Man dead after trying to rescue dog on river ice
Search and rescue crews have been unable to find the body of a 55-year-old man who fell through river ice Tuesday near the Buena Vista Park off-leash area just north of Laurier Park and the Edmonton Valley Zoo. Witnesses said the man rushed out onto the North Saskatchewan River ice around 12:30 p.m. to help a stranger retrieve her dog.
“He made it to the dog, tried pulling the dog up. He was probably 50 feet out into open water and the dog struggled and the ice broke. The man got swept under, he popped up a couple times, that’s the last time we saw him,” said Monica Ness.
“There was quite a bit current. It took him under and brought him quite a way down the river. And then he went under again and I don’t think anyone saw him after that,” witness Tiffany Harris said. The dog was rescued and treated. More at https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/man-presumed-dead-after-trying-to-rescue-dog-on-north-saskatchewan-river-ice-1.5377193
Hawrelak park lake expanded use under consideration
Council’s Community and Public Services Committee, on April 14, will consider proposals for expanded non-winter use of the lake at Hawrelak Park. Recommendations do not include wading and swimming due to water quality standards that cannot be achieved due to Canada geese and lake sediment release.
Waterfowl droppings directly into the lake in addition to phosphorus release from the bottom sediment account for 88% of the phosphorus loading in the lake. Geese droppings add phosphorus and nitrogen to the land around the lakes and directly into the lakes where they graze and loaf. Contributors to lake sediment are waterfowl droppings and feathers, algae that die and fall to the lake bottom, and sediment pumped into the lake from the river.
Recommended measures include improving the user experience by the lake through environmentally inviting spaces; on the lake with water activities such as stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking and enhancing the park’s sustainable irrigation strategy by providing an improved and consistent water supply from the lake.
You can read Administration’s report by clicking on Agenda item 6.3 at https://pub-edmonton.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=8672969e-5206-410c-8e3e-7e2ed40d12e4&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English
If you wish to speak at Community and Public Services Committee on this issue, register with the City Clerk at 780.496.8178, city.clerk@edmonton.ca or in-person before the 9:30am meeting begins.
Edmonton ward papastew named after respected Chief
papastew, also known as Papaschase, was the respected leader of the Papaschase Band, which resided in the Edmonton area in the late 1800s. The Chief was a highly respected leader of the papaschase Band and signed an adhesion to Treaty 6 in 1877. papastew translates to large woodpecker.
The new city ward, whose boundaries on its west and north sides are the North Saskatchewan River and Mill Creek Ravine on its east side includes former Papaschase land. When land was surveyed for the Papaschase Band in 1880 south of the river, they were given a 40-square-mile plot, too small to meet the needs of their 249 members.
The local Indian Agent then arbitrarily transferred people off the band list. Local settlers did not want the community too close and petitioned the federal government to eventually force the band into complete surrender.
Facing starvation, the breakup of their community, and pressure from local settlers, a small number of the remaining members eventually surrendered their land. Surviving members of the Papaschase Band are working to reclaim their community and land in the area. Learn about the Papaschase at https://papaschase.ca/
Earth day event a spring fundraiser for river valley legal challenge
An online spring fundraiser to support a legal challenge of City Council's decision to rezone 99 acres of river valley land for an industrial solar farm will be held April 22 at 7pm. The event, titled Night Out on the North Saskatchewan: Earth Day Edition, is hosted by the Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition.
According to ERVCC, the court date for their legal challenge has been set for November 19. The courts are very behind due to Covid. The event includes 4 speakers and a cameo by their lawyers. The event is free, but they are accepting donations from anyone who can give and will also have a silent auction.
The speakers are U of A environmental law professor Cameron Jefferies, Lady Flower Garden founder Kelly Mills, Cree phenology teacher Etienna Moostoos-Lafferty, and northern Alberta artist Peter von Tiesenhausen.
The event is free, but donations will be gratefully accepted. Register at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/night-out-on-the-north-saskatchewan-earth-day-edition-tickets-146519735473?fbclid=IwAR0aecOX76mVuL9lY3cKRAiu5UqierQSNRsYq2Mk3I9BJZ9kZMBkQhcuzPE
Historic photo taken from Dowler’s Hill, which is south of the river between Cloverdale and Forest Heights.
River valley concern or contribution
If you have a river valley concern or question, contact us at nsrivervalley@gmail.com
Your friends and neighbours can sign up for this newsletter on our web site.
If you have a photo, information, or event about Edmonton’s river valley and think it should be in this newsletter, email it to us.
Sincerely yours,
Harvey Voogd
North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society
780.691.1712