Groundhog Day is coming early this year at the Downtown Market at City Hall with the help of the City of Edmonton and Edmonton Poet Laureate Anna Marie Sewell.

Sewell and four other Edmonton poets will present odes to the mighty groundhog during the indoor market. Edmontonians are encouraged to participate by bringing in their own poems to add to the Poem Catcher at City Hall.

Date: Saturday January 28, 2012
Time: Downtown City market is open from 10am-3pm with the readings starting at noon
Location: City Hall, 1 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Admission: Free

A larger than life balloon groundhog will be on display and smaller balloon groundhogs will be available for kids to take home.

The Downtown Market at City Hall happens every Saturday until May 12 and then it returns to 104 Street for the outdoor season. The indoor market boasts a variety of local producers, artisans and vendors.

ETS will be testing the fan system in the tunnel at Corona LRT Station during the evening of Wednesday January 25, 2012 into the morning of Thursday January 26, 2012.

Smoke will be generated in Corona LRT Station to test the effectiveness of the fan system to remove the smoke quickly and efficiently. Nearby residents and businesses may see smoke coming out of the exhaust ventilation shafts located on 108 Street near Jasper Avenue.

Nominated Snow Angels get hockey tickets under new partnership

Edmontonians helping neighbours with snow and ice are being rewarded by those really familiar with ice time.

People nominated as Snow Angels through the City of Edmonton program will receive tickets to an Oil Kings game as a result of a new partnership between the City and the Edmonton Oil Kings. In addition to providing tickets, the Oil Kings players will trade their jerseys and sticks for winter coats and shovels to clear snow from sidewalks in various Edmonton communities in between home games this winter.

“As part of the Rexall Sports Corporation it’s a priority in our organization to always remain focused on the responsibility we have to making a difference in our local community,” said Oil Kings vice president and alternate governor Darryl Porter. “It’s a point we emphasize every day to our players who under our encouragement we are developing for the next level both on and off the ice.” 

“We are so happy to have the Oil Kings on board as a program partner,” said Elvie De Benedetto, senior project planner with City of Edmonton Capital City Clean Up. “While the tickets are a great incentive, we really hope seeing the Oil Kings out in the community will inspire others to watch for those in need of snow and ice removal and offer to lend a hand.”

Oil Kings Captain and bronze medalist at the 2012 World Junior Championships Mark Pysyk was among the five Oil Kings players shovelling snow and removing ice from sidewalks in Westmount this morning.

“Anytime you can be a part of a great program like this where you’re helping people out firsthand it’s a great feeling,” said Pysyk. “Hopefully people can take from our lead and choose to volunteer as Snow Angels themselves.”

The Snow Angels program is an awareness and recognition program encouraging Edmontonians to help a neighbour in need of snow removal and to acknowledge those volunteering their time to shovel as a City of Edmonton Snow Angel.

If you have a volunteer you’d like to recognize, fill out a nomination form or call 311.

27 new apartment suites will open with the help of the Cornerstones Affordable Housing Program funded by the City of Edmonton and the Government of Alberta.

Edward Street is a new $4.9 million affordable housing complex built by the Canadian Mental Health Association. The City of Edmonton and the Government of Alberta provided $11.85 million in block funding through the Cornerstones program to Homeward Trust Edmonton for allocation to individual projects that address the need for long term affordable housing.

Edward Street will allow people with low income and mental illness to obtain support and live independently in a safe, secure place they can call home. As of May 31, 2011, 2,622 safe, secure homes have been achieved for citizens and families in need under the City of Edmonton’s Cornerstones program, exceeding the goal set by Edmonton’s City Council of an additional 2,500 affordable homes completed by 2011.

“Edward Street is not only increasing the supply of affordable housing, but it will offer much-needed support to the most vulnerable in our city,” said Mayor Stephen Mandel. “When we can offer a roof over someone’s head, and the support to go with it, we’re helping people become part of their community again. We are revitalizing communities by investing in people.”

