Riverside Trail has stunning view of North Saskatchewan river and valley
Riverside trail in Parkland County, across from Devon, is a 5.5-6.5 km round trip walk, depending on where you park. It is rated moderate difficulty, has two large staircases, wide gravel trails, and small to medium hills. Dogs are allowed on leash.
My recommendation is to begin from Prospector’s Point parking lot. The trail starts on a gravel path and after a brief period of flat grade begins to ascend above the river. Look out beyond the trees for stunning views of the valley and river below. There are a few benches along the trail to stop and rest, as well as garbage cans.
The trail goes through a beautiful forest full of birds. This trail is not maintained in the winter and may be more challenging through the snow. At the end of the trail there is a second staircase. Information and parking maps at https://rivervalley.ab.ca/news/trailtrek-how-to-riverside-trail/
Cariwest is Caribbean community’s gift to Edmonton
Immigrants from the Caribbean came to Canada with their cultural practices and created carnival festivals wherever they established their communities. These festivals have enhanced the vibrancy of cities like Edmonton, where the Cariwest Festival has had an unbroken run since 1984.
Embedded in the psyche of African-Caribbean immigrants, especially those from Trinidad, is the traditional celebration called Carnival. It dates back centuries to their ancestors’ enslavement in the Caribbean region when the enslaved peoples would be given time off to celebrate a successful and profitable sugarcane harvest. They would parade in the streets in their plantation owner’s discarded dresswear.
Organisers made a conscious decision to shift the timetable for carnival celebrations in Canada to the warmer summer months, instead of the traditional period proceeding Easter. Edmonton’s Cariwest Festival is staged in early August.
A fundamental part of the festival is Caribbean rhythms during the parade, rhythms that underscore the intent to have a good time. The music engages the observer, enticing one to move, to dance, to respond, and includes reggae, zouk, soca, and music played on steel drums. From Trinidad & Tobago, the steel drum is reputedly the only acoustic musical instrument invented during the 20th century and is made from discarded oil drums. https://citymuseumedmonton.ca/2021/10/05/cariwest-the-caribbean-communitys-gift-to-edmonton/
How birds keep warm in a cold snap
Betty Fisher photo
A bird’s first method of defense against freezing weather are its feathers. Feathers trap pockets of air around the body and the bird’s internal body temperature will then warm up the trapped air. Birds fluff their feathers in the cold so that they can trap as much air as possible, maximizing this insulating effect. To maintain the pockets of air, a bird’s feathers must be flexible, clean, and dry.
Birds produce a special oil called preen oil, which some cold-adapted birds use to waterproof their feathers. Anybody who takes part in outdoor winter activities knows that the key to staying warm is staying dry, and preen oil helps ensure no moisture gets in. It allows the bird to have a water-resistant top layer and a heated inner layer, just like the ideal winter coat!
Torpor is a state of reduced metabolism that is induced when a bird’s body temperature is lowered so that it will require fewer calories to maintain an appropriate heat levels. Many birds will enter torpor to save energy during chilly winter nights. Entering torpor can be dangerous, as the reduced temperature can lead to slower reaction times, which increases the bird’s vulnerability to predators.
Torpor is not common in winter birds like Black-capped Chickadee, because warming back up in the morning would take up too much extra energy. Instead, they experience a more moderate version of torpor called regulated hypothermia. https://www.ealt.ca/blog/how-birds-keep-warm-ylgtf
Passengers by Ray McAdam, South Campus LRT Station
https://www.edmontonarts.ca/public-art/passengers
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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