Short Week Headlines
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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…)
Heritage Weekend
This is it Edmonton, the long weekend we’ve been waiting for all month. (I said long weekend, not log.)
It’s also one of those peaks of festivals that mark our summer. Here’s what I mean:
Heritage Festival (It is the Heritage Day weekend… Also, you can’t drive your car to Hawrelak for all of the fun.)
DRAW (drawing. obvs.)
Capital Ex (Woot!)
Taste of Edmonton (Deep fried deliciousness – alright, mostly deep fried.)
Food Day Canada, where restaurants create entirely Canadian-sourced meals (with Culina Mill Creek, Culina Muttart, Culina Highlands – now the Highlands Kitchen, D’Lish, The Marc, )
Yeah!
In sports…the Eskimos are home tonight to the Toronto Argonauts and the Capitals play host to the Lake County Fielders. The Fielders are having all kinds of off-field troubles this season.
On a more serious note, there will be a vigil for a Fort McMurray woman missing for the last year.
Wicked continues to play at the Jube.
Edmonton comedian Jon Mick records a live comedy album, at Wunderbar. You can not only enjoy a night of fine Edmonton comedy (and comedians) but listen for your laughter on his recording. And if you want you can help him pay for the album by throwing him a few bucks. Pretty solid night.
In music, it’s a pretty solid weekend. Sister Gray is playing New City Legion tonight with Cygents, The Frolics, and Very Dangerous Animals…Luke Doucet and the White Falcon is with Michael Rault, at the Starlite Room…Capital Ex has plenty of music, including Ace of Bass Sunday night…Taste of Edmonton also has lots of live music…
On Saturday, there are two great afternoon shows on Whyte Avenue, with Tyler Butler and F&M at the Black Dog for Hair of the Dog, and The Provincial Archive at The Empress with Montreal’s Charlotte Cornfield…
Saturday night…Toy Singers have a farewell show, with Old Uglians Jessica Jalbert, Liam Trimble, and Sugarglider at the Haven Social Club…across the city, The ARTery’s got the Beehive Bonanza Mini Market and Show, with Rocktimus Crime, Service:Fair, and Jom Comyn…
Sunday night sees a long weekend showcase at the Pawn Shop, with Matt Machete ready to blow things up…On the holiday Monday, Jeff Morris kicks off his tour at the Black Dog…
Now, to get this party started, let me present to you the new album from our pals The Fight. (The whole album is embedded here, just flip through the tracks. Oh, and buy it if you dig it.)
See you Tuesday!
p.s. Speaking of The Fight, Jom Comyn, Service:Fair, Jessica Jalbert, Liam Trimble, The Provincial Archive, Tyler Butler, and Sugarglider, this Sunday night is likely the last time you’ll be able to catch the edmontonian presents on ShawTV (channel 10 on Shaw cable), so tune in at 9pm and be able to tell your space-grandkids you saw it on an actual television set.
Rainy July Weekend
This guy is always ready to party.
I know it’s raining. A lot. But, there’s some sun in the weekend forecast, and not everything that’s happening is outdoors, so we can still have fun this weekend. Come on, it’ll be fun!
We’ve got plenty of festivals on. Rain or shine, they’ll be going all weekend (well, most of them, so watch for venue changes and cancellations if the rain never stops).
Our annual summer exhibition, Capital Ex, begins today. So, get your cotton candy on.
A Taste of Edmonton is in Churchill Square. (As it always coincides with Capital Ex, which is a one-stop LRT ride away). Get your eat on from lots of Edmonton restaurants. Or take your food home and deep fry it. Anything goes!
The Freewill Shakespeare Festival winds down for another summer, in Hawrelak Park. Of course, there’s the Edmonton Indy and Race Week Edmonton events (most of the events are downtown, the race is at the City Centre Airport).
On Sunday, Fork Fest begins part 2 of its summer run. Time to get your local eat on.
In arts…Year of the Rabbit wraps up this weekend. It’s a combination of visual arts and a play, at the Catalyst Theatre. Wicked is also playing in Edmonton. There’s burlesque at The ARTery tomorrow night, with the River City Review. This is also the weekend for Edmonton: The Musical.
Pretty solid music weekend, so you can stay dry. The New Music West conference and festival is in Edmonton, and will have plenty of shows around the city. The Frolics, The Burning Sands, and Hook ‘Em Revue are at Wunderbar…Kenny Shields and Streetheart are at the Century Casino…Warning to Avoid, GBM, and rhodes play at New City Legion…Manraygun is at The Empress…
The Taste of Edmonton and Race Week Edmonton festivals also have their share of music.
And there’s the Sasquatch Sweet Sixteen Festival, at Rangeton, Alberta. Bring the rubber boots!
The Campus Community Garden is planning a second shot at an open house. They are certainly hoping for a sunny Saturday.
