River Valley News - Mar 28/24

North Saskatchewan River designated a Canadian Heritage River

On March 22, the entire section of the river flowing in Alberta was designated under the Canadian Heritage River System. Heritage places reflect the rich and varied stories of Canada and provide an opportunity for Canadians to learn more about our diverse history.

The North Saskatchewan River is a traditional gathering place, travel route, and home to Indigenous peoples including the nêhiyawak (Cree), Niitsitapi (Blackfoot), Ktunaxa, Métis, Nakota Sioux, Iroquois, Dene, Ojibwe, Saulteaux, Anishinaabe, Inuit, and Assiniboine.

The river is known as kisiskâciwani-sîpiy, meaning “swift-flowing river” in nêhiyawêwin (Cree), and Omaka-ty, meaning “the big river” in Niitsitapi (Blackfoot). This designation provides an opportunity to foster support for wider use of Indigenous languages and cultural connections to this important waterway.

For centuries, the river was a transportation and trade route, first for Indigenous peoples, then settlers and explorers coming from the east to the Rocky Mountains. kisiskâciwanisîpiy played a pivotal role in the fur trade, early scientific expeditions, human settlement patterns and agriculture.

https://www.canada.ca/en/parks-canada/news/2024/03/governments-of-canada-and-alberta-officially-designate-alberta-section-of-the-north-saskatchewan-river-as-a-canadian-heritage-river.html

River Valley News shortlisted for the 2024 Emerald Awards

This newsletter has been shortlisted in the Public Engagement & Outreach category of the Annual Emerald Awards. Winners will be announced at the 33rd Annual Emerald Awards in Calgary on June 6, 2024.

The citation noted the weekly publication shares historical narratives, promotes engagement in valley issues, and highlights Indigenous knowledge, biodiversity, and recreational opportunities. With 100% volunteer efforts, it has garnered 2450 email subscribers and 1770 Facebook followers, amplifying its impact.

River Valley News serves as a platform to celebrate Edmonton’s North Saskatchewan River Valley and engage residents in its past, present, and future. Beyond information dissemination, the NSRVCS actively participates in decision-making processes, including city modernization initiatives and the proposal for a national urban park.

The newsletter plays a crucial role in this by providing timely updates and opportunities for public input and enhancing citizen awareness and engagement on issues like climate impacts, wildlife conservation, and proposed developments.

River Valley News fosters community cohesion by providing a platform for diverse voices to share their stories and perspectives on nature preservation and access. This inclusivity addresses an unmet need, particularly for newcomers to the city, who may lack information on local environmental initiatives and opportunities for involvement. https://emeraldfoundation.ca/33rd-annual-emerald-awards-celebrating-environmental-excellence/

Edmonton riverboat looking for a new owner

The Edmonton Riverboat, a paddlewheeler that has cruised the North Saskatchewan River for nearly three decades, is up for sale. The owners of the boat previously known as the Edmonton Queen are searching for a new captain to take the wheel.

The boat is a unique buy. Weighing in at 210 tonnes, the 52-metre steel-hulled paddlewheeler has the capacity to host more than 300 passengers. It has a working restaurant, a wet bar, an open-air dining deck and a dance floor. Edmonton businessman Jay Esterer has been the boat's owner since 2016. He purchased it for $553,000 after the previous owner put it up for auction.

The riverboat has changed hands many times since it first sailed the river in 1995, The boat, a nod to Edmonton's steamboat era, has since served as a unique attraction, hosting special events and offering river valley cruises through the summer season. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-riverboat-queen-for-sale-1.7150975

Fishing the North Saskatchewan river in Edmonton

Ron writes “I wonder what people catch. I wonder whether the river still has Sturgeon and how big?”

Editor’s note: “Fish in the river include Burbot, Goldeye, Lake Sturgeon, Mountain Whitefish, Northern Pike, Sauger, five species of Sucker, and Walleye. Lake sturgeon are the largest and longest living fish in the river. The Alberta angling record is 47.7 kg and the maximum fork length is 170 cm. Lake Sturgeon are a Threatened Species due to population size and concerns with viability. There is a zero possession limit across the province. If you catch Lake Sturgeon, you must release it.”

The Circle of Life by Alex Janvier, Main rotunda in Muttart Conservatory

https://www.edmontonarts.ca/public-art/the-circle-of-life

Comment or Contributions

Please note articles may not reflect the position of NSRVCS. River Valley News is meant to be a clearinghouse for the variety of opinions and ideas about Edmonton’s River Valley.

