July 6 Edmonton Headlines
Who ya gonna call?
Welcome to the middle of the week, Edmonton. How’s your hump?
Edmonton’s Somali community appears to be turning within, including launching a new series of posters, to try and solve the many murders that have hit them. We’re probably going to need more crime prevention than just posters though; perhaps libraries and youth centres could stay open way, way longer.
“Maybe around here it would be like Whyte Avenue but with better access.” Umm, access is pretty darn good for folks who live in walkable neighbourhoods. Walkable shopping is a mall.
Our pals over at the Edmonton Flag Football Association played for a world record and raised more than $10,000 for the Stollery Children’s Hospital. All in all, a pretty good long weekend for that crew.
If you run a small business, the City is looking for the greenest of them all.
The artistic director of Edmonton Opera has resigned after nine years at the helm.
Edmonton composer Malcolm Forsyth has died.
An Edmonton landlord is not allowed to file any more lawsuits, without some permission from a judge.
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The Alberta government is being told to set up an independent oilsands monitoring panel, to watch over the pollution created by the industry. Your move, long-standing, terrible budgeting, energy-dependent Tory government, your move.
Speaking of provincial budgeting…the Sun wants to know where the Royal Alberta Museum debate is…
A workplace inspection blitz on places likely to have a lot of younger workers, like food courts, found many safety violations. None were serious enough to shut down the businesses. One thing I find interesting about the many workplace inspection stories this year, they almost always have more violations than inspections, meaning multiple violations and hazards at a bunch of them.
Leadership candidates are being pressured to bring in harsher smoking laws. On the campaign…the head of the Alberta Medical Association is being asked to resign, or get turfed, by former Conservative MLA, Liberal leadership candidate, and doctor Raj Sherman.
The Slave Lake fire is now Canada’s second most expensive disaster, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, behind only the Quebec and eastern Ontario ice storm of 1998. Oh, and while we’re mentioning Slave Lake, the royal couple is headed there. (I guess we couldn’t make it through their trip to Canada without a mention after all.)
The southern Alberta zoo lots of people are hating on is back open while court processes drag out. I guess this means the owner didn’t kill and stuff the animals just yet.
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Canada’s military role in Afghanistan is over. There are still soldiers over there, and they will remain so in mostly training capacities, but the fighting is now up to other countries.
Statistics Canada reports most of Canada’s eligible voters who didn’t vote in the last election were too busy or didn’t feel like voting. That just makes me sad. While political parties all try to figure out how to engage with youth, and more voters in general, I think it’s also time for news and information providers to think about dropping some of their “objectivity” and also find ways to engage voters.
Election Headlines
You know where we start today. The federal election!
The Conservatives have won a majority government. Basically, this is Christmas morning to those who have been hoping for this since the PC Party and Alliance joined forces last decade. (more…)
Election Day Headlines
GO VOTE!
I am lobbying Parliament to pass a law allowing me to punch people in the face if they don't vote. You can bet Gregg Beever is voting today.
No, seriously, go vote. It’s the federal election today.
Seems like all the papers and newsrooms issuing editorials are backing the Conservatives, and calling for a Conservative majority. We here at the edmontonian are going to get all objective on this one (I know, journalism irony) and just tell you to vote. Get informed and vote.
Remember that you elect a local MP, not the Prime Minister, so choose a representative that you can get a hold of, you see in the neighbourhood, aligns with your values, and won’t just tow the party line (that last one does eliminate most of the Conservatives under a strict Stephen Harper).
Oh, and I personally think we should get on board with the idea of minority governments and coalitions. You won’t have unpredictable election dates if MPs know they have just about zero-chance at forming a majority.
Now, outside of the election, let’s see what else is going on… (more…)
And now…an election day message from Trent Wilkie…
Have you voted yet?
If you have not, Trent’s got a great tip for you before you head to the voting booth. (video above)
After you’ve marked your ballot, head home, put the kids to bed, crack open a case of beer, order pizza, and watch our election show (I’m giving you a lot of things to do here).
Trent will be there. I’ll be there. All of your friends will be there.
Or, at least, all of your friends will be watching. Maybe invite your friends over to watch.
8pm. Right here at theedmontonian.com. It’s gonna be off the hook.
And now…an election day message from Edmonton’s first mayor…
Then tune into our election night show. the edmontonian celebrates democracy at 8pm, right here at theedmontonian.com.
You can also hear more from Mayor McCauley, and other former Edmonton mayors, in the Ghost Mayor podcasts.
Vote! Vote now!
The advance polls are open until 4pm today. There’s one at City Hall, and one in your very own ward.
But don’t let me berate you into voting…listen to the soothing sounds of school board candidate Michael Janz (above).
Then go vote. Or remember to vote Monday.
Vote!
p.s. vote.
