The Pulse
Aug. 27, 2024

A failed effort to support Stony Plain Road business owners through construction pain, the sale of the Edmonton Elks, and a potential 13% increase to property taxes were the hot topics discussed in Episode 273 of Speaking Municipally, Taproot's municipal affairs podcast hosted by Mack Male and Troy Pavlek.

• Elder Dr. Francis Whiskeyjack School, a new public high school, is set to open this week in the Meadows neighbourhood as the Edmonton Public School Board continues to experience rapid enrolment growth. The school will welcome about 850 students in grades 10 and 11 for the upcoming year, but can accommodate 2,400 students. Board Chair Julie Kusiek said Edmonton will need 50 more schools over the next decade to manage the increasing student population, which has grown by 6,600 this year alone.
• Hope Mission is opening a new 120-bed homeless shelter this October near Yellowhead Trail and 149 Street in west Edmonton. The agency is able to open the shelter in the area because of recent zoning changes, but community members have expressed concerns about the site because of its industrial surroundings and proximity to schools and businesses. Hope Mission said it's taking steps to address concerns, including providing transportation to and from the site.
• City council is seeking candidates to join the Edmonton Police Commission, the independent body responsible for civilian oversight of the Edmonton Police Service. Applicants should have experience in governance, public accountability, and board operations. Online applications will be accepted until Sept. 22.
• Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (AEPA) has instructed EPCOR to proceed with using rotenone to cull invasive goldfish in a storm pond in west Edmonton, despite resident concerns about the chemical's safety. The treatment had been paused after residents lobbied against it, but AEPA and EPCOR have concluded that rotenone is the most practical solution.
• A patient at Alberta Hospital Edmonton is drawing attention to a persistent mouse infestation in Building 10, which she said has affected her sleep and well-being. Alberta Health Services said it is concerned about the issue and is increasing pest control efforts, but the situation has highlighted ongoing issues with maintenance in the facility, which was built in the 1920s.
• The Forest Terrace Heights Community League partnered with the Hughes gas station at 106 Avenue and 82 Street to brighten up a neglected alleyway with vibrant art. With help from a City of Edmonton grant, Métis artist Brandon Atkinson painted a mural inspired by Edmonton's river valley, showcasing animals such as wolves, elk, and bears. The mural, which took eight days to complete, was Atkinson's largest project to date.
• The Edmonton Mural Festival, a month-long event, is continuing throughout the city until Sept. 15. It's the second year of the festival, which features more than six projects in various locations around Edmonton. "It really feels like a more complete city-wide festival, which is what we want to be," said organizer Marcus Coldeway.
• Drainage work on 106 Avenue west of 116 Street in the Wîhkwêntôwin neighbourhood is expected to create traffic disruptions for the next month, EPCOR said. A separate drainage project at 105 Street and 80 Avenue is also expected to restrict westbound traffic on 80 Avenue until Sept. 6.
• A Valley Line LRT train in southeast Edmonton derailed on the morning of Aug. 26 after it was hit by the driver of a truck making an illegal right turn at Roper Road and 75 Street. The train operator sustained minor injuries, while another passenger was taken to hospital as a precaution. The City of Edmonton rerouted buses to cover the disrupted LRT service, which resumed later in the afternoon.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Community Tea and Bannock starting at 10:30am at the St. Albert Public Library
• Edmonton Womanition Connect Group Meeting starting at 11am at the Edmonton Inn
• Workplace Campaign Sharing Cafe starting at 12pm at the Lakeview Inn & Suites
• Sounds from the Valley: Lily Monaghan starting at 7pm at Snow Valley
• Backstage Pass: Summer Social starting at 7pm at The Buckingham Pub

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Sept. 5: Edmonton Valley Zoo River Valley Clean-up at the Edmonton Valley Zoo
• Sept. 7: A Night en Noir at the Roxy Theatre
• Sept. 11: Municipal Protection of Indigenous Heritage Sites online

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