bleeds, it leads” approach with the Headlines. I mean, I don’t want to scare anyone into thinking Edmonton has a murder around every corner. It doesn’t.
Hopefully, by compiling a lot of the weekend stories (good ones, interesting ones, ones the Edmonton Sun had) we can have a fuller conversation about what’s going on in our city, and see the work of police, community groups, and individuals to bring killers to justice and keep things as safe as possible.
Now, just for criminologist Bill Pitt, let’s put away all of our knives and continue with the day’s stories. (more…)
July 29 Edmonton Headlines
I know plenty of Edmontonians will be happy to have Langano Skies back.
Can you feel that, Edmonton? It feels like the end of a week with a long weekend looming. Sorry if you’re the only guy in the office today.
Recent missing Alberta Hospital patients – one of whom has not been found – have sparked a review of safety and security at mental health facilities across the province. Let’s hope this begins a look at our entire mental health system, including interactions with police and the courts.
A new downtown development (yes, we have those without the arena even being built) is looking at a slightly later completion date, but it should spruce up the crap out of 109 Street and Jasper Avenue.
The City of Edmonton’s power bill will be going down as it replaces street lights with more efficient LED light bulbs.
You car insurance rates aren’t going up. Well, your basic rates, anyway.
An Amber Alert issued Thursday ended with a little boy being found safe with a family member. Police didn’t have a report of a missing child, but still felt there was enough information to warrant the city-wide search.
That story I linked to, from the Sun, gives a nice explanation of what police did and why. It’s exactly the kind of follow-up people need after an Amber Alert – especially one that didn’t result in criminal charges because of a kidnapping or other crimes – and other newsrooms should follow the example. We can’t have people walking away from an Amber Alert without stories clearly explaining what happened, or folks might be left to think we’re living in a city of kidnappers.
Edmonton Police are hailing the actions of a delivery man who helped run down a man after a boy reported a sexual assault.
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RCMP in Strathcona County will not face charges after shooting a man last winter.
The company behind the second-largest oil spill in Alberta history is ready to get pumping again.
Oil and gas companies are being warned about a fake environmental registry which is trying to scam them. Don’t worry, there is yet to be a company to pay any such fees.
The lack of public education in Morinville is now looking at the potential of being a civil liberties case.
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Riding the streetcar across the High Level Bridge is always fun. But riding an original 1912 Edmonton streetcar would be even more fun.
The dragonfly population is rising, and they’re eating all of our mosquitoes. I think I saw two dragonflies mating yesterday.
July 28 Edmonton Headlines
That bird loves his fast food and takeaways.
You know, we should probably see if there’s anything on the downtown arena to start things off today. Oh, would you look at that!
With outgoing premier Ed Stelmach talking about increasing a municipal fund to help put in $100-million into the downtown arena, some councillors say any extra infrastructure money should go to other items. And all of Stelmach’s potential replacements don’t like the corner he’s painting them into on the way out of office.
The Hazeldean neighbourhood may be staring up at a cellphone tower soon. Not a lot of information in this column from Rogers about why it couldn’t go into the more industrial area on 99 Street.
Resident associations are starting to become a big deal in Edmonton (even if the Terwillegar Towne owners owe $75,000 to their association) and that changes how neighbourhoods look and operate.
Does anyone else see a kind of ghost octopus in the drawing of Capital Boulevard plans? Just me? Well, the rest of it looks nice.
Ghost octopus free from here on out, I promise. (more…)
July 27 Edmonton Headlines
Good morning, Edmonton, and welcome to the middle of the week.
So, the Premier is considering boosting a municipal fund to help Edmonton pay for a downtown arena. Man, we could use that money to keep building our LRT system too.
But, I guess, since Ed Stelmach enjoyed the mess Ralph Klein left him he wants to leave a little something for his replacement. All of the candidates to be Progressive Conservative premier have said they won’t help fund the downtown arena. Even though this isn’t necessarily direct funding, but Stelmach openly tying the idea of an increase to the Municipal Sustainability Initiative to the Mayor’s request for arena money, he puts the new premier into a tough position.
For Calgary, however, it bodes well for their looming request for arena money.
Oh, and while the outgoing premier seems all-too-ready to help pay for a downtown arena, students in Morinville are without promised temporary classrooms in September. Maybe if they could play hockey really well…
A man who attacked city bus driver Tom Bregg is going to prison. And he does not have a release date. The fact the attacker did not have the worst record of violent offences says that transit drivers deserve a higher level of respect and protection.
