Edmonton local news from Metronews.ca

Allergies aggravated by gender imbalance in plants

Laurie Callsen, Metro Edmonton — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:38:27 -0400

An American horticulturist has been travelling across Canada to analyze the plant population in urban cities and the affects an imbalanced population of plants have on allergy suffers.

Thomas Ogren, a seasoned horticulturist, is working on a report call POLLENation for Reactine that examines the female-to-male plant ratio in urban areas across Canada, which can have a tremendous impact on allergy suffers. He was in Edmonton Friday assessing the city’s plants.

Ogren uses the term ‘botanical sexism’ to describe what is happening in most urban areas. Residents and city planners prefer to grow male plants, as they often create less mess than female plants, because of the females’ seeds.

But this can cause a big problem. If there are no female plants to catch the pollen male plants are giving off, Edmontonians will be the ones being bombarded instead.

The result is an increase in sniffling, red and itchy eyes and sneezing, but the simple solution is to plant more females to catch the male pollen.

“I would love to see more female plants. They clean the air and they don’t cause allergies,” Ogren explained.

He said Edmonton’s tree canopy is largely male, especially in Hawrelak Park where he was doing some research. But Ogren is working with the city to teach them more about botanical sexism.

He has a vested interest in plants and their affects on allergies. His wife had terrible allergies and asthma, so Ogren put his horticulture skills to work to ease her suffering.

Now, they have tall female trees planted all around their house as a pollen fence, and his wife’s allergies have dramatically improved over the last several years.

While Ogren is not a doctor or allergist, he said he is the only person bridging the gap between horticulture and allergies.

Once the report is complete, Reactine will be supplying POLLENation on the website. While it seems strange that a company that makes and sells allergy medicine would want to reduce allergies, Ogren said he has found the company to be very sympathetic to people’s plight.

Edmonton air cadets head to prestigious aerospace training challenge

Laurie Callsen, Metro Edmonton — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:00:50 -0400

Four Edmonton Royal Canadian Air Cadets will be the first Canadian team invited to take part in a world-renowned aerospace training course in England.

The Alberta Aviation Museum was invited by Cranfield University in London, to take part in their Schools Aerospace Challenge, opened up to Canadians for the first time to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The museum picked four RCAC members from 12 Squadron in Edmonton to go to Cranfield July 22 to 29.

Warrant Officer Second Class Richard Oxlade will be team lead for the trip, and is joined by Flight Sergeant Tyvon Harvey, Flight Corporal Harry Bayrock and Sergeant Matt Mclean. The trip has only come together in the last month, leaving the team with a small window in which to train and prepare.

“We have a lot of (challenges) to overcome, and it’s going to be a hell of a ride for the next month or two,” said Oxlade.

The challenge is designed for 16 to 18 year olds to study real solutions for the Air Force. This year’s team will be looking at building, developing and flying Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), which are the cutting edge of aerospace technology.

The team will be challenged to build a vehicle that can fly with only a camera for its pilot and learn to adapt with the challenges of flying with only a camera lens as your eyes.

In coming years the Aviation Museum will be opening up the contest to other air cadet squadrons in Edmonton, and eventually hope to bring it to all of Alberta.

“It’s too good of an opportunity to limit the possibilities of the kids in Alberta,” said museum executive director Thomas Hinderks.

The museum will be spearheading the fundraising to foot the $45,000 bill to send the four cadets. They have 60 days to raise the funds and are looking for corporate sponsors.

Edmonton dims for Earth Hour 2012

Metro Edmonton — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 16:11:02 -0400

Are you prepared to dim the lights at 8:30 p.m. Saturday?

Earth Hour is from 8:30 to 9:30 local time, and people are encouraged to cut all non-essential power to reinforce the impact of flipping a switch.

The following events are also taking place at this time:

The Citadel is hosting a candle-light concert by classical cellist Morag Northey in the Tucker Amphitheatre, as well as dimming their lights.

Sonic 102.9 will be playing all acoustic rock songs.

Members of the Members of the Association of Edmonton Convention Hotels (Varscona and Metterra Hotels on Whyte, the Fairmont Hotel McDonald, the Shaw Conference Centre, the Mayfield, Marriott at River Cree, Four Points by Sheraton Edmonton South, Delta Edmonton Centre Suite Hotel, and Delta Edmonton South Hotel and Conference centre) will shut down all non-essential interior and exterior lighting, all administrative office equipment, and some will provide green stay options to guests arriving on March 31.

