The Pulse: Sept. 20, 2024

As Edmonton prepares to celebrate Community League Day on Sept. 21, the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues hopes new volunteers will come forward to join the 700 that started in 2023, a number that has risen steadily each year since the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I think it really speaks to Edmontonians being interested in being a part of change really locally, and that we have the system that they can do that really easily," Laura Cunningham-Shpeley, executive director of the EFCL, told Taproot. "They can really step in and not have to cross the city."

Community leagues are unique to Edmonton, and came into existence in the early 1900s when the city's population was exploding. Some of the city's 163 community leagues have held events for Community League Day over September, while many others will hold their celebrations on Sept. 21. Those interested can find local events on the EFCL website. EFCL encourages residents to use Community League Day to meet their neighbours, learn about the programming offered by their local league, become members, and find out about volunteering opportunities.

Cunningham-Shpeley said while board members do most of the work to run a community league, people have increasingly shown interest in activity-based volunteering. People interested in sustainability, for example, will volunteer with the community garden or offer help installing solar panels at the community hall, she said.

The increase in volunteers at community leagues could potentially be attributed to better data and tracking, Cunningham-Shpeley said. EFCL has improved its data collection each year since 2020, and is working to track demographic factors like age and cultural background.

Nearly 40,000 Edmontonians purchased a community league membership last year, but EFCL doesn't really know who those people are. "We all kind of make assumptions, right? It's best for us not to do that," Cunningham-Shpeley said.

"It's one thing to say, 'We're an open and welcoming league, we never say no to anyone,'" she explained. "But what does that mean, and what do you need to actually do as a league to show that you're interested in new and different demographics in your board?"

Cunningham-Shpeley said leagues are offering different cultural foods at events, displaying signage in various languages, and celebrating holidays outside of the typical Western fare, like Eid.

"Could we do more? Absolutely, but I think by trying to diversify what we're focusing on and trying to (show that) we're not just sports, we're a whole bunch of things, I think people are starting to notice that," she said.

Beyond Community League Day, EFCL is asking city council to increase the city funding it allocates for leagues during the upcoming supplemental budget operating adjustment. The EFCL requests include $475,000 to pay for upgrades to meet safety codes at 39 league buildings. The organization is also asking for an increase to the Community League Operating Grant, which is now $2.78 million for 163 leagues (or roughly $17,055 per league). EFCL is requesting the grant to increase by $651,000 over two years. "This grant has remained the same for the past 15 years, and during that time we have supported the formation of 10 additional leagues and welcomed over 400,000 new Edmontonians," Cunningham-Shpeley said.

Photo: Leagues will host events to celebrate Community League Day on Sept. 21. (Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues)

• The Edmonton Police Service recorded an increase in use of force incidents in the first half of 2024 compared to the previous two years, according to a report presented at an Edmonton Police Commission meeting on Sept. 19. Of the 1,081 incidents recorded, 16% resulted in injuries, with 2% requiring hospital treatment. Police attributed the rise in use of force to an increase in violent incidents, which it said grew by 23% from 2022 to 2023, and another 15% in 2024. In response, the police service is introducing new training to help officers better recognize when someone is in crisis.
• The City of Edmonton unveiled a new interactive Edmonton sign at Churchill Square, designed to attract visitors, support local artists, and brighten winter nights. Created by Vignettes Showcase and Métis artists Michelle Sound and Crystal Clark, the sign will also move to festivals and City-owned facilities during the summer.
• Earth's General Store on Whyte Avenue in Edmonton may close permanently after 33 years in business unless it can raise $150,000 by Sept. 22. The store, which is facing financial challenges due to inflationary and economic pressures, is seeking a partner or investor to stay open, rather than community donations.
• Michael Oshry, Kim Krushell, and Cheryll Watson were sanctioned for exceeding the self-contribution limit of $10,000 during their 2021 mayoral election campaigns, with penalties ranging from fines to reprimands. Both Krushell and Watson told CBC News they have since cleared their campaign debts and do not intend to run for office again, while Oshry has previously said his campaign followed the rules.
• Five bison were killed in a collision involving two pickup trucks early in the morning on Sept. 19 near the entrance of Elk Island National Park, east of Edmonton. RCMP and Parks Canada are investigating, and it's unclear whether the bison were adults or calves.
• The Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation announced that it has invested $100 million in the community since 2001. The foundation has partnered with various local organizations over the years, including KidSport and the Ben Stelter Foundation, and is urging Albertans to participate in this season's 50/50 program.
• Austin Ogonoski, a four-time sport compact champion in Alberta, spoke out against social media videos of street racing in Edmonton, calling for stiffer penalties to deter dangerous driving for social media clout. Chevy Reeves, the general manager of Rad Torque Raceway said the facility offers various tracks for safe racing. "We just have a lot of space to come and play," Reeves said.
• Earthware Reusables has expanded its reusable and refundable takeout container program to Edmonton to help reduce single-use waste. The containers are available at participating restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, and food prep businesses. The program, launched in partnership with the Alberta Bottle Depot Association, allows consumers to return the containers for a refund at bottle depots.
• Edmonton will have a busy fall housing market driven by the prospect of interest rate cuts and the city's relatively affordable home prices compared to other major Canadian cities, according to the latest outlook from RE/MAX. The market is expected to see a 6% price increase and a 15% rise in sales by the end of the year, the report says. Meanwhile, a report from Royal LePage showed luxury real estate sales in Edmonton saw year-over-year growth of 39.7% in the first eight months of 2024.
• Fort Saskatchewan Mayor Gale Katchur has apologized for controversial remarks she made during a council meeting about how the feral cat population was managed in the past. "In the old days when you lived on the farm, if there (were) cats, you threw 'em in a bag and threw 'em in the river, or they just put 'em on the exhaust pipe," Katchur said. The comments drew criticism from animal welfare groups, including the Edmonton Humane Society, which called the methods "outdated and unacceptable" in a joint statement with the Alberta SPCA. In a statement, Katchur said her comments did not align with the city's values of compassion and care.

