The Pulse
Jan. 18, 2024

Enduring Edmonton theatre company Teatro Live! has leveraged community support to help repay its Canadian Emergency Business Account loan, due Jan. 18. Doing so means Teatro will see $20,000 of its $60,000 loan forgiven, with the remaining $40,000 to be subsidized by something called The Teatro 400.

The 400 concept isn't a run-of-the-mill fundraiser. It seeks 400 donations of $100 each that net donors tax receipts and membership in a club of patronage. Contributors will be invited to a thank-you party later this year.

Conceptual as that may sound, it came to the organization's leader organically. "Not a lot (of thought went into it)," Stewart Lemoine, founder and resident playwright for Teatro Live!, told Taproot.

Lemoine said taking a loan to repay Teatro's $60,000 loan and receive $20,000 in debt forgiveness was a less-than-ideal option due to costs. "At the beginning of December we had sort of talked about strategies… I think I just said in a meeting, 'You know, all we need is 400 $100 donations.'"

The campaign raised $10,000 in its first day. As of Jan. 17, it hovered around $23,500 out of its $40,000 goal. Lemoine said he'd be surprised if the campaign raised $40,000 in time for the CEBA deadline. But he has a back-up plan.

"There is a fund in town called the Social Enterprise Fund, and they're great," Lemoine said. "They specialize in working with non-profits and are quite flexible in their terms. They're not as ironclad as the bank, and certainly offer a lower interest rate."

Taproot reached out to the Social Enterprise Fund, established by the Edmonton Community Foundation and the City of Edmonton in 2008, to ask if other non-profits have sought loans for pandemic relief as the CEBA deadline approaches. A representative said they couldn't comment.

For-profit businesses struggling to repay pandemic loans are currently in the news. But a theatre non-profit is a different beast. The arts are not highly profitable and rely on grants and donors as a result. During pandemic restrictions, many theatres were unable to operate even when restaurants and retailers could. Still, Lemoine is optimistic about Teatro's position in the pandemic loan mix.

"I just think we have a leg up just because we do have a charitable number and can issue tax receipts," Lemoine said. "It's been encouraging for a number of reasons — not just because we're eradicating the debt — but just so many lovely comments from people as they make their donations, sort of indicating the value of what we do, and their desire to see it keep going."

• The province announced the opening of a temporary support centre at the Hope Mission's Karis Centre downtown to take in displaced encampment residents. Chief Dale McFee said the Edmonton Police Service is taking a zero-tolerance approach toward encampments and removing them at an "accelerated pace," which he said is the "first of many steps to re-routing the vulnerable toward longterm care and wraparound solutions." An Edmonton Transit Service bus will be on site during encampment removals for residents who want to be shuttled to the new centre, where they can store belongings while accessing housing support, health care, and addictions and mental health services. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi welcomed the new centre, but added encampments are a "symptom of underinvestment in the social sector." The centre is the work of the Edmonton Public Safety Cabinet Committee, which was formed in November. The province also published a new webpage with its own count of available shelter spaces in Edmonton, Calgary, and the rest of Alberta.
• The Coalition for Justice and Human Rights issued a statement in response to the Court of King's Bench decision to dismiss its legal action against the City of Edmonton. The group says it is "disappointed" that the decision was made on the basis that the coalition lacks the public interest standing to represent homeless Edmontonians, pointing to the "mobilization of allies, neighbours, organizations, and community members" in recent months. In his decision, Justice Jonathan Martin said the coalition bears none of the "hallmarks of a party with a real stake or genuine interest in the outcome." Postmedia reported the court's decision was also influenced by an affidavit from Homeward Trust CEO Susan McGee, who said granting the injunction would normalize encampments and erode "focused and adaptive efforts to manage community impacts and safety."
• The REALTORS® Association of Edmonton released its annual housing forecast, which predicts stability and growth in Edmonton's housing market in 2024. The association forecasts a 1.2% increase in the average home price, a 4.6% increase in the number of listings, and a 2.8% overall increase in sales. RE/MAX Canada's 2024 Housing Market Outlook, released in December, predicted Edmonton's market is likely to continue cooling this year but has an advantage over other Canadian markets due to its affordability and appeal to out-of-province buyers.
• Rising temperatures in Edmonton can increase the risk of burst pipes and flooding, causing issues after cold weather impacted pipe systems in recent days. Global News spoke to plumber Tom Flesher, who advised homeowners to know where their main water shutoff valve is. If water stops coming from a fixture, Flesher says to minimize damage by turning off the main water valve and opening your faucets to let water drain from the pipes.
• The Alberta SPCA saw a spike in animal welfare calls during the recent cold snap. The organization said 70 new files of animals in distress were called in over five days. The cold worsened existing pressures on the animal welfare system and was dangerous for livestock, as drought had already impacted feed supply for some producers, an SPCA spokesperson said.
• ICE District is opening three more outdoor skating rinks in the Fan Park next to Rogers Place, which will be open weekends from Jan. 20 to Feb. 11. The area already has one outdoor rink, open daily from 10am to 10pm, located next to the plaza by the south entrance to Rogers Place.
• The Edmonton Oilers will host their annual "Celebrating Pride" game on Jan. 18, when the team faces the Seattle Kraken at Rogers Place. This year's game will feature Pride colours throughout Rogers Place, use of Pride tape by the team during warmup, and mascots with Pride-themed attire. The NHL has banned Pride jerseys during warmups, but some Oilers have used Pride tape since the NHL reversed its ban on coloured tape to represent causes in October 2023.
• The Edmonton Stingers have signed Jordan Baker as the full-time Head Coach and General Manager. He was the head coach last season and will start his dual-role position later this winter.

Here are opportunities to help shape civic initiatives, including a public satisfaction survey in Strathcona County and renewal projects in Edmonton's Meyonohk, La Perle, and Belmead neighbourhoods.

• Meyonohk Neighbourhood Renewal — The city has selected Meyonohk, a community in Mill Woods, for neighbourhood and alley renewal, with construction expected to start in 2026. The planning and design phase is now underway. A drop-in engagement event will take place from 5:30-8pm on Jan. 18 at Meyonohk School. Residents can provide input through an online survey until Jan. 31.
• La Perle and Belmead Neighbourhood Renewal — The city is also planning to renew two adjacent neighbourhoods in west Edmonton, with construction set to begin 2026. The project team is hosting drop-in engagement events at the Belmead Community League on Jan. 25 and the La Perle Community League on Jan. 27. An online engagement event is happening Jan. 23, and an online survey is open until Feb. 5.
• 2023 Public Satisfaction Survey (Strathcona County) — Residents of Strathcona County, including Sherwood Park, have a chance to share their thoughts on life and services in the county. Telephone surveys are ongoing, and an online survey is open until Feb. 14.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• How to start a business with no experience, no money, and no customers starting at 11:30am at NAIT
• eHUB Entrepreneurship Meetup: "Pitch Practice" starting at 5pm at HUB Mall
• Dog Rising | Clara Furey starting at 7pm at Mile Zero Dance

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Jan. 18-20: Chiseled — Edmonton's International Ice Carving Competition starting at 9am daily at the ICE District Plaza
• Jan. 20-21: Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Festival at the Alberta Avenue Community Centre
• Jan 23: Alberta's Economic Outlook: Current State and 2024 Projections starting at 1pm online
• Jan. 23: Spotlight on Arts Audiences Edmonton starting at 3pm at The Citadel Theatre
• Jan. 24: Get a Grip on Your Business This Year starting at 3pm at the ATB Entrepreneur Centre

Visit the beta version of the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.