All students and staff of MacEwan University, the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, Concordia University College, King's University College, NorQuest College, the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), Red Deer College, Grande Prairie Regional College, and Lethbridge College are participating in a challenge to see which school can shut off the most lights on March 31.

The U of A is also holding an inter-residence competition to see which tower at Lister Centre can dim the most lights.

The Alberta government will be flicking the switches at Government Centre, including the Alberta Legislature Building, Legislature Annex, Terrace Building, Bowker Building and Haultain Building

Last year, power consumption over Earth Hour in Edmonton actually rose, possibly in part to an NHL game where the Edmonton Oilers took on the Calgary Flames.

Edmonton police investigating random assualts on women

Metro Edmonton — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 16:03:15 -0400

Police in southeast Edmonton are looking for a man who assaulted two random women as they were walking down the street last week.

At 11:30 p.m. March 20, a 57-year-old woman was walking home near 82 Avenue and 87 Street when a man came up behind her and pushed her to the ground, police said. When she screamed, the man ran off towards 82 Avenue. She was unharmed.

At 10 p.m. March 28, a 31-year-old woman was walking down 82 Avenue at 84 Street when a man came up from behind and tried to push her to the ground. The woman was unharmed, but the man fled when she screamed.

“We are sending out this warning because we are very concerned about these two random assaults,” said Det. Dale Myhre of the Criminal Investigations Section in Southeast Division.

“We want to remind all citizens to be extra vigilant while walking at night, to be aware of their surroundings at all times and to report suspicious persons or activity to police immediately.”

Detectives are sking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect.

The suspect is described as a male between 5’6” and 6” tall and approximately 150 lbs. He was wearing a hooded sweatshirt.

“Although this is a very limited description, we are hopeful that someone saw what happened or possibly saw the suspect, and they can help us identify him,” said Myhre.

Anyone with information that could help identify the suspect is asked to contact the Edmonton Police Service at 780-423-4567. Anonymous information can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.tipsubmit.com/start.htm.

Red Deer RCMP search for missing girl

Metro Edmonton — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:45:20 -0400

RCMP in Red Deer are on the look-out for a missing 12-year-old,

Madison Skoglund was last seen near her middle school in Red Deer's Lancaster neighbourhood. RCMP said she left school on foot on Monday at 4:30 p.m. but did not return home when expected.

Police are checking Skoglund's usual hang-outs but have yet to find her.

Skoglund is 157 cm (5'2") tall, 100 lbs, has shoulder length red hair with black streaks and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a florescent orange bra and possibly a white, pink or purple zip-up sweater with either shorts or black fleece pajama pants with pink and purple hearts on them.

It is possible that she is barefoot.

If you have seen her or know of her whereabouts, contact Red Deer RCMP at 403-343-5575.

EPS and United Way team up for annual dodgeball tournament

Laurie Callsen, Metro Edmonton — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 13:58:15 -0400

It was duck, dive and dodge at the Third Annual UDodge tournament, hosted Friday at the NAIT gym.

The UDoge tournament is a partnership between Edmonton Police Service and United Way to provide mentorship to youth by corporate sponsors.

The day-long tournament pits teams - made up of four youth, four corporate adults, a member of the Edmonton Police Service and a United Way representative - against one another to battle for top spot.

Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel and EPS Superintendent David Veitch were on hand to open the game by ceremoniously throwing the first balls.

“It’s about community building; it’s about having fun and about enjoying yourself,” said Mandel of the tournament.

Veitch noted that EPS has been working to crack down on crime among youth and families, and that the UDodge tournament is another form of community outreach.

“(Youth) have been chosen - you’re our ambassadors, our future leaders. You need to lead the values of trust, honesty, respect, responsibility and most of all, we want you to be good people Veitch said.

Police probe suspicious death in North Edmonton

Metro Edmonton — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 10:15:04 -0400

Edmonton police are investigating a suspicious death after a man in his 20s was found dead in an SUV on the north side.

Police were called to 113 Street and 167A Avenue around 7:45 p.m. Thursday where a man was found dead in the front seat of a black SUV.

Police said the body suffered trauma and are looking for witness and other information.

Smith weighs in on Edmonton airport, museum, arena

Metro Edmonton — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 05:59:24 -0400

Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith touched on topics close to the hearts and minds of Edmontonians on Thursday when she said she would revisit the Edmonton City Centre Airport debate should her party win the provincial election on April 23.

Smith also said her party would defer plans to build the new Royal Alberta Museum.

As for money for a new hockey arena, Smith said she would be willing to explore a lottery option.

