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…)
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…)
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.
Vroom
It’s Race Week Edmonton, Edmonton!
Leading into the Indy race on Sunday, there are plenty of events and concerts downtown, at West Edmonton Mall, and up in the Kingsway area, to try and make the Indy more of a festival than just a race.
Among the events and fun:
The Ford Fun Zone in Centennial Plaza (behind the Stanley A. Milner Library)
Race Week Street Festival in Rice Howard Way
The Old Spice Guy and DJ Pete Tong (which always makes me think of the fantastic movie “It’s All Gone Pete Tong“)
And more!
The race, by the way, is at the City Centre Airport on Sunday.
Cinco de Headlines
Hey there, Edmonton, let’s do this news thing. I know you like it.
You’ve only got a few more days to let the City know what you think of The Way We Green. That’s the environmental plan for the next number of years.
The Edmonton Catholic School District may be facing tough budget decisions without a lot of money coming from the Alberta government, but it is looking at expanding its French immersion school.
While arson is down this year, so far, May 4 was declared “Arson Awareness Day,” in the hope of bringing more light to what is not in fact a victimless crime.
Edmonton Police have charged a man after three women alleged to have been sexually assaulted when heading to a home for a job interview. Even if a business is in a home, I think it’s probably still a good idea to meet people from the Internet in a public space.
The second annual Victims of Homicide Conference begins today in Edmonton.
Edmonton’s industrial real estate market is picking up steam.
The Valley Zoo begins a new chapter today, trying to re-brand when zoos sometimes feel like relics of a different place, a world where information about any animal is readily available at the click of a mouse. (The computer kind of mouse.)
If you take a buzz by the Kingsway area, you’ll notice construction on the LRT line to NAIT, and also on the new Indy racetrack.
Edmonton’s urban landscape could be improved by small things like a little more lighting here, more open space there, art on more walls.
*****
Alberta’s largest oil spill in a generation may be affecting people living in a nearby community.
Your health information will, one day soonish, be at your fingertips. Right now, the Alberta government has simply launched a website full of general health information. There’s also a new wait time website.
Alberta’s Workers Compensation Board is providing coverage for four more cancers for firefighters.
The workplace safety blitzes continue to turn up lots of violations, and next on the inspection list is places young people will be found in larger numbers over the summer months.
Partners are being sought to help the provincial government build up to $100-million in affordable housing.
We are more likely here, in Alberta, to default on our mortgage payments than anywhere else in Canada.
*****
There’s nothing wrong with admiring someone’s great pair of short-shorts, but let’s remember that they are actual people. And let’s remind the Badminton World Federation of that.
Edmonton Headlines
Let’s do this.
The Alberta Conservatives stole the thunder of another provincial politician again. Earlier this week it was the Premier stepping down, knocking the first Alberta Party MLA out of the news cycle. Yesterday, when ousted Tory Raj Sherman held a news conference to remind everyone he’s an independent MLA (hey, you may say it was a waste of a news conference, but it got covered, so…), Finance Minister Ted Morton resigned so he could run to be our new Premier.
Shit just got real, yo.
Speaking of the provincial government, they’ve shelved plans for a hospital in Calgary.
They’ve also appointed a former oil executive to lead a group that will monitor oilsands environmental monitoring. Because science.
Meanwhile…a new oilsands project gets the green light. Because money.
And in Edmonton… (more…)
December 1 Headlines
Hey, Edmonton, I’ve got some Internet gremlins attacking this morning, so I’ll make this short and sweet.
While the provincial government has a fancy new five-year healthcare plan, I’m wondering how all those wait-time reductions and hospital improvements happen without a bunch more staff. Or is this the old conspiracy-minded idea that the Tory government will undermine the public system to push for private care?
It’s big news at the Edmonton Public School Board, as the board votes, 7-2, to not close any schools for two years. That should give them plenty of time to work with the City of Edmonton, schools and neighbourhoods, and provincial government to find some ways to keep older schools open. That would help keep our older, core neighbourhoods thriving as we try to combat sprawl.
There’s an anti-idling bill now before the Alberta Legislature. I’m sure people are already complaining about how that will never work in Alberta’s cold.
Also at the Alberta Legislature, a lawyers’ group isn’t happy with some changes in the Police Act, as they relate to complaints against officers.
Here are some quick hits for you:
Indy race revival proves East-West imbalance hasn’t changed
Man jailed for brutal assault on cop
Edmonton’s nearly on pace for the same number of homicides as last year, after a woman is found dead in her home.
Delayed opening of lanes on Quesnell Bridge
This holiday, give the gift of blood, boy says (Except that HE’S A VAMPIRE! No…he’s not.)
Edmonton’s November 29 Headlines
Any party with a Green Man is a party I can get behind.
Good morning, Grey Cup hangovers. What a party! (The game itself was a little “meh” until the last 10 minutes or so.)
If it’s any consolation to Saskatchewan Roughriders fans, those Alouettes are handling a Grey Cup I made out with. I hope that helps, even just a little.
If you were at the game (and every Roughriders fan I know was) you can thank homeless people for clearing snow from your seat. (If you’ve got an extra sleeping bag, you can donate it to the homeless.) There were a tonne more volunteers that made the whole festival a good time, and a success.
This story says a downtown arena would do for us, what we just saw with the Grey Cup. I don’t remember a zip line in the Katz Group’s arena proposal. I do think, however, the Indy would be better served by following more of the cues of the Grey Cup celebrations. I wasn’t going to the game but it felt like downtown was still for me.
Oh yeah…The Indy is back. (more…)
Fiery Tuesday Headlines
I looked out my window and there was a fire. (Click for more photos.)
Good morning, Edmonton. I trust we are all bundled up as we dart quickly from place to place. The less time spent outside on a day like today, the better. (Today’s Long John Index is set at 4. But we really close to 5.)
This morning was a morning of fires in Edmonton. You’ll see a lot of that on the news at 6pm tonight.
The big stories, however, are in healthcare and the Expo.
We saw Dr. Raj Sherman ejected from the Tory caucus yesterday. Even though the Premier said he was cool with Dr. Sherman lashing out at healthcare mismanagement. I guess other Tory MLAs were not so forgiving. (The Journal’s Graham Thomson says Dr. Sherman kind of brought this on himself.)
You have to wonder how badly all the opposition parties want to get Dr. Sherman to cross the floor to their party. If I was the Alberta Party I would be putting all efforts into this. That would be some way to instantly become a legitimate election choice.
So, a doctor calls out government and politicians for screwing up healthcare and he’s suspended by his party.
One of the top people in all the province when it comes to healthcare can’t be bothered to talk about how emergency room service will improve (or even offer a polite “no comment”) because he’s eating a cookie and the government decides this is the guy to keep around. (Granted, the politics of Sherman’s turfing are different than firing the head of Alberta Health Services.) hile most people would probably ask Stephen Duckett to take his cookies back to Australia, it sounds like Alberta Health Services’ bigwigs like his cookie-eating style.
Though, since they meet next week, if the criticism hasn’t subsided (or we have some auto-tunes of “I want to eat my coooookieee.”) I can see them asking him to leave. The Journal’s Paula Simons also thinks Duckett’s behavious is acceptable and doesn’t warrant turfing him. Over at The Gateway, John Kmech has a different recipe for the cookie affair.
Now, that’s not the only problem for the governing Alberta Progressive Conservatives (though, I checked, and a bitch is not one). Senator-in-Waiting Link Byfield is stepping down. Six years ago people in the province voted for a group of people to be “Senators.” We don’t elect the Canadian Senate, so they wait, hoping to be chosen when the Prime Minister of the day stocks up the Senate. Stephen Harper actually took one of Alberta’s Senators-in-Waiting to fill a recent vacancy.
But…the election for Senators-in-Waiting was supposed to happen last month, when we had our municipal elections. The Stelmach Tories said it would have been too expensive to run the vote and just appointed the current batch of S-i-Ws. (Which, of course, goes against the entire idea of electing Senators.) So, Link Byfield resigned. The other two S-i-Ws will stay on, in case something opens up in the Senate and we have a chance for a (somewhat) elected person to head to Ottawa.
Now, Byfield is also running as a Wildrose candidate in the next provincial election, so there’s a touch of politics to all of this. There’s going to be a lot more than touching when the next provincial election rolls around. Federal Tories (and Tory supporters) are going to have to choose between their provincial counterparts (the Stelmach Cokie Brigade) and the upstart Wildose Alliance. I’m sure the left-of-centre parties will enjoy not being the only ones seeing vote-splitting.
On to Edmonton news! (more…)
Friday, November 5 Headlines
I've been meaning to mention how I can't remember when 104 Street actually had open sidewalks on both sides of the street.
I was going to say something that included the made-up word “Zef” to lead today’s headlines. But I can’t even remember why now.
Aren’t you glad I started with that?
from the Edmonton Journal:
You’ll find a mix of links here. I had to use the Journal’s mobile site for some because the pop-up and roll-out ads on their homepage wouldn’t let me click through to anything. Now I hate the product they were advertising. Nice job, sales team!
University of Alberta janitors declare partial victory in Bee-Clean dispute (I had never really thought about Bee-Clean, as a company, until this story of unpaid overtime, potential anti-union moves, and general un-coolness.)
Criminal trial lawyers slam police-discipline changes
Edmonton considers $3.4M for transit technology (This would be an electronic announcing system, telling people which cross-streets the bus was at. It’s great for blind and visually-impaired passengers, but would likely be handy in general.)
Arena proposal could change downtown’s bleak northern border
Telus hiring 200 for Edmonton call centre (After watching Outsourced I now think call centres are a hilarious place to work.)
from the Edmonton Sun:
Utility fees may be going up (But taxes won’t be going up that much. Yay?)
from Metro Edmonton:
City plan eyes a greener future (Make sure to get your input into The Way We Green.)
from The Canadian Press:
Critics say new Alberta Parks Act will mean less protected land in province (Just a reminder that while this link takes you to one of Edmonton’s newsrooms, the story is not from the newsroom itself. It’s from The Canadian Press which is a news wire; a service that provides stories to paying newsrooms.)
from 630CHED/iNews880:
Food Bank warning about donation scam (The Edmonton Food Bank is not going door-to-door.)
