The Pulse
Sept. 28, 2023

A longtime Edmonton rapper is dedicating his forthcoming sophomore album to the working class.

"I've always had jobs that I've looked at as being private investors that don't realize they're investing into my dreams," 43-year-old Arlo Maverick told Taproot. "I would take on jobs that would provide me with the flexibility to be able to reinvest in the music, and also provide me with enough money to reinvest in music."

Blue Collar, which comes out on Oct. 20, is his second full-length release as a solo artist. Prior to performing on his own, he was best known as a member of the hip-hop crew Politic Live.

"I've always been based out of Edmonton. I think that it's probably my biggest source of inspiration," said Maverick, who has been rapping since high school. "As much as people wonder why I love Edmonton so much, I don't think I would create what I create had it not been for Edmonton and the community that surrounds me."

Blue Collar features fellow Edmontonians KazMega, Just Moe, Selassie Drah, and Dirt Gritie (also of Politic Live), among others. KazMega and Just Moe appear on lead single Night Shift. The video depicts the experience of working overnight to get by, though Maverick says his album is for workers of all stripes.

"I work in the oil industry, but the album isn't just for people who work in the oil industry or people who work in factories," he said. "It's something that I think a lot of people who work at desk jobs can understand or can relate to, but I just framed it from a blue-collar perspective."

Maverick works for National Oilwell Varco, whose initialism "NOV" is emblazoned on his work uniform. A new colleague once glibly joked that it stands for "Nothing Of Value," he said.

"It just seemed like a real odd comment to make to someone who's just starting. There was a point in time of me working here where the management was extremely toxic and created a really negative environment," Maverick said. "That was essentially the birth of the whole idea of writing Blue Collar, because I needed something to express, and Nothing Of Value became the first song that planted the seeds for what eventually became Blue Collar."

Maverick's next single and video is for the track Day Ones, a celebration of the local hip-hop community that artistically raised him. It comes out on Oct. 4, and features community members old and young, including those from his former record label Music for Mavericks.

• The city is organizing a series of events for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, marked annually on Sept. 30. Artist Lance Cardinal will unveil a new decorative crosswalk at ᐄᓃᐤ (ÎNÎW) River Lot 11 on Sept. 28, the Edmonton Police Service will serve food and host performances in Churchill Square on Sept. 29, and the third annual Orange Shirt Day Run & Walk will happen at Kinsmen Park on Sept. 30. A full list of events is available online.
• The Edmonton Police Service is investigating a possible hate crime that happened during the "1 Million March for Children" rally outside the Alberta Teachers' Association building on Sept. 20. Police said a 10-by-20-foot Pride flag attached to the building's parkade was destroyed and left on the ground. ATA president Jason Schilling said the incident happened after police left the area that day, adding the ATA plans to replace the flag.
• The Alberta Hospital Edmonton, one of the largest mental health facilities in the Edmonton area, has been experiencing a recurring mice infestation. Patients at the Helen Hunley Forensic Pavilion say the problem has worsened as the weather cools and that their freedoms have been restricted due to the infestation. Alberta Health Services said it is aware of the problem and is working to address it, with a pest control company on site five days a week. The facility has had issues for decades with mice, broken elevators, and heating and cooling issues.
• CTV News flew a drone on Sept. 27 to see progress on the William Hawrelak Park Rehabilitation Project. Crews are currently replacing all the park's utilities and pavement, and the replacement of storm and sanitary sewers is nearing completion. Construction is also underway on buildings, the main pavilion plaza, and the boardwalk. The lake will be refilled, and additional landscaping will happen once construction is done. The park is scheduled to reopen in 2025 or early 2026.
• Blenderz Garment Recyclers, a second-hand clothing store on Gateway Boulevard, had its power shut off this week as its bills pile up. Community members donated money to turn the lights back on after owner Sarah Janzen shared her struggles on social media. Janzen said bills have risen 20% or more in the past three to four months, and the rent has increased by $500 per month. She encouraged other small businesses facing similar struggles to speak up and support each other.
• ESPN's latest future power rankings put the Edmonton Oilers at 20th in the league based on their roster, prospects, contracts, and management. The article says that while Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl get "massive amounts of respect and adulation," everything else about the team is "seen as mid." Sports writer Devon Hladunewich took issue with the ranking.
• Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Canada announced it is doubling the grand prize at the upcoming Canada National Finals to $100,000, giving this year's event the largest prize purse in PBR's history. The event takes place at Rogers Place from Nov. 17-18.
• The Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police announced that all police agencies in the province will now waive fees associated with criminal record checks and fingerprints required by Indigenous people who wish to reclaim their Indigenous names. In a release, the association said the decision supports a call in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action report to enable residential school survivors and their families to reclaim names changed by the residential school system.
• Alberta Municipalities launched its annual convention in Edmonton on Sept. 27, where delegates are expected to vote on a resolution to advocate for the province to drastically increase capital funding for municipalities. The existing Local Government Fiscal Framework will provide municipalities $725 million per year for three years for infrastructure. St. Albert Mayor Cathy Heron, who is the association's president, says the number is $1 billion short per year. The organization has also estimated Alberta has a $30-billion infrastructure deficit.

Here are some opportunities to offer your input on civic initiatives, including rezoning a lot in Highlands for low-intensity business, rezoning a parcel in Athlone for supportive housing and park space, and refining the Gariepy renewal project.

• Highlands Rezoning — The City of Edmonton is reviewing an application to rezone 11133 60 Street NW in Highlands from a single-detached residential zone (RF1) to a low-intensity business zone (CB1). A public hearing date will be set later in the process. In the meantime, residents can ask questions to the project planner or share their thoughts on the application until Oct. 2.
• Athlone Rezoning — The Real Estate Branch of the City of Edmonton is proposing to rezone a vacant city-owned parcel of land in Athlone along 128 Avenue. Of the 2.6 hectares, 0.6 would be zoned for supportive housing and the rest would be zoned to protect park space. A public hearing date will be set later in the process, but residents can ask questions or share thoughts until Oct. 8.
• Gariepy Neighbourhood and Alley Renewal (refine-level engagement) — The City of Edmonton plans to start construction on the Gariepy renewal project in 2024. The project team is inviting residents to complete a survey to ensure the final design reflects the project's vision and guiding principles. It is open until Oct. 8.

More input opportunities

• By Sept. 29: Broadband Strategy — Phase 1 Survey in Sturgeon County
• By Sept. 29: Proposed Off-Leash Dog Park Questionnaire in Leduc
• By Sept. 29: Vibrant Streets Art Contest in Edmonton
• By Oct. 1: Pop-up Dog Parks Program Evaluation in Edmonton
• By Oct. 2: Griesbach: Proposed Redevelopment of 160 Acres in Edmonton
• By Oct. 2: Bonnie Doon Street Lab — Traffic Diversion in Edmonton
• By Oct. 3: Idylwylde Street Lab — Exploration in Edmonton
• By Oct. 10: Carlton Street Lab — Exploration in Edmonton
• By Oct. 23: Animal Licensing and Control Bylaw Renewal: Phase 1 of Public Engagement in Edmonton
• By Oct. 31: Transit Master Plan in Strathcona County
• By Dec. 31: Public Washroom Survey in Edmonton
• By Dec. 31: Public Engagement Feedback Survey in Edmonton

Photo: An aerial view of 11133 60 Street NW, a Highlands property that is up for rezoning. (Google Maps)