The Pulse: Sept. 25, 2023

The ongoing strikes by the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists might slow the flow of American productions coming to the region, though they also present opportunities for local creatives.

"I think we are quieter than we would be," Tom Viinikka, CEO of the Edmonton Screen Industries Office, told Taproot. "But it's not directly because of the Americans; it's indirectly because of the Americans."

Edmonton is "nascent" as a destination for American-based productions that are governed by the two striking unions, Viinikka said. Ordinarily, those productions keep markets like Toronto and Vancouver busy to the point that the cities have to turn some projects away. So, Canadian filmmakers may be less likely to consider Edmonton right now because there is an excess of capacity in these better-established markets. But these factors haven't led to a severe drop-off in Edmonton — yet.

"Most of the stuff in 2022 was Canadian," Viinikka said. "The types of producers that film here are still, for the most part, filming. It hasn't affected us as directly."

The last major U.S. project to come here was The Last of Us in 2021. Though Edmonton had no confirmed American productions locked in leading up to the strikes, the disruption has slowed progress on enticing future projects to come to the region.

"In the last two years, we've done a ton of work to try to attract American production … we're still in early-stage growth mode," Viinikka said. "There's a likelihood that it should have been going up and doesn't because of the strike, but that's impossible to quantify."

But there's a silver lining. Edmonton-region film workers currently have better access to high-calibre talent who would be otherwise occupied on U.S. productions.

"Our local productions — I've heard, anecdotally — are able to hire people that they otherwise would have never been able to get, because they are off these other shows. And that's been something they've seen as positive," Viinikka said.

Viinikka attended both the Tribeca Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival, where he had an Edmonton-made film to brag about. Hey Viktor! stars Edmonton's Cody Lightning, who also co-wrote and directed it, funded in part by the ESIO.

• A new report completed for the Edmonton Police Commission found that despite increased crime, Edmontonians' trust in police is improving. According to the survey of 1,727 Edmontonians conducted by research firm Advanis, 57% of Edmontonians said they were satisfied with the Edmonton Police Service and feel they're doing a good job, compared to 51% last year. "This improvement reverses some trends that we saw over the past couple of years," said Stephanie Gazzola, a manager with the police service. However, 65% of respondents believe that crime is increasing, compared with 47% last year, and about 66% of respondents said they didn't feel safe taking transit alone after dark.
• Edmonton International Airport is embarking on infrastructure upgrades to its departures road on level two next to the terminal. Beginning Sept. 26, the passenger pick-up and drop-off areas will be relocated east of the Easy Parkade, which is about a five-to-10-minute walk from the terminal. Heated shelters and a shuttle service will be available from November to April. The arrivals road on the lower level will only be open to commercial vehicles or passengers who need accessible access. The airport is encouraging travellers to arrive 15 minutes earlier than usual, and a timeline for the project's completion was not provided.
• The city unveiled Canada's first urban Indigenous ceremony site, called Kihcihkaw askî-Sacred Land, located in Whitemud Park. The grounds, a joint project between the city and the Indigenous Knowledge & Wisdom Centre, will provide a river valley setting for hosting ceremonies and other events. The $6.51-million project includes a circular area for sweat lodges, permanent fire enclosures, a pavilion with washrooms and locker rooms, and a storage building with an outdoor amphitheatre.
• Edmonton is set to have its first permanent public sweat lodge, with a groundbreaking ceremony held last week by Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society to mark the start of construction. The sweat lodge will provide an opportunity for Indigenous people to connect with their culture and spirituality, offering teachings alongside the ceremonies. While primarily intended for Indigenous use, anyone is welcome, said Lloyd Yellowbird, senior manager with Bent Arrow. Construction is expected to take about eight weeks.
• Law enforcement officers gathered outside the Alberta Legislature on Sept. 24 for a ceremony to honour peace and police officers killed in the line of duty. The ceremony was held as part of the National Peace Officers Memorial Day, marked annually on the last Sunday in September. This year, the names of three Alberta officers were added to the national list of fallen officers: Edmonton Police Service Constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan, who were shot and killed in March while responding to a call, and Strathcona County RCMP officer Harvinder Singh, who died a month later in a traffic accident while on duty.
• Civic Service Union 52 president Lanny Chudyk said there is a lack of accountability and oversight over the city's projected $73.8-million deficit, noting "significant problems" with how construction contracts are managed. The city said the projected year-end deficit is partly due to $43 million in salary settlements and back pay to Edmonton police officers. CSU52 members employed by the city haven't had a contract since 2020 and are fighting for a wage increase after five years of freezes. Joe Childs, labour relations director with the union, said the city is asking for a salary rollback. "We're saying the membership shouldn't have to subsidize the citizens of Edmonton by accepting a less than appropriate economic increase," Childs said.
• A city audit of the Valley Line Southeast LRT hasn't shed light on the reasons for the project's lengthy delays. Since the audit only focuses on project oversight, the city said it can't force TransEd, the consortium responsible for building and operating the line, to disclose details related to the delays. The project is behind by nearly three years and has been hit with a variety of setbacks, including a concrete mass in the riverbank, challenges caused by the pandemic, cracked concrete piers, and faulty signalling cables. TransEd said recently it expects the line will open this fall.
• Edmonton's resale real estate market is predicted to be one of the strongest in Canada this fall, according to the 2023 Fall Housing Market Outlook by Re/Max Canada. While sales are expected to decline by 10% compared to last year, the average price is expected to rise by 2% to about $418,000. The low inventory is the main factor impacting sales, but the demand for housing will remain, said John Carter, broker/owner with Re/Max River City.
• Edmonton's newest and largest river valley park, spanning 190 acres, officially opened on Sept. 24. The park, located at 903 153 Avenue NE, includes an event centre, playground, and ornamental lake. It's part of the city's Ribbon of Green plan, aimed at creating an interconnected river valley. The city will begin engagement on the park's long-term plans, including its name, starting this fall.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted Edmonton's connection to Ukraine during his speech to Parliament on Sept. 22. Zelenskyy said that a monument erected outside Edmonton City Hall was the first in the world to commemorate the victims of Holodomor. It was the Ukrainian president's first official visit to Canada since Russia began its war in 2022. Orysia Boychuk, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Alberta Provincial Council, described Zelenskyy's recognition of Edmonton's Ukrainian community as "an extraordinary event, a historic moment for us."

This week offers a get-together about Edmonton's zoning bylaw, a celebration of women in entrepreneurship, a breakfast about technology and aging (one of many Life Sciences Week events), a tour of post-secondary developments, and the return of Nerd Nite.

• Sept. 25, 7pm: Drinks for Density, presented by Grow Together Edmonton, Paths for People, and Climate Justice Edmonton at On Edge Brewing
• Sept. 26, 5:30pm: AWE Awards Celebration presented by Alberta Women Entrepreneurs at the Edmonton Expo Centre
• Sept. 28, 7am: Aging With Technology, presented by Health Cities at Edmonton Unlimited
• Sept. 28, 3pm: Back to School Field Trip with UDI-Edmonton Metro
• Sept. 28, 7:30pm: Nerd Nite Edmonton #75: What's the Tea? at the Fringe Theatre Arts Barns

Find even more things to do in Taproot's weekly roundups.

Photo: Sarah Melli of Vintage Fork will spill the tea at Nerd Nite, along with photographer Adrien Veczan and strategic planner Amanda Henry. (Vintage Fork/Instagram)