Headlines: Nov. 9, 2022

Nov. 9, 2022 · The Pulse
By Debbi Serafinchon and Kevin Holowack

The city declared a Phase 1 parking ban on major roads as of 7pm on Nov. 8. This phase will last approximately 3-5 days, during which crews will clear arterial roads, collector roads, bus routes, and roads in business improvement areas. Parking is still allowed on residential streets. There are currently no plans to initiate Phase 2, which would impact residential and industrial areas.
City administration is recommending that council not fund the $35-million demolition of Northlands Coliseum in the upcoming budget cycle, meaning there is still no timeline to tear down the former home of the Edmonton Oilers, who moved to Rogers Place in 2016. A city spokesperson said maintaining the building in its current state will cost around $1.25 million this year. Ward Métis councillor Ashley Salvador, who represents the area including the Coliseum, expressed support for demolishing the building as soon as possible. "If we would've funded the demolition years ago, with a lower demolition cost and lower interest rates, we wouldn't be in this position now," she said.
Air Products has announced it will receive approximately $475 million in federal and provincial funding for its $1.6-billion net-zero hydrogen energy complex. The Alberta government said the Alberta Petrochemicals Incentive Program would provide $161.5 million in grants over three years once the facility is operational. The province will supply an additional $15 million through Emissions Reduction Alberta. Edmonton Global said the funding is a "key milestone" that will "support building the world's largest net-zero hydrogen facility in the Edmonton region."
The average price of a single-family home has fallen nearly $50,000 since peaking in April, hitting $463,000 in October, according to statistics released by the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton. The cheapest single-family homes in central Edmonton now cost an average of about $257,000.
Alberta Health Services launched the fifth and largest instalment of Connect Care, a program designed to consolidate medical information systems, which AHS says will streamline information sharing between providers and improve public access to medical data. Around 75,000 physicians and AHS staff are now using Connect Care, which is expected to grow to 150,000 when it is fully rolled out in fall 2024. Dr. Jeremy Theal, chief medical information officer for AHS, said the program is not intended to reduce ER wait times, but times might be reduced because of improved efficiency.
The Edmonton International Airport worked in partnership with Indigenous Box to create a new Indigenous Interpretive and Retail Centre, located next to Gate 64 in the international and domestic departures lounge. The centre will be open 24/7 for guests to buy Indigenous-made products and "experience Indigenous history and culture, including themes related to navigation, traditional travelling routes and territories, the land, animals, traditional and contemporary teachings, star stories, and more," said YEG president and CEO Tom Ruth.
ZOE's Animal Rescue Society says it is struggling to stay afloat due to a lack of support coupled with high vet and food prices. The society took in around 800 animals in 2021 but could only rescue 600 so far in 2022. Executive co-director Kath Oltsher said Edmontonians giving up their "pandemic pets" is also creating greater need than previous years. ZOE's is looking for volunteers and has issued a callout for donations.
Edmonton police have charged a man with theft over $5,000 for stealing a flock of pigeons. A total of 45 competition pigeons, each valued at about $300, went missing from the owner's backyard on Oct. 18. Only 12 of the birds were recovered, and two were found dead. In late October, a few of the stolen pigeons were spotted in Strathcona County.
The Edmonton Prospects, the local collegiate team in the Western Canadian Baseball League, will sit out the 2023 season because construction of their new ballpark in Spruce Grove has been delayed until 2024. The team decided to move to Spruce Grove in 2020 so the Edmonton Riverhawks could take over RE/MAX Field.