Spruce Avenue School’s got an innovative summer program to keep kids caught up on their lessons, have something to do in the summer, and enjoy some play time.
Habitat for Humanity has its largest ever Edmonton-area donation: $1-million.
It’s going to cost you an extra $5 to fly out of the Edmonton International Airport. Have we built high-speed rail yet?
You’d think that’d be lots of news. But there’s lots more. (more…)
Monday Headlines
It's a double rainbow dudes. (Photo: Deja Springfield)
Welcome to a new week, a sunnier week, Edmonton.
So, last week there was a bit in the Progressive Conservative leadership debate about not funding a new downtown arena in Edmonton. Now the wording is getting a little, let us say, tricky.
Now, for the second time in a week, a columnist who was in favour of a downtown arena is having second thoughts.
Chinatown is again at the centre of debate and discussion around the downtown LRT connnector.
There’s been a lot of talk about historic and heritage buildings in the news recently. Another way we could lose these great old gems is the same way we can lose any building; fire.
This is one of the worst summers for mosquitoes in recent memory, and Mike Jenkins is among those at the head of the battle against the bug.
Edmonton newsrooms need a new crime expert. The one always cited, Bill Pitt, doesn’t believe the crime rate is going down. I haven’t seen any studies or figures he might have to back that up though.
There was some sort of car race this weekend. I’ll find out what kind after the jump. (more…)
July 22 Edmonton Headlines
Welcome to a rainy Friday, Edmonton.
A bunch of new apartments to be built in Edmonton, and the region, will include homes available for less than market value.
The Alberta Progressive Conservative leadership candidates began a tour of debates last night in Vermilion. Nothing crazy or outlandish happened, so take a peek through the story to start getting a sense of the people that would be premier.
Strange that I would mention that here, right off the top, where I usually have Edmonton news. Maybe there’s something in this story about the downtown arena and its snowball’s chances of provincial money. Speaking of paying for fancy things…
Police are trying to work with the Somali community to solve all of the homicides that population has suffered in recent years, including four this year.
Two Edmonton Police officers are under investigation after drunk driving charges were dismissed because a suspect was badly beaten during the arrest and police testimony left the judge feeling like there was a “circle of silence” from the arresting officers.
It’s the Indy weekend (I’m sure that you didn’t need a reminder), but what does the race say to the world about Edmonton? Does it say anything at all?
A man with Edmonton connections, and alleged tied to war crimes, is among the most wanted immigration fugitives in Canada.
Edmonton author Gloria Sawai – an award-winning author – has died.
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Are Ottawa and Alberta on the same page when it comes to environmental monitoring, particularly of the oil industry? Yes? Yes. Maybe?
As the newest Alberta oil spill is being cleaned up, National Geographic is setting its sites on pipelines that will run from the capital region to the B.C. coast. (I got the link to the National Geographic story after seeing a story in the Journal.)
A legal case about Metis and Status Indian registration, and living on a Metis settlement, went all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada. Basically, you can only register for benefits once.
All of this rain has meant a rise in river and lake levels across Alberta.
A Sherwood Park man is fighting hundreds of millions of dollars in fraud allegations. Here’s a quote that stood out to me: “…his latest business was legal.”
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As mentioned yesterday, crime is down. In Edmonton. In Alberta. In Canada (there are some crimes that saw an increase last year though, but overall things are getting better). So, I’m sure you’re glad the federal Conservative government is getting tough on crime.
And I’m sure tonight’s news will have lotsa crime stories. But crime is down.
Hold on a second…I know my soapbox is around here somewhere…Ah, here it is.
This story and at least one more has begun with lines like “You might not believe it…” but crime stories in the news is THE reason people wouldn’t believe it. So, aren’t you saying you’re getting it wrong?
Here’s a better opening: “It might contradict everything we put in the news every day, but crime is continually dropping…”
This is the biggest reason I don’t link out to a lot of crime stories. They lack context. Homicides are about the only story that include references to how many have happened overall, if that’s up or down for this time of year, or over a period of years. That doesn’t happen with sex crimes, robberies, or many other crimes. That lack of context is what leaves people with a feeling things aren’t safe.
That’s not to say everything is perfect and I’d feel perfectly happy counting stacks of money out on every street corner or wandering around every neighbourhood at 3am, but without context people in charge – in neighbourhoods, in community groups, in government, in policing – don’t get to focus on real problems and prevention because they’re reacting to front pages and 6 o’clock news reports.
Jumps off soapbox.
Let’s end on an up-note: dinosaurs and celebrities!
July 21 Northlands Headlines
Not yet.
