The Pulse: July 8, 2022

Even though a council committee has put off passing a bylaw to protect trees on private property, the Tomorrow Foundation for a Sustainable Future is encouraged to see progress on a file that is vital to the city's ability to lessen and mitigate the effects of climate change.

The foundation and others had rallied support for a private tree bylaw heading into the June 14 urban planning committee meeting, noting that 58% of Edmonton's urban forest consists of trees on residential property. In the end, councillors decided to ask administration to provide another report in early 2023, examining options to help achieve the City Plan's goal of two million new trees by 2050, including but not limited to a private tree bylaw.

That might seem like a setback, but not so, said Elizabeth Cytko, vice-president of the Tomorrow Foundation.

"I'm feeling good," she said after the decision. "I think it makes sense to look into whether or not bylaws are effective. We don't want this to be just a cost-of-doing-business thing ... So I'm glad they decided to look further into it."

Nonetheless, it's crucial that the city take action to protect the mature trees that already grow within its borders, she said.

"We are feeling the effects of climate change," she said. "To reasonably increase density while preserving what we have in terms of the mature canopy — that would be considered a win."

While administration does the homework that councillors have assigned, let's take a close look at the role trees play in Edmonton's plan for the future.

• As city council breaks for summer, several key issues have been left unresolved until Aug. 15 including how to address funding gaps for supportive housing and shelter operations. The most significant item on council's to-do list is the next four-year budget, which could be contentious with a projected increase of 7.1% and a long wish list of unfunded items. "I think we're going to see a lot more disagreement and dissent," said Coun. Sarah Hamilton, pointing out that she has seen more split votes in the past eight months than ever during her time on council. "And, I am willing to say, probably less politeness going forward."
• The Tyee has published a series of leaked Alberta Health "heat maps" that show the number of EMS calls to fatal and non-fatal drug poisonings in Edmonton by region. The maps indicate that EMS responses in the "red" areas of Eastwood, Woodcroft East, and Woodcraft West jumped 171% to 3,155 from 2020 to 2021, although overdose numbers are likely higher than ambulance rates suggest. The provincial government had previously ignored multiple requests by the Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association to publicize a more localized breakdown of its data.
• City council has directed administration create a disposition strategy for Hangar 14, a World War II-era structure that houses the Alberta Aviation Museum but requires at least $41 million worth of repairs within the next five years. The requested strategy would require whoever buys the building to maintain the museum, but the requirement will expire after two years. "If we can't find a solution for a home for this museum, we're going to lose pretty much all the history in the aviation museum," said curator Ryan Lee.
• Edmonton police want the public's help to fight graffiti vandalism, which increases during the summer, and are asking residents to report instances of it on private and public property by calling 311. In 2021, 157 instances were reported downtown, 163 in the southwest, and fewer than 100 in all other divisions. The city's Capital City Clean Up program offers up to $750 worth of professional graffiti cleaning to citizens and business owners.
• The city is offering $200 and $50 gift cards to residents who "go bagless" and leave grass clippings on the lawn. To enter the draw, Edmontonians must post a photo of a bagless mower on a fresh cut lawn and use the #IGoBagless hashtag.
• The Snowboard FIS World Cup "Stadium" Big Air event, Canada's biggest snowboarding event, will be held at Commonwealth Stadium from Dec. 9 to 10 before continuing the North America section of its 2022/23 world tour. Organizers expect 15,000 fans to fill the stadium — which will have some seats removed and a scaffold jump installed to accommodate the event — and hope it will become an annual draw.
• The Edmonton Oilers announced a series of hockey operations staff updates. Assistant coaches Dave Manson and Glen Gulutzan, goalie coach Dustin Schwartz, and video coach Jeremy Coupal will all return next year. Brad Holland, who joined as a scout in 2019 and is the son of general manager Ken Holland, was promoted to assistant general manager. The Oilers also traded Zack Kassian and a number of draft picks to the Arizona Coyotes. The team's 2022-23 pre-season schedule will kick off on Sept. 25 at Rogers Place against the Winnipeg Jets.

Festival season continues in Edmonton with plenty to do on both sides of the river, including the return of the Whyte Avenue Art Walk to Old Strathcona following two years of modified events.

• July 8, 11am: The Works Art & Design Festival and Edmonton International Street Performers Festival Kickoff at Churchill Square
• July 8, 5pm: Pop-up Night Market at the Marketplace at Callingwood
• July 8, 12pm: St. Albert Public Art Walking Tour from the Art Gallery of St. Albert
• July 9, 11am: Edmonton Jerk Festival at Queen Mary Park Community League
• July 9, 11am: Muttstock at Elmwood Park Community League
• July 8-9: Thousand Faces Festival: New Mythic Works Series at the Old Strathcona Performing Arts Centre
• July 8-10: 2022 Whyte Avenue Art Walk in Old Strathcona
• July 8-12: Found Festival in Old Strathcona

Find even more fun things to do in the Arts Roundup.

Photo: Catch a show at the Works Art & Design Festival and Edmonton International Street Performers Festival in Churchill Square from July 8-17. (Street Performers Festival)