“The Alberta government is committed to helping our most vulnerable citizens through housing support such as the Edward Street project,” said Doug Griffiths, Minister of Alberta Municipal Affairs. “With a safe and stable home, individuals can build more independent, healthy lives, and we all benefit from stronger, more vibrant communities.”

“Long term, safe and affordable housing options for people living with mental illness create real opportunities for community integration and participation in community life,” said Ione Challborn, Executive Director of Canadian Mental Health Association – Edmonton Region.

The City of Edmonton’s Cornerstones Plan brings communities, businesses and governments together to develop affordable housing. Created by Edmonton City Council in partnership with the Government of Alberta and community organizations, the Cornerstones program supports Council’s strategic vision to improve Edmonton’s livability and manage growth.

The Cornerstones Plan is City Council's 5-year plan to increase the number of long term affordable housing units and advocate for increases in income supports and support services funding for lower income Edmontonians in need of housing. Cornerstones Program funding totals approximately $150 million.

Partners in the Edward Street project include the Government of Alberta, the Canadian Mental Health Association, Homeward Trust Edmonton and the Government of Canada.

Edmontonians gathered at City Hall to hear from international, national and local experts on how to make a winter city that’s lively, attractive, safe, sustainable and healthy. Presenters included architects from the Danish design firm Gehl Architects and gh3 in Toronto, John Furlong the CEO of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games as well as business, tourism and quality of life experts.

Participants in the evening kick-off event and half-day symposium were encouraged to come up with recommendations for what would help people embrace and engage in winter – input that will be used to help develop Edmonton’s winter city strategy. The City of Edmonton is leading the development of the strategy to transform into Edmonton into a world leading northern city.

“We have such opportunity at our doorsteps,” says Edmonton City Councillor Ben Henderson. “We already have popular winter festivals. We can skate, ski, snowshoe, toboggan, or walk through beautiful winter landscapes – again – right outside our doors. We need to build on this, to celebrate our northern climate and create a city that embraces winter so that Edmonton is known around the world as a great place to live and visit during the winter months.”

John Furlong encouraged participants to appreciate the capacity of the community to build a year-round great city. “Never underestimate the power of you, the public, to push for change and transform your city into a place that reflects your vision of a great city to live in and visit,” Furlong said.

The symposium marked the start of a three month campaign to engage residents, the business community, urban planners and visitors to share ideas on what would make them fall in love with winter in Edmonton. Public consultations, social media and a postcard campaign will be used to gather input until the end of March, 2012.

A think tank made up of 40 community leaders will use this input, consider best practices of successful northern cities and gather advice from local and international ‘winter’ experts to help develop a strategy with recommendations that will go to City Council in fall 2012.

Come on your own or bring the family for an evening of winter fun at the Moonlight Snowshoe Lantern Tour.

This magical evening begins at the John Janzen Nature Centre where you will learn about snowshoeing and the local animal residents.

Once you’re strapped into snowshoes, you’ll hike along the river to Fort Edmonton Park. Take in a night tour of the Fort, warm up by a roaring fire with a cup of apple cider before catching a wagon ride back to the Train Station entrance at the front of the Park.

Upcoming sessions

January 27, 2012:  6:30-8:45pm or 7:30-9:45pm
February 3, 2012:  6:30-8:45pm or 7:30-9:45pm

Snow shoes will be provided. It is recommended children be over 7 years of age so that the snowshoes fit.

Cost is $14 a person. An adult must register with children taking part. Dress warmly!

Register online or call 311.
    

The City of Edmonton is providing assistance to evacuees of an apartment fire on Edmonton’s south side.

The evacuees were displaced as a result of a fire at Heatheridge Estates, 18 Avenue and 111A Street.

Edmonton Fire Rescue Services received a 911 call to respond to the site at approximately 2:40pm on Thursday January 19, 2012.

