River Valley Trail Strategy & Natural Area Reserve Fund our budget priorities
On November 28, our society urged City Council at its public hearing on the budget to put money into two items left unfunded in Administration’s recommended budget. These are the River Valley Trail Strategy which was initiated by Councillor Salvador, and the Natural Area Reserve Fund which was initiated by Councillor Rutherford.
We had received significant community feedback regarding informal and unsanctioned trails in Edmonton’s Ribbon of Green. A dozen other individuals and organizational representatives spoke on May 31 at the Urban Planning Committee and what we all agreed on was that inaction is not an option and community engagement needed to be a priority.
The lack of a trail master plan has become a contentious public issue, involving both river valley users and residents who live adjacent to our river valley and ravine system. Increased human use of the river valley and ravine system during the pandemic has highlighted deficiencies in the city’s trail planning capacity. The modest amount of money required to fund the River Valley Trail Strategy will pay dividends in a trail master plan that will address the current contentious and unaddressed public concerns.
The Natural Area Reserve Fund was created by Council in 2009 with $18 million dollars to fund the purchase of tableland natural areas that cannot be acquired through either environmental reserve or municipal reserve dedication. Edmonton has been recognized with awards for its natural areas’ policy.
To date, the City has leveraged the money to acquire six sites containing 70 hectares of natural areas. Two sites are in process, but there will be no more funds when these are bought. Edmonton cannot afford leaving the Natural Area Reserve Fund unfunded for the next four years.
A growing population needs natural areas. Their ecosystem services and carbon sink potential make them a natural climate solution part of the City’s Carbon Budget. The New Zoning Bylaw Initiative’s emphasis on higher density and District Plans means Edmonton needs more, not less, tableland natural areas. Read our presentation, which includes natural areas site locations, at https://www.edmontonrivervalley.org/projects
Dr. Lila Fahlman the first Muslim woman awarded the Order of Canada
Lila Fahlman’s greatest passion outside of her family was advocating tirelessly for the rights of immigrant women and children. She made it her mission to assist with the settlement of Muslim immigrants, particularly women, and to make space for exploration of their traditional rights within Islam and how they could exercise them in their new homeland.
In 1982 Fahlman founded the Canadian Council for Muslim Women (CCMW). She was a passionate advocate of interfaith dialogue who travelled the world helping to build a network of respectful, intercultural exchange between different religious groups. This firm conviction led her to serve as the vice-chairwoman of Vision TV, head of the World Interfaith Education Association, and co-founder of the Edmonton Interfaith Centre.
Her father Sied Ganam, a Syrian-Lebanese immigrant, helped build Edmonton’s original Al-Rashid mosque, the first mosque in Canada and a generation later Fahlman helped save it and have it relocated to its current home at Fort Edmonton Park. A proud feminist, a proud Muslim, and a proud Edmontonian, Fahlman achieved many firsts in her life.
She was the first woman in Canada to obtain a PhD in Educational Psychology. As a Muslim woman, Fahlman was the first in Canada to serve on a public school board, to serve as a university chaplain and in 2001 to be awarded the Order of Canada. Dr. Lila Fahlman School opened in the Allard neighbourhood in southwest Edmonton in 2017. Learn more about this remarkable woman at https://citymuseumedmonton.ca/2021/06/22/dr-lila-fahlman-the-first-muslim-woman-awarded-the-order-of-canada/
Private river valley golf courses open for free public winter use
The Highlands and Royal Mayfair river valley golf courses are available for free public use during the winter from December 1 through March 31. Both private courses in the river valley have leases with the City of Edmonton as the land is publicly owned by Edmontonians.
I walk regularly with my dog through the Highlands course in winter, which is also used for cross-country skiing and tobogganing. The Royal Mayfair is considered one of the prettiest spots to ski in Edmonton with gently rolling hills and a sheltered path through forest glades.
More space for Edmontonians to enjoy winter in the river valley is appreciated. Exercise your right to bright sunshine, white snow and winter fun in your river valley. More at https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/skiers-councillor-want-better-access-to-public-trails-at-royal-mayfair-golf-club-1.5736390
Pine Siskin fond of salt - photo by Zac Peetsma
The Pine Siskin is the most common of the winter finches to be found at your bird feeder. Their primary natural food are the seeds of hemlocks, alders, birches, and cedars. They are fond of salt, seek out natural salt licks and in winter they can be found wherever salt is used to melt ice and snow.
Pine Siskins get through cold nights by ramping up their metabolic rates, typically 40% higher than a normal songbird of their size. They can temporarily store seeds totaling as much as 10% of their body mass in a part of their esophagus called the crop. The energy in that amount of food could get them through 5–6 nighttime hours of sub-zero temperatures.
Pine Siskins flock to thistle or nyjer feeders and other small seeds such as millet or hulled sunflower seeds. They may hang around whole sunflower seed feeders if heavier-billed birds are messy eaters and drop seed bits. They will occasionally eat suet. More at https://edmonton.wbu.com/bird-pine-siskin-BOTM
Grierson Hill site of major slides in 1901 and 1915
Patrick writes “About Grierson Hill and riprap along the river. From 1989 until 1992, we lived in Missoula MT. We enjoyed some canoeing and rafting local rivers. There was an expression ‘Montana riprap.’ I looked online and found it . . . named ‘Detroit riprap.’ We saw some on the Bitterroot River. Ranchers didn’t want ongoing loss of pastureland to spring freshets. Here’s a photo” https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/511017888946157760/
Past and Present by Kryzstof Zukowski, City of Edmonton public art collection. Photo by Rafaella Loro. https://www.edmontonpublicart.ca/#!/details/10
Comment or contribution
Please note that articles may not reflect the position of NSRVCS. River Valley News is meant to be a clearinghouse for the wide variety of opinions and ideas about Edmonton’s River Valley. Email river valley photos, event information, comments, or questions to nsrivervalley@gmail.com
Sincerely yours,
Harvey Voogd
North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society
780.691.1712