The Pulse: May 21, 2021

RUNWITHIT Synthetics was declared the "Most Edmonton Startup of the Year" at the first-ever YEG Startup Community Awards.

RWI Synthetics constructs city models with artificial intelligence to visualize complex infrastructure projects like energy transition, economics, mobility and resilience. The adjudication committee noted the company's work to build a "synthetic model of what Edmonton could be in the year 2035."

"Really, we're a little-known, oddball company that has some crazy ideas about how we can get together and use artificial intelligence to solve the world's problems — the biggest ones and the scariest ones," CEO Myrna Bittner told the virtual gathering after Mayor Don Iveson presented her with the award on May 20.

Samdesk and Areto Labs were runners-up in the category recognizing startups demonstrating diversity, innovation, and risk-taking.

The award show, hosted by Taproot's own Emily Rendell-Watson, served as "an entrepreneur-led, volunteer-run, and community-centric initiative to recognize the brilliant work that's being done in our city." Almost 200 guests were in virtual attendance to see 12 individuals and companies rewarded for their efforts.

• An Ontario judge has ruled that the downing of Flight 752 by Iran's Revolutionary Guards was a deliberate act of terrorism. The decision "effectively allows the families in Canada to seek damages" from Iran, reports Global News. The plane crash killed 13 Edmontonians in 2019.
• The mishandling of several issues over the past year has caused a rift between Edmonton's Black community and police, reports City News.
• Edmonton teacher and community activist Augustine Marah announced his bid for mayor on Thursday. He is focusing on five key issues: job creation, youth inclusion in employment, advocating for frontline workers, reducing homelessness, and investing in the art and music scene.
• The federal government is providing a $46.5-million loan to developers working on a 248-unit rental complex in Abbottsfield. At least 20% of the units will be made affordable.
• A new training camp is encouraging women to join Edmonton Fire Rescue Services. Camp Inspire is meant to "promote firefighting as a viable career for women and gender diverse communities."
• Dr. Deena Hinshaw is asking Albertans to take it easy this weekend so that they can enjoy the summer ahead, reports the CBC. Meanwhile, parks officials are asking people to stop visiting Elk Island National Park on weekends due to capacity issues.
• Fully vaccinated Albertans no longer have to self-isolate if they come into close contact with someone who has COVID-19 and don't have symptoms, the province announced on Thursday.

A new $370-million provincial job creation program will help struggling Edmonton businesses find new talent, invest in training, and re-engage with unemployed and underemployed workers, says Edmonton Chamber of Commerce CEO Janet Riopel.

"Edmonton needs to get people back to work as quickly as possible," Riopel said in support of the program at a news conference to announce Alberta Jobs Now.

Premier Jason Kenney predicted that the funding would create 22,000 new jobs as Alberta struggles to recover from both the pandemic and the impact of prolonged low oil prices that have pushed the province's long-term unemployment rate to record levels. "This is a long-term investment in working Albertans as we recover from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and recession," Kenney said.

The program will help businesses once vaccination rates hit a sufficient level and public health restrictions can be lifted, said Mike Holden, chief economist for the Business Council of Alberta, in the Calgary Herald. "As the economy recovers, you could argue that these (unemployed Albertans) are people who would be hired again anyway. But at the same point, a lot of the businesses that will be doing this hiring have been struggling for a long time, and so it will help."

Kenney indicated a decision on lifting some restrictions on business will come after the long weekend.

The trail network in and around Edmonton's river valley is subject to flooding, landslides, and deteriorating infrastructure that can leave many paths inaccessible.

According to City of Edmonton data, 28 sections of trail in the North Saskatchewan River valley, Mill Creek Ravine, and Whitemud Creek are closed, and the city is cautioning against using three others.

The majority of the closures are due to construction, mostly related to infrastructure that is part of the trails. Six closures are due to eleven pedestrian bridges in Mill Creek being replaced, after a city report last year found they had deteriorated beyond the point of repair. The bridge replacements are estimated to be finished this fall, according to the City of Edmonton data. Other sections in the river valley are closed due to nearby neighbourhood renewal projects and the construction of the Valley Line LRT.

In addition, there are six trail renewal projects scheduled to start in 2021 that are not yet included in the dataset, Paul Lach, the general supervisor of geotechnical engineering for the City of Edmonton, told Taproot in an emailed statement.

However, a significant number of trails are suffering from geological hazards, like erosion and slumping, which means a portion of the trail has started to slide down a slope. A few of these hazards are severe enough to cause permanent closures. The data does not indicate when trails with temporary closures related to geological hazards will open again.

Is This For Real?, a podcast about living as a Black person in Edmonton, has officially wrapped its first season. In the first season, Breaking the Blue Wall, host Oumar Salifou and guests explore policing issues in Edmonton.

The episodes cover many aspects of policing, including the recent release of the Community Safety and Wellbeing Task Force's recommendations, which is covered in the season finale with Irfan Chaudry. The task force was formed last summer "in response to protests and a hearing on anti-Black racism in the city." Since its launch in 2020, Is This For Real? also heard from Moe Tesfay "about his experience of police mistreatment as a veteran and local business owner," and many other Black Edmontonians who have been impacted by police.

Alongside Salifou is producer Nicholas Yee, a musician, designer, and photographer, and Avnish Nanda, a frequent contributor and civil rights litigator. Together, the team pledges "each season will centre around a different facet of Black life in the city."

The podcast is funded entirely by grants and community donations via Patreon. The Edmonton Community Foundation is one of the donors, with the intention "to give Black journalists a space to be able to tell stories that impact their communities." Those stories are available through the podcast's website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.

Find this and the rest of Taproot's podcast picks on Spotify or via Listen Notes