Good morning, Edmonton. You know a day with downtown arena stories is going to be a busy day. So, dig in.
Among the news and notes from City administration’s answers to Councillor Ed Gibbons:
- Daryl Katz’s $100-million for the arena is more like $80 or $90-million, with the rest covering management over decades
- The City (you and me) will likely have to put up the money, probably borrowed, to cover the $125-million that will eventually be paid back through a ticket tax (that’s you again, if you go to anything at the arena)
- Katz Group and Oilers financials are yet to be fully opened up to City Council
- There’s nothing binding Daryl Katz to spend $100-million in development around the arena
- A community rink would be fully paid for by the City (why don’t we just build a couple of community rinks on the parking lot and call it a day?)
- The arena will cost more than $450-million when you factor in “soft costs” like design, street lights, LRT, transit, that community rink, sewers, and a bunch of other stuff I’m not smart enough to think of.
Northlands isn’t backing down. The non-profit agency wants to keep running Rexall Place if there’s a downtown arena. That likely doesn’t bode well for you and I making back any of the tax money council wants to throw into the downtown arena. There could be too much competition for arena events in a city Edmonton’s size.
On Northlands: They wanted council approval of $770,000 for new seats at Rexall Place. They got that. It’s money already in the Northlands budget, but anything over $750,000 needs a look by city council.
There were questions about Northlands’ finances (sure, councillors, I just happened to bring our audited statements with us to a meeting for a seat rubber-stamp…) and I suspect councillors will have an easier time to see the money details of Northlands than the Katz Group. Also, with council members sitting on the Northlands board, at least a few folks in City Hall yesterday should know how the non-profit is doing with cash.
Even a downtown arena fan thinks Daryl Katz could be the guy making all the wrong moves, and asking for too much money, on the deal.
Whew. That’s a lot of Northlands and arena talk. How about we shift gears for the rest of today’s Headlines? (more…)
July 20 Edmonton Headlines
It’s a big day at City Hall. There’s a new downtown arena report before council, with a few more details about how much more it’s going to cost to build a replacement for Rexall Place and that Northlands won’t sign a non-compete clause.
More information on what’s happening today, with answers to Councillor Ed Gibbons’ questions, here at this PDF. Some of the (non)answers, even if you’re in favour of the downtown arena, might make you groan.
Councillors will also discuss whether to give Northlands a little more than $700,000 to fix seats in Rexall Place.
The Way We Green, the City’s 30-year environmental policy is also up for debate. I don’t see why it wouldn’t pass. A few developers and pesticide-users were complaining about losing money, but Edmonton needs to have a document that helps shape our environmental policies – and we should have such policies underlying big decisions and projects.
Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, man of the people Kerry Diotte wants to talk about mosquitoes.
Don’t forget about the war on weeds. Councillor Bryan Anderson is trying to lead that for the City of Edmonton.
Another day, another historic building in the news.
Five years after a man died following a police chase, the fatality inquiry report carries a recommendation for emergency CPR training for officers.
Hey kid. Psst. Hey kid. You want some candy?
Alberta Hospital is trying to find a missing patient, and an escaped patient.
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We’re about a third through a ten-year plan to end homelessness in Alberta. That should stay in place for the new premier, and poverty has to become part of the plan.
Big oilsands equipment won’t be making its way to Alberta through Montana right now. I like that the Montana Department of Transportation took the time to have Imperial Oil fill out an environmental assessment. That shows dedication to preserving the environment.
Meanwhile…on the side of the border…China is making its moves to get into the oilsands game…Oh, and energy ministers want to find ways to send more oil and gas to places other than the U.S.
The Premiers are going to talk about the economy.
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Eight Edmonton restaurants, and one in St. Albert, made it into “Where to Eat in Canada.”
It’s Edmonton: The Musical, at the Avenue Theatre.
July 19 Edmonton Headlines
No crazy-ass storms this morning. So, that’s a good thing.
The cost of a new downtown arena will be more than the $450-million pricetag currently tossed about. Of course, roads, sewers, LRT and transit connections (and lots of other stuff the City will have to build) were always going to be needed, it’s just more official now in a report back to Councillor Ed Gibbons. And with Northlands not ready to stop booking concerts and events things could get messy (and even more expensive). Maybe things will get so complicated billionaire Oilers owner Daryl Katz will just build the arena himself.
What? It’s possible…
I’m not sure I buy the headline on this story that members of Edmonton’s Somali community are fleeing the city but it is a group that’s seeing constant homicides, mostly due to drug and gang connections of younger Somali men.
