The Pulse
July 16, 2024

Chefs Christine Sandford and Roger Letourneau have returned to Edmonton from Europe to share a taste of their travels through their pop-up venture, Vagabond.

Vagabond will take over Take Care Café at 9621 82 Avenue NW in Ritchie from Fridays to Sundays, starting July 21 and running until the end of September. It will offer 40 indoor and outdoor seats. "It is a pretty small space, like a backyard barbecue," Sandford said. "That's our vibe."

Sandford and Letourneau, who are also life partners, initially met in Edmonton 13 years ago through a chef-driven pop-up called Staff Meal. Vagabond is a way for them to continue to collaborate while gaining the skills necessary for their next endeavour.

"Our big plan is to open something together, more of a tourism-driven food experience rather than a restaurant, probably in the Okanagan," Sandford said. "I love hospitality, but I don't want to open a restaurant. For example, we've stayed in cool places where the food is important, like a winery, and when you wake up, a beautiful basket of food comes to your door."

Vagabond is "taking a step that is manageable, learning more business stuff and exploring those collaborations. It's a stepping stool," Letourneau added.

Ritchie is familiar ground for both. Sandford helped open Biera inside Ritchie Market in 2017 and led the kitchen to much acclaim for seven years before leaving in 2023. Letourneau, who worked at Bar Clementine and Woodwork in the past, previously rented space at Biera for his condiment company, Lessig Ferments.

"We're excited to be neighbours (with Biera), as well as with Darling (opened by another former Biera employee, Justin Jones)," Sandford said. "Way back when, Whyte Avenue was a hub, and I feel like it's going back to that. I want to be part of it again."

Vagabond will offer a happy hour with snacks from 3pm to 6pm, and a full menu with larger plates from 6pm to 11pm. Vagabond will have an outdoor charcoal grill and a wood-burning oven, in order to prepare hot items alongside smaller nibbles. Drinks will include curated wines, cocktails, and local beers. "We want people to come and try some dishes, and enjoy the summer while we have it," Sandford said.

• The City of Edmonton activated its extreme weather response on July 15 to help protect vulnerable populations amid the heat. The response, which is scheduled to last until July 23, includes water bottle filling stations at locations across the city, and cooling spaces at City facilities. Peace officers will also carry water bottles to distribute to people in need. Edmontonians are encouraged to check on vulnerable individuals and can call 211 for the 24/7 Crisis Diversion team, or 911 in emergencies. Edmonton Fire Rescue Services issued a warning to not leave people or animals in hot cars, already responding to 59 calls this July, compared to 63 in all of July 2023. Temperatures are expected to climb as high as 35°C in Edmonton over the next week.
• Leaders in Edmonton are raising concerns about Leduc city council's decision to not establish an emergency shelter and instead send people experiencing homelessness to Edmonton for social services. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi emphasized the need for a regional approach to homelessness, while others argued Leduc council's decision leaves vulnerable people without local support. A spokesperson for the City of Edmonton said its homelessness services are already under strain and may not be able to handle additional clients.
• While Edmonton increased fines for excessive vehicle noise from $250 to $1,000 in February, Coun. Michael Janz says the steeper penalties aren't working, and residents continue to report disturbances. The Edmonton Police Service has issued 343 noise tickets so far this year, compared to 472 in all of 2023. Janz says he wants the province to approve automated noise enforcement technology to better address the issue.
• The historic Strathcona Garage, a two-storey red-brick building from 1912 is up for sale for $3.6 million. Known for its early association with the automobile industry, the building offers 17,600 square feet of space suitable for various commercial uses, with potential City of Edmonton grants available for restoration.
• Shaw customers in the Edmonton neighbourhoods of Ritchie, Rosedale, Strathcona, and Hazeldean had internet and service outages on July 15 after vandalism caused a fibre cut. The company said repairs were expected to take 12 to 18 hours, but full restoration may take longer if the damage is extensive. Some customers in St. Albert are also facing outages, though the cause there is currently unknown.
• Edmonton-area entrepreneur Wendy Smith has launched Boutique On Your Street, a mobile clothing store operating out of a renovated bus. The boutique, which offers brand new, one-of-a-kind pieces, travels across Alberta and even into parts of B.C., updating customers on its location via social media. Smith plans to expand the business by adding more buses to serve multiple locations simultaneously.
• The Edmonton Police Service is searching for two men using a fake taxi scam to defraud people by swapping their debit cards after asking for help to pay a cab fare. The suspects operate a newer model white Ford Fusion with a "taxi" sign. Victims are urged to contact police.
• Frisky Pup Canine Hydrotherapy and Fitness in Edmonton is dedicated to rehabilitating injured dogs and cats through hydrotherapy. The facility focuses on clinical rehabilitation but also offers fitness and fun swims, using warm water to enhance circulation and reduce inflammation. Owner Kira Palechek works with six to 12 pets daily to help them feel rejuvenated and pain-free.
• The Edmonton Elks have fired general manager and head coach Chris Jones after a disappointing 0-5 start to the season. Geroy Simon will serve as interim general manager, while offensive coordinator Jarious Jackson will step in as interim head coach. The decision follows a 37-34 loss to Ottawa, extending the team's struggles with an overall 8-33 record since Jones was hired in December 2021.
• Edmonton Oilers Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman praised the team's management for its successful off-season acquisitions and efforts to retain key players. McDavid said the team is focused on next season after their Game 7 loss in the Stanley Cup Final to the Florida Panthers. The team has made significant moves to strengthen their roster in the weeks since the loss, including signing Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson.
• Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is calling for progressive politicians to be "careful of their language" when talking about conservative politicians in the wake of the attack on former U.S. President Donald Trump. When asked about her own past comments about political opponents, which have been widely criticized, Smith emphasized the need to focus on policy issues.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• North Edmonton Business Association Coffee Talks starting at 9am at River City Events
• Futurpreneur Info Session — Alberta Entrepreneurs starting at 12pm online
• Weekly Dev Chat starting at 12pm online
• Career In Tech Networking Event starting at 6pm at La Bosco Bakery and Cafe
• Grove Gatherings: Paul Woida starting at 7pm at Columbus Park
• A Creative's Guide to Grants starting at 7pm at Edmonton Unlimited
• Sounds from the Valley: Mehdi Rezania starting at 7pm at Snow Valley

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Aug. 8-11: Fragapalooza at the Leduc Recreation Centre
• Aug. 15-25: Fringe Festival
• Aug. 17-18: Alberta Open Farm Days

Visit the beta version of the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.