The Pulse
June 20, 2024

A security company owned by the Papaschase First Nation is using a drone soccer club to build STEM skills and generate interest in jobs as drone pilots in the security industry, as well as awareness about the nation itself.

"In one of the grant opportunities that we had with Papaschase First Nation, there was a capacity to bring in the drone soccer as part of a program to introduce it to the community in a youth environment," Mark Palka, manager for Papaschase Security Services, which trains and employs guards, told Taproot. "That's how this started getting some traction."

Three inaugural members, all minors, run the new club. The trio is working to establish the club's bylaws, raise funds, and recruit members before formalized play begins. Palka said the club is open to all youth, not just Papaschase members. The Papaschase First Nation hopes the club also builds awareness about the nation, Palka said.

The Papaschase First Nation is a nation of Indigenous people who were displaced by settlers in what is now part of southern Edmonton in the late 1800s. The nation has worked to be recognized and see land returned.

The drone soccer club launched on May 10 with an open house for the security company. On June 21, the club will make a public debut when its members offer two demonstrations of drone soccer as part of a National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration at the TELUS World of Science.

One of the reasons Palka wanted to launch the club was to create a career path for drone pilots, as it's a role with growing opportunities. That's something he does as the director of Project Safe Canada, a non-profit that offers drone training among other things.

Palka said when he helped establish Papaschase Security Services in 2018, workers expressed low interest in the security profession. But, he said, adding the challenge of piloting drones to the role spiked the excitement. "We trained about 1,400 security guards across Alberta and Saskatchewan, and we found out a lot of them were not working," he said. "They did not consider it to be meaningful employment. When we brought in electronics and security, and particularly when we mentioned drones, the needle kind of went off the charts."

But what is drone soccer? There are different sets of rules for the emerging sport in different jurisdictions, but essentially players fly drones carrying balls through a circular goal inside a mesh arena. Drones for the sport do not require a licence because their flight is contained within an arena, and one of the drones at the club's disposal is small enough to be flown outside the arena without a licence.

The club "starts with a game similar to Quidditch from Harry Potter, but from there, it moves to building drones and learning all aspects of an aircraft, including flight, lift," Palka said in an email. "We teach about (lithium polymer) batteries, how to use and store them, and students learn how to program and code the drones."

Palka recalled a mother who brought her two kids to the Papaschase Security Services office before the club launched. Without training, the children could fly the drones and even program them. These same youth have become the club's first two members and already have momentum, Palka said. "(The members are) taking the ball and running with it, and they have all kinds of ideas. They went and made some hoodies up and … they're looking at it as a business model as well."

• Edmonton Transit Service summer service changes take effect June 30. Several regular routes will be adjusted for typical summer ridership, school special routes will end until the fall, and several additional On Demand Transit hub options will be available.
• Edmonton city council's urban planning committee recommended pausing changes to the Residential Parking Program that were rolled out at the beginning of June. The changes eliminated 15 of 19 residential parking zones and introduced a new permit system. Residents in all 19 zones should continue displaying their 2022 and 2023 permits, or request a replacement permit if needed. Council will discuss the issue further on July 3.
• A pair of Edmonton Police Service officers who were convicted of assaulting a man outside his house party in October 2020 received discharges during a sentencing hearing this week. Det. Marc Chmilar received a conditional discharge, which, if completed, will leave him without a criminal record. Former officer Steven Minarchi, who resigned shortly after being charged in 2021, was given an absolute discharge, which comes with no conditions.
• Council's executive committee received a report showing the City of Edmonton's non-residential tax base is falling compared to the 12 other municipalities in the metropolitan region. In 2022, 78% of Edmonton's tax base came from residential properties and 22% from non-residential properties, compared to 60% and 40% across regional municipalities. Edmonton's share of the region's non-residential properties fell from 72% in 2008 to 60% in 2022. Administration has proposed focusing on the nine areas in the Industrial Investment Action Plan, including improving administrative processes and creating shovel-ready land.
• The Hope Mission and Herb Jamieson shelters are seeing an increase in assaults, with 443 reported since 2021 across both facilities, according to documents obtained by the Coalition for Justice and Human Rights. University of Alberta professor Damian Collins, who specializes in housing and homelessness, told Postmedia the statistics are lower than he would have expected given the increasing number of people using shelters.
• Edmonton Public School Board trustees voted 6-2 to update their policy on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. The changes are intended to promote inclusivity and align board policy with the Alberta Human Rights Act, and they will not affect the policy's purpose or school curriculum, said trustee Saadiq Sumar. Feedback collected from 1,137 members of the public found 68% believe the intent and purpose of the policy is clear, but some respondents expressed concerns about the changes, Postmedia reported.
• WestJet began cancelling flights across Canada after a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers issued a 72-hour strike notice earlier this week. As of the morning of June 19, the airline had announced 40 flight cancellations, including six departures and three arrivals at the Edmonton International Airport. The strike deadline is 7pm on June 20.
• The Nîkâniw Indigenous Youth Leadership Program, a cultural and pre-employment initiative focused on aquatics, is wrapping up this week, with 29 participants completing the program. The program has had more than 500 participants since the City of Edmonton and the Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society launched it more than 20 years ago.
• Edmonton Oilers fans are both optimistic and anxious about the team's chances of winning the Stanley Cup and becoming the first team to win a final series after a 3-0 deficit since 1942. The Oilers began demonstrating their resilience last November, when they held the last place in the NHL, rising to finish second in the Pacific Division, said head coach Kris Knoblauch. Sports writer Robert Tychkowski wrote about 10 reasons the Oilers have a "very realistic chance to pull off a miracle."
• Sports writer Jesse Campigotto published an article arguing that Connor McDavid should get the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL's most valuable player, "no matter what". The award generally goes to someone from the team that wins the Stanley Cup, but on five occasions has gone to a player from the losing team. McDavid has achieved records this postseason for points and assists.
• A three-day hearing focused on the 2021 actions of former Alberta justice minister Kaycee Madu concluded on June 19, with a Law Society of Alberta tribunal committee expected to decide whether to sanction Madu until a later date. Madu was cited last July for allegedly undermining respect for the administration of justice by calling Edmonton Police Service Chief Dale McFee after receiving a distracted driving ticket.
• Alberta recorded the fastest population growth in Canada in the first three months of 2024, Statistics Canada data shows. The province's population grew 1.02%, from 4,800,768 on Jan. 1 to 4,849,906 on April 1, compared to the national rate of 0.6%. Only Alberta, New Brunswick, and Yukon saw net-positive interprovincial migration rates.

Here are opportunities to help inform municipal planning for downtown transportation, updates to regulations in the river valley, rezonings, and more.

• Travelling on 102 Avenue between 99 Street and 102 Street (survey) — The City of Edmonton wants to hear about residents' experiences with walking, biking, rolling, or driving since the opening of the Valley Line Southeast LRT. The line's design is intended to accommodate any mode of transportation in any season. A survey is open until June 24.
• Ellerslie Rugby Club Site Rezoning — The City of Edmonton is considering rezoning the former Ellerslie Rugby Club site at 10950 Ellerslie Road SW to allow for various types of housing, commercial use, and a stormwater management facility. The site is currently an agriculture zone. Residents can ask a question or share their thoughts until June 23.
• River Valley Planning Modernization Project — The City of Edmonton is in Phase 4 of engagement for its renewal of plans and processes that affect the river valley, including regulations for development. Residents can attend an online workshop about the project on June 27 or attend pop-engagements at Hermitage Park and Terwillegar Park on June 22. An online survey is open until June 28.

More input opportunities

• Until June 23: Jan Reimer Park Restoration (City of Edmonton)
• Until June 23: Tipton Park Playground Renewal (City of Edmonton)
• Until June 23: Allin Park Playground Renewal (City of Edmonton)
• Until June 25: Vision Zero Street Labs in Beverly Heights — Explore (City of Edmonton)
• Until June 25: Vision Zero Street Labs in Britannia Youngstown — Explore (City of Edmonton)
• Until June 25: Vision Zero Street Labs in Delton — Explore (City of Edmonton)
• Until June 26: Auto Insurance Engagement (Government of Alberta)
• Until June 30: Jasper House Rezoning — 12021 Jasper Avenue NW (City of Edmonton)
• Until July 1: Bike Skills Park Feasibility Study (City of Fort Saskatchewan)
• Until July 2: Brand Strategy Survey (City of Spruce Grove)
• Until July 5: Edgemont Community Park — Planning and Design (City of Edmonton)
• Until July 15: Housing Strategy — Survey (City of Spruce Grove)
• Until Aug. 2: Transit Master Plan — Update and Survey (Strathcona County)
• Until Aug. 31: Business Census (City of Edmonton)

Photo: The City of Edmonton's River Valley Planning Modernization Project has been ongoing since 2021. It includes the Ribbon of Green and the North Saskatchewan River Valley Area Redevelopment Plan. Administration encourages residents to read draft plans before completing the survey, but it isn't necessary. (Mack Male/Flickr)

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Summer Solstice Celebration starting at 9:30am at Audreys Books
• National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration starting at 11:45am at 10222 102 Street NW
• Wellness Lunch and Learns: Working Smarter starting at 12:30pm online
• Make a Salve starting at 2:30pm at Strathcona County Library
• Developin' Brews starting at 4pm at The Mercury Block
• Mega Mixer starting at 5pm at The WorkUp
• National Indigenous Peoples Day in Fort Saskatchewan starting at 5pm at Legacy Park
• Alberta Business Awards of Distinction starting at 6pm at Renaissance Edmonton Airport Hotel
• Pita Perfect: Halifax Donair & Souvlaki Wraps starting at 6pm at Get Cooking
• An Evening with Jonathan Elkhoury starting at 7pm at the Edmonton Public Library (Stanley A. Milner)
• Servus Séries Patio: Jeff Hendrick and Band starting at 7pm at Café Bicyclette
• Indigenous History Month Community Screening by Local Heroes Film Festival starting at 7pm at The Aviary
• Strathcona County Awards of Excellence starting at 7pm at Festival Place
• Between Us: An Interactive Talk on Women's Health Through the Ages starting at 7pm online

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• June 26: Zin on the River at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald
• July 4-7: Found Festival
• July 12-14: Whyte Avenue Art Walk

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