The City’s Disaster Social Services is providing assistance, including food and lodging referrals, in partnership with the Red Cross.

About 70 fire fighters responded to the three-alarm blaze in the 80-unit apartment building.
 
Evacuees should contact 311 for updates.

Conceptual sketches based on preliminary work done by ICON Venue Group to determine how a new downtown arena might be programmed, show a facility tailored to the Edmonton market and designed to make the experience for patrons in Edmonton one of the best anywhere in the world.

The sketches show wide concourses open to daylight, enhanced food and beverage options, and loge seats – a seating product specifically designed to reflect the fact that Edmonton has more small to medium-sized companies than large corporate head offices.

Fan experience zones and historical tribute areas are ideas ICON has collected from arenas in other cities that could also be used in Edmonton.

View concepts and sketches.

City and CUPE Local 30 agree on new contract

City Council and Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 30 have ratified a collective agreement for 2011-2013.

The agreement provides for wage increases of 2.5% in 2011, 3% in 2012 and 3% in 2013 for a three-year collective agreement expiring on December 28, 2013.

CUPE Local 30 represents approximately 3,200 permanent and seasonal employees who perform construction, maintenance and public works duties within various civic departments.

Renewal projects move ahead

City Council moved ahead several infrastructure projects of the three-year Capital Budget approved in December 2011 with bylaws that allow borrowing, taking advantage of low interest rates.

Council approved borrowing $56 million for Phase 1 revitalization work in The Quarters Downtown project. The debt will be paid back through the Community Revitalization Levy for that zone.

Council gave first reading to bylaws that enable borrowing to fund the replacement of the Walterdale Bridge, to purchase land needed for the future Southeast to West LRT line, and for a new Northwest Campus for Edmonton Police Service. Final approval of these bylaws will be considered at a subsequent Council meeting.

After an extensive search and recruitment process, City Council has appointed Derek Hudson, Gary McCuaig  and Suzanne Polkosnik to the Edmonton Police Commission.

"I am pleased to extend a warm welcome to our new Police Commissioners," said Mayor Stephen Mandel. "Derek, Gary and Suzanne are bringing a diverse range of experience and skills to the Commission and I know they will become an integral part of the overall team of people working together to ensure the safety and security of Edmontonians."

Derek Hudson is a chartered accountant with experience providing strategic financial services for a variety of companies in Edmonton Region. Derek is the founder and principal of Unconstrained CFO Inc., a consulting firm dedicated to providing C-level financial services to up-and-coming organizations with complex business challenges and big opportunities.

Gary McCuaig spent 30 years with Alberta Justice, beginning in 1978. For the first 22 years of that time, he was a member of the Alberta Crown Prosecutors Office, firstly as a line Crown and then as Chief Crown Prosecutor for 10 years (1990-2000). From 2000 to 2008, he held positions with Alberta Justice relating to Organized Crime and then Education and Knowledge Management. He also served as an International Prosecutor for the United Nations in Kosovo for six months in 2002-2003.

Suzanne Polkosnik is a lawyer currently serving as the Associate General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary for EPCOR Utilities Inc. In this role, Suzanne has been responsible for advising the executive and board on shareholder, governance, securities and disclosure matters. Additionally, Suzanne is currently the Director of American Water Integration with EPCOR, a role that works to bring a large water utility acquisition successfully to a close. Prior to taking on a role at EPCOR, Suzanne was an employment and labour relations lawyer at Brownlee LLP.

“I’m looking forward to working with the new Commissioners, as each brings an impressive combination of knowledge and experience to the table,” said EPC Chair Arlene Yakeley. “I know they will represent the citizens of Edmonton very well in their new role.”

In addition, Councillor Tony Caterina is the new City Council representative joining Councillor Dave Loken who is in his second year with the Commission.

The next Edmonton Police Commission public meeting will be held on Thursday January 19, 2012.