The Pulse: May 13, 2024

This week, council will consider creating a permanent clean energy retrofit program, review the Edmonton Police Service's annual report, and decide if it will establish a pedestrian-friendly entertainment district downtown.

There is a public hearing scheduled for May 13 and a city council meeting scheduled for May 14 with a continuation on May 15.

Here are key items on the agenda:

• Council is set to vote on turning part of Rice Howard Way into a downtown entertainment district on Saturdays starting June 1. Council's community and public services committee recommended giving the bylaw three readings at a meeting in April.
• Edmonton residents who responded to a survey felt about as safe in their community after dark in 2023 as they did in 2022, according to the Edmonton Police Service's 2023 annual report. The overall crime rate decreased in 2023, but there were more violent crimes, leading to a rise in the crime severity index. There was a 13% decrease in occurrences of social disorder, which includes mischief, noise complaints, and public disturbances. The report attributes part of this decline to more visible police presence in areas that typically see a lot of social disorder. City council is scheduled to look at the annual report at a meeting on May 14.
• Council could create a permanent Clean Energy Improvement Program during a vote at a public hearing on May 13. Under the proposed program, property owners could borrow from the city to add energy-efficient upgrades on their homes and repay the loans through their property taxes. Previous pilots of this program have been popular, with money budgeted often running out ahead of schedule. If council approves the bylaw to create the program, applicants could receive loans of up to $50,000 for residential projects and up to $1 million for commercial projects.

• Mayor Amarjeet Sohi announced a new task force aimed at addressing housing and homelessness in Edmonton during his state of the city address at the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce on May 10. The 16-member group will focus on implementing solutions to homelessness and reducing barriers to increase the development of non-market, supportive, and affordable housing. The task force was formed after city council passed a motion in January declaring a housing and homelessness emergency in Edmonton. "We've been doing the same thing over and over again, and wondering why things aren't changing. It's time to do something different to disrupt and plan for long-term," said task force member Margo Long of Youth Empowerment and Support Services.
• Leaders from NorQuest College and MacEwan University are advocating for the creation of an education district in downtown Edmonton to accommodate expected student population growth of 30 to 50% by 2030. An education district could enhance the area with additional amenities and services, responding to the needs of the 30,000 people these institutions bring downtown each weekday. Last week, MacEwan University broke ground on a new business school building that will support 7,500 additional students once completed in 2027.
• The City of Edmonton activated its extreme weather response because of wildfire smoke caused by fires in northern Alberta and B.C. The air quality health index in Edmonton hit a high-risk level of 10+ for two consecutive days, prompting the city to open public facilities for those needing shelter from the smoke. Residents are advised to keep windows and doors closed and check on vulnerable people. The response is scheduled to last until May 14 at 9am but could be extended if necessary. Air quality was deteriorating across Alberta because of smoke caused by 50 active wildfires, including two major fires near Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie. Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued 321 air quality alerts across the province.
• University of Alberta President Bill Flanagan defended the decision to call in the Edmonton Police Service to dismantle a pro-Palestine encampment on campus early in the morning on May 11. Flanagan cited "serious and potentially life-threatening risks" due to items found at the site, such as hammers and axes. Demonstrators, including the Edmonton chapter of Independent Jewish Voices, said the items were for setting up tents and banners, and accused the university of exaggerating safety concerns to justify their removal. Protestors set up the encampment to call on the university to sever financial ties to Israel. Videos from the scene showed police in riot gear clearing the site, at times using batons. Three men were arrested, and protestors said four people were injured.
• Legal experts say the removal of pro-Palestine encampments at the University of Alberta and University of Calgary may have violated the protestors' Charter rights. A spokesperson for the Edmonton Police Service confirmed the use of "special munitions" during the removal. The Alberta NDP issued a statement calling the police response "disproportionate to student actions" and an "erosion of Alberta students' rights."
• The Edmonton Valley Zoo is hosting "Wildlife Rescue: Second Chance at Survival," an exhibit featuring 12 sculptures that depict species successfully reintroduced into the wild. The exhibit, created by Little Ray's Exhibitions and American sculptor Benji Paysnoe, includes climbable sculptures and highlights species like the northern leopard frog. It's open daily until Sept. 15 and is accessible with regular admission or an annual membership. Reservations can also be made online.
• Edmonton-born actor Nathan Fillion posted an Instagram video showing him at the newly dubbed "Nathan Fillion Civilian Pavilion" on Whyte Avenue and 103 Street, installed by the Old Strathcona Business Association and named by nearby business Vivid Print. "Nice moves, Edmonton. Nice moves," Fillion wrote in the video's caption.
• A 160-acre property near Edmonton has been donated to the Nature Conservancy of Canada to support wildlife conservation by providing a habitat for migratory birds and other species such as black bears, moose, and reptiles. The land, now known as the Wilson Nature Preserve, was donated in memory of Thomas S. and Mary Wilson, who had a long-standing appreciation for the environment.
• Former Edmonton Oilers player Zack Kassian was back in Edmonton to support his old team as they took on the Vancouver Canucks in Game 3 of the second-round playoffs series. Kassian, who played for the Oilers from 2015 to 2022 and became a fan favourite, signed autographs at ICE District on May 12 before the game.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Community Connections Awards starting at 12pm at Edmonton City Hall
• Edmonton Food Bank Dinner Gala starting at 6pm at Continental Treat Fine Bistro (Downtown)
• NorthwestFest: Singing Back the Buffalo starting at 6:45pm at Metro Cinema
• United Dance Showcase starting at 7pm at MacEwan University

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• May 21: Don't let the pink slime get you: AI's role in a healthy media ecosystem at Work Nicer (Beaver House)
• May 30: Speaking Municipally Live: Untangling the housing knot at the Foundry Room
• June 4: Alberta Women Entrepreneurs Awards Celebration at the Edmonton EXPO Centre

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