Email river valley photos, event information, comments, or questions to nsrivervalley@gmail.com

River Valley News - Mar 21/24

Fishing the North Saskatchewan river in Edmonton

Stephen Phinney loves fishing on the North Saskatchewan River and says “There is a wide variety of fish in the river. I’ve caught goldeye, walleye, pike, sauger, suckers and sturgeon.”

His favourite spot in Edmonton is at the boat launch in Dawson Park. “Many other people fish there, too. On summer weekends, it’s sometimes so busy that you can’t find a spot along the river. The park has good washroom facilities and BBQ pits if you want to enjoy a fire after a long day of fishing.”

Phinney’s next favourite fishing spot is Gold Bar Park because he can fish there year round. “In the summer, the park has another advantage, a sandy beach the length of a football field. In winter, the water does not freeze around the shore. There’s clean, oxygenated water running from the treatment plant and the fish like hanging out there. I can prop my fishing pole in the snow and just wait for the fish to bite.”

Stephen’s third fishing spot choice is the stocked pond at Hermitage Park. “Stocked by the Province, one can take fresh fish home for dinner or even better, barbecue it right there at the picnic sites.” https://transforming.edmonton.ca/closer-to-home-fishing-on-the-river/

Stone’s meat market the original business at Kind ice cream location

Before Kind Ice Cream brought fame to this Highlands corner, another business did, Stone’s meat market. The business, run by husband-and-wife duo Lawrence and Alice Stone, dated back to 1919, and built a solid reputation as one of Edmonton’s best butchers. Increased business at their 6403-118 Ave location led the Stones to move to a more central Highlands location in December 1930.

Their new stucco and brick building became one of the most modern meat markets in the city and featured electrical refrigeration. Everything used, from timbre to tile, were made-in-Edmonton products reflecting its owners’ belief in the future of this city. The building also doubled as the Stones’ personal residence; a well-appointed bedroom sat at the rear. 

The business prospered until March 13th, 1934, when “a cash box containing $240, mostly in currency, was stolen.” According to the Edmonton Bulletin, “Lawrence… discovered the theft when he returned home after a short absence.” Detectives described it as “a carefully planned affair.”

“Stone was lured away… by a fake telephone call from an unknown man, who stated that two persons had been seriously injured in an accident and that Stone was needed to identify them. He rushed to the Royal Alexandra Hospital only to find that he had been duped.” Regardless, the Stones and their little store persisted until they finally closed in May 1946. https://www.forgottenedmonton.com/blog/stones-meat-market

A helpful guide to snakes in Alberta

Doris May photo

Snakes are essential members of the environment. They contribute to controlling rodents like deer mice, ground squirrels and pocket gophers, as well as insects. Snakes are also important prey for mammals and raptors. The preservation of snakes equals the preservation of a healthy native ecosystem.

Vehicles are the biggest killers of snakes. Another threat is habitat loss due to resource, agricultural, and urban development. Finally, there is intentional killing by people who consider snakes loathsome creatures.

Of the six species of snake to call Alberta home, the red-sided garter snake has the largest range and is the species most likely to be found in the Edmonton region. These harmless snakes usually make a hasty retreat when approached by humans. This snake has a dark body with yellow stripes on the back and sides and may have red marks down the sides.

It can be found in almost any habitat type and is highly cold tolerate. This species ranges to the Northwest Territories border. When harassed it is likely to bite and smear the attacker with a repulsive secretion. Learn more at https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/c01cba73-2e78-4b01-accc-c5b80cd47ab5/resource/eea53c16-12b4-4ca3-8779-e16adefe1ad6/download/sarbrochure-snakesinalberta-mar2016.pdf

Hilwie Hamdon and the Ladies’ Muslim Society

Ramadan is an appropriate time to remember Hilwie Hamdon’s work with the Al Rashid Mosque and the Ladies’ Muslim Society, which was an integral part of Edmonton’s history of community activism and faith-based initiatives from the 1930s through the 1960s.

Hilwie arrived from Lebanon in 1922 and initially settled in Fort Chipewyan with her husband Ali, who was an independent fur-trading merchant. In 1933, she moved to Edmonton for her children to pursue educational opportunities and to connect with Arabs in the city.

Hamdon played a spokesperson role in the 1938 construction of Al Rashid Mosque, the first purpose-built mosque in Canada. The Ladies’ Muslim Society, a group of community minded women organized teas, dinners and bazaars to fundraise for the creation of the mosque. The group also organised initiatives to support a broad range of social and humanitarian efforts.

