- Boyle Street Community Services has received a $1 million donation from Pat and Diana Priestner to support the renovation of its new community centre on 101 Street and 107A Avenue. The donation marks the start of Boyle Street's capital campaign which has already secured $16 million out of a total $28.5 million goal. "During our many years of supporting Boyle Street Community Services it has become clear to us the important role this organization plays," said Diana Priestner. Boyle Street plans to open the new facility in fall 2023.
- Edmonton's alcohol consumption at designated picnic sites pilot program runs May 1 to Oct. 10 this year and is expanding to a total of 124 picnic sites across 18 parks. Adults will be allowed to "consume alcohol safely and responsibly" between 11am and 9pm at designated sites. This year, officers will only be responding to complaints and will not be proactively enforcing the program, Postmedia reports.
- The city is again allowing residents to drop off large furniture and appliances — plus grass clippings, tires, metal, and garbage — at a series of free Big Bin Events running on select weekends from May 7 to Sept. 18, and a series of weekend events at Eco Stations from April 30 to Oct. 2.
- The University of Alberta placed 77th in the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) World University Rankings 2022-23, its highest-ever ranking. CWUR's analysis put the school 67th in the quality of faculty category in recognition of recent work in physics, genetics, computational biology, and more. The U of A also did well in the research category, coming in at 87th thanks to high research article output and publications in influential journals, Folio reports.
- Downtown businesses are excited at the prospect of Oilers fans celebrating the playoffs. It has been five years since fans last gathered in Rogers Place for a playoff game, Global News reports. Stu Ballantyne, Rogers Place and ICE District president and COO, said Ford Hall and the ICE District Plaza outside the arena will be activated for fans to watch the games.
- Leduc city council has unanimously approved up to $165,000 for the creation and implementation of an equity, diversity, and inclusion strategy. The decision comes after firefighters Christa Steele and Mindy Smith applied for a class-action lawsuit against the city in February, alleging decades of systemic harassment, bullying, discrimination, and sexual assault.
- Edmonton's CN Tower is better than Toronto's, at least according to Dan Rose, the tower's unofficial architectural ambassador. From its less-than-humble beginnings as a "subtle middle finger" to Eastern Canada overlooking the CN rail yard during Edmonton's booming post-war years, the tower continues to symbolize the link between Edmonton's railway roots and ongoing growth. It is also a functioning office building surrounded by "Edmontonians who roll up their sleeves daily" while Toronto's CN Tower is, Rose suggests, "essentially and functionally pointless."
- "On this path, I learned the key to embracing change is to focus on how it makes our life better while appreciating those things that stayed the same," wrote Rhonda Skinner about her years visiting the Fraser Ravine in northeast Edmonton in the latest piece from The Henday Project, CBC's ongoing exploration of Edmonton's suburbs.
Headlines
By Kevin Holowack