There won’t be a Weekend to End Breast Cancer in Edmonton. Also, how did it cost $2.1-million to feed under 800 people, staff medical tents and run a website. Did the website cost $1.2-million?
Edmonton’s Ronald McDonald House is looking to expand. Again.
A giant apartment fire last week started because of bed bug extermination.
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Canada’s energy ministers are meeting in Alberta, talking about a national energy plan. Oh, oil companies are sponsoring a big portion of the conference, so I’m sure the environment will be on that agenda somewhere.
Speaking of energy companies running the show…the Premier’s promise to keep bitumen upgrading jobs in Alberta meant nothing…
It was so hot in Alberta yesterday…that we set a new power record.
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West Edmonton Mall’s got some renovations going on, and will be adding more U.S. stores.
If we get out of this rainy weather, there’s a new place for you to go swimming in the river valley.
July 18 Edmonton Headlines
It was all bright lights and stormy skies and then, boom, blue sky and sun.
Good morning, Edmonton. Were you awake early enough to catch that freaky-sky storm this morning?
The construction on 99 Street is a mess. Neighbours wanted to be consulted. Urban planning wasn’t so much a part of the project as basic transportation fixes. (A bias note: I’m on the Strathcona Centre Community League and we are also not pleased about how the City of Edmonton handled any of this.) It’s a disappointment when considering that major projects such as the 99 Street and Scona Road work will not be revisited for decades.
Speaking of poor planning…sounds like councillors forgot about getting the City to lead development in the northeast. It’s an important piece of Edmonton’s land plans, since it could be key agricultural land for years to come.
Northlands doesn’t want to sign a non-compete clause over the downtown arena. Shocking. So, neither the provincial nor federal governments want to put in $100-million for a new Edmonton arena, and Northlands doesn’t want to give up Rexall Place. This could not be going better.
Edmonton’s 29th homicide of the year is the fourth of a Somali man.
Police, medical examiners, and Crown prosecutors are all busy with Edmonton’s murders and killings this year.
Speaking of medical examiners…the outgoing Chief Medical Examiner is Graeme Dowling…
The Edmonton Police Service is looking at getting new cars. Mostly because Ford isn’t going to make Crown Victorias anymore and that’s what currently makes up the cruiser fleet.
Feels like there are a lot of missing persons cases this summer…and social media is a big part of the latest…
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More than half of the people who come to Canada each year don’t get to stay. Alberta’s Employment and Immigration Minister wants to see more temporary foreign workers actually stay here as immigrants (and bring their families).
Oil and gas drilling stimulus might have been a terrible idea. But it will take an audit of the government programs to really figure it out.
If the governing Tories can get out of deficit (basically, if oil and gas prices rise more) they’ll be looking to increase travel budgets.
On healthcare…more nurses are being hired!
Health Link made a sexy mistake. Also, people still use phone books.
Slave Lake fire victims are getting some Alberta government-built temporary homes.
Six candidates came up with $40,000 and are running to be the next Premier of Alberta.
On education…the candidates are coming out swinging against, well, against their own governing party. It’s so weird when one party has been in power so long and leadership candidates have to differentiate themselves from themselves.
In other political news, the Alberta Party is setting up headquarters on Alberta Avenue. That seems very fitting.
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And St. Albert is hosting the Alberta Indigineous Games this week.
#MackAttack Headlines
Happy Twitter Birthday to Edmonton’s first tweeter, Mack Male! Five years I go I wasn’t even on Facebook.
Now on with the news!
We were talking yesterday about a push to lock up your car.
All that rain slowed down road construction. Thanks a lot, rain.
My guess is that plan B to find $100-million for the downtown arena involves a whole lot of busking by Mayor Mandel. Meanwhile…at our current arena…new seats may or may not happen…
David Staples makes a good point in his latest column in favour of government money for a downtown arena. The Alberta government shouldn’t put so much money into horse racing. (I’m pretty sure that was his point, anyway.)
Ethan Allen is moving downtown. Wait. After a downtown arena is built, right?
No more downtown arena after the jump. I promise. (more…)
July 14 Edmonton Headlines
It’s a busy news day, with plenty of big stories in Edmonton, so let’s get this going.
Developers don’t like “The Way We Green” – the City of Edmonton’s environmental plan. Suburban development would actually carry its full cost? We’d be more like San Francisco? Geez, why WOULDN’T we do this?!
Over in Alberta Venture, Preston Manning is arguing that business needs to think more about the environment.
