The Pulse: Nov. 26, 2021

Here's what you need to know about Edmonton today.

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Essentials

  • 6°C: A mix of sun and cloud. 30% chance of showers in the morning and early in the afternoon. High 6. (forecast)
  • 379: Alberta reported 379 new cases of COVID-19 on Nov. 25. (details)
  • 5pm: The Oilers (14-5-0) face the Golden Knights (12-8-0) in Las Vegas on Saturday night. (details)
  • 13: The number of delegates from the Assembly of First Nations who will meet with Pope Francis on Dec. 20, including Alberta's Wilton Littlechild. (details)

Customers at 1st Round in downtown Edmonton

Downtown leaders call on Sohi for budget boost to spur recovery efforts


By Paul Cashman in the Business Roundup

Downtown business and community leaders want Mayor Amarjeet Sohi to follow through on campaign promises to champion the area's recovery, urging him to boost funding for vibrancy initiatives and offer financial incentives for residential and Warehouse District projects.

"As you know, COVID-19 has created or accelerated many economic and social challenges at the heart of our city, which need to be addressed through immediate and co-ordinated responses," Nick Lilley, chairperson of the Downtown Recovery Task Force, said in a letter to the mayor.

The 15-member task force includes volunteers from the Downtown Business Association, BOMA, Edmonton City Centre, and private sector property developers and managers. There are also community representatives from the Downtown Edmonton Community League and the Reach Council for Safe Communities.

The letter to Sohi, sent in advance of budget discussions, stresses the need for improved safety measures downtown to counter reports of increased crime after the pandemic caused foot traffic to plummet.

The task force also asked Sohi to consider a boost in funding for the Downtown Vibrancy Strategy, from the currently budgeted $5 million to $28 million over the next two years. It also advocates for a continuation of Economic Recovery Construction Grants in 2022 to accelerate residential construction projects, and bring both jobs and residents downtown. The task force also supports tapping into existing capacity under the Community Revitalization Levy bylaw to spur growth in the Warehouse District.

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By Karen Unland

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A graphic of a clenched fist with an oil drop and the words Oilersnation: Real Life Podcast

Podcast pick: Real Life Podcast


By Andy Trussler

With the Oilers off to a shockingly strong start this season, you might want to listen to a little extra hockey talk these days. Oilersnation — the "home for Edmonton Oilers coverage, news, analysis, rumours and scores" — is happy to oblige with the Real Life Podcast, hosted by hardcore fans who go by such names as Wanye Gretz, The Squire, and Baggedmilk.

The show, which comes out several times a week during the season, talks "about everything ranging from sports to booze to hair plugs," but mostly, anything and everything connected to Oilers fandom. It emanates from The Nation Network, the sports platform that grew out of the original Oilersnation blog into a 15-website network.

Earlier this month, Playmaker bought The Nation Network and Daily Faceoff in a $15-million deal. In a departure from its traditional format, Real Life broke down the monumental transaction with "business dad" Chris LaBossiere of Altitude Investments.

You can find the Real Life Podcast under the name Nation Real Life on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and the show's site.

If you need even more Oilers chatter, you can also tune into Oilersnation Radio, which bills itself as "the world's greatest Edmonton Oilers podcast." And if you like the vibe but the Oilers aren't your team, the network has a bunch of other shows.

You can listen to podcast picks from Taproot on Listen Notes or Spotify.

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Correction:

Alberta reported 464 new cases of COVID-19 on Nov. 24, not 446 as reported in Thursday's Pulse.