The Pulse: Oct. 21, 2022

Edmonton-based Air Trail has been quietly growing its airline business over the past five years, relying on referrals and direct sales to build its customer base among aviation customers who aren't on most people's radars.

"It's a pretty in-the-background type of business ... Regional aviation tends to be very focused on putting your nose down and just getting the job done," said Bradley Poulette, founder and CEO of Air Trail, noting that his company ends up acting similarly.

Air Trail provides compliance automation software that helps pilots and airlines track operational details that must be reported to regulators like Transport Canada, replacing the paper records or in-house spreadsheets companies tend to use for crew tracking, flight and maintenance logs, and weight and balance. The software is geared towards what Poulette called the behind-the-scenes but crucial operators that people don't typically think of when they think of an airline – medevac pilots, crop dusters, charter flights, and the like.

The company was part of the first cohort for the Alberta Innovates Revenue Accelerator, run by GrowthX, which helped the company grow significantly, COO Brandon Kwong said in a Linkedin post.

Sales cycles are long in the aviation industry, so some of the deals closed during Air Trail's time in the accelerator were already in the pipeline, Poulette said. "However, I will also say that there were opportunities that were in our pipeline that were stuck, that GrowthX helped us to unlock," he added.

Pilots often fly thousands of trips a year, with thousands more logs to complete for each flight. It's easy for mistakes to happen given the cumbersome and time-consuming paperwork mixed with quick turnarounds and packed schedules.

"For example, oftentimes someone could miss putting a signature on a document or put the wrong date or something like that. And it takes a human being to go through each individual record," Poulette explained. "So it takes a lot of time for these operators to go through and catch errors like that. Whereas Air Trail not only helps them to catch errors like that, but it also helps them to prevent errors that are easily preventable when they're being entered to begin with."

• The city has released its proposed 2023-2026 capital budget, which will be presented to council on Oct. 31. Stacey Padbury, the city's chief financial officer, said the proposed budget focuses on renewing existing infrastructure and advancing projects critical for growth. With $4.4 billion in already-approved projects — including LRT expansion, the Yellowhead Trail freeway conversion project, and Blatchford — the proposed budget includes just $3.3 billion in new projects, including rehabilitating the High Level Bridge.
• City council has approved an updated winter homelessness strategy that adds 450 temporary winter shelter spaces thanks to recently announced provincial funding. The plan also includes one bus run by Edmonton Transit Service that will operate centrally, and a bus run by Boyle Street Community Services will operate outside the city core. Part of council's discussion about the plan took place in private, with several councillors saying afterwards that they were uncomfortable with what was discussed. Coun. Sarah Hamilton said it was indicative of a "toxic governance culture" and alleged that council is ignoring the advice of city staff. "I think it's a little bit inappropriate to say this is bad governance," Mayor Amarjeet Sohi responded, "because I seek legal advice before I proceed."
• An online video posted Oct. 19 shows a coyote fearlessly attacking a small dog near the Mill Creek Ravine, which a city spokesperson said is a "hot spot" for aggressive coyote incidents. "It was clearly a very predatory attack by that coyote," said biologist Colleen Cassady St. Clair. "It wasn't provoked in any way by the dog." The city says to always call 311 if a coyote makes contact with your pet or is showing aggressive or fearless behaviour.
• Lawyers for Edmonton Police Service Chief Dale McFee have been permitted to intervene in the Crown's appeal of a 2021 case in which a provincial judge stayed break and enter charges against a man on the grounds that the arresting officer Tasered him excessively. The appeal cites concerns over defence lawyer Michael Aytenfisu's use of a FOIP request to obtain EPS policy documents, which one of McFee's lawyers said is unfair because there are a lot of policies that are regularly updated. "I couldn't look at a policy and say under oath whether that was the accurate policy at the time," she said. Aytenfisu called the move "an attempt by the chief of police to say 'Nope, you shouldn't have had that,' or 'You should have talked to us first.'" The case will be back in court on Oct. 28.
• The Edmonton Police Commission voted 5-3 to write a letter to the province requesting that Albertans start self-identifying their race on their driver's licences and other ID. Commissioner Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse said race-based data collection can help "leverage systemic change." The vote came after the commission heard a presentation from Stats Canada about its race-based data project. Coun. Anne Stevenson, who serves on the commission, voted against the motion.
• The Africa Centre and eight other Edmonton-based Black-led organizations sent a letter to Edmonton Police Commission chair John McDougall asking the police to stop the use of DNA phenotyping, which they say "demonizes and alienates" vulnerable people. "Our community feels traumatized, scapegoated and humiliated," the letter said, adding that such practices damage confidence in police.
• Premier Danielle Smith addressed the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 20, warning the audience it will be "a bit bumpy for the next 90 days," particularly as she overhauls Alberta Health Services management. She also reiterated plans to amend the Alberta Human Rights Act to protect people unvaccinated against COVID-19.

This weekend sees a dancing end to Edmonton Startup Week, the finale for a tough CFL season, and the last chance to navigate this year's corn maze. Like beginnings more than endings? A new-to-you outfit awaits you at a clothing swap, or get in on a celebration of Edmonton's maker movement.

• Oct. 21, 7:45pm: Edmonton Elks vs BC Lions at Commonwealth Stadium
• Oct. 22, 10am: Celebrate Reuse! Clothing Swap at the City of Edmonton Reuse Centre
• Oct. 22, 2pm: (Afro) Groove with La Connexional at the Mercer Warehouse
• Oct. 22-23: Edmonton Makers Market and Convention at the Alberta Aviation Museum
• Oct. 23: Last day of the season for the Edmonton Corn Maze

Find even more things to do in the Arts Roundup.

Photo: The Edmonton Corn Maze, cut in the shape of the Edmonton Elks logo, ends its season shortly after the team's final game of 2022. (Edmonton Corn Maze)