The Pulse
Dec. 5, 2024

A retailer that received a $212,000 grant to set up shop downtown for at least 18 months left after just six months, but the organization that provided the grant is not planning to sue to get the money back.

The grant that Good Goods Company received in October 2023 from the Edmonton Downtown Business Association's Downtown Retail Project was ultimately funded by the province. Good Goods opened a store at 10250 106 Street NW from April to September before closing and relocating outside of downtown. Nonetheless, the EDBA doesn't feel like it has any recourse.

"We would have to sue them to get any funds back," executive director Puneeta McBryan told Taproot. "The (legal) advice that we've gotten is … we're unlikely to be successful in getting any money from them, and the legal costs and the resources that we would put into trying to get that money would probably not be very fruitful." McBryan added the EDBA has no plans to sue Good Goods.

Four other grant recipients also received $212,000 to expand to or to set up downtown and build the area's vibrancy. Soon to open are Foosh at 10150 104 Avenue NW and The Growlery Beer Co. at 10180 101 Street. Meanwhile, Obj3cts is already open at 10356 Jasper Avenue NW, and Le Belle Arti has opened a showroom for the B&B Italia furniture brand at 10130 105 Street NW.

In November, Good Goods opened a physical location inside Little Brick, located in Riverdale, and continues to also sell its products online.

In an email, Good Goods co-founders Aga Wajda-Plytta and Nina Karpoff told Taproot they were unavailable to answer questions about the grant but provided a statement.

"Good Goods Company Ltd. was selected to bring vibrancy to downtown Edmonton, and while our time there had its challenges, it created incredible opportunities," the statement reads. "Being downtown led to our exciting partnership and investment with River Valley Hospitality, known for Little Brick, Dogpatch and Bread+Butter, enabling us to support local makers in new ways. This investment & partnership reflects the connections and momentum sparked by our downtown experience, and we look forward to continuing to uplift Edmonton's creative community."

Good Goods operated a pop-up for "a few months" at Manulife Place ahead of opening its short-lived downtown storefront, McBryan said. She added the specific clause in the grant agreement was about signing a lease at a downtown location for at least 18 months, and the expectations for operating that location for 18 months were "not really clear."

On that lease, McBryan said the grant stipulated Good Goods could use some of the funds for three months of rent in addition to the three months of free rent that Baramy Investments, the landlord, provided. McBryan added that Good Goods moved out when it could not pay its rent after that period, and that the lease was for five years. "That landlord has grounds to pursue them," McBryan said. "Knowing most landlords, that's probably going to happen."

Taproot requested a comment from Baramy but did not receive one by press time.

• Edmonton city council passed changes to the proposed 2025 budget that would lower next year's tax increase from 8.1% to 6.1%. The changes, proposed in a suite of amendments by Mayor Amarjeet Sohi, include shifting money from utility reserves, rainy day funds, and capital savings accounts toward lowering the tax increase. Sohi's amendments didn't include cuts to the neighbourhood renewal program as earlier proposed, but did include new investments in downtown cleaning, the low-income transit program, and grass and tree maintenance. Some councillors said they only approved Sohi's changes because he has a plan to pay back the money diverted from savings, Postmedia reported.
• Edmonton's Food Bank continues to experience unprecedented demand in 2024, having served more than 47,000 people in October alone through its food hamper program. The organization has a goal to collect 300,000 kilograms of non-perishable food and raise $4.5 million by Jan. 10. So far, it has met 20% of its goal.
• The latest health assessment for Lucy the Elephant says the animal is in good shape, but her respiratory issues mean she can't travel to join a herd. Lucy turns 50 next year, and Edmonton Valley Zoo director Gary Dewar said experts expect her to live another 10 to 15 years. Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums requires Lucy to undergo an annual independent assessment to be maintained as a single elephant.
• Egale Canada and the Skipping Stone Foundation confirmed their intent to pursue legal action against the Alberta government in response to new legislation affecting 2SLGBTQ+ people. Bennett Jensen, Egale Canada's legal director, said the legislation violates the constitutional rights of young 2SLGBTQ+ people and has already caused harm and increased bullying.
• Barrhead, about 120 kilometres north of Edmonton, will be the second municipality in Alberta with a neutral space bylaw after 57% of residents voted in favour of banning political, religious, and social symbols on municipal land. A Pride crosswalk, a Royal Canadian Legion flag, and a Treaty 6 flag are among the symbols set to be removed. Organizers of the petition that brought the bylaw before council said they were inspired by Westlock, which passed a similar bylaw last February. In an explainer video, Xtra Magazine suggests more Alberta towns are likely to follow suit.
• The Alberta government's new "rate of last resort" will replace the regulated rate option (RRO) as Albertans' default electricity rate starting Jan. 1. The change was first announced in April in response to electricity price spikes for residents using the RRO, which is a variable rate. The rate of last resort will be stable for two years at 12 cents per kilowatt hour, which is higher than what Albertans can currently get through fixed rates.
• The Edmonton Stingers announced their 2025 schedule, the first under the Canadian Elite Basketball League's new 24-game format, running from May to August. The Stingers start their season at the Edmonton EXPO Centre on May 11 for a game against the Calgary Surge.

