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Readers write & the writer reviews his views
Time to follow up on a couple of recent columns. Three weeks ago, I wrote a piece questioning just how much a risk anyone is at from second-hand smoke outdoors. This was in response to the city’s consideration of a … Continue Reading
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Proposed smoking bylaw tough to inhale
I’m not a fan of any kind of legislation that intrudes into the way you or I choose to live our lives unless it can be shown that the behaviours we want to engage in present a real risk to … Continue Reading
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Underground stations can be more than dead & buried
Imagine you go into an LRT station and find yourself in the midst of a hive of activity. People are buying newspapers from a kiosk, or wares from vendors with small tables. A quartet is playing chamber music and a … Continue Reading
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City was once a place of 'breathtaking developments'
Thanks to my friend John Buckberrough from Vancouver, I was able to take a little trip back in time to an Edmonton that only some of us are likely to remember. John collects gas station memorabilia, specifically old British American … Continue Reading
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Knowing which way the wage goes
The Alberta Average Weekly Earnings Index (AAWEI) is probably something most of us are not too familiar with, but we should be. Right now city council is mulling over whether or not its members should take a pay increase in … Continue Reading
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Can santa make you suspend your disbelief?
A friend of mine has caused me to question how we choose to celebrate Christmas. Very few of us would argue against the position that the champions of conspicuous consumption have hijacked an important Christian religious observance. I also think … Continue Reading
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Celebrating edmonton as a winter wonderland
This winter is going to be better than the last one. And it’s not because we are necessarily going to have warmer weather, less snow and cleaner streets. It’s going to be better because of METROPOLIS: Edmonton International Winter Festival … Continue Reading
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Who do you see as a mayor with vision?
The next civic election might just be more interesting than the previous two. As anyone who is even remotely interested in our civic government knows, it is difficult to unseat an incumbent mayor or councillor. If the universe unfolds as … Continue Reading
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Look out! cabbies are on our tail
I saw my first black-and- white Edmonton Police Services patrol car the other day. The retro look makes quite an impact. The cars look somewhat menacing in a serve-and-protect kind of way. They speak of a no-nonsense approach to protecting … Continue Reading
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Life's not a beach at city hall
I wonder what keeps Mayor Mandel’s head from exploding. I don’t always agree with what he wants, but there are some initiatives he has championed that I do support. Unfortunately, they often come to naught, but it’s certainly not his … Continue Reading
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Edmonton stories falling short at $5 per site visit
The city’s Edmonton Stories website is supposed to tell the world why Edmonton is a great place to work, live, play and do business. This site has cost about $3 million during the past three years and it’s going to … Continue Reading
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Reading between the city's LRT lines
As you probably know, the city chose not to listen to the concerns of those who live in the area and decided to run a low floor LRT through the heart of Chinatown. If you have ever visited the area, … Continue Reading
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Make their valentine's memorable
For many Edmontonians, a meal out marks a special occasion. This Valentine’s day, thousands of couples will be doing just that. For those with young families, it may be the first time in a long while that they will be … Continue Reading
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Denying salary increase deserves kudos
There are as many models for leadership as there are leaders. You can find courses on leadership that talk about how to lead from behind, from beside and just about any place else. However, I would think that most leaders … Continue Reading
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Urban Compass Edmonton
There's no place like home
My 37th year of living in Edmonton is fast approaching. Moving here in 1975 was quite a shock to my system. I arrived in February from Vancouver to start a job with Syncrude. I knew Edmonton was very far north, … Continue Reading
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CITY NEEDS TO MAKE BETTER USE OF OUR TAX DOLLARS
I hate paying for things that don’t return their promised value. I used to feel that way about airport-improvement fees. I was never sure I would ever see any benefit from doing so. However, if you have been to our … Continue Reading
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Driving home a better deal for the city
As city hall grapples with the budget, it faces two major challenges. It must ensure it has the money to do what needs to be done. And it must keep a tax hike on this side of the financial twilight … Continue Reading
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Same old city budget Song and dance
Do you ever wish you could act like the city? If you could, when you wanted more money you would get it. You wouldn’t need to ask permission. You wouldn’t have to justify your need for it or explain what … Continue Reading
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Making museum history
I’m sure this week we’re going to hear more about the apparent demise of a new downtown Royal Alberta Museum. The announcement that the Feds were not going to pony up their share of the dollars needed to build it … Continue Reading
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Urban Compass Edmonton
Downtown arena still causing a stir
I promised myself I wouldn’t write another word about the downtown-arena debacle. But promises are made to be broken. I started out thinking that the downtown arena was a good idea. But when the financing issues arose, I began to … Continue Reading
