The Pulse: Nov. 14, 2023

The opening of the Valley Line Southeast LRT has the potential to improve transit elsewhere in the city, the Edmonton Transit Service's director suggested during a trip on the train with a crew from Speaking Municipally.

Branch manager Carrie Hotton-MacDonald explained the buses that ran as a "precursor" to the Valley Line will stop running in February as riders transition from bus to train. Meanwhile, ETS needs about 260,000 additional annual service hours to reach its service standards. Hotton-MacDonald said she hopes the precursor buses can be deployed in areas of the city where transit is less robust.

"There's quite a big gap, and this would actually provide us with about 70,000 hours that can go against the 260,000," Hotton-MacDonald said. "It's a really easy way to add the service because we already have the operators, we already have the buses, there's no capital (funding) attached to this request."

Those redistributed hours could go towards improving frequency or to "graduate" newer communities from on-demand transit, she said.

"Wait times have been high for on-demand service, driving all of us crazy. It'll help us reduce wait times, and we can graduate communities to conventional service," Hotton-MacDonald said. "We could look at adding more neighbourhoods — we still have some neighbourhoods not connected to the network at all."

Even though the city is hurting for cash and staring down a forecast 7.09% tax increase, transit is a priority for city council, said Coun. Ashley Salvador, who took part in the mobile podcast interview with Hotton-MacDonald, Coun. Anne Stevenson, and train enthusiast Mike Kunicki.

"Public transit has been chronically underinvested in in our city for decades. This is not something that has just happened in the last few years, it has been building for a very long time," Salvador said. "A significant portion of (the tax) increase does come from the police salary settlement, and of course, public safety is a primary concern, but I think we need to look at that holistic picture of what makes a city a great place to live, work, and play, and transit is a big part of that."

For much more from the train ride, including future hopes for LRT extensions, the status of transit-oriented development, and the way engineers ensured the Valley Line trains wouldn't disturb shows in the arts district, listen to the Nov. 10 episode, where you'll also hear from Tim Querengesser, Taproot's new managing editor.

• Christ the King Catholic Elementary/Junior High School in northeast Edmonton, which has a capacity of 949, is "bursting at the seams" and considering transferring some of its student population. The school has 1,221 students as of September 2023, and is projected to reach 1,450 by 2026. The Edmonton Catholic School Division could move Grade 9 students to St. Cecilia School and Kindergarten students to Anne Fitzgerald School as a temporary measure. The school district says the only long-term solution is constructing a new K-9 Catholic school in Crystallina Nera East, which it says is "desperately needed."
• A memorial filled with condolence messages is growing in a south Edmonton parking lot where an 11-year-old boy and his father, Harpreet Singh Uppal, were killed in a targeted shooting last week. Mourners have left tributes at the scene on Ellerslie Road and 50 Street, including a basketball and an oversized jersey, and expressed shock at the violence in the "peaceful" neighbourhood. The Edmonton Police Service released images and video of suspects and a vehicle connected to the shooting, which also involved a second 11-year-old boy who escaped unharmed. Police say the case is linked to organized crime, and that Uppal and his family were targeted in a previous shooting in 2021.
• The Edmonton Oilers have fired head coach Jay Woodcroft and assistant coach Dave Manson as the team has a challenging start to its season, with just four wins in 14 games. The team announced on Nov. 12 that Kris Knoblauch, previously with the Hartford Wolf Pack, will take over as head coach, and former Oilers defenceman Paul Coffey will be assistant coach. Oilers captain Connor McDavid expressed his surprise at the change, telling reporters on Nov. 13 he "didn't see it coming," and that Woodcroft "never lost the room" despite the team's poor performance. Knoblauch's first game as head coach was Nov. 13 as the Oilers beat the New York Islanders 4-1 at Rogers Place.
• Edmonton Fire Rescue Services responded to 54 fireworks complaints and 22 fires, including a large grass fire in Ellerslie, on Nov. 12 amid dry conditions. While Diwali celebrations were held the same evening, firefighters did not confirm if any of the festivities contributed to the fires. However, Coun. Keren Tang reminded residents to safely celebrate the holiday, which often includes fireworks displays. "What became clear throughout the night was that there were a lot of fireworks set off on residential properties, in locations without a permit," she said.
• Edmonton ski resorts Snow Valley Ski Club and Rabbit Hill Snow Resort are facing challenges due to unseasonably warm temperatures hindering their snowmaking operations. Rabbit Hill general manager Derek Look said the resort needs temperatures to drop to -5°C consistently to successfully make snow. "We don't want to wait until January before we can open," he said. The mild and dry conditions are expected to continue, according to Environment Canada meteorologist Justin Shelley.
• Edmonton's Holiday Hamper program is asking for supporters to adopt a family in need and provide groceries for a healthy meal. The organization has had about 600 people sign up to be a holiday hamper elf so far this year, which is about halfway to its goal, said board member Chris Curtola. Families in need can also register online to receive a hamper.
• Ten-year-old Zeher Assaf completed a 40-kilometre run over eight days to raise more than $16,000 for Islamic Relief Canada to support children affected by the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. Zeher's mother, Giselle Jomha, said she was proud of her daughter's determination as dozens of community members gathered to witness the end of the run on the final day. "I was excited to see them all there supporting me," said Zeher, who is continuing to seek donations towards her $20,000 goal.
• The provincial government has yet to decide if it will extend a freeze on new photo radar locations when it expires on Dec. 1. The province introduced the freeze in 2019 to give municipalities across Alberta time to implement a provincial automated traffic enforcement guideline. Edmonton Coun. Jo-Anne Wright says she has heard from constituents who are concerned about speeding on city streets. She noted that even if the freeze is lifted, the provincial guideline prohibits automated enforcement on streets with a speed limit lower than 50/km per hour, which is the majority of the city's residential roads. "I'm looking more from the safety aspect," she said.
• One of the highlights of this year's Farmfair International at Edmonton EXPO Centre was Larkin, the Blonde d'Aquitaine calf that escaped his trailer and led emergency officials and his owners on a chase through city streets last week. "He got spooked when he heard noises he wasn't used to," said event director Leah Jones. The bovine was eventually corralled and returned to the farm. The event, in its 49th year, featured 1,500 cows and 250 exhibitors from Nov. 8-11.

Opportunities this week include a celebration of rehabilitation journeys, a whiskey tasting, a fundraiser for the Nina Haggerty Centre, the finale of Startup TNT's latest investment summit, and a chance to engage with city-building.

• Nov. 14, 2pm: Courage Awards, presented by the Glenrose Hospital Foundation at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital and online
• Nov. 15, 7pm: Bernard Walsh Irish Whiskey Classroom Tasting at Wine and Beyond
• Nov. 16, 5pm: Here's Nina 2023 at the Edmonton Expo Centre
• Nov. 16, 5pm: Investment Summit VIII: Summit Finale, presented by Startup TNT at Amii and online
• Nov. 16, 7pm: District Planning Engagement Session, presented online by the City of Edmonton

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

Photo: The finale of Startup TNT's Investment Summit VIII will see 20 startups from across the prairies pitch to angel investors. (Startup TNT)