Alberta premier suspends transition payments

The Canadian Press — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 05:58:00 -0400

EDMONTON - After getting battered for weeks over gold-plated goodbyes to politicians and pay to committee members who don't meet, Alberta Premier Alison Redford has declared an unconditional surrender.

Redford, at a campaign stop Thursday, said she is suspending a transition allowance that will pay out a total of more than $10 million this year to 25 departing MLAs of all stripes.

She said she couldn't do anything about the current payments, but would take action going forward.

She also announced that her Progressive Conservative caucus mates, who had already been ordered to pay back a portion of the money they earned on a so-called no-work committee, will have to pay back all the cash.

"On the issue of MLA compensation, my government should have acted faster and we should have gone further than we did over the past few weeks," said Redford.

"Growing up I was always taught that the only thing worse than making a mistake was not admitting the fact that you did. I made a mistake on these issues and now I'm fixing them."

Redford also said she will not accept a transition allowance "win, lose or draw" after the election.

The decision is the final fallback for Redford and her team on what has become a dominant doorstep complaint in the campaign for the April 23 provincial election.

The no-pay committee has been a lightning rod of discontent and may have contributed to a major drop in recent polls and an accompanying surge by the Wildrose party.

Wildrose party Leader Danielle Smith called the about-face a desperate attempt to turn back the clock.

"It's clear they're in panic mode," said Smith. "They're now making decisions on the basis of a drop in the polls rather than on the basis of what's right.

"That's what happens when you have a government that has been in power for 40 years. They don't know the difference anymore between right and wrong."

The controversy began three weeks ago when the watchdog Canadian Taxpayers Federation delivered a tongue-in-cheek award for egregious waste of taxpayer money to the 21-member all-party standing committee on privileges and elections, standing orders and printing

All members of the no-meet committee are paid $1,000 a month, even though it hasn't held a meeting for more than three years. They were initially paid per meeting, but that was changed to a monthly stipend in 2008.

It was a no-win issue for all parties: give back the money and thereby admit it wasn't deserved or keep it and be criticized for taking cash for nothing.

Liberal and Wildrose party members bit the bullet and paid back thousands within days. The NDP refused, saying MLA Rachel Notley works on so many committees — many for free — that she effectively didn't get paid at all.

The Tories took the same approach as the New Democrats, dismissing the paybacks as a publicity "stunt."

Eventually it became an exercise in throwing hunks of meat to a hungry pack of pursuing wolves.

Redford initially said she would not order a payback but would wait for a broader review of MLA compensation, currently underway, by former Supreme Court justice Jack Major.

Days later, she asked the 15 Tories on the committee to voluntarily pay back the cash.

Last week, with public outrage still growing, she directed caucus to take action. It responded by ordering Tory members to pay the money that had been received in the six months Redford has been premier.

Ray Prins, the Tory backbencher who had been chairman of the committee, quit government in protest.

Redford said Thursday that any Tories who decide to not repay the committee funds "will not will not have a place in our Progressive Conservative caucus."

The transitional payments, which Redford characterized as "overly generous," has been a smoldering issue for years.

The payments, created to help politicians make the transition back to private life, had quietly and rapidly expanded under former premier Ralph Klein, who scrapped a pension plan for legislature members in 1992.

The 25 MLAs who decided to quit politics rather than run this time will receive an estimated total of $10.6 million. Speaker Ken Kowalski alone will get over $1 million and former premier Ed Stelmach will get close to that.

She said if Major's recommendations ultimately conflict with the actions she's taken, she will work things out to the satisfaction of taxpayers.

Alberta politicians are already among the best paid in Canada. The average politician takes in $163,000 a year, while the premier makes over $200,000.

Warrant operation ramps up

heather mcintyre, Metro Edmonton — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 05:56:45 -0400

Edmontonians with warrants should deal with them before Monday, warn police.

Since Feb. 28, police have been encouraging those with the city’s 16,000 outstanding warrants to turn themselves in under the Operation Warrant Execution blitz.

April 2 is the deadline, meaning the second phase starts next week.

“We will assign a number of officers to go out and actually look for individuals with outstanding warrants,” EPS Staff Sgt. Regan James said Thursday, adding violence-related warrants are of the most concern.

Of the nearly 3,000 warrants that have been executed, “two-thirds have been criminal warrants, which is nice to see,” said James.

Police have also arrested 10 people from their Top 100 for Edmonton’s most wanted, he added.

Not only will cops be on the hunt, but photos of people with criminal warrants will be publicly displayed, such as at LRT stations, and will also appear in the media.