Here are opportunities to inform municipal planning for rezoning, transit services, recreation, and more. Please only answer surveys from the municipality where you live.

• Windsor Park Rezoning — The City of Edmonton is considering an application to rezone 11630 87 Avenue NW, currently a commercial zone, to allow for a maximum 25-story mixed-use tower. The application is also to rezone 8715 and 8719 117 Street NW to allow for a mixed-use development of about four storeys. Residents can ask questions or participate on a lively discussion board until Dec. 9.
• ETS Trip Planner Testing Recruitment — Edmonton Transit Service plans to implement a new trip planning tool, which will replace the existing web application and ETS Live. The City of Edmonton is seeking residents of Edmonton and surrounding regions to participate in a pilot test of the tool before it launches. Participants must use trip planners, or intend to do so in the next three months, and be available to provide feedback from Jan. 20 to Feb. 21. The deadline to sign up for the pilot is Dec. 16.
• Shaping Public Recreation in Edmonton — The City of Edmonton is developing a plan for the future of sports and recreation as the city grows toward a population of two million. Residents are invited to share their stories and ideas for recreation and complete a survey until Dec. 20.

More input opportunities

• Until Dec. 11: Neighbourhood Renewal Final Design — Overlanders and Homesteader (City of Edmonton)
• Until Dec. 13: Wîhkwêntôwin ᐄᐧᐦᑫᐧᐣᑑᐃᐧᐣ Neighbourhood Renewal (City of Edmonton)
• Until Dec. 15: Business Improvement Areas (BIA) Patron Experience Survey (City of Edmonton)
• Until Dec. 15: Northeast River Valley Park Strategic Plan (City of Edmonton)
• Until Dec. 15: 2024 Festivals Survey (Town of Morinville)
• Until Dec. 20: Passenger Rail Master Plan Survey (Government of Alberta)
• Until Dec. 20: Towards 40 Survey — 106 Street NW Survey (City of Edmonton)
• Until Dec. 31: Business Improvement Areas (BIA) Business Survey (City of Edmonton)
• Until Dec. 31: Building Relationships to Shape Our City: Connecting with under-heard communities (City of Edmonton)
• Until Jan. 5: West Jasper Place Rezoning — 95 Avenue NW (City of Edmonton)
• Until Jan. 12: Budget 2025 Consultation (Government of Alberta)

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Simple Seafood Skills: From Ocean to Plate starting at 6pm at Get Cooking
• Chef JP Dubaldo's Ina Mo Pop-Up Dinner Series starting at 6:30 at EPIC Market
• Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Edmonton Oilers starting at 7pm at Rogers Place
• Until Dec. 7: Brother Rat at Fringe Theatre Arts Barns
• Until Dec. 8: I Lost my Husband at Servus Credit Union Theatre
• Until Dec. 8: Butterdome Craft Sale at University of Alberta
• Until Dec. 22: The Blank Who Stole Christmas at Rapid Fire Exchange

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Dec. 10-18: Justice4Feel Film Festival at the CKUA Performance Space
• Dec. 11-22: Cycle at Mile Zero Dance
• Dec. 16-22: Local Author Festive Signings at Audreys Books

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