City wants feedback on 5 projects, 3 impacting river valley
The City of Edmonton is hosting its first large-scale in-person engagement event in two years. On September 10 at West Edmonton Mall and September 17 at Londonderry Mall, you are invited to chat in person with city staff about five city-building projects. The city is looking for your comments and feedback on: River Valley Planning Modernization, Zoning Bylaw Renewal, National Urban Park, District Planning, and Mass Transit.
River Valley Planning Modernization is about planning for the future of YEG’s river valley. The city is renewing 2 plans: The Ribbon of Green which provides long-term planning guidance for the protection, access and enjoyment of the river valley; and The North Saskatchewan River Valley Area Redevelopment Plan, which provides land use planning direction, as well as the processes and tools the city uses to evaluate and regulate proposed development in our river valley and ravine system.
Zoning Bylaw Renewal is a multi-year comprehensive overhaul of the city’s current zoning bylaw that includes rethinking how, what and why the city regulates in terms of zoning and land development. Proposed changes will also impact our river valley.
Edmonton is one of several cities across Canada in discussion with Parks Canada about the potential for establishing a National Urban Park in our city/region. The decision about whether a National Urban Park is established in Edmonton will be made by City Council in partnership with Parks Canada and Indigenous partners, using feedback provided by the public and stakeholders. Complete engagement details at https://www.edmonton.ca/programs_services/public_engagement/engage-edmonton?utm_source=virtualaddress&utm_campaign=engageedmonton
Bunchberry Meadows closed Sept 6-Oct 30
The months of September and October are an important time for plants and wildlife at Bunchberry Meadows. To limit disturbance, Edmonton and Area Land Trust (EALT) has announced that the meadows will be closed to the public from September 6 through October 30.
The good news is that visitor access will be available via guided tours on Saturday or Sunday, beginning September 10. The Fall Foliage Tours, hosted by the Nature Conservancy of Canada, EALT’s partner in the conservation of Bunchberry Meadows, are available to book on selected weekends. You can sign up for the tours at https://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/where-we-work/alberta/events/
Reconciliation in Edmonton should begin on the Rossdale Flats
In an Edmonton Journal opinion piece, Phillip Coutu writes “From 2000 to 2005, a small group of descendants of Fort Edmonton played an integral role in the preservation of the Fort Edmonton burial grounds. As a Metis who has lived and worked with Indigenous people my whole life, I wish to say that reconciliation needs to be seen to be done and the Rossdale Flats is an ideal location to reimagine our relationship with First Peoples.
It begins with allowing Cree, Metis and others in the plains culture to talk to each other in a consultation process that honours its oratory nature. I am very saddened by the recent art installation debacle which featured a buffalo fur trader and a buffalo but excluded any acknowledgement that the Metis existed here for 100 years.
Worse, it confuses our history. We are the children of the fur trade who hunted buffalo and viewed them as a gift from the creator. This art did not reflect our history. It reflected American history where buffalo herds were slaughtered for their pelts and their carcasses left to rot on the plains.
I believe the bronze buffalo belongs at the entrance of the burial grounds so all who drive down River Valley Road would be reminded of the power of our buffalo culture. The Metis often say we are like the buffalo, who stand to face the cold north winds. I believe other descendants would support this idea as this buffalo, like us, has been discarded from the flats.” Read piece at https://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-reconciliation-in-edmonton-should-begin-on-the-rossdale-flats
Laurence Decore Lookout named after former mayor
A stretch of road along Saskatchewan Drive from Groat Road to 99 Street honours Laurence Decore, former mayor, lawyer, Ukrainian community activist, multiculturalism advocate and leader of Alberta’s official Opposition. In 2004, five years after his death, Edmonton honoured Decore with a four-kilometre stretch of road designated as Laurence Decore Lookout.
It offers spectacular views of the river valley and downtown, especially at night and especially from the viewing platform constructed at the intersection with Gateway Boulevard in Old Strathcona. For most of the distance, a pleasant walking and running path occupies the narrow space between the natural vegetation denoting the top of the riverbank and Saskatchewan Drive.
A city councillor from 1974 to 1977, Decore became Edmonton’s second mayor of Ukrainian origin in 1983. Decore’s grandparents, the original surname was Dikur, homesteaded east of the city, but his father John, who represented the Liberals in the House of Commons, chose law as a profession. Like both parents, Decore involved himself in Ukrainian community life and worked actively on behalf of a variety of Ukrainian causes. More at https://transforming.edmonton.ca/closer-to-home-a-postcard-view-of-edmonton-with-pro-tips/
City surface temperatures 6-12C higher compared to rural areas
Elna writes “I read with interest the article concluding that older neighbourhoods with boulevard trees are cooler. I live in Greenfield which is 50 years old and does not have the advantage of boulevard trees. My neighbourhood is losing its tree canopy as birch trees have died and spruce trees have grown too large. These private trees are cut down and not usually replaced. The City has no regulations concerning this situation. I believe the City in its tree planting plan should consider replacing trees in neighbourhoods such as mine.”
Wasps and other insect bites can be serious
Liz emailed “Last summer I went into the kitchen to find a wasp chowing down on bits of cooked ground beef that were caught in the drain. As I watched, it stuffed itself, flew to the windowsill where it proceeded to scrub from head to toe, followed by lying down in the sunshine and having a snooze. Thinking it had just ate a Thanksgiving style feast, I left it to its nap. When I returned a few minutes later, it was gone, full, content and refreshed. Yet another example of how we are more alike than different, no matter the species.”
Photo by Ivan Todosijczuk, who writes “Further to the article on spider and wasp bites, I've attached a photo that could be titled ‘When apex predator meets apex predator.’ This was taken in our back yard in Glenora.”
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