The Pulse: May 21, 2024

This week, council committees will discuss an updated plan to end homelessness, recommendations from the city's naming committee, and a growing budget shortfall for the Ride Transit program.

There is a community and public services committee meeting scheduled on May 21 and an urban planning committee meeting scheduled on May 22. There is a special city council meeting scheduled on May 22 and an executive committee meeting scheduled on May 23.

Here are key items on the agenda:

• The draft of the City of Edmonton's updated plan to end homelessness recommends shifting away from an emergency mindset and toward a proactive planning approach. The draft is scheduled to be presented at a community and public services committee meeting on May 21. People who have experienced homelessness engaged with the city to inform the plan. Many said the social service system is complex and lacks a common language, making it hard to access support. Survey participants said they felt apathetic towards the system, as it felt like they were being ranked for eligibility for services. The plan recommends that Homeward Trust convene a sector leadership table to align interests among the homeless-serving sector and the health, recovery, and justice systems. The plan also recommends finding new ways to measure success, as current reporting mechanisms can lack nuance. Coun. Tim Cartmell told Taproot in April that he wanted social services to be able to prove value so taxpayers can see their dollars are making a difference. The finalized plan to end homelessness is scheduled to be presented at a community and public services committee meeting on June 17.
• Administration supports a recommendation from the naming committee to develop a new culturally sensitive renaming policy and review the name of every municipal asset in the city for accuracy and appropriateness. There is currently no funding available for the latter recommendation, and administration will determine the scope and budget needed for the project once it completes a dataset of all names in the city, which is another of the committee's recommendations. Council's urban planning committee is set to discuss a report with updates on the progress of the naming committee's recommendations at a meeting on May 22.
• The funding shortfall for the Ride Transit program budget is expected to nearly double in 2024 compared to 2023 as demand for the program grows. The program allows transit riders who earn a low income, receive AISH, are refugees, or meet other criteria to purchase a $35 or $50 monthly transit pass. Council originally approved a subsidy of $7.8 million for the program. In 2023, there was a program funding shortfall of $5.3 million, and the shortfall is expected to be $10 million in 2024. To address the gap, administration said council could change the criteria so fewer transit users are eligible, or further increase the price of the subsidized pass. There is already a planned increase of $1 per month scheduled for February 2025.

• The Edmonton Police Service held a press conference to explain its response to the May 11 dismantling of a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Alberta that came under scrutiny. Police said that demonstrators were repeatedly warned they were trespassing and were not cooperative when members of the police public safety unit arrived. Police also released additional footage of the confrontation. In a statement, the university said that safety "was at the forefront in the difficult decision" to call in the police, while a spokesperson for the group that organized the encampment said it was peaceful until officers arrived. "At no point were we a threat to any members of the U of A community," said organizer Nour Salhi.
• The wildfire near Fort McMurray that led to the evacuation of 6,600 people has been contained at 19,451 hectares, Alberta Wildfire said over the weekend. With the evacuation order lifted, the City of Edmonton closed its Emergency Operations Centre at Clareview Recreation Centre over the weekend, which supported 1,845 evacuees for five days. Residents from evacuated neighbourhoods have returned home, but officials say the wildfire will continue to burn for months, with smoke potentially visible during the summer. Firefighting crews are now focusing on extinguishing hot spots and extending containment lines.
• The 43rd annual Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival will happen from Aug. 15-25 under the theme "Find your Fringe," featuring 216 productions and more than 1,600 artists. The festival provided an update on its Sustain Fringe fundraiser, which has raised $100,000 and secured more than 290 monthly donors, with a goal of raising $300,000 by the end of the festival.
• Alberta recorded 1,867 opioid-related deaths in 2023, surpassing the previous high of 1,639 from 2021, according to the latest provincial data. Petra Schulz of Moms Stop the Harm called the numbers a "catastrophic policy failure" from the provincial government, which has focused on a recovery-oriented approach to opioid addiction. A spokesperson for the province said the numbers are concerning, but that it is "cautiously optimistic" about a decrease recorded in the first two months of 2024, when 237 Albertans died of opioid-related poisonings.
• The Edmonton Oilers eliminated the Vancouver Canucks from the NHL playoffs with a 3-2 victory in Game 7 of their second-round series. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a goal and an assist, while Zach Hyman scored his NHL-leading 11th playoff goal. Leon Draisaitl extended his point streak to 12 games, and Stuart Skinner made 15 saves for Edmonton. The Oilers will now advance to the Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars, beginning in Dallas on May 23.
• A new permanent exhibit called The Journey of the Horse has opened at the Mah Society of Edmonton, showcasing more than a century of Chinese-Canadian history and the challenges faced by early Chinese immigrants. Created by Sue Mah and Andrea Maru, the exhibit highlights the discrimination, economic struggles, and eventual successes of these immigrants, highlighting their contributions to Canadian society.
• Edmonton's vintage streetcars have resumed operations for the season. Members of the Edmonton Radial Railway Society appeared on Global News to discuss plans for the season, including the introduction of two newly restored streetcars from Saskatchewan. The society is also partnering with The Common to host events on the High Level Bridge streetcar.
• Alberta's construction sector is facing a shortage of skilled labour, with a projected shortfall of 22,000 workers by 2033. While government initiatives like increased funding for apprenticeship programs and the Alberta is Calling campaign aim to attract workers, industry leaders stress that these efforts won't immediately solve the workforce gap, especially with population growth in the province putting pressure on infrastructure. "It's literally the No. 1 issue on everyone's mind," said Mike Martens of the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association Alberta.

