Headlines: Jan. 11, 2024

Jan. 11, 2024 · The Pulse
By Kevin Holowack

Edmonton police and city workers dismantled the eighth and final encampment considered "high-risk," located near 95 Street and Rowland Road. Police were again met with resistance from residents, and Bear Claw Beaver Hills House organized a protest of about 30 people outside Edmonton Police Service headquarters. Crews planned to clear the eighth encampment earlier in the week but halted their plans. Three people were arrested for obstructing police on Jan. 10 and may face charges. One person was also arrested Jan. 9 and is facing charges. The Coalition for Justice and Human Rights returned to court on Jan. 10 to continue its legal action against the city, and the interim injunction requiring the city to meet certain conditions before clearing encampments was extended until Jan. 16.
Pimatsiwin, an Indigenous-led emergency shelter at the former Sands Hotel located off Fort Road, has made 53 permanent supportive housing suites available inside an oil field camp structure and four pallet homes on the property's parking lot. Pimatsiwin is run by NiGiNan Housing Ventures, which opened the shelter two years ago after securing funding to covert the hotel. The hotel itself contains 54 permanent supportive suites, and the former bar has 34 emergency spaces. NiGiNan CEO Keri Cardinal Schulte said Pimatsiwin is a first-of-its-kind initiative in Canada and an "opportunity to redefine what a shelter space looks like for Indigenous people, by Indigenous people." Last month, some nearby residents began organizing opposition to Pimatsiwin.
The Tyee obtained a whistleblower complaint concerning Daniel O'Connell, a head and neck surgeon who has served as interim head of the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) section of Alberta Health Services for two years and was recently appointed to a senior administrative position. The whistleblower complaint, which is dated November 2022 and signed by five surgeons, contains allegations that O'Connell engaged in a pattern of conflict of interest by promoting the delivery of private health care, including at the Canadian Cancer Care clinic, of which he is part owner. O'Connell is also alleged to have blocked a young surgeon from attaining AHS operating privileges. AHS said internal investigations are ongoing but didn't explain why it promoted O'Connell to a permanent position while he is under investigation. The Alberta NDP is calling for an independent public investigation.
Edmonton's Food Bank said it reached its food and fundraising goals for the holiday season, having raised 300,000 kilograms of food and $4 million over eight weeks. "Donations during this time allow Edmonton's Food Bank to enter the new year ready to help people experiencing food insecurity and feed those who need it most," executive director Marjorie Bencz told Postmedia.
A fire in a newly built home on Jan. 8 in Edmonton's Secord neighbourhood is believed to be linked to a wider extortion scheme targeting the South Asian business community. A Jan. 7 fire in a new home in the Allard neighbourhood remains under investigation. Both fires damaged neighbouring properties, but no one was injured. Earlier this month, police said they are looking into at least 18 incidents potentially linked to the scheme that have taken place since October in Edmonton and surrounding areas.
Edmonton Fire Rescue Services confirmed that a Jan. 5 fire at a downtown highrise, located at 10020 103 Avenue, was deliberately set. The fire forced hundreds of people to flee at 4:20am, and 14 fire crews were involved in battling the blaze. Residents told CTV News that fire alarms go off in the building regularly, and people generally feel unsafe living or working there. The building is managed by Mainstreet Equity. An arson investigation is ongoing.
Edmonton's film, TV, and video game sectors have a lot to look forward to in 2024, according to arts writer Fish Griwkowsky, who put together an overview of local talent and productions to pay attention to this year. While The Last of Us is being filmed in Vancouver this year, several other projects from Edmonton creators and actors are coming to the screen this year.
Edmonton experienced its first low under -20°C this winter on Jan. 9, which saw temperatures fall to -20.5°C. On average, Edmonton has about 12 days with lows under -20°C by this time of the season.
The 60th edition of Quikcard Edmonton Minor Hockey Week, organized by Hockey Edmonton, is running from Jan. 12-21. The event includes about 12,000 players from 696 teams, which represent age ranges Under-9 to Under-18. A total of 930 games will take place at 50 sheets of ice across 32 arenas in the city. Last year, the event set a Guinness World Record for largest ice hockey tournament.