Think of the Children!
I had the pleasure of attending the “Ready for Life” breakfast fundraiser for the Edmonton Public Schools Foundation this morning. I am all about the full-day kindergarten now, and helping out kids in tougher situations (including newcomers to Canada) and neighbourhoods.
Back in March, Twestival helped raise money for the EPSF. Since today was the real big fundraiser (and kick-off to getting ready for next school year) all you tweeters who bought a ticket or won a silent auction item, and businesses and organization which donated an auction item, were recogznied through our EPSF-Twestival connector, Brittney Le Blanc.
You can see Brittney in a Twestival video (below) with EPSF Chair Sandra Woitas, which explains a little more about what the foundation does.
All of the placemats and centrepieces at this morning’s breakfast were designed by kids!
Twestival
Better late then never… Thursday, March 24 was Edmonton Twestival 2011, at Red Star Pub. Great job, Edmonton. (Not so great job on me getting around to writing about it.) (more…)
Thursday Night Looks Alright
First of all, I have to mention Twestival. That’s tonight’s big Twitter meetup and fundraiser. It’s a chance to have a drink, enjoy the coolness of the Red Star Pub and meet some people you’ve only known in 140 character bursts. Edmonton Twestival 2011: The greatest night of your life. (I hear there will be mini-cupcakes and a fantastic assortment of door prizes and silent auction items too.)
(If you can’t make it, but would like help us raise money for the Edmonton Public Schools Foundation – think of the children! – you can do that on the Internet.)
Now, if you don’t want to come to Twestival, or maybe you just want to swing by for a drink and bid on an item in the silent auction before jetting off, there’s plenty for you to do tonight. (more…)
Edmonton Headlines
Good morning and good budget, Edmonton.
Yes, the federal budget came down Tuesday, with much fanfare. The budget itself isn’t all that much to write home about (Do people still write home about such things?) but it’s the reaction of the opposition parties – that they likely won’t support this budget – that means something. That means we could see an election.
Yippee!
I guess it also means the opposition parties could take another shot at a coalition government, if they brought down the Stephen Harper Conservative minority. I kind of wish our parliamentary system could use all of its tools before sending people back to the polls for another minority government. Who knows, maybe the new Governor General would understand it’s a totally legitimate and legal way for our system of government to run.
But enough about coalitions…check out the budget!
While generally supportive (what else are you going to do when you’re both big C Conservatives) the Premier would have liked to have seen more healthcare money from Ottawa. Alberta’s one, lonely non-Conservative, Edmonton-Strathcona’s New Democrat MP Linda Duncan, isn’t a fan of the budget.
Meanwhile…back in Edmonton… (more…)
March 22 Edmonton Headlines
Does that stretch of non-frozen river look like a duck wearing a top hat. At the top there. See it?
More LRT trains! More LRT trains!
More people living downtown means more shops and services will follow. Also, more green space.
The hours of the Cromdale liquor store have been reduced in order to try and curb alcohol-fuelled violence.
People are paying less for hotel rooms in Edmonton.
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Albertans wait longer for surgeries. Except when it comes to hip fracture repair; that’s where we shine.
Dr. Raj Sherman has a prescription for electoral reform. It does not include more cowbell. The opposition continues to seek answers on doctor intimidation too.
Alberta’s environment is in good hands. Meanwhile…in the ground…drilling is off to a big start in Alberta this year.
No, we will not have hunt farms. But the government should consider retiring bill numbers that stick in people’s minds because of previous incarnations.
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Come on, coalition government…
Students at the University of Alberta are making the switch to Gmail (officially). The same students fund a refugee program that allows one student to study at the U of A each year. And, hey, students can get their taxes done for free. (Man, I really need to get on top of my taxes…)
Speaking of the U of A (just a little bit more, anyway)…they’ve got a new, crazy 3D running machine that will help identify how injured folks can better rehab their bodies.
Don’t forget that this Thursday is Twestival. And you can help raise money for the Red Cross in Japan by eating pizza today.
A Twitter Festival. A Twestival, If You Will (And You Will)
Hey gang, I know how much you like helping local charities. And I know how much you like winning/bidding on prizes from local businesses. Which is why I thought Twestival would be right up your alley.
That’s right, Twestival’s back! Twitter’s been asking tweeters in cities around the world to hold the (now) annual events for years. Last time out, Twestival was for a Twitter-chosen charity (charity: water) and was held in conjunction with Guru Digital Arts College’s Gala Guru. The time before that it was a local Twestival and we raised money for the Youth Emergency Shelter Society (YESS).
Edmonton’s Twitter King, Mack D. Male, was at the helm for those events. Now I’m in charge.
Actually, I’m one of a handful of people in charge, which means you’re actually going to like this and it’s not just going to be some last-minute pizza party in my basement.
Edmonton Twestival is a tweet-up AND fundraiser. (more…)
Get your Twestival on
Tonight is Twestival Local!
Don’t have any idea of the gibberish I’m talking about? Check this.
Now that you’ve got some idea of what it is (a get together of Twitter folk, to raise money for a local cause) you’ll know tonight’s event is a fundraiser for the Youth Emergency Shelter Society, as voted by Edmonton tweeters. This is a local version of Twitter’s fundraiser for charity: water from earlier this year, which was a world-wide effort.
Buy your tickets in advance here. You can also get in at the door, and you can also donate more money if you’d like.
For all of Edmonton’s Tweetups, follow the edmontontweetup account on Twitter.
