- The city is advising Edmontonians to practice extreme caution around the North Saskatchewan River and its tributaries this week due to rain, which may increase river flow and cause flooding on shorelines and trails. Edmontonians are asked to stay out of the water, avoid low-lying areas near the river and other waterways, obey trail closures, keep pets away from the river and creeks, and not use watercrafts. As of June 15, parts of the Mill Creek Ravine trail system were closed due to flooding, and other low-lying areas may close on short notice. The city's trail and park closure map shows all ongoing closures due to flooding, construction, erosion, or other factors.
- A group of concerned Edmontonians that hired Pollara Strategic Insights to survey 300 residents about the city's proposed changes under the Zoning Bylaw Renewal Initiative has unveiled the results of their poll. The group's spokesperson, former Alberta Liberal Party leader Kevin Taft, said he was "disturbed" to learn that only 3% of respondents said they would be able to explain the changes to another person, while 11% had a general idea of the changes and 62% had never heard of the initiative. In an opinion piece for Postmedia, Taft wrote that "every neighbourhood inside the Anthony Henday will face disruption" due to the changes, which represent the first comprehensive overhaul of zoning in more than 60 years. The city's proposed omnibus zoning bylaw would, among other things, allow infill housing such as skinny homes, small apartments, garden suites, and supportive housing, as well as some businesses to be built on any residential lot. The city has been engaging on the bylaw renewal since 2018 in various ways and recently extended the opportunity for residents to provide feedback on the draft bylaw. A public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 16. You can use the city's Know Your Zone map to see your neighbourhood's current zoning category and the category it would have under the proposed bylaw.
- Boyle Street Community Services announced that the city's subdivision appeal board has upheld its development permit for the new King Thunderbird Centre, also called okimaw peyesew kamik, at 107A Avenue and 101 Street. Executive director Jordan Reiniger said the agency has addressed issues with its previous permit, which had been revoked, and was able to negotiate conditions with members of the surrounding community that satisfied their concerns. In late May, Reiniger explained at a hearing that the facility will deliver health-related services to people but will not be a shelter. Boyle Street says it has successfully reached 80% of its fundraising goal for the project without government support.
- The province's Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service recently found that an Old Strathcona landlord breached the Residential Tenancies Act when it forced a senior tenant from his apartment by raising rent from $870/month to $1,500/month. According to the decision, the rent increase was an "economic eviction" and "not a genuine rent increase." The landlord was ordered to pay the tenant one month's rent plus costs. Tim Patterson, a lawyer at the Edmonton Community Legal Centre who worked on the case, said the centre has seen an increase in tenants experiencing problems with landlords over the past year, including landlords who raise rent to force people from their homes. Laura Murphy, a researcher with the Affordable Housing Solutions Lab at the University of Alberta, explained that tenants are generally at the mercy of third-party and financialized landlords, who are accountable to investors and shareholders rather than tenants. In Alberta, there are no caps on how much a landlord may increase rent.
- The Edmonton branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress issued an open letter calling on the organizers of the Russian pavilion to withdraw from the Edmonton Heritage Festival for the duration of Russia's war against Ukraine. The letter, addressed to the Russian Heritage Cultural Development Association and the Edmonton Heritage Festival Association, asks for the move to be made out of respect for Ukrainians who are subject to occupation and oppression and "the sensitivities of those whose families and friends are suffering the effects of the war." The Ukrainian Canadian Congress issued a news release in late May expressing its concerns about the Russian pavilion participating in the festival.
- Officials lifted wildfire evacuation orders for Edson and Yellowhead County at 6pm on June 15, but evacuation alerts remained in effect. More than 8,000 residents of Edson were required to leave when the order was first issued on June 9. Christine Beveridge, Edson's chief administrative officer, said recent rains have given firefighters about 14 days of reprieve to assess impacted areas and do damage control. However, as of June 15, an out-of-control wildfire was still burning within 1.5 kilometres of Edson's southern edge and more than 300 firefighters were working in the region. Officials have stressed that Alberta's forests remain dry following months of drought-like conditions, so recent rains are not expected to provide lasting relief.
Headlines: June 16, 2023
By Kevin Holowack