In sports…the Edmonton Capitals are home to the Chico Outlaws this weekend…and the Edmonton Prospects are home to Medicine Hat, at John Fry Park…there’s also the Kokanee Edmonton Canada Cup in Kinsmen Park, so expect a muddy good time on mountain bikes!
If you’re into local government and transit, you could also check out the Downtown LRT connector workshop happening Sunday afternoon.
Watch Out For That Parade
This photos is two years old but still relevant.
Capital Ex begins this weekend. But, dating back to days of yore when it was known as Klondike Days, it always begins with a parade.
That parade happens this morning. Downtown. At 10am.
You can consider yourself warned and/or delighted.
For those of you on the delight side, there are more than 100 floats, bands, entertainers and more fun that will march around 10am-12:30pm. The parade route takes them up and down 102 and 103 Avenues, between Churchill Square and 108 Street.
For those of you on the warned side, traffic delays begin at 6:30am in the east Jasper area, and extend to the parade route by 8:30. Things will be slow in the downtown until about 1pm when the route is opened up to traffic again.
Plan your morning schedules accordingly (especially if you really want to see the parade in person).
Long weekend = One more day of fun
It’s the Heritage Day long weekend, Edmonton, so get out there and soak in all that summer.
Over the next four days (counting Friday night) there’s a lot to do in Edmonton.
Capital Ex continues at Northlands. A Taste of Edmonton is still at Churchill Square. (Both run until Sunday.)
And, of course, Heritage Day means Hawrelak Park becomes the Heritage Festival. It’s the 35th go-round for Heritage Fest, with more than 60 countries and ethnicities represented. There will be culture and food, all three days of the weekend, in the park. Plan your adventures with the map.
The winless Eskimos play tonight. Meh.
Friday night is a really good music night. Juliette Lewis is playing the Starlite Room, Metric (and Hot Hot Heat) are at Capital Ex, Fred Eaglesmith is in Stony Plain at the Blueberry Bluegrass and Country Music Festival, and there’s that little thing called the Big Valley Jamboree over in Camrose.
On Sunday, The Old Wives are playing at Lyve on Whyte and Audio/Rocketry is at the PawnShop.
And Capital Ex has more music at the Telus Stage Saturday and Sunday. Plus, The Be Arthurs can be found at Centre Stage.
There are dinosaurs!!
ShareEdmonton had an event that really caught my eye. (What can I say, I have a soft spot for chess.) This weekend is the Edmonton Chess Festival. Checkmate.
I also keep forgetting to mention Saturday as a great farmers’ market day. You’ve got the year-round Old Strathcona version, or summer’s City Market Downtown.
It’s the end of the month, so you can check Gregg’s July movie preview and his new look at the August releases, if you’re hitting the movie theatre.
Don’t tire yourself out this weekend, since Folk Fest starts Wednesday night, and the Fringe is on the horizon.
And, because I’m going to mention it all of the time, the edmontonian and Unknown Studio will be celebrating their first birthday(s) Monday, August 23.
Yumeeeee Wooooooo!
Even with the parade done and the Monster conquered, Capital Ex continues its unrelenting push for fun.
Along with the midway, shopping, games, food, the Telus Stage (Shane Yellowbird tonight, Metric tomorrow, Hedley Saturday, Default Sunday), casino, stuff for the kids, and the food and wine experience (Sip!), you can also just people-watch. 
Plus there are fireworks. And mini donuts.
You know, when you write it all down, there actually does seem to be quite a bit going on up there at Northlands.
Set your phasers to Festival
(As always, this isn’t a definitive list of what’s going on in Edmonton. Just stuff I know about or want to check out. ShareEdmonton and YEGLive are way more definitive.)
This is where your mettle for festival season begins to be tested, Edmonton.
We’ve had great festivals this summer, like the Jazz Fest, SOS Fest, Doors Open Edmonton and the Street Performers Festival. But now, now, is when you need to hydrate and find sleep when you can.
Now is when Edmonton becomes an endless string of carnival rides, mini donuts, race cars, deep-fried food, arts, music, theatre and parties.
This weekend we’ve got the Honda Indy Edmonton. That’s three days of race action at the City Centre Airport. There will be spin-off parties, including the tent on Jasper and the Race Week Music Festival at the Sutton Place hotel. (Side note: Drake is playing the Edmonton Event Centre, Saturday, with an after-party at the tent.)
Capital Ex kicks off its ten day run today. The only way you’ll be slowed down here is if you eat that giant hamburger they’re calling The Monster.
The Freewill Shakespeare Festival is into its final days of Macbeth and Much Ado About Nothing.
Churchill Square is full of food. That’s because Taste of Edmonton is back to fill your stomach with a selection of tasty treats from city restaurants.