Here are open opportunities to help inform municipal planning on proactive rezoning, agriculture, and a community park. Please only answer surveys from municipalities where you are a resident.

• Priority Growth Area Rezoning — The City of Edmonton plans to proactively rezone properties in areas it expects will host the most near-term growth. The rezoning will affect Wîhkwêntôwin, the 124 Street corridor, the 156 Street and Stony Plain corridors, and the University-Garneau area. A survey for residents to provide feedback has been extended until Sept. 23.
• Urban Agriculture Plan — The City of Leduc is creating an Urban Agriculture Plan, which primarily aims to support and implement urban and value-added agriculture in the city. Residents can share their thoughts by completing a survey until Sept. 25.
• Edgemont Community Park Development — Based on a past phase of public engagement, the City of Edmonton has produced three draft designs for a community park in the Edgemont neighbourhood. Residents can review the designs, attend an in-person engagement at the River West Christian Church on Sept. 22, or complete an online survey until Oct. 4.

More input opportunities

• Until Sept. 20: Traffic calming in Mission, North Ridge, Oakmont, and Riverside (City of St. Albert)
• Until Sept. 22: Applications to join municipal boards and committees (Town of Morinville)
• Until Sept. 27: Retail Gap & Complementary Sector Analysis Survey (Town of Morinville)
• Until Nov. 7: Nature strategy engagement (Government of Alberta)

Photo: The Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board says the agricultural sector can grow the Edmonton region's economy by about $10 billion in 30 years. Like all municipalities in the region, the City of Leduc needs to create a plan for urban agriculture, which includes bees, hens, community gardens, and more. (Kevin Holowack)

Here are some events happening this weekend in the Edmonton area.

• Sept. 20: Round Dance starting at 3pm at Churchill Square
• Sept. 20: Falling Walls Lab starting at 4:30pm at the TELUS International Centre
• Sept. 20 Alumni Series Paired Dinner starting at 6pm at Ernest's Dining Room
• Sept. 20: Beyond Land Acknowledgements Soup & Bannock Speaker's Series starting at 6pm at Westwood Unitarian Church
• Sept. 20-22: Edmonton EXPO: Comics and Entertainment at the Edmonton EXPO Centre
• Sept. 21: Community Garage Sale starting at 9am at Spruce Grove and District Historical Agricultural Grounds
• Sept. 21: Alberta Culture Days starting at 10am at Stony Plain
• Sept. 21: Daughters Day starting at 1pm at Edmonton City Hall
• Sept. 21: AGA Walking Tour Series: Chinatown starting at 1pm at the Art Gallery of Alberta
• Sept. 21: Mosquers Film Festival starting at 5pm at the Winspear Centre
• Sept. 22: Run On Edmonton starting at 9am at the Alfred H. Savage Centre
• Sept. 22: U of A Days Concert starting at 2pm at Convocation Hall

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Sept. 30: Orange Shirt Day Run/Walk at Kinsmen Park
• Oct. 6: Stollery Women's Network Wellness Event at the Westin Edmonton
• Oct. 10: Book Launch: What Kind of Daughter? by Rayanne Haines at Audreys Books

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