In recognition of her contributions to the City of Edmonton and to the Arab and Muslim communities, the Edmonton Public School Board named a school after Hilwie Hamdon in 2017. The school, which focuses on kindergarten to Grade 9, is one of four public schools in Canada currently named after a Muslim woman.

https://citymuseumedmonton.ca/2021/04/27/committed-to-community-hilwie-hamdon-and-the-muslim-ladies-association-of-edmonton/

There is a river by Hilary Prince, Acrylic on Canvas 1992, Edmonton City Hall

https://www.edmontonarts.ca/public-art/there-is-a-river

Comment or Contributions

Please note articles may not reflect the position of NSRVCS. River Valley News is meant to be a clearinghouse for the variety of opinions and ideas about Edmonton’s River Valley.

Email river valley photos, event information, comments, or questions to nsrivervalley@gmail.com

Know someone who you think would enjoy receiving this free newsletter? They can sign up at https://www.edmontonrivervalley.org/newsletter-signup 

River Valley News - Mar 14/24

Birding locations in and around Edmonton

As winter turns to spring and migration begins, there are many good locations within the city or not far outside of Edmonton to bird watch. Whitemud Ravine is a local haven for wildlife. Over 150 species of birds have been spotted in the area! During migration, it’s best to go first thing in the morning.

Located east of Edmonton on Hwy 14, Beaverhill Lake is a designated wetland of international significance and one of Canada’s only federally recognized Bird Sanctuaries. Thousands of shorebirds migrate through the area, making spring and fall especially good times to visit. In the winter, look for snowy owls.

West of Edmonton, Big Lake is globally recognized as an Important Bird Area, providing a critical habitat to thousands of wetland and migrating birds. Osprey nest on the nearby industrial park towers and feed in the lake.

More places to visit at https://www.todocanada.ca/birding-locations-in-and-around-edmonton/

Our Natural Home mural a celebration of YEG river valley

Our Natural Home, a mural project created by Kris Friesen, depicts the North Saskatchewan River running through Edmonton. It was created through the Giants of Edmonton Mural program, which was a partnership with Capital City Clean Up and 630 CHED Radio.

This program asked the public to vote on which local heroes and examples would be celebrated in a mural. The mural on the Westside Automotive building at 10010-168 Street NW was the result of the public’s choice of Edmonton’s river valley as a subject.

Kris Friesen describes himself as a mural artist who says “Human interaction is at the core of my work. When a painting accurately reflects the intended sentiment, and I get to witness the community interacting with my representation, it is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job.” https://krisfriesen.com/our-natural-home-river-valley-mural/

Ritchie Mill a nationally recognized heritage building

Constructed in 1892 and the oldest surviving flour mill in Alberta, the Edmonton Milling Company locally known as Ritchie Mill, is listed on Canada’s Historic Places register. It is significant because of its association with the early agricultural and industrial development of Alberta, using steam-powered, steel rollers instead of the traditional stone wheels that became pitted when grinding hard prairie wheat.

Ritchie Mill is also significant because of its association with the development of the Strathcona community, one of south Edmonton's oldest settled neighbourhoods, dating from the arrival of the Calgary and Edmonton railway in 1892, which terminated at the North Saskatchewan River Valley.

The Edmonton Milling Company was located at the 'End of Steel' to take advantage of the rail link with the southern part of the Province. Elevators were added in 1895 and 1902 and the building functioned as a flour mill until 1948.

Robert Ritchie arrived in Strathcona in 1892 and within a year he had built and began operating the flour mill and added elevators in 1895 and 1905. Ritchie also served in local politics as alderman, school trustee, justice of the peace and in 1906 as mayor of Strathcona. https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=3011

Province wants control over Edmonton urban national park process

Joanne copied us on a letter she sent to MLA Brandon Lunty regarding his private member’s bill, Bill 204. Here are some excerpts. “The North Saskatchewan River has a storied history of being an indigenous highway responsible for fur trade and economic development in previous centuries. Indeed, the river is an important part of why Alberta became linked to the rest of Canada . . . As Albertans we belong to both a federal and a provincial constituency responsible for the joint management of the North Saskatchewan River.

I am an Edmontonian and Metis, whose family ties go back as far as Fort Edmonton . . . At any rate, these efforts should be collaborative and respectful of past, present and future uses of urban spaces, and I hope you will consider adjusting the language in Bill 204 in future Readings to reflect these aims. Thank you for listening to and considering my points. I would appreciate knowing if they expanded your point of view.”

Big Miller by Danek Mozdzenski, Big Miller Park

https://www.edmontonarts.ca/public-art/big-miller

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