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I’ve changed my position ... a little
 Posted 3/10/2010 6:00:00 AM
In less than a week St. Albert city council will hold a public hearing in council chambers on two bylaws which could allow Habitat for Humanity to build a 58-unit townhouse complex. The complex would provide affordable housing for many low-income families. The issue has stirred a great deal of debate among proponents and opponents. The most vocal against the project are those who would live directly behind the complex on Adrian Place and a portion of Addison Crescent. All kinds of arguments have been published and vocalized in the local newspapers and in recent public meetings.
Now, city council has the task of hearing from the public again before making a decision on whether this project goes ahead. For more than 30 years, residents of the area have rejected other potential uses, most of which would have resulted in a smaller scale development, like a church. The debate hears ...
Texting dangers & the Candle Lady
Posted 3/4/2010 8:30:00 AM
My thanks to Fred and Joe Zasada for their reaction to my blog on the dangers with texting, talking and driving with the cellphone.
READ: The dangers of texting & driving
Joe is correct, that police could—and probably have under some circumstances, charged people with “driving with undue care and attention.” Though, I haven’t heard of someone actually facing such a charge.
Let me know if you have.
Hey Garry, in Edmonton it is not only acceptable to be on the phone while driving and waving the other hand in the air to make your point to the caller, but you can also have a cheeseburger in the other hand as well. One could wonder what she was controlling the car with! What amazed me was the police car on the other side that was unable to see what I could - or perhaps just did not care
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Reconnecting through cyberspace
Posted 2/26/2010 9:29:00 AM
You’ll excuse me if I don’t twitter or text. Not interested really. People can call my cell; I just don’t need a lot of personal electronic communication going on in my life. Too many other thing happening which is more important than twittering and texting. Yeah, I’m perhaps a bit of an oddity in today’s world. That’s okay, I’m old. Oh, I don’t have an iPod either. Neat concept, but nah I have a good stereo system in the car and at home. Works for me. I don’t have a Facebook account—yet. I’ve been thinking about it. I learned about Facebook some three years ago from a co-worker at Saf-T-Pak. Mike Melnyk (No relation, think Saveco) told me one day how he was connecting with old classmates and friends on this web site. I thought that was cool as I’ve often wondered how many of my old school pals have ...
The dangers of texting and driving
Posted 2/19/2010 10:58:00 AM
Perhaps it is time to bring in a law under the Motor Vehicle Act banning the use of a cell phones while driving in this province. The County of Strathcona has the right idea. Today, a woman motorist in a shopping centre near my home could have been T-boned by my car as she was busy texting or punching a number on her cell phone while slowly pulling away from a fast food outlet. Applying the gas, steering, watching me on her left and ignoring any vehicles on her right while doing whatever on the cell, She did not look in control. Someone who wasn’t paying attention coming the other way could have nailed her right side. She just had to make that call or text—right now. Couldn’t wait to do it before pulling out of the parking lot.
Now, being the professional and experienced driver that I am, applying ...
LRT for St. Albert
Posted 2/11/2010 1:00:00 PM
Think about it. An LRT line from south edge of St. Albert into Edmonton. A bonus for those who commute to the big city.
Edmonton's transportation department has put forward eight options for the north-west expansion of the NAIT LRT line. There are three route proposals along St Albert Trail corridor, three options for a route using 127th Street and two more options for a line near 113A Street. Adam Laughlin, a director with the city's transportation branch, says the approximate cost will be $1.5 billion dollars. The line would run from NAIT, through the airport lands to a Park 'N' Ride location at the St Albert Edmonton border near the Anthony Henday. The timeline has Edmonton city council making a final selection in June.
There are thousands of St. Albert residents who work in downtown Edmonton who would welcome quick service to the core. Could it even shorten their ...
''Cultivate Life'' in St. Albert
Posted 2/5/2010 10:00:00 AM
St. Albert has a new brand, a new identity.
After two years of research and planning our little city will carry the brand; “Cultivate Life.” Cute, huh? This will tie in with the city being known across the province as Alberta’s botanic arts capital. This stems from an in-depth analysis of what exactly St. Albert is about. What sets this city apart from other communities in Alberta.
The “Cultivate Life” brand is also a way of encouraging residents to grow in areas important to them. Such as gardening, art or athletics. This brand name came through a study co-ordinated by Roger Brooks of Destination developments International which has worked with 800 communities across North America. Several visits were made to St. Albert where meetings were held with the public, city officials and business to determine what was unique about St. Albertans and this historic city. When their work was ...
Motorshow may disappoint
Posted 1/29/2010 1:15:00 PM
The true auto enthusiast maybe disappointed in what he or she doesn’t see at this year’s Motorshow in Edmonton. Clearly the state of the auto industry, Toyota’s dilemma notwithstanding, has left manufacturers with less money to spend on smaller events like Edmonton. While attending the media preview on Wednesday I could see the 2010 show was going to be a little toned down from the past. The media preview itself was a little more low-key and even show manager Bob Vila who has been at the helm for the past several years, kept it in low gear. Vila says automakers set their budgets around spring of last year, so yeah a lot less being spent for auto shows.
The new Edmonton Expo Centre is a great venue, large, bright and well laid out as an exposition place. I’ve also heard renting floor space is much more expensive than in the ...
Citizen Involvement
Posted 1/28/2010 2:40:00 AM
Citizen involvement on all financial operations of St. Albert?
St. Albert city councilor James Burrows has put forward a suggestion that the finance and audit committee should include two residents to provide input and keep an eye on spending. Burrows proposes these two people begin their responsibilities March 1.
Burrows has been quoted as saying, “Council doesn’t have a monopoly on good ideas. I really believe there is a lot of expertise in our city that’s out there and maybe council needs more scrutiny on the way we spend money.” I think he’s inferring greater transparency in our civic government. His idea stems from the fact various other council committees not only have a council member, but also several members of the public. Burrows also points out other communities such as Airdrie, north of Calgary have already added members of the public to their finance and audit committees.
Burrows says he’s ...
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