City of Edmonton :: News

Public Meeting – Proposed High Rise Residential Building in Oliver

Fri, 03 September, 2010

A public meeting is being held to discuss a proposal for a 29-storey residential building in the Oliver area.

Date: Thursday, September 9, 2010
Time: 7-9pm
Location: Robertson Wesley United Church, 10209 - 123 Street NW

The proposal consists of an amendment to the Oliver Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) and an amendment to the Zoning Bylaw from (A) Metropolitan Recreational Zone and (DC1) Direct Development Control Provision to (DC2) Site Specific Development Control Provision in the southeast area of the Oliver Neighbourhood.

The successful application would allow the construction of a
29-storey building with 105 dwelling units and a maximum height of 90 metres.

Make a Splash

Thu, 02 September, 2010

Two outdoor pools stay open for Labour Day.

Celebrate the last long weekend of the summer by heading to a City of Edmonton outdoor pool.

Weather permitting, both Mill Creek and the newly renovated Fred Broadstock Outdoor Pool will remain open until the end of the Labour Day long weekend on
September 6. The season has been extended to allow Edmontonians the chance to soak up the last rays of summer.

Mill Creek Outdoor Swimming Pool
9555 – 84 Avenue

Fred Broadstock Outdoor Swimming Pool
10515 – 158 Street

For more information on the hours of the outdoor pools and the daily operating schedules, call 780-442-5261 or visit www.edmonton.ca/outdoorpools

Once Upon a Time There Was a Festival…

Thu, 02 September, 2010

Let your imagination lead you into a land of delight, enchantment and learning at Fort Edmonton Park’s 22nd Annual T.A.L.E.S Storytelling Festival.

Date: Sunday, September 5 and Monday, September 6, 2010
Time: 1–5pm
Location: Fort Edmonton Park (corner of Whitemud Drive and Fox Drive)
Admission: Child $7; Youth/Senior $10.50; Adult $13.75; Family/Grandparent $41.50
Annual pass, multi-facility and leisure access program passes also accepted.

The Alberta League Encouraging Storytelling (T.A.L.E.S.) presents this year’s storytelling theme, Connecting Cultures. Storytellers throughout the park will share their fictional and non-fictional tales. These interactive and engaging stories will entertain everyone in the family. In between stories, play some old time games or enjoy musical performances by John Spearn at Bill’s Confectionary.

For an additional fee, participate in special storytelling workshops or an evening concert.

Visit www.talesstorytelling.com and click ‘Festivals’ for more details.

Proposed Changes to Grange Area and Hamptons Neighbourhood Structure Plans

Thu, 02 September, 2010

A public meeting is being held to discuss proposed amendments to the Grange Area and the Hamptons Neighbourhood Structure Plans, and a rezoning from Agricultural Zone to Medium Rise Apartment Zone.

Public Meeting

Date: Wednesday September 8, 2010
Time: 7pm
Location: West Edmonton Christian Assembly
6315 – 199 Street

The amendments and rezoning would change a portion of the commercial area on the northeast edge in the Hamptons neighbourhood to allow construction of a medium-rise apartment building.

ETS Completes Meadows Transit Centre

Thu, 02 September, 2010

Edmonton Transit has completed the Meadows Transit Centre on 17 Street at 40 Avenue.

With a park and ride lot of over 300 spaces it is an ideal site from which to commute directly into downtown and MacEwan City Centre Campus.

“This new transit centre is part of the City’s long range plan to encourage people to take public transit,” said Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel. “The park and ride makes it even more convenient for people to take the bus.”

“Our Government is proud to be investing in local infrastructure projects that are helping to build strong, healthy communities,” said Mike Lake, Member of Parliament for Edmonton – Mill Woods – Beaumont and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry. “This new transit centre will help make getting around Edmonton even easier for many years to come.”

“Edmonton’s new transit centre is a good example of co-operation and shared investment by all levels of government,” said Naresh Bhardwaj, MLA for Edmonton-Ellerslie. “Alberta’s ongoing investment in our communities enhances the quality of life of Albertans and is gaining the province some of the most advanced infrastructure in North America.”

The building is designed to complement the surrounding neighbourhoods and features clear glass walls. A public washroom, security cameras, emergency phones and 17 bus bays provide a safe and comfortable environment for customers.

The transit centre cost $12 million. The Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CAMRIF) contributed approximately one third of the cost.

Hey Edmonton! Come See Hey Romeo on Churchill Square

Wed, 01 September, 2010

One of Edmonton’s hottest country music groups, Hey Romeo, will perform a free concert on Churchill Square.

Date: September 7
Time: 11:30am – 1:30pm
Location: Sir Winston Churchill Square
Cost: Free

Kick off Country Music Week in Edmonton with this special free performance by Hey Romeo. Named Best New Group in 2008 at the Canadian Country Music Awards, Hey Romeo is vying for four awards this year, including Group of the Year. The 2010 Canadian Country Music Awards will be announced September 12 at Rexall Place.

Getting there:

There is direct access to Churchill Square by LRT or one of the several buses that make scheduled stops in the area. To plan your trip, visit www.takeets.com.

City Pays for Rays

Wed, 01 September, 2010

With over 2,300 hours of sunshine a year, Edmonton is one of Canada's sunniest cities. Now, the City of Edmonton will help residents harness the power of the sun.

In response to greater demand for ways to reduce CO2 emissions and growing interest in renewable electricity generation, the City is introducing a solar-electric pilot program.

