The Pulse: June 30, 2023

Harcourt House is celebrating a $100,000 donation to help it buy its building, but it is asking for three more years to raise the rest of what it needs.

The Flanagan Foundation in Calgary made the pledge to help the Where Edmonton Community Artists Network (WECAN) Society take a substantial step toward its $3.5-million fundraising goal.

"It's a very significant contribution," WECAN president Edmund Haakonson told Taproot. "The fact that it's coming from Calgary really speaks to the necessity and the importance of Harcourt House to the province."

WECAN has been trying to raise the money since the province said in 2022 that the lease would not be renewed on the building at 10215 112 Street NW. It got a one-year reprieve until Nov. 30 of this year, but that's still not enough time, Haakonson said.

"It's just not possible for us to raise the money in that timeframe," he said, noting that many of the organizations that could invest significant sums have already allocated their budgets. "The norm for something like this is three to five years for a project this large."

When WECAN was offered the one-year extension, optimism prevailed, but raising that much money that quickly has proven to be challenging, he said. A GoFundMe campaign for individual donors has raised just over $56,000 so far.

"We took what was offered," said Haakonson. "We honestly did believe last year that we could manage this."

A spokesman for Infrastructure Minister Pete Guthrie said WECAN's request for an extension into 2026 is under review.

• CBC News checked in with the city's 19 temporary dog parks, which were launched in May as part of the Pop-Up Dog Park Program and are set to close sometime in fall, depending on weather. Program coordinator Beckie Boutilier said a full program evaluation will happen after the pilot to see if it should be extended or made permanent. "We are hearing from Edmontonians who absolutely love these and folks that aren't so pleased about them," said Boutilier. You can share your feedback on the parks in an online survey before Oct. 1 or using paper surveys at the entrance to each site.
• The Edmonton Queer History Project is organizing themed walking tours throughout the summer. The walking tours will explore various places, mostly downtown, and tickets are free. The Edmonton's Queer Night Life tour on Aug. 9 will tell the story of places like Flashback, which opened in 1975 and was a hub for the LGBTQ2S+ community and allies. The Edmonton Queer History Project also runs an online map of notable locations and produces a podcast called From Here to Queer about the people, places, and moments that defined the city's queer history.
• Researchers from the University of Alberta Institute of Prairie and Indigenous Archaeology recently found evidence of 88 suspected unmarked graves near St. Bruno's Indian Residential School in the northern Alberta community of Joussard. More than 1,100 community members gathered on June 24 to honour those suspected to be buried in the unmarked graves with a blanket ceremony. The researchers used ground-penetrating radar to locate the graves, but anthropology professor Talisha Chaput cautioned that further methods must be used to confirm their presence.
• An excavator stuck in an overpass at Anthony Henday Drive and Whitemud Drive in southeast Edmonton is set to be removed June 30. The machinery has been lodged in the bridge since a semi-trailer carrying it struck the overpass on June 16. The province said shoring towers will be installed as the excavator is removed. The overpass is expected to need extensive repairs but a timeline and costs haven't been determined.
• TV news anchor Carmen Leibel has left CTV Edmonton after a 16-year career with the channel. CTV Edmonton reports that Leibel has "decided to spend more time with her family and grow her new business." Meanwhile, Jesse Beyer, chief meteorologist at Global Edmonton, announced he is leaving the role to take up a separate position at Corus Entertainment in sales and revenue. Edmonton Journal reporter Anna Junker announced in a Twitter post that she has accepted a job outside of journalism and that June 29 was her last day at the newspaper.
• The Edmonton Oilers made three selections as part of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and have traded forwards Kailer Yamamoto and Klim Kostin to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for future considerations. The Oilers picked up defenceman Beau Akey, goalie Nathaniel Day, and centre Matt Copponi.
• UCP Finance Minister Nate Horner announced that the province recorded an $11.6-billion surplus driven by high oil and gas revenues in the 2022 fiscal year, which ended in March. With oil prices falling, however, the government may need to lower its expectations about oil revenues in 2023, though Horner said the government is optimistic about projections for later this year. The UCP's 2023-24 provincial budget, which was released before the election, is spending-heavy and forecasts a surplus of $2.4 billion. In response to the fiscal update, NDP finance critic Samir Kayande said Premier Danielle Smith's "expensive and dishonest election promises are about to collide with the reality of weakening oil prices."
• The Alberta NDP announced its shadow cabinet and leadership team. All 38 members of the caucus will have a critic portfolio, committee role, or leadership position, and the portfolios of finance, energy, health, and municipal affairs will have multiple critics each. "We will not only be the largest official opposition in Alberta history, but also the most effective," said NDP Leader Rachel Notley, indicating that the caucus will focus on health care, improving public education, and advancing action on affordability.

