MillWoods and Meadows
- This week marks the final event on our Can't Stop Alberta Tour. After 23 amazing events, we’re headed to Edmonton on Wednesday. We’ll be discussing the Alberta Pension Plan, K-12 education, Alberta’s relationship with Ottawa, municipal politics, and more. Attendance is free, but if you’re so inclined, you can make a donation to help cover our venue hire costs and our travel expenses. Thanks to each and every one of you who came out to one of our stops. We were fortunate enough to meet people from Lethbridge to Fort McMurray, Lloydminster to Grande Prairie, and everywhere in between. If we didn’t come to your city, don't worry, we’re planning another tour soon!
- The Legislature will resume this afternoon with the Throne Speech at 3:00 pm. It can be watched live online. There will be afternoon sittings of the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
- Alberta is collaborating with software company AltaML to develop artificial intelligence (AI) technology aimed at predicting wildfire locations. This AI-based prediction tool utilizes decades of fire data and weather forecasting to help allocate resources for firefighting efforts more accurately. The goal is to provide pinpoint locations of potential fires, optimize resource placement, and potentially save $2 million to $5 million annually.
- The Can’t Stop Alberta Tour is coming to Edmonton on Wednesday. The Common Sense Edmonton team will be joining the Alberta Institute for a fun evening at the Transit Smokehouse. We’ll be discussing some important, topical issues in provincial and municipal politics. You can RSVP by clicking here. Hope to see you there!
- There are several meetings at City Hall this week. Today, at 9:30 am, there will be a meeting of the Community and Public Services Committee. The Committee will receive a report regarding attracting major events to the City - the report indicates that in order to “continue to attract international and key national events, increased funding at the municipal level is required in order to leverage funding from other orders of government and the corporate sector”. Also up for discussion are ways to reduce drug poisonings in the city, including the creation of a steering committee and developing a local substance use strategy. The Urban Planning Committee will meet at 9:30 am on Tuesday. The Committee will discuss the Downtown Community Revitalization Levy, Office Tower Conversions, Arterial Road Assessments, and finally a review of real time traffic monitoring.
- On Wednesday, at 9:30 am, there will be a meeting of the Executive Committee. On the agenda is a discussion about a Dedicated Climate Fund. According to a Council Report, in order “to advance Energy Transition Strategy initiatives under the City’s control that will contribute towards becoming a net-zero emissions community by 2050, funding of $8.27 billion is required between 2024 and 2050 (the next 27 years).” A total tax increase of 6.7% over 10 years would be required to achieve this. The Utility Committee will meet on Friday at 9:30 am. The Committee will receive several reports, including one regarding the Waste Services Fall 2023 Supplemental Capital Budget Adjustment.
Edmonton is a relatively new city so doesn't have that many old buildings. Unfortunately as Edmonton grew many older buildings did not escape the wrecking ball. Recent and the current city council have acted to preserve some older buildings such as the Boardwalk & Revillon buildings, both which were built in the early 1900s and now are declared municipal historic resources.
#Boardwalk&Revillon, #historicbuildings
With so many international issues vying for attention Linda Hoang focus us on what's happening in and around Edmonton is a welcome reminder.
Elise Barber had years of experience as a teacher, home schooling mom and facilitator recognized the need for field trip resources. Although she had an idea on how to fill that need she had to wait till her children were older before she could develop her idea. The idea was developed and launched as AllFieldTrips an online field trip resource centre for parents, educators and field trip providers.
On Sunday, Edmonton Public School teachers voted 91% in favor of rejecting a mediator's recommendations but can't hold a strike vote until two weeks after the mediator wraps up its role in the process. Teachers voted as a show of solidarity regarding some of their colleagues work loads, requirements, and roles.
In November Darlenne Hunneman' s grandchildren will deliver more than 400 tuques for Edmonton's homeless. After these tuques are delivered 88 year old Darlene Hunneman will start knitting all over again as she has after inspired by CTV News's Edmonton's Josh Classen's Hats for the Homeless. Even though she is blind the 88 year old has knitted over 300 tuques the last few years and hopes to knit 500 tuques next year. The tuques are a labor of love for Darlenne Hunneman and a gift of love that helps keep their recipients warm.
Readers of my posts will probably recognize the name of Linda Hoang. Linda Hoang is the person behind the informative and popular Lindork's Lists which highlights happenings in and around Edmonton. In addition to her posts on Lindork's Lists Linda has just added a post relating to her first few months experience as a new mom and parent.
Add anything you'd like to add to Linda's checklist in your comments.
- There is a City Council Public Hearing this morning beginning at 9:30 am to deal with a revamp of the City’s zoning regulations. It looks to be a big one, so there will be additional sessions on October 17th and 18th, and a contingency date set for December 18th if necessary. For those interested, the new bylaw and its associated rationale span over 700 pages, making for substantial reading material. The City says the primary objective is to replace the current complex zoning regulations with a more “modern and adaptable” framework. Currently, there are 46 distinct zoning categories, and the new bylaw aims to streamline them into 24 categories. The new bylaw would also permit the construction of housing up to three stories in height throughout the city, including duplexes, row houses, and small apartments. More information is also available on a City website dedicated to the bylaw renewal project, and you can explore the impact it might have on your area using this zoning map.
- There will be a short meeting of the Agenda Review Committee on Tuesday at 8:30 am. At the meeting, the Committee will finalize the agendas for the upcoming meetings of the Community and Public Services Committee, the Urban Planning Committee, the Executive Committee, and the Utility Committee.
- Edmonton Transit Service is looking to improve the design of bus shelters in order to curb vandalism. The latest numbers show that 1,600 glass panels in bus shelters were smashed in 2022, costing the City about $456,000. ETS is teaming up with the University of Alberta to find out what other designs for bus shelters may be workable. It’s not the first time the City has had to splash out cash for smashed bus shelter glass - in 2019 the City spent $201,574 to replace 592 bus shelter panels, and in 2017, they spent $156,000.
- Our Can't Stop Alberta Tour continues. We’re headed to Airdrie on Tuesday, and Calgary on Wednesday. We’ll be discussing K-12 education, Alberta’s relationship with Ottawa, energy policy, and more. Attendance is free, but if you’re so inclined, you can make a donation to help cover our venue hire costs and our travel expenses. We hope to see you at one or more of the events.
- The Province will continue to hold a number of geographically targeted telephone town halls to gauge Albertans’ interest in a provincial pension plan. This next town hall will take place tomorrow from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm and is intended for residents of Southern Alberta. You can either preregister or visit the website to listen live.
- The federal and provincial governments are providing $165 million in aid to Alberta livestock producers affected by a season-long drought. The funding, part of the AgriRecovery initiative, aims to help farmers and ranchers address extraordinary costs due to the drought and excessive heat. The program offers up to $150 per head for breeding animals, including cattle, bison, and horses. Drought conditions have persisted for several years in southern Alberta, leading to higher feed costs and increased challenges for livestock producers.
Shortly after the Syrian war started ISIS took control of Al Mayadin, Aboud Salman's home town. Aboud’s studio was bombed and much of his art destroyed. In 2012 he left his family, town, country and art behind. Aboud and his family arrived as refugees in Edmonton in 2017 and were able begin new life here and Aboud was able to resume his art. Since then Aboud Salman art which is a reflection and commentary of his experiences, life an environments has been exhibited in 15 countries across Europe and the Middle East.