Election events
Alright, so the election itself isn’t until Monday, and you’ve got no excuse not to vote so I’m hammering on the election.
Advance polls are open at City Hall today and tomorrow. You can also vote at polling stations in your actual ward Saturday. Find out where.
To celebrate all of this democracy you can Rock the Vote, Sunday, at the Pawn Shop. Sunday night’s lineup of local talent should show that Edmonton’s younger voters can get energized.
The Taboo Sex Show…naughty but nice…is back at Northlands. If you’re going, stop by The Traveling Tickle Trunk booth and say “Hi” to that great crew.
LitFest is here! That’s Edmonton’s non-fiction festival.
Saturday is the second annual Timeraiser. That’s where you bid on auction items with your volunteer hours.
If you like beer, and your kidneys, you should check out Sha-Bam, which is an event of beer, arts, and The Kidney Foundation of Canada – Northern Alberta chapter.
Wunderbar’s got a couple of good shows this weekend. Tonight it’s Warning to Avoid and The Mystery Ponies. Tomorrow night it’s The Party Martyrs. All good times.
If you’re in the mood for something bluesier, try Bombchan at The Common. That’s not to be confused with The Edmonton Commons. The Journal really hates it when you try to play shows in their lobby.
October is the scariest of months…as detailed in Gregg’s latest movie previews…But it also means Scarecrow Festivals, Howl-O-Wiener Roasts and the Boo at the Zoo. And it’s not even Hallowe’en weekend yet.
There’s also an Olde Time Fair at Churchill Square and Handmade Mafia at the Orange Hall.
And, since I really want to annoy you with talk of the election (Monday, October 18, vote, vote, vote) we’ll be doing a live show once the polls close.
So, at 8pm, curl up with your laptop, throw the Macbook on the bar for all to see, and let us entertain you for an hour or so, with one of Edmonton’s few live election night shows. More details to come…I’m just lazy…
10 things to do that are not eating turkey
Worst Thanksgiving present ever.
Enjoy the long weekend, Edmonton. We’ll see you back here when we wake up from turkey comas.
- Hit the market – It’s the last weekend for the City Market Downtown.
- Watch hockey – The Oil Kings play at Rexall Saturday, the Oilers on Sunday.
- Vote – You can vote in an advance poll, in your ward, Saturday.
- Enjoy the weather – 20+ degrees for Saturday and Sunday? Yes, please.
- Rock ‘n’ Fundraise – A bunch of Edmonton bands and artists are playing Wunderbar all day Saturday, to help get band N.N. to Japan Music Week.
- Holy Fuck – The band with the controversial name plays twice at the Pawn Shop.
- Hydeaway – Doug Hoyer is playing the Hydeaway. You need more Old Ugly in your life.
- Free cookies – There’s still time to get over to Luzarra, on Whyte, for Free Cookie Friday. Well, depending on where you are in the city. I don’t want you to crash your car for a cookie.
- Dance – The Brian Webb Dance Company kicks off a new season with les Ballets Jazz de Montreal.
- Eat turkey – You know it’s going to happen anyway.
I think what I'm trying to say is that I want you to have fun this weekend.
Vote for Andrea: For Fashion, for Change.
So our friend Andrea, who has the really great blog miel & cannelle, is vying for a pretty wicked prize through Fashion Magazine. If she gets voted the most stylish of the ladies selected, she gets $500 bones to drop at Holt Renfrew.
But we weren’t just going to blindly endorse her. It’s a great outfit and everything, but I’m a bit of a hardass with stuff like this. I asked Andrea to prove her mettle by writing an essay for you guys on why she deserves to win. So here it is:
My Dearest Edmontonians.
I come to you today with arms and pocketbook wide open, looking for your votes.
I am on a quest, a quest of epic size two proportions to make this city, this province, and this world, a sartorially better pin-tucked and peg-rolled place. By voting for me, you strike a blow against those neutral naysayers, those drab designer dupes, those disingenuous ingenues that plague our fair city and our fair town and indeed our country with their faux-pas and their faux-fur. A vote for me counts as a vote, might I even say, against those paltry and pale executives and their pastel pastiches of wives who run the oil sands.
Yes, my turned up cuffs and turned out looks will battle the urban encroachment of Ed Hardy hats and Croc’d feet yes, I will even say, the oil sands themselves. With bankers collars and Blahniks I will stem the tide of sulphurous fumes and another CK1 derivative release. I will bring vegan cafes and steakhouses into harmonious brotherhood under the shared banner of good style. Edmontonians, now is the time.
Fashionistas of Edmonton, of the world, unite, and vote for me. In the stripes.
Andrea
*sniff*
…you had me at Ed Hardy. Vote for Andrea, guys, and do it in a hurry – voting closes tomorrow.