This one-month program will allocate the total budget of $200,000 in the form of rebates for home and business owners interested in installing solar panels to generate electricity.

“The City is committed to encouraging the use of local renewable energy sources that will reduce local greenhouse gas emissions,” said Mayor Stephen Mandel. “This project could result in more solar electric generating facilities throughout the city, and is one more step towards a cleaner, greener Edmonton.”

The program will pay as much as $9,000 of the cost of installing solar-electric systems in homes and a maximum of $18,000 for systems installed in businesses. Rebates will vary depending on the capacity of the system installed.

Applications are evaluated on a first-come-first served basis upon receipt of appropriate documentation and will be paid out after installation and certification. All solar-electric systems funded under this program will be subject to a follow-up review by the City and recipients will be surveyed to establish their satisfaction with the installed system.

Solar energy is the cleanest, most abundant, renewable energy source. Today's technology allows this power to be harnessed in several ways to make effective use of the heat and light of the sun. The City of Edmonton program will help fund solar distributed generation installations with equipment located on rooftops or on arrays close to where the energy is used.

Program Overview

Total budget: $200,000.

Residential Solar Electric Program - The program covers systems with a rated capacity of a minimum of one kilowatt with the rebate based on $3.00 per watt of installed capacity.

The maximum allowable rebate per residential system will be $9,000. For example, a residential system with panels having a rated capacity of one kilowatt would be eligible for a rebate of $3,000 and a larger system of 3 kilowatts would be eligible for a rebate of $9,000.

Commercial Solar Electric Program – The program covers systems with a rated capacity of a minimum of two kilowatts and a maximum capacity of ten kilowatts with the rebate based on a rate of $3.00 per watt of installed capacity.

The maximum allowable rebate per commercial system will be $18,000. The program is available for existing buildings within the City of Edmonton. The term 'commercial' encompasses: 1) non-residential buildings, and 2) residential buildings with a footprint greater than 600 m2 or greater than three storeys.

The program is for existing buildings only and funds systems that will be installed between September 1 and December 31, 2010. Interested applicants are asked to visit the Solar Electric Pilot Program website for more information and to read the terms and conditions of the program.

For more details about the Solar Electric program, call 311.

The West LRT is Moving Forward

Wed, 01 September, 2010

Learn more about plans for the West LRT and share your views. The City of Edmonton is holding the following Open Houses:

Date and Community	Location	Time
Tuesday, September 7 Lewis Estates to 156 St/Stony Plain Road	Fantasyland Hotel, Ballroom West Edmonton Mall 17700 - 87 Avenue	4–9:30 PM
Wednesday, September 8 Meadowlark to Grant MacEwan University		4–9:30 PM

Feedback from this round of consultation will help the City to finalize the West LRT concept plan for presentation to City Council on December 8, 2010. The City is ready to present plans for a potential LRT alignment and station locations.

The future West LRT line from Lewis Estates to Downtown is part of the Transportation Master Plan's vision to expand LRT service to all sectors of the City by 2040.

Materials and presentations from the Open Houses will be posted on www.edmonton.ca/LRTprojects as of the dates of the specific meetings. For those who can’t participate to these Open Houses, a survey will be online until Friday, September 10.

LRT Service Disrupted September 3 – 6, 2010

Wed, 01 September, 2010

There will be no LRT service between Clareview and Churchill stations from 7 pm on Friday, September 3 until the end of service on Monday, September 6 while Edmonton Transit continues work on upgrades for the signal system on the north line.

Trains will be operating on their regular schedules between Churchill and Century Park stations.

Bus replacement service will operate on the following frequencies between Clareview and Corona stations:

5 minute frequency on Saturday during the day
7-8 minute frequency on Friday evening, Saturday evening, Sunday all day, Monday all day.

ETS Ready to Welcome Thousands of New LRT Riders

Tue, 31 August, 2010

With back-to-school ridership set to jump, ETS staff are geared up and ready to ensure that taking the LRT continues to be efficient, reliable, and safe.

“LRT use is usually at its peak each September with post-secondary classes back in session,” says Bob Boutilier, Transportation General Manager with the City of Edmonton. “With expansion to Century Park, the new Park and Ride facility, and the U-Pass program that now includes NAIT students, Edmonton’s transit system is more popular than ever.”

The LRT is expected have higher than normal use starting September 7 during the peak periods of 7:15 to 8:15am and
4 to 5pm. LRT riders are encouraged to commute a few minutes earlier or later when possible to avoid the peak periods.

“This year we’re taking extra steps to make riders’ first trip an enjoyable one,” explains Boutilier. “ETS will have uniformed staff on the South LRT platforms to help direct and assist riders with everything from using the fare machines to giving directions. Two mechanics will also be on standby to help with any potential operational LRT delays.”

When taking the LRT, Transit users can do their part by following these tips:

Be courteous of others
Space yourself along the length of the station platform
Please wait for others to exit before boarding the train
Use the aisles for standing room ~ try to avoid crowding the door
When sitting, hold your backpack on your lap or by your feet if standing

“Having a busy LRT shows that the system is working and that Edmonton is quickly becoming a major Canadian city,” says Boutilier. “The success of the South LRT just shows how important LRT expansion will be for Edmonton and the entire Capital Region.”

For more information please visit:
• ETS online at www.takeETS.com
• LRT expansion www.edmonton.ca/lrtprojects
• LRT maps and photo galleries photos.edmonton.ca/Transportation