You can draw at Draw. The annual arts event that includes, umm, drawing, DJs, food, dancing, and who knows what other kinds of fun. It’s at more than one location this year. Find yourself some space to express yourself visually at Latitude 53, Harcourt House, and SNAP. Things finish off at FAVA.
And that’s just the festivals.
We’ve got live music all over the place, including some Old Ugly action at Axis Cafe, featuring Kumon Plaza, Jessica Jalbert, and Jaded Hipster Choir. Wolf Parade is at the Starlite Room. A guy you’ve probably heard of, Neil Young, is at the Jubilee tonight.
You can refuse to believe the rumors, but SkeptiCamp Alberta is happening Saturday, at the U of A.
For the family, Sesame Street Live is at Rexall for shows throughout the weekend.
The Edmonton Prospects are home to Medicine Hat at John Fry Park.
Don’t forget you can seek air-conditioned refuge in a movie theatre.
Remember to pace yourself. Right after Capital Ex and Taste of Edmonton we’ve got the Heritage Festival, Folk Fest, the Fringe (and the edmontonian and Unknown Studio birthday party). It’s going to be September before we know it. (And once it is September we’ve got Symphony Under the Sky.)
p.s. If you’re by a computer Saturday night, at 9pm, why not come right back here and catch our attempt at a TV talk show: “Saturday with Samsonow.” It’ll be something. It might even be good.
Edmonton Parade Headlines
Don’t forget about the Capital Ex parade this morning. Mostly because it will be causing some traffic delays in downtown Edmonton.
This ain't your daddy's hockey rink.
So…I don’t know if you’ve heard anything about the downtown arena and entertainment district proposal from the Katz Group. If you haven’t, then we’re about to school you.
The most interesting items include Daryl Katz now offering $100-million for the arena AND $100-million for the entertainment district.
Say, if we keep waiting does he just end up paying for all of it? Or, because we heard the Oilers will not play in a renovated Rexall Place, does he throw that money to another city?
If you are updated, this will be a chance to learn just a little bit more. Each newsroom’s story on the big meeting at City Hall is included today.
Arena-up!
from the Edmonton Journal:
Oilers owner commits $200M to arena project
Oilers won’t play at Rexall, Katz Group says
Non-threat helps focus debate (The threat that wasn’t a threat. And, more importantly, the Batman or Joker question.)
Katz takes crowbar to Rexall option
Early start to Edmonton LRT paid parking turned down by council
Court appoints caretakers for Alberta Soccer Association (What an example they’re setting for the kids.)
Tailings ponds pose toxic threat: report
from the Edmonton Sun:
Katz says renovated Rexall not an option
Tough to separate arena fact from fiction (The Hicks on Six take.)
from Metro Edmonton:
Katz commits ‘no less than $400M’ to downtown arena project (That includes the $200-million he’s spent on the Oilers. Not that $200-million for an arena and stuff isn’t a fantastic offer.)
from The Canadian Press:
Oilers owner Daryl Katz urges city council to help pay for new NHL rink
from 630CHED/iNews880:
Katz willing to double investment in arena district (At least one group isn’t pleased to hear about a levy to pay for the potential project.)
Honda Indy staying put (A new group will be running the race, not Northlands. Which should get taxpayers off the hook. Meanwhile…on runway 30 of the City Centre Airport…)
from CBC Edmonton:
Oilers owner pitches new arena to council
Alberta midway inspection flawed: U.S. Expert (Those who inspected the ride before it crashed are inspecting it after.)
from CTV Edmonton:
Oilers will not play in a “renovated Rexall Place”: Katz Group
from Global Edmonton:
from Vue Weekly:
To the poorhouse (Why not giving money to the homeless is just to relieve our uncomfortableness with the situation.)
The big party (The Alberta Party begins becoming an actual political machine.)
from SEE Magazine:
How many arena stories did you read?
We love a parade
Yes, it’s Capital Ex time again, Edmonton.
And our stomachs are already begging us not to order this 1kg hamburger:
But, before all the excitement at Northlands really gets going, it begins with a parade.
Now, just like last year, we’re going to put out the call to you, the good readers of the edmontonian, to provide us with a photo (or video, we’re not picky) of some sweet, parade action.
We do this for two reasons: you do good work and Sally is banned from the parade due to that one year she wore a costume of fresh mini donuts, only to have the hot oil sear her skin, forcing her to run screaming, and fairly nude, frightening children and adults alike.
If, like last year, we don’t end up having any Capital Ex parade pictures to post, we can always depend on our buddy Ryan giving us a play-by-play of Shaw TV’s play-by-play.
Don’t forget, the parade is going to cause downtown traffic mayhem, Wednesday night, Thursday morning, and Thursday afternoon.
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And, if you don’t want to work your way through all those links (but they’re worth it…) you can read Ryan’s 2009 parade review at his blog.