The Premier (still Ed Stelmach at this time) says the provincial government won’t be putting direct money into Edmonton’s downtown arena. There might be some infrastructure money though. I would take that to mean helping with LRT, sewers, and roads. If Gary Mar becomes the next Progressive Conservative there also won’t be money for the arena’s construction. And the federal government already turned down the opportunity to put $100-million into a new home for the Oilers.
Speaking of starchitecture…the Bank of Montreal building at Jasper and 101 Street is indeed going to be demolished. The City’s planning department issued demolition permits to the new owners, which caught the heritage department off-guard. A campaign sprung up to save the 48-year-old building, but it will soon be a parkade. Yes, a parkade.
If the building had been 50-years-old it could have been protected as historic. So, the City probably needs to better communicate between departments and loosen the 50-year rule. (They also need to toughen up the penalties for owners who let buildings waste away.) If not, we will become a temporary city which continually replaces anything of note or worth. (Probably with more of those great beige buildings we have so many of downtown.)
Do we have to make everyone in the planning department watch our “history” episode to learn that old stuff can be cool?
Speaking of knocking down buildings…
Alright, more news coming right up. (Told you there was lots today.) (more…)
Two Years of Edmonton Headlines
Stick around and we'll play some tunes.
Good Wednesday to you, Edmonton. Today marks two years of these here Headlines. How’s it going to for you, still digging them?
Since we first started I’ve tweaked one or two things, including moving away from slotting in the stories under the newsrooms they’re from, and zinging the newsrooms all of the time. Now I try to just zing the newsmakers and stories.
Thoughts, comments, and requests are always welcome.
Now, on with the news!
Will we have two Walterdale Bridges? Could the old one (the current, green one) become a hub of food and shops for people crossing the river and enjoying a built-up Rossdale neighbourhood once the EPCOR building is gone? Sounds neat, but the timelines might not match up.
We do have a new food spot in the river valley though, in Louise McKinney Park.
OK…the Mayor was talking about making it easier to move to the suburbs, and now he wants to get rid of traffic lights so he can get around in his car without having to be driven “nuts.” What’s up with all this?
You might have noticed a lot of black smoke over the downtown yesterday afternoon. There was a big apartment fire that sent four residents and two firefighters to hospital.
The University of Alberta’s leading the way with its National Institute for Nanotechnology.
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We were talking yesterday about the need to turn away from gangs and criminals, report them to police when they break the law or kill someone, and an elder on the Samson Cree First Nation is saying just that in Hobbema. He’s saying it because a child was shot dead while sleeping inside a home. People may fear retaliation, but the larger the problem gets, the longer things go on without killers going to prison, the larger the risk of dying while doing nothing.
Edmonton also had a man killed this year who was not the intended target.
I’d still call triathlete Paula Findlay’s MRI a healthcare queue jump. Sure, it’s nice she’s a sports star and chose to have it done in the public healthcare system, but if she could have gotten “an immediate MRI scan if she had gone to an emergency room…” she should have gone to an emergency room.
Perhaps an answer here is to ensure athletes, professional and amateur have a line to healthcare since it’s part of their job. In terms of amateur athletes, maybe representatives on provincial or national teams and levels could land that pseudo-workers’ comp.
It has been a tough year in Alberta for disasters. Central Alberta is now flooded (there’s flooding in northern Alberta too, and fires).
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If you’re looking for patios (you know, when the sun eventually returns) Edmonton’s got three new ones – at three restaurants I quite enjoy.
July 12 Edmonton Headlines
Hello Edmonton!
Speed on green cameras are back! Govern your driving accordingly. (And this will likely help balance the police and City budgets because we all know you’re going to get caught speeding.)
It’s raining and raining but the last decade was still too dry, and we lost plenty of trees.
As the war in Afghanistan, or, rather, the Canadian military’s fighting role in Afghanistan, comes to a close, there will be plenty of looks back at what was accomplished. Edmonton’s military base certainly played a central role since the first invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.
The observatory at the University of Alberta has a permanent home. Though, I’m sure they’ve heard that one before.
If you notice a guy sitting outside of SUB at the University of Alberta campus it’s because he’s on a hunger strike, looking to get a PhD supervisor.
A very public killing has resulted in a teen getting the maximum youth sentence for second degree murder. That’s seven years, with four in custody and three under community supervision. Meanwhile…in adult court…a Sherwood Park woman gets five years in prison for driving drunk and killing two people – one in her car and one in an oncoming vehicle.
