JUNE 2007

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ALBERTA AVENUE DELTON EASTWOOD ELMWOOD PARK REE S PARKDALE EKK PPR SPRUCE AVENUE CCRREEE WESTWOOD RSRSAATT S BUILDING COMMUNITY . ENCOURAGING COMMUNICATION . IN CREASING CAPACITY

CIRCULATION 8,500 PH: 479.6285 EMAIL: [email protected]

meaning those people look- Various booths with infor- donate 25 per cent of the pro- Festival Lets ing for a new family member mation on pet health, nutri- ceeds to dog rescue groups. will be able to adopt one tion, grooming and general on-site, according to Allan. pet care will be available so pet BUSINESSES GOING “This is a community owners can learn how to best TO THE DOGS Fun Off-leash with a big heart and so it was take care of man’s best friend. Other Animal Control Enforcement, City of attractions Edmonton JILL SCHEYK The Avenue Goes to the Dogs include dog Dogspaw will be held June 9 from 10 a.m. games like (dog฀daycare,฀grooming,฀boarding฀ Alberta Avenue will go to to 4 p.m. at the Alberta Avenue the “wie- and฀training) the dogs in early June when Community League. Admission ner bob,” K9Behave volunteers and local pet is free; there are fundraising agility and (behavior฀training) businesses put on a day of raffles and dog games that ben- freestyle Multi Menu activities and games geared efit local rescue operations. competi- towards the community’s four- Taylor will be running a (home฀delivery฀of฀pet฀food฀and฀ tions, and accessories) legged friends. booth at the event, as well as even puppy “Not only do we love doing demonstrations through- pedicures Second Chance Rescue Society our community, we love their out the day. She’ll be showing to pamper (SCARS) dogs,” said Judy Allan, dog the audience musical freestyle, your pet. Prairie Animal Rescue Society owner and coordinator for the manners and sociability tests All pets (PARS) Avenue Initiative Revitalization. for dogs, as well as rally obedi- must be PACE Performance Ability Club of Edmonton dog trainer ence, a dog sport that values leashed Edmonton Darlene Taylor said that own- speed and task performance. and under Northern Alberta Society for Animal ers and pets alike will benefit While the dogs with control Protection from the festival activities. families will have their day, Scheyk Jill while in Puppylove Dog Grooming “Number one, they’re volunteers didn’t forget NICOLE JOHNSON GETS SOME LOVE FROM THE DOGS IN HER attendance. going to have fun…(and) they’ll about canines who are still DAYCARE AT DOGSPAW The Western Guide and Assistance Dog become a little bit more aware waiting to find a home. Rat Creek Society of what dog-related businesses Local dog rescue orga- no surprise to me that the Press will be running the Pet Therapy Society of Northern and opportunities there are in nizations will be present at less fortunate dogs (were concession stand as a fund- Alberta the neighbourhood,” Taylor said. The Avenue Goes to the Dogs, not) forgotten,” Allan said. raiser for the paper, and will

sion of spring. A Breath of Fresh Air I visited each booth and was amply rewarded MAXINE MCCLEOD not able to come to this event my competition for some dal- for my time. From let me say – you missed help- hias that were up for grabs, but organic fertilizer, to On Sunday May 13, I opened ful and gardening books, my city newspaper to see a large inspiring to Arts on the picture of a family that attended workshop Ave artists paint- the event I was fortunate sessions, ing one of a kind enough to go to as well. The a range of pots – the range Blooming Back Alleys Gardening booths and was broad. Now Show at Alberta Avenue displays, a if you want row Community Hall. plant and upon row of booth

Imagine my surprise to seed swap, after booth go to Scheyk Jill realize that despite being pic- a spectacu- the Edmonton CEILI, 7, LEFT, AND HANNAH, 9, RIGHT, PAINