The Pulse: July 23, 2024

JMT Korean Cuisine, a restaurant that faced around two months of delays as it moved from downtown to Whyte Avenue, kept its customers engaged throughout with videos that poked fun at its situation.

JMT, which evolved from a restaurant called Nourishak K-Eatery Cafe at 10335 100 Avenue NW, reopened on June 27 despite a target of April. The transition was more difficult and took far longer than co-founder Manseok Oh, who also goes by Owen, expected. (Oh spoke through translation by JMT's social media manager, Manuel Kong, who sometimes summarized Oh's remarks. Oh's quotes have been edited for clarity.)

"We were trying to figure out the blueprint for this place," Oh told Taproot. "We were talking to engineers, we were getting these plans, but obviously you have to go back and forth with the City (of Edmonton) to make sure it's confirmed. But in the middle of that process, the city (almost) went on strike. Because of that, it was hard to schedule another setup for further confirmations and things like that."

The extended delay was not the end of the restaurant's troubles, either. Customers complained about wait times when JMT reopened, Oh said. Its marketing may have been too effective for its fresh start.

"We've gotten a lot more people and a lot more attention than we expected," Kong added. "For that, we're very thankful, but also a little bit sorry … We've been having meetings about that almost every other day, about how we can satisfy these people and deal with all of this attention."

But not all has been bad for the JMT team. Throughout their delays, they used TikTok and Instagram to update and amuse their customers.

"Obviously, we were stressing the whole time," Kong said. "We really wanted to let (our customers) know what's going on, but also do it in a way where it's not too depressing."

The content is very Gen Z, making use of popular TikTok sounds, overlaid text, trendy meme formats, and even including a parody of the YEGWAVE microblogging brand. Clips include one that asks a JMT owner not to cry about the delays, another that jokes about playing hard to get with customers, and another that imagines what day 69 looks like for a customer waiting for JMT to reopen.

• The City of Edmonton is urging residents to properly dispose of lithium-ion batteries and electronic waste at Eco Stations or designated local retailers to prevent safety risks. As items like vape pens, tablets, power tools, and other rechargeable devices become more common, there has been an increase of e-waste and battery-related fires at City waste facilities. For safe storage before disposal, tape both ends of used batteries to prevent reactions.
• The City of Edmonton has extended its extreme weather response for poor air quality until July 24 due to ongoing high levels of air pollution caused by wildfires. N95 masks will be distributed at City facilities and through social agencies to help protect vulnerable people. Edmontonians are advised to stay informed on air quality conditions, reduce their exposure to smoke, and check on at-risk individuals.
• As a heat wave continues in Alberta, Edmonton is on track to break its record for consecutive days above 30°C, set in 1961. The hot, dry conditions are fuelling the risk of wildfire across the province. A wildfire threatening Jasper National Park and the Town of Jasper prompted a mandatory evacuation on July 22. People in the area are advised to head west on High 16 toward British Columbia. About 7,500 people in Alberta were under evacuation due to wildfire risk as of July 22, authorities said.
• Edmontonians are flocking to the annual KDays festival despite the hot weather and poor air quality. Organizers provided misting stations, shade, water refill stations, and indoor climate-controlled spaces at the Edmonton EXPO Centre to help attendees cope with the weather conditions. Some visitors told Postmedia they braved the heat in hopes of shorter lines for rides and attractions. This year, an Edmonton Transit Service exhibit at the festival is showcasing two historical buses, a modern articulated bus, and other transit artifacts. Edmontonians can use their Arc cards for free entry to the festival on July 23. KDays runs until July 28.
• Fort Edmonton Park has unveiled a new exhibit called "Regulating Morality," created by the Edmonton Queer History Project, highlighting the significant events and challenges in the city's 2SLGBTQ+ history. It will be on display in the Reed's Bazaar building until Sept. 15. The exhibit is part of broader efforts to tell more diverse stories, said Neil Cramer, Fort Edmonton Park's public interpretation coordinator.
• A 67-year-old Edmonton man is facing three charges of uttering threats in connection with online death threats against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, and New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh, RCMP said in a release. The man is scheduled to appear in an Edmonton court on July 25. In a separate case, a 23-year-old Calgary man was charged in connection with online death threats against Trudeau. He is set to appear in a Calgary court on July 23. RCMP said the environment for public figures in Canada is evolving and requires increased vigilance when it comes to security.
• Healthcare workers with Covenant Health rallied outside Edmonton's Misericordia Hospital on July 22 to protest low wages and challenging working conditions amid stalled contract negotiations. The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees is seeking a 35% wage increase over two years to keep up with inflation for the workers, while the provincial government has offered an increase of 7.5% over four years.
• The City of St. Albert has implemented mandatory water restrictions due to ongoing hot, dry weather, halting all non-essential municipal water activities. Residents are urged to conserve water by using rain barrels, reducing usage during peak times, and avoiding activities like washing vehicles and watering lawns.
• Kevin O'Connell, a longtime weather specialist at Global Edmonton, is set to retire at the end of July after 24 years. His final weather forecast will be on July 28 during Global News Morning, Corus Entertainment announced. The company said O'Connell has been a trusted source of weather updates and has actively supported various community organizations in Edmonton during his career.
• The WestJet Group, which consists of WestJet and Sunwing Airlines, announced its 2024/2025 winter schedule, featuring expanded service to 63 transborder and sun destinations, and a 32% increase in domestic capacity for Edmonton. As part of the schedule, WestJet will provide access to Delta Air Lines' hubs from Edmonton, connecting to more than 100 U.S. destinations.
• The Alberta government and federal government have renewed a ten-year agreement for the Canada Community-Building Fund, allocating more than $1.3 billion to Alberta in the first five years for critical infrastructure projects. The funding will support the construction, maintenance, and expansion of infrastructure, including roads, recreational facilities, and housing-related projects, a news release said.
• Premier Danielle Smith made good on her bet with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis after the Edmonton Oilers lost the Stanley Cup Final to the Florida Panthers. Smith sent two bottles of Canadian whisky to DeSantis as part of the friendly wager. DeSantis thanked Smith in a video message, where he displayed the whisky bottles.
• The Edmonton Oilers will have the fourth-heaviest travel schedule in the NHL for the upcoming season, with the team set to travel a total of 80,467.2 kilometres across North America.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• EmpowerHER — Speaker Series starting at 10am at the Edmonton Newcomer Centre
• Futurpreneur Info Session — Alberta Entrepreneurs starting at 12pm online
• Weekly Dev Chat starting at 12pm online
• Beverly Farmers Market starting at 3pm at Riverview Crossing Mall
• The Public Market in Ritchie starting at 3:30pm at the Ritchie Community League
• Ardrossan Farmers' Market starting at 4:30pm at Ardrossan Memorial Hall
• Sourdough Pizza: A Hands-On Masterclass starting at 6pm at Get Cooking
• Grove Gatherings featuring Sammy Volkov starting at 7pm at Columbus Park
• Sounds from the Valley featuring Travis Dolter starting at 7pm at Snow Valley

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• July 30: The Risky Business of Surveillance online
• July 30: Edmonton Womanition Connect Group Meeting at the Edmonton Inn and Conference Centre
• Aug. 8-10: Edmonton Folk Music Festival at Gallagher Park

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