Following city council's decision to designate Rice Howard Way as a downtown entertainment district, news about two other districts in downtown Edmonton caught the attention of Episode 264 of Speaking Municipally.

Co-host Mack Male noticed that MacEwan University and NorQuest College are advocating for an education district.

"They're both expecting student-population growth of 30% to 50% by 2030," Male said. "Post-secondary institutions are critical for downtown, and for the success of businesses and vibrancy downtown. We really should be investing in making downtown a welcoming place for students."

Meanwhile, a consortium of arts institutions around Churchill Square launched new branding for the Arts District.

The Art Gallery of Alberta, the Citadel Theatre (whose lease is up soon), and the Winspear Centre got a Downtown Vibrancy grant to work with Berlin Communications and ZGM Modern Marketing Partners on the project. Male said the effort has the potential to increase downtown's appeal.

"I could get behind funding some branding to try to make something feel a little bit more cohesive," he said. "There's a lot of really great arts organizations and facilities and things around downtown. I kind of like this idea, actually, of refreshing the branding and telling the story of the arts district, and trying to make it a little bit more of a destination for people."

Co-host Pavlek (an admitted southsider) quipped that the University of Alberta's main campus dwarfs MacEwan and NorQuest's geographical footprint, making it something of a de facto district for education. Similarly, the arts district designation may be more appropriate for Old Strathcona, which hosts the bulk of the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival in addition to year-round theatre and artistic happenings. "There is some competition," he pointed out.

Council unanimously passed its bylaw for Rice Howard Way to allow open liquor consumption from local vendors on May 14. The new rules will be in place every Saturday from June to September from 11am to midnight, with the option to happen at other times, too.

Hear more on districts, including Male's long-standing proposal for another, on the May 17 episode of Taproot's civic affairs podcast. It also includes commentary on Mayor Amarjeet Sohi's State of the City address, police accountability after the clearing of a pro-Palestine protest, and a decision to sell naming rights on recreation centres, among other topics.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Day 1 of Upper Bound at the Edmonton Convention Centre
• Equitable Employment Leadership Summit starting at 9am at the Northeast River Valley Park
• Accessing Global Talent starting at 12pm online
• Fab Lab Workshop starting at 1pm at the Edmonton Public Library (Stanley A. Milner)
• Spotlight on Arts Audiences Wave #2 starting at 3pm at the Fringe Theatre Arts Barns
• Sipstainability: Air Quality Edition starting at 6pm at Longroof Brewing Co.
• Human-Centered Solutions for Innovative Ventures starting at 6:30pm at Edmonton Unlimited
• Don't let the pink slime get you: AI's role in a healthy media ecosystem starting at 6:30pm at Work Nicer (Beaver House)
• Craft & Chat — Exploration starting at 7pm at the Edmonton Public Library (Castle Downs)
• Book Clubs of EPL: The Remains of the Day starting at 7pm at the Edmonton Public Library (Woodcroft)
• Jann Arden and Rick Mercer: The Will They or Won't They Tour starting at 8pm at the Jubilee Auditorium

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• June 4: Alberta Women Entrepreneurs Awards Celebration at the Edmonton EXPO Centre
• June 9: Food Tour Experience at Bountiful Market
• June 16: kihêw waciston Presents: Aysanabee

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