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Triathlete Paula Findlay got an MRI right away for her sore hip. The head of diagnostic imaging in Edmonton says anybody with a potential injury on load-bearing joints can get one right away to avoid bone breaks. But, when you throw in the fact 450 people are waiting to get an MRI each week, and Findlay’s father is a doctor who helped get the medical scan set up it does raise some questions about healthcare wait times and queues.
Speaking of diagnostic imaging…there’s a new cardiac MRI at the Mazankowski Heart Institute… Paula Findlay has already given it a whirl. (I’m kidding!)
Alberta’s Persons with Developmental Disabilities program (or PDD) is under scrutiny after the Journal discovered a man’s violent tendencies were never disclosed to the agency providing his care in Camrose. He is alleged to have killed his caregiver – though he found mentally unfit to stand trial.
South of the city, the Chief of the Samson Cree First Nation at Hobbema lost his five-year-old grandson in a shooting. The boy was just sleeping in his bed. For years, Hobbema has been plagued by violent gangs – and this is not the first child hit by a bullet while inside a home – and this comes as RCMP report they were making progress. Just like Edmonton’s Somali community (among others) needs to turn its back on gangs and realize there’s as much risk reporting criminals as not, Hobbema residents who want to live in peace need to keep up the struggle.
RCMP in Vegreville are cleared after shooting a man dead, and the judge in the inquiry is making no suggestions for similar situations in the future.
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Internet rates are up for debate with the CRTC. This is the follow-up to the CRTC’s decision to allow the big Internet companies to all but wipe-out unlimited Internet plans from smaller companies.
Wow. Most of the news today is a real downer.
July 11 Edmonton Headlines
Anyone else feel like roadwork has them walking a plank?
How was that wet weekend for you, Edmonton?
The mayor wants more money for suburban roads so people can more easily afford to live in the suburbs. Aaaand, he’s lost me. I don’t think people pay enough of the true municipal cost of living in the suburbs now, let alone tossing more money into roadwork which could drop developer’s costs more.
It’s not your imagination, parking is getting more expensive.
The City of Edmonton could open a museum or hold the mother of all garage sales with all of the stuff it’s collected over the years.
No matter where people move from it’s great to have ways to connect them with other people, and teach them how to get around the city.
Speaking of those moving to our city…some in the local Sudanese community were celebrating the independence of South Sudan…
Alberta Health Services and Edmonton Police are looking for a missing woman.
After posting an image of a groping suspect Edmonton Police report an arrest in the case.
The world’s best female triathlete couldn’t compete here at home this weekend.
An Edmonton girl is Miss Teen Canada International.
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The outgoing Information and Privacy Commissioner doesn’t expect to land any future jobs with the government of Alberta. Which is really too bad, since that means he did his job well.
Alberta’s childcare and foster system continues to be under pressure to open up, let everyone see how things work, and answer questions.
Speaking of children in provincial care…murder charges have been stayed against two teens accused of killing a couple out in Strathcona County…it was a case that saw changes to how Bosco Homes operated…
First it was fires, now it’s floods. Northern Alberta can’t catch a break this summer.
You’d think hospitals would have the healthiest food around. You’d think.
Perhaps lawsuits are a cost of running a large healthcare system? Though, that would mean that people aren’t happy, things went wrong, and change needs to happen in a number of areas.
Alberta had more new jobs created last month than in all of the U.S. So, yeah, I guess we’re doing alright.
One horse down at the 2011 Calgary Stampede. Do you think the Calgary Humane Society would be cool with me chasing down puppies and tying them up? I think you could take away all the animal stuff and everybody going to Calgary for the breakfasts and parties wouldn’t even notice.
Speaking of animal welfare…the oilsands are yet to finish off the Whooping Crane…so far…
July 8 Edmonton Headlines
This rain is actually a nice prelude to our series final on ShawTV Sunday. You'll see.
What a turn of weather in Alberta! We’ve got rain here in Edmonton, but there are tornados and even heavier rain in other parts of the province. Let’s hope for a little sun to break through this weekend.
The mayor and police chief sat down to talk about homicides in our city. I’m not sure more police officers will stop most killings. In fact, I’m really sure more police officers won’t. But that will likely be the political fix to this. That and something to do with knives.
Mack’s got a good look at some of the stats behind our murders, including the fact we likely won’t set all-time Canadian records, and whether we’re actually talking about homicide more than usual.
If the old Walterdale Bridge may not stick around I’d like to see parts of it incorporated into the new bridge or Rossdale development. It also better mean those pedestrian and bike lanes open up nicely on the new Walterdale.
It seems public pressure to save the old Bank of Montreal building on Jasper Avenue is opening up options at City Hall.
The old Telus building at 104 and 104 should be an Edmonton neon sign museum by the end of this year.
Meet the new boss – at CFB Edmonton.
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You can now check out, online, whether provincially accredited child care programs are meeting standards. Or, I suppose, if they are even provincially accredited.
Yes, after workplace inspection after inspection finds multiple safety violations it is time for the provincial government to take further steps. I think it’s beyond the point in figuring out if some new rules or penalties are required; they are.
The Alberta government wants more help to fight off mountain pine beetles, which did pretty well through the winter thank you very much.
Who said this: “I actually lived without a car for quite a while and I enjoyed it.” Would you believe a Progressive Conservative leadership candidate?!
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Canada Post is dealing with a backlog of 40-million pieces of mail, the poor dears. Glad we got a pile of junk mail like two days after the lockout ended. Priorities!
Will we soon be picking up a bag of (U of A created) chickpea chips?
July 7 Edmonton Headlines
You might have seen these eye-catching "posters" for the No Longer With Us campaign to promote Housing First. (Click for more details.)
I think I’m starting to like “today’s date-Edmonton Headlines” as my go-to title. I reserve the right to insert puns.
If you get caught on the LRT without transit fare, or put your feet on the seat, or give drivers the stink-eye (that one may be made up), you’ll be facing a larger fine. Now, with the most important problems solved, if Edmonton Transit could just increase service to the most populated and busy areas of the city, get GPS on the buses, and keep things clean we’d see the monthly cost be a deal compared to personal vehicles.
Festival organizers are looking to the City for a little help in killing mosquitoes. That would mean breaking out the chemicals to “fog” parks.
The river valley is getting money that was supposed to go to other park projects. Go river valley go!
The footage is grainy, but Edmonton Police hope it will help them catch a downtown groper.
A landmark that used to sit outside of CFRN TV is on its way to the new Royal Alberta Museum. Speaking of that new museum…give the provincial government a little input, would you. Oh, you can’t?
You might have heard about a Sun News Network item on some Edmonton artists’ housing this week.
The Bestest of Edmonton? You’ll have to make the jump to find out. (more…)
July 6 Edmonton Headlines
Who ya gonna call?
Welcome to the middle of the week, Edmonton. How’s your hump?
Edmonton’s Somali community appears to be turning within, including launching a new series of posters, to try and solve the many murders that have hit them. We’re probably going to need more crime prevention than just posters though; perhaps libraries and youth centres could stay open way, way longer.
“Maybe around here it would be like Whyte Avenue but with better access.” Umm, access is pretty darn good for folks who live in walkable neighbourhoods. Walkable shopping is a mall.
Our pals over at the Edmonton Flag Football Association played for a world record and raised more than $10,000 for the Stollery Children’s Hospital. All in all, a pretty good long weekend for that crew.
If you run a small business, the City is looking for the greenest of them all.
The artistic director of Edmonton Opera has resigned after nine years at the helm.
Edmonton composer Malcolm Forsyth has died.
An Edmonton landlord is not allowed to file any more lawsuits, without some permission from a judge.
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The Alberta government is being told to set up an independent oilsands monitoring panel, to watch over the pollution created by the industry. Your move, long-standing, terrible budgeting, energy-dependent Tory government, your move.
Speaking of provincial budgeting…the Sun wants to know where the Royal Alberta Museum debate is…
A workplace inspection blitz on places likely to have a lot of younger workers, like food courts, found many safety violations. None were serious enough to shut down the businesses. One thing I find interesting about the many workplace inspection stories this year, they almost always have more violations than inspections, meaning multiple violations and hazards at a bunch of them.
Leadership candidates are being pressured to bring in harsher smoking laws. On the campaign…the head of the Alberta Medical Association is being asked to resign, or get turfed, by former Conservative MLA, Liberal leadership candidate, and doctor Raj Sherman.
The Slave Lake fire is now Canada’s second most expensive disaster, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, behind only the Quebec and eastern Ontario ice storm of 1998. Oh, and while we’re mentioning Slave Lake, the royal couple is headed there. (I guess we couldn’t make it through their trip to Canada without a mention after all.)
The southern Alberta zoo lots of people are hating on is back open while court processes drag out. I guess this means the owner didn’t kill and stuff the animals just yet.
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Canada’s military role in Afghanistan is over. There are still soldiers over there, and they will remain so in mostly training capacities, but the fighting is now up to other countries.
