The Pulse
Oct. 29, 2024

A new type of salt, greater transparency, and maximized use of labour are all pieces in the complex puzzle of snow and ice control, say two of the City of Edmonton's leaders on that front.

Mark Beare, the director of infrastructure operations for parks and roads services, and Valerie Dacyk, the general supervisor of the field operations group, spoke to Episode 282 of Speaking Municipally about how the city navigates winter weather in response to residents' expectations and the rising challenges of climate change.

"Winters are changing, and the city is changing," Beare said in response to those who wonder why we can't figure out something that happens every year. "What our winters look like in 2023, 2024, and beyond are different than the winters that a lot of people remember growing up."

Here's a closer look at some of the measures they discussed:

Stronger sodium

New for this year, the city has procured from its supplier, at no extra cost, a special salt that can stick to snow and ice at colder temperatures than conventional salt, Beare said. The souped-up sodium will be used as an alternative to chip or sand on some bridges and hills along the River Valley during extreme temperatures.

Will it work better? Maybe, Beare said. "(We're going to) get some feedback from the operators, find some measurements for it, and see if this is something that would be a benefit to use on a more regular basis and (for) broader applications across the city."

Dacyk added that the snow and ice removal teams can try out modest pilots without approval from up the ladder. The city has run much-discussed, larger pilots on sand recycling and calcium chloride, but neither resulted in permanent practices for snow and ice control, Dacyk said. Still, she and her colleagues keep abreast of other potential solutions by communicating with suppliers and other municipalities, as well as by attending trade shows.

• Edmonton Public Schools is facing an unexpected $1.69-million cost increase for the 2025 municipal election because Alberta's Bill 20 prohibits electronic tabulators. Board trustee Trisha Estabrooks criticized the additional financial burden as unfair, especially amid funding challenges and rising student enrolment. The school board is concerned about maintaining its 3.2% annual threshold for administrative costs and is working with Edmonton Elections to manage the new regulations.
• The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) is assessing the potential relocation of the Camrose Casino to south Edmonton after its owner, Mayfield Investments Limited, went into receivership. Ernst & Young has been appointed as the receiver, and the AGLC has issued an interim licence to keep the casino operational.
• Edmonton's Food Bank is struggling to keep up with a major surge in demand as it serves about 43,000 people monthly, up from 34,000 last year. Officials attribute the increase to rapid inflation, high housing costs, and inadequate social resources. The HungerCount 2024 survey showed more than two million visits to food banks across Canada in March 2024, which was the most ever recorded. Edmonton's Food Bank, which does not receive government funding, relies on community donations and is preparing for the upcoming holiday season to meet growing needs.
• Private bus service FlixBus introduced a new route to connect the University of Alberta Augustana Campus in Camrose with the North Campus in Edmonton. The six-week pilot program provides free tickets for students, with community fares starting at $15, significantly reducing travel costs compared to previous options. The university, U of A Students' Union, and Augustana Students' Association are funding the pilot's free tickets for students.
• Edmonton representatives joined their counterparts from six other major Canadian cities at a summit in Ottawa to call on the federal government to accelerate the Canada Public Transit Fund and develop a sustainable funding model to support essential transit services. The group highlighted the need for a collective effort to secure federal and provincial financial assistance to prevent potential service cuts and ensure transit systems can keep pace with growing urban populations.
• A MacEwan University proposal to eliminate its week-long fall break failed after 68% of faculty members and students voted against it. Both the faculty and students' associations had opposed the idea, arguing the break is crucial for student mental health and well-being.
• EPCOR has removed more than 20,000 invasive goldfish totalling 770 kilograms from the Glastonbury stormwater pond in west Edmonton using the chemical rotenone. The removal process is ongoing, with more fish expected to be culled throughout the week. The utility company is also continuing efforts to prevent the fish from reaching the North Saskatchewan River.
• A new No Frills grocery store will open in Edmonton's Mill Woods Town Centre, filling the void left since the Co-op closed in 2023. The store is expected to open by late spring 2025, as part of efforts by Maclab Development Group to revitalize the area, which includes new residential buildings near the Valley Line LRT.
• West Edmonton Mall announced the death of Clara, a beloved 30-year-old California sea lion that lived at the mall for two decades. The mall is encouraging donations to Hope for Wildlife, a non-profit wildlife rehabilitation centre, in Clara's honour.
• The Alberta government introduced Bill 24, which would amend the Alberta Bill of Rights to allow workers to legally challenge vaccination requirements and expand personal and property rights, including firearm ownership. The bill aims to prevent coercion into medical treatments unless harm is likely, and would compensate landowners for the effects of government regulation. NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi questioned the government's priorities and criticized the bill's lack of focus on issues like abortion and gender-affirming care.
• The Edmonton Elks are in a transitional phase as they wrap up their season. The team, which improved to a 7-4 record after a poor start, faces key questions about its future leadership and roster. Interim president and CEO Rick LeLacheur says he aims to appoint a permanent president by the Grey Cup on Nov. 17, followed by decisions on the general manager and head coach roles for 2025.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Community Tea and Bannock starting at 10:30am at St. Albert Public Library
• Georges Erasmus Book Signing starting at 12pm at Audreys Books
• Fashion Show and Auction starting at 6:30pm at Agora Community Centre in Sherwood Park
• Low Pressure Book Club starting at 6:30pm at Bailey Books
• Pumpkins After Dark starting at 6:30pm at Borden Park
• Deadmonton Haunted House starting at 6:30pm at 9300 47 Street NW
• Nerd Nite: Howloween Bootique starting at 7:30pm at the Fringe Theatre Arts Barns
• Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show starting at 7:30pm at The Orange Hub

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Nov. 6: Finding Common Ground in Polarized Times at the University of Alberta (TELUS International Centre)
• Nov. 7-8: YIKES! Film Festival at Creative Hive
• Nov. 12-13: Alberta Robotics and Intelligent Systems Expo at the University of Alberta (Donadeo Innovation Centre For Engineering)

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