The Pulse: Nov. 8, 2022

Edmonton's newest craft brewery is looking to bring something unique to the local beer scene with a taproom and menu that is welcoming to families.

Aaron Ejzenbart, co-founder of Asymmetrical Brewing, said the new brewery's space in half of the former Two Sergeants Brewing building at 11821 105 Ave. is intended to be "family-focused rather than family-friendly," with features like a wooden play structure and swing.

"We want parents to have a place to go to have a pint and still watch their children but be able to sit back and not worry too much," Ejzenbart, a new dad himself, told Taproot.

That philosophy is also evident in the menu, which is intended to be approachable enough that there is no separate kids' menu. Ejzenbart said the 50-seat taproom will offer mac and cheese, sandwiches, pretzels, charcuterie, and other light fare, with many ingredients sourced locally. "We've been working with The Butchery by RGE RD for cured meats and Das Brezel Haus on the pretzels," he said. Asymmetrical is also working with Vienna Bakery for bread and D'Arcy's Meat Market for bratwurst.

Asymmetrical is starting off with five brews: a blonde ale, cream ale, caramel malted ale, hazy pale ale, and dark ale. Initially, Asymmetrical's beer will only be offered in-house, but Ejzenbart said the brewery will look to get it into other restaurants and liquor stores in the future. Customers can also pick up a crowler — a 32-ounce, sealed, aluminum beer can — as a cheaper and lighter alternative to the more traditional glass growler.

In addition to beer, Asymmetrical will offer craft soda, starting with hibiscus ginger, pineapple, and lemon sodas. The taproom includes 18 taps between soda and beer, as well as cold brew coffee and sparkling water.

Asymmetrical officially opens its doors to the public on Nov. 9 and will be open six days a week, Tuesday through Sunday.

• The city has introduced a one-time grant to help businesses and organizations implement the new Single-use Item Reduction Bylaw that council approved in October, which will ban plastic bags, specific Styrofoam items, and introduce other requirements for reusable items once it takes effect July 1, 2023. Grants range from $700 to $5,000 and can be used to cover the costs of reusable dishes, containers, dishwashers, dishwashing services, and more. A total of $73,000 will be available through the Single-use Item Reduction Grant in 2022.
• The historic Iron Works Building at 10419 96 Street, which has been mostly vacant and in decline in recent decades, is undergoing a $21-million rehabilitation project. The city, which acquired the building in 2016, sees the project as key to The Quarters Downtown redevelopment and plans for the building to be at the heart of a downtown hub called the Iron Works Complex by 2024, with the Edmonton Arts Council as one proposed tenant. Built in 1909 and originally a site for manufacturing iron and brass during Edmonton's early construction boom, the building is now being restored to show off its original steel and brick work. "The vision for this building is that, ultimately, it does tie into the largest historic character of the Quarters site and act as a catalyst," said architect Jason Pare.
• A cargo expansion project at the Edmonton International Airport wrapped up at the end of September, giving YEG an additional 47,000 square metres to park planes, which is enough for four 747s or six 767s. The $36-million expansion was funded evenly by the airport and the Canadian government via the National Trades Corridor Fund. Construction incorporated a technology created by a company called CarbonCure Technologies, which injects carbon dioxide into the concrete during mixing to permanently store it.
• According to a poll by Janet Brown Opinion Research conducted for CBC News, 84% of Albertans agree the government should do more to protect consumers from inflation and the rising cost of living. More than half of the 1,200 people surveyed said their household financial situation had worsened this year. Among respondents aged 18-24, 96% agreed the government should do more to address the sharpest cost increases. Respondents in Edmonton were the least optimistic about the economy, with just 20% agreeing that the economy is improving, compared to 37% in Calgary and 30% in the rest of Alberta.
• Edmontonians made 34 complaints to the city's 311 service related to snow on walkways in the 40 hours that followed the snowfall that began on Nov. 2, according to the city's open data portal. The Secord and Westmount neighbourhoods received the most complaints, with five each. Last winter, 311 received more than 7,900 complaints about snow on walkways between November and April, an increase from the roughly 4,300 received during the previous winter.
• The annual No Stone Left Alone ceremony to remember fallen Canadian soldiers took place at the historic Beechmount Cemetery on the morning of Nov. 7. Students at the ceremony laid poppies on the headstones of more than 4,000 men and women who served in Canada's Armed Forces.
• Flair Airlines, which bought the naming rights to Hall D at the Edmonton EXPO Centre, will announce the new name on Nov. 10. At 53,410 square-feet, Hall D is Edmonton's only mid-sized arena space, with a capacity of 4,628 guests.

A long-running awards ceremony that almost didn't happen doled out 42 honours to leaders in science and technology in Alberta in front of a sellout crowd, with 22 of the awards going to Edmonton-area innovators.

The ASTech Awards nearly ceased after 2021, but Technology Alberta stepped in to keep the showcase for science, technology, and innovation alive. A crowd of 300 attended the 33rd annual ceremony at NAIT's Productivity and Innovation Centre on Nov. 4.

"When Technology Alberta had heard that this awards event was in danger of ending in 2021, we rallied our board and the greater community to take on the operating role," Technology Alberta president Gail Powley told Taproot. "And we are so pleased that many, many supporters joined in to make it an outstanding success and celebration."

Powley said planning has already begun for the 2023 awards, which may be held at multiple locations, including some outside of Edmonton and Calgary. She noted the sense of community in the room this year, "inspired by the words of our passionate researchers and entrepreneurs, who are so thankful to their teams and for the community support that has gotten them there."

Among the Edmonton-area winners on the list of award-winners was Mike Zouhri of PainWorth, whose personal-injury claims service won the award for early-career change-maker in the company category. Zouhri noted on LinkedIn that the last time he was at the Innovation Centre at NAIT, he was booed by an audience of pro bono lawyers as he presented his idea.

"I think the message here is to have the courage to follow your beliefs," he wrote. "It's hard. I know. And sometimes you will want to give up or give in; but if you can surround yourself with just enough of the right people who can lift you up when you are feeling darkest, then the courage to push forward becomes a little easier to find."