Headlines: June 9, 2022

June 9, 2022 · The Pulse
By Kevin Holowack

Chief Dale McFee's salary this year is $340,000, the Edmonton Police Commission revealed on June 8 in response to a request that it be made public. The salary surpasses those of the Calgary and Winnipeg police chiefs but is lower than those in Toronto and Ottawa. In a statement, the commission says it will implement a policy of publicizing the chief's salary annually for the sake of transparency. It also released a copy of McFee's contract.
The Drug Overdose Response System (DORS), a smartphone app designed to automatically contact emergency services if someone overdoses while alone, is now available across the province. According to Mike Ellis, the associate minister for mental health, the app has drawn 440 registered users since it launched a year ago. Meanwhile, 31 organizations and Coun. Michael Janz signed an open letter on June 7 criticizing the province's recovery-oriented approach to the drug poisoning crisis and the lack of available treatment options or information about existing options.
The city has launched a campaign called Side by Side to improve safety for scooter and bicycle users and raise awareness of the safe passing distance bylaw, which came into effect in September 2021. An accompanying YouTube video and PDF guide are also available. Bike trips in Edmonton have "nearly doubled" in the past 10 years, according to safe mobility director Jessica Lamarre.
Edmonton police are inviting residents and business owners to register existing external-facing security cameras with the Public Camera Registry, a voluntary program that will allow police to request footage to aid in investigations. The tool is expected to be in officers' hands by the end of 2022. In a release, Sgt. Blake Schols emphasized the registry is not a surveillance system, will not give EPS access to cameras, and will allow participants to opt out at any time.
Imagine Monet, an immersive exhibition pairing panoramic projections of the impressionist master's work with classical music, is freshly installed at the Edmonton Expo Centre and will run until Sept. 2. A sister production called Imagine Van Gogh sold over 100,000 tickets when it passed through Edmonton last summer.
Thomas Costigan, a defensive lineman with the Edmonton Elks, has received the Joey Moss Award. Named for the late dressing room attendant, the award is given every year to an Elks player who embodies Moss's positivity and perseverance.
CBC News spoke to Heather MacKenzie, a solar expert who designed her own net-zero home in Blatchford, about how homeowners can reduce their carbon footprint.