A New Zealand-based agriscience consultancy has chosen Edmonton as the home for its Canadian operations.

AbacusBio found Edmonton attractive because of the talent emerging from its post-secondary institutions, the province's economic focus on agri-food, and AbacusBio Canada leader John Crowley's connections in the region.

"It's also to capitalize on some of the R&D that's coming out of Edmonton and Alberta," Crowley told Taproot at a June 29 announcement at Edmonton Global. "We are an international organization. We do consult other countries, so it's good to capitalize on what's coming out of the local economy here, and the local R&D, and take that internationally."

AbacusBio bridges science and business, largely with regard to livestock and crops. The company offers value-chain consulting and genetic improvement programs, as well as other consulting services related to agribusiness.

"AbacusBio is a highly respected agriscience and technology firm with over 20 years of experience," said Stanford Blade, an Edmonton Global board member and the dean of the Faculty of Agricultural, Life, and Environmental Sciences at the University of Alberta. "They deliver world-class innovative solutions across agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and agriculture, utilizing expertise in genetics, analytics, and strategic planning. And they partner with universities around the world to drive innovation in this sector."

Agriculture is seen as key to economic development for both Edmonton Global and Invest Alberta, both of which had representatives at the announcement.

"Agriculture is probably that next big challenge for Canada. We are net producers of food for the world, but we're not net producers of value-added food for the world. It is probably the greatest potential in terms of any sector in this country," said Edmonton Global CEO Malcolm Bruce. "Companies like AbacusBio recognize the opportunities that bring sort of the next level of agriculture."

Spruce Grove-Stony Plain MLA Searle Turton, who serves in Premier Danielle Smith's cabinet, agreed.

"We are thrilled you've chosen our province as your home base," he said. "We see your company playing a key role in amplifying Alberta's worldwide reputation for high-quality agricultural and forest products."

Crowley, an animal geneticist who spent time as a research associate at the U of A, is AbacusBio Canada's sole team member so far. The company, which is still building its client base and looking for office space, plans to hire four people by the fall. Crowley cited ongoing relationships with the U of A, Alberta Innovates, and Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) as paths to potential future partners.

Photo: John Crowley addressed a news conference launching AbacusBio Canada in Edmonton on June 29, 2023, while AbacusBio managing director Peter Amer looked on.(Colin Gallant)

There are plenty of opportunities to celebrate Canada Day on July 1. Other events this weekend include a family-friendly night market, the opening of an Indigenous art exhibit, an experimental dance project, lots of jazz, a chance to cheer on a local firefighter, and a historic tour.

• June 30, 6:30pm: Alberta Avenue Night Market at the Alberta Avenue Community League
• June 30: Opening day for Portage College Native Arts & Culture Program: Legacy of Graduates at the Alberta Craft Council
• June 30-July 1: Black Rainbow: electricity, alchemy and the history of our whole unruly selves from KO Dance Projects
• July 1, 11:30pm: JazzFest Jams at the Chateau Lacombe
• July 2, 12pm: Jazz in the Park at Victoria Park
• July 2, 5:30pm: Tough as Nails Season 5 Watch Party at Manchester Square Edmonton
• July 3, 7pm: Why Build It Here? Choosing the Site of Fort Edmonton with historian Tim Marriott

Find even more things to do in the Arts Roundup and the Food Roundup.

Photo: The Sangea Academy will host a drumming workshop at the season opener of the Alberta Avenue Night Market. (Sangea Academy/Facebook)