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. 
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Edmonton loves chicken wings
Bless these boys for showing us what really matters.
It’s free chicken wings.
One year of free wings was just too good to pass up for these guys. (Photo: Adam Rozenhart)
Notice the book in gentleman A’s hand. He’s ready to spend a few hours waiting for tasty, free, wings. One can also appreciate the lawn chairs.
Photographer Adam also informs us that these three guys and three other early birds took to some parking lot Hudsons patio/pad hockey to pass the time.
Here at the edmontonian we salute your efforts to secure one order of free Hudsons wings, each week, for one year. There are worse things to wait in line all day for.
Busy, busy, busy
Let’s all peel our eyes from the clock for a just a few minutes. 5pm will be here soon enough.
This is going to be one busy weekend, Edmonton.
There is, of course, the opening of the all new Kingsway Mall. Sunday at that mall and others heralds the arrival of Santa.
Speaking of holiday cheer, the City of Edmonton will light up its giant Christmas tree at Churchill square Saturday.
There are a couple of new venues opening so you can get your drink-on. There’s a new club, called Plush, opening in the old piano bar on south Calgary Trail. Hmm, that’s on the way to South Edmonton Common where another new bar is opening.
If you’re looking for music, this is a good weekend for it. The Arkells are playing here Saturday night, while Dinosaur Jr. does the Starlite thing tonight, and, also Saturday, there’s a one-day music festival happening.
Wyrd Fest is coming to you from the weird mind of Aaron Levin, a former CJSR music director. Wyrd Fest will see 18 bands (a lot of them local) play on two stages at the Cosmopolitan Music Society, 8624 Gateway Boulevard. Levin says the idea is inspired by other indie music festival, like Calgary’s Sled Island or Pop Montreal.
You’ll want to hit up Blackbird Myoozik on Whyte Avenue for tickets.
If that’s not your speed, maybe watching ladies on wheels smack each other around is your thing. The E-Ville Roller Derby girls will be taking on Vancouver’s Terminal City Roller Girls at the Kingsway Hangar, 11410 Kingsway Avenue. It’s also E-Ville’s 3rd birthday!
The Canadian Finals Rodeo are on. That means Rexall smells like poop.
Let’s contrast that with Exposure: Edmonton’s Queer Arts and Culture Festival.
And, while it’s not happening in Edmonton, the Prairie Football Conference champs are looking for a national title. Yes, the Edmonton Wildcats are looking to make us all even prouder, Saturday.
The ‘cats finished the season with a record of 6-2, beat the Calgary Colts and Saskatoon Hilltops for the Prairie title, then beat the Ottawa Sooners to move onto the Canadian Junior Football League championship.
The Wildcats put on offensive clinics throughout the season, and will probably find themselves in a shootout against the Vancouver Island Raiders.
The Raiders outscored their opponents 5-1 this year so they’ve got the weapons to go up against the ‘cats.
Edmonton is not only looking for a 4th national title, they’re looking for a little revenge. The Raiders beat the Wildcats for the Canadian championship back in 2006.
Whew. That’ll do.
Hudsons is winging it
That headline will shine like gold in just a moment.
Hey, Edmonton, have you heard of this place called Hudsons?
Of course you have. You’ve probably watched an Oilers game at one of the local chain’s four restaurant/bars.
Well, on their way to Calgary*, Hudsons is stopping at South Common and opening up a fifth Edmonton spot.
That in itself would be enough to get me to write something. But there’s more.
Hudsons Canadian Tap House is officially opening their South Edmonton Common location tomorrow night, 9pm, but next Wednesday will be their first Wing Wednesday.
For that, they’ve got something that really caught my eye. (I’m a sucker for chicken wings, previously having a standing Wednesday date with the poultry part.) Next Wednesday, the new Hudsons location will offer free wings for one year to the first 100 customers after 7pm. That will mean one order of wings for 52 weeks.
If South Edmonton Common wasn’t so far from my place of work I’d sit outside their door next Wednesday. Heck, I still have time to find a way to get out of work early for sweet, delicious wings.
Oh, Hudsons is also offering a $20 gift card to the first 100 people to print and present the invite you see in this story (find the actual invite here) both tomorrow and Saturday night. You could use that money to buy wings.
* Hudsons opens its first Calgary location in the spring of 2010.