Alberta created the most jobs in October
from CTV Edmonton:
Patients in Hinton to be tested after syringes were re-used (Way to not learn from the same thing happening in Vegreville in 2007. Or High Prairie in 2008.)
from Global Edmonton:
Push to save the Edmonton Indy
Lynda Steele will leave Global Edmonton in 2011 (This has more impact than you think. One: Steele is leaving because her husband, Deputy Police Chief Norm Lipinski, is taking a job with the RCMP. So there’s also an impact on the search for the new chief. Two: I have until August 2011 to sell Global Edmonton on the idea of a daily show from the edmontonian.)
November 4 Edmonton Headlines
November is going to be busy with the Canadian Finals Rodeo and Grey Cup.
A day later and we’re still talking about the Indy.
The arguments continue, the finger-pointing is on, and you’re probably either happy to see this drain on your tax dollars speed off to a new location, or feel like the City of Edmonton has let you down.
I’m more likely to side with those who don’t see the grand benefits of the race. I don’t think it had international tourists lining up to get through customs and visit our fair city, it was a private, for-profit event that cost us millions of tax dollars each year, and we have plenty of other current and future events that could benefit from similar outlays of cash.
Decades from now people won’t be talking about how Edmonton missed its big chance to be an amazing city because it let the Indy leave. We’ll be talking about how Edmonton chose to become an amazing city by closing a fairly unused central airport and pushing LRT to all corners.
Also, one more thing. That second column I link to from the Sun’s Terry Jones really goes on about how Edmonton will be second to Calgary in Alberta. So?
Has anyone heard of San Francisco? Houston? Ottawa? (Or Toronto, if you want to call our nation’s capital the big dog of Ontario.) Give the Calgary-Edmonton, 1-2, argument a long-needed rest.
Now on with the rest of today’s news. And since it’s Thursday you know that means there’s plenty to get to. (more…)
End of the Race Headlines
(Photo: George Watts)
Yes, Edmonton, the Edmonton Indy (or Honda Indy Edmonton, or Rexall Edmonton Indy at Northlands super-fantastic racetrack, or whatever) is no more.
The race is canceled for 2011 because the city couldn’t come to an agreement with Octane Racing Group. They said they could run the race after Northlands had its shot. I guess they couldn’t figure out how to do it without more tax money.
And the race has already been a consistent money-loser in Edmonton.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out with critics and quotes. This move is a money-saver for the City of Edmonton, so those who want the city to keep taxes low should be happy. But it’s an event that’s shown around the world so people may argue Edmonton just lost out on a great tourism opportunity.
On the non-race roads…
This might not surprise daily trekkers of the bridge, but Quesnell Bridge construction is six months behind schedule. Oops.
At least most other construction for 2010 is done.
But speaking of crossing the bridge, it’s been nice to only have to deal with all that construction the last couple of years a handful of times. Living and working in central neighbourhoods, walkable ones at that, it sure has been nice to chuckle to myself about all those commuters stuck on the bridge every day. I have been crushed in on the LRT a few times though.
Speaking of the LRT. We got to have a good look, last night, at how all of our new routes will connect in the downtown.
In non-driving news… (more…)
No parties while we’re away
Every time you look at this photo, Edmonton's tax rate goes up $80. (Photo: George Watts)
You know, I was trying to think of a new or different angle on the Rexall Edmonton Indy when everyone was on about that money-loser last week.
Then, today we’ve got the City of Edmonton announcing its $500,000 bid for the 2017 Expo. That half-a-million dollars covers the next phase of the bid only. This puppy will come with a $2-billion dollar pricetag.
So I think I’ll tie the two together for a rant.
I’m really starting to feel like a parent who figures their child is responsible enough to be left home alone for the weekend.
I’ve left emergency contacts, money for groceries and have a neighbour ready to check in.
But then my kid, let’s call them “City of Edmonton,” goes and blows the wad of cash on pizza and a kegger. Pizza being the Indy and the kegger being Expo 2017. Since I support the kid I’m left paying to clean up the party mess. By party mess I mean my taxes will go up. (more…)
Indy Themed BBQ!
Before all you Harrison Ford fans get too amped up, I mean the EDMONTON INDY. The one with cars. Not the one with Shia LeBeouf.
And before all you EDMONTON INDY fans get too amped up, this barbeque, located at Jasper and 103 St., is meant for tenants of the Canadian Western Bank building. I think. 
Am I going to mention that from an outsider’s perspective, there appeared to be no system of checks and balances to ensure that all of the people getting food originated from the Canadian Western Bank building? No, I’m not. What do you think this is, “Corporate Landlord-Tenant Appreciation Barbeque Crashers?” Do I look like Vince Vaughn?
I’m just here to report the facts. I’m pretty much the Walter Cronkite of Free Food (R.I.P).