Statistics Canada reports most of Canada’s eligible voters who didn’t vote in the last election were too busy or didn’t feel like voting. That just makes me sad. While political parties all try to figure out how to engage with youth, and more voters in general, I think it’s also time for news and information providers to think about dropping some of their “objectivity” and also find ways to engage voters.
July 5 Edmonton Headlines
There is a fist joke here. But I'm taking the high road.
Good morning Edmonton. All caught up after the long weekend, are we?
Canada Post’s strike and lockout can be blamed for delaying at least one hearing at City Hall. Though, the councillors and staff who put the matter over should be thanked for doing so, since they probably could have gone ahead.
MacEwan’s got a neat summer program. They run a “get ready for post-secondary school” week for aboriginal students making the transition to college and university.
More bike lanes! (And paths. And connections.)
Edmonton’s Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and Boys & Girls Club are all the same organization now.
The U of A’s first chair of Islamic Studies has died while overseas.
An Edmonton school, and a Beaumont one, is off to England for some Shakespeare.
Triathletes heading down to Hawrelak Park this weekend might not be swimming in bird poop. Well, not as much bird poop.
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For the public healthcare supporters (which is most of us, I presume) you can’t get a better example of private healthcare than a bunch of seniors being evicted.
The province’s top cancer doctor (top as in head the head of administration) is retiring after four decades in medicine.
Yeah, an oil spill would probably hurt support of an oil pipeline. Speaking of spills…Alberta’s got a nice big role in the ones that happened on federally-regulated lines…
A new deal between the federal government and the provinces should bring more than $150-million to Alberta to build affordable housing.
While a couple of the Progressive Conservative leadership candidates (Alison Redford and Gary Mar) are stacking up the money, Doug Horner is showing off his Tory MLA supporters.
If you don’t want to get hit by lightning, stay out of Thorsby.
Long weekend…driving blitz…lots of tickets… You’d think that since it’s always the same story on long weekends police would just enforce the rules of the road in full-force all of the time. Instead of every couple of weekends.
There’s a shortlist for the team to build the new Royal Alberta Museum.
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Edmonton’s got some serious tacos going on now.
Independence Day Headlines
How was the Canada Day long weekend for you, Edmonton? Did you drink lots of maple syrup?
Edmonton Public School Board trustees want to be part of the larger discussion on neighbourhoods, to avoid closing schools. It’s up to the City of Edmonton and Alberta government to include them. If all three can work together we’ll probably have more vibrant communities and schools that don’t close – even if that means they remain open with different programming in the building.
While Edmonton’s 2011 homicide rate may include a few deaths from last year (ruled homicides in this calendar year) there are certainly more than we normally see in six months. Police, and other groups, are trying to figure out why and what could be done to help communities most often dealing with death.
Edmonton’s median time for a court case is closing in on half of that of a Calgary case. Justice isn’t speedy but it’s kind of not super-long.
We’re going to need a bunch of overpasses, and overpass work, in Edmonton over the next few decades. Hopefully the Alberta government, and maybe the federal government too, can kick in some money to help keep our major roads in good shape.
You know there’s plenty to catch up on after an extra day off. (more…)
End of June Headlines
It’s a busy day in Edmonton news. So let’s get right to it.
We’ve got fewer car crashes in Edmonton, but it’s still more than any of Canada’s largest cities. Speaking of crashes…here’s where you’re likely to hit a deer with your car.
Rossdale, which is the area down by the north end of the Walterdale Bridge and Telus Field, is going to be revamped and re-built. Into what, is not known just yet.
Looking at bongs and the like, the City is being told to crackdown on convenience stores selling drug-related items, not head shops. While we’re at it, can we stop convenience stores from selling battle swords? (I am not kidding.)
The federal government may not have not supported the Expo 2017 bid for the reasons stated publicly. While security costs, and money in general, were given as reasons there wouldn’t be money from Ottawa for the bid, some new review documents show there was worry over whether “eastern Canada” would want a big event if one came west. Also, something about storing wigs in the SunSphere.
Speaking of massive amounts of public money for fun things…Progressive Conservative leadership candidate (and premiership candidate) Gary Mar says he won’t put any money into an Edmonton downtown arena if he replaces Ed Stelmach. This should now put pressure on the other potential premiers to take a position. For the Katz Group and Mayor: Ruh-roh!
It’s supposed to be in honour of our military, but Heroes Boulevard is not all that popular in Edmonton.
Other Canadian soldiers are charged in the death of an Edmonton solider at a shooting range last year.
With all the news today you’d think we were heading into a long weekend or something. (more…)