Get a job
One hour after I post this you could be attending the Capital Ex Job Fair.
By 7pm you’ll be too late.
Yes, Capital Ex will be taking over Northlands again this July, and they need staff. So, if you want to work only 10 days, this is the job for you.
I’m probably kidding, since people who only want to work 10 days likely aren’t going to be at the top of the resume pile for Northlands. I hope. I mean, I demand quality and a smile from my mini donut vendors.
Anyway, the job fair goes 5-7 tonight, and is a chance for you to drop off your resume and get a short pre-interview interview.
It could be a good summer job for your kids too, as long as they’re 15-years-old. And like smelling like mini donuts.
What to Do: July 24 – 26
Maybe just head out to one of Alberta's great beaches this weekend.
Alright, it’s the weekend!
The scorching hot, middle of summer, good times weekend.
Yes, it’s the final weekend of Capital Ex (and Taste of Edmonton and Walking with Dinosaurs if you’re looking for a super-busy weekend of stuff to do). And there are all those race cars and assorted Indy parties.
But what if that’s not for you?
Try these on for size:
The Hurt Locker opens this weekend and looks really, really good.
The Famines play The Hydeaway with The Wicked Awesomes and The Mitts.
Speaking of music, Social Distortion is playing at Edmonton Event Centre.
River Cree Casino’s Live (cover band bar) has The Almost Hip.
Brian Mason’s pancake breakfast; because free food knows no political ideology (And the NDP has a syrup quota to fulfill).
You can get your dance on at Flamenco for Life, while helping a good cause.
On Sunday, Eskimos great Warren Moon is signing copies of his book “Never Give Up on Your Dream” at the North Town Indigo.
If you’re hungry for local food and new restaurants, check out Fork Fest.
Oh, and remember to Slip, Slop, Slap if you’re heading out into the sun.
Our Lady Peace at Capital Ex Last Night
What are we becoming, youtubevideosofrecentedmontonconcerts.com? Well, whatever. It’s our website. If you don’t like it, get your own.
…wait, no, don’t do that. I didn’t mean it, Edmonton. Come back; I’ll do better.
I liked this one because 4 a.m. is probably my favorite OLP song, and it makes me happy that a band that I often forget about – :( sorry, Raine Maida – can still get this many people singing along.
Did anyone go to this last night? How was it?
@whiverwill, you be famous!
A shout out to our friend Trevor (@whiverwill), whose Capital Ex youtube storm video has racked up more than 28,000 hits! We’re so proud to say we got on board the Trevor train during simpler times – and by simpler times, I mean like a week and a half ago when he sent us some photos of the Street Performers’ Festival. It’s like digging a band before they get really big, and being able to act all superior when other people discover them later on. We knew Trevor’s work before the Journal got on board – that gives us mad street cred.
Seriously though, Trevor, the video is really, really good. Nice work, sir!
GrandeFullBody Loves* a Parade
*does not love
Well, I put out an open call for folks to cover the parade for me this morning, and I only had one taker – and that taker – our friend Ryan from GrandeFullBody – was someone who, like me, isn’t a parade person.
At first, I thought this may be unfair of us – but then Jeff pointed out that every media organization in the City is going to do a positive story about the Capital Ex parade. And not everyone likes parades. So we need to represent.
Now before you head over and there and read his hilarious-yet-scathing parade review, let’s be clear: we’re not criticizing the thousands of people who lined the streets for today’s event. In fact, I am literally BEGGING any of you to send me a picture, or an email, or WHATEVER, just so we don’t develop a rep for being civic parade enemy number one. Or pretty soon it’ll be bye bye theedmontonian.com, hello paradehaters.com.
Good job, Ryan. I give you 20 out of 10.
Everybody Loves a Parade?
If I were a proper community news reporter, I would make this a post about today’s Capital Ex Kickoff Parade. I would also let you know that I would have parade pictures for you ASAP.
But I think we both know that that’s not going to happen today, Edmonton. Because I hate parades. In fact, I can’t think of anything I hate as much as I hate parades.
Okay, maybe racism. But that’s it.
So my point here is this – I understand the existence of parades. And I understand why some folks might really love them(if that’s you, maybe you’d like to get ramped up for this year’s celebration by watching the 2008 affair online). But I hope you can understand that if you guys want pictures of the parade, you’re going to have to provide them. Because right now, while the floats are setting up downtown, I’m having breakfast at Two Rooms on Whyte Ave., and I’m not leaving any time soon.
If you are on the pro-parade side of the fence, I will happily post your pictures. What I’m really hoping for are some stupid ones, taken out your office window as the festivities wind through downtown. Or possibly a photograph of your tv screen as you enjoy parade coverage on Shaw. You can send them to us here. I’ll also be on twitter this morning, so feel free to post them there under the hashtag #paradesandracism.
