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!
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.
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.
Edmonton Just Got A Whole Lot More Cars-Driving-In-A-Circle
By Derjis Sprongfeld (@Derjis/Bereits Design)
So, the Edmonton Indy rolls into town this weekend (get it? ‘rolls’? cars? you get it.). Three days of non-stop, world class racing action! Not really my thing, but I can see how other people might get into it. It’s fast. You’re outside. There’s beer. I’m not here to judge! Millions of people like NASCAR, and Indy racing is head and shoulders above NASCAR.
But holy cow, is the Indy LOUD! If you’re headed out this weekend, make sure you bring earplugs. And your butterscotch candies. And your walker. And your thermos of Ovaltine (because of how old people wear earplugs whenever they leave the house because the world today is a loud and scary place).
The cars fired up at 8 a.m.this morning, just as I was leaving for work. I live just north of downtown, maybe 10-12 blocks away from the airport, and work on Jasper Ave and 102 Street. I could still hear them by the time I made it to work. According to my trusty Google Maps, the noise traveled almost FOUR KILOMETERS. Arg. No sleeping in for me this weekend.
Are any of you headed out to the Indy? You’ll be paying for it one way or the other , so you might as well get something out of it…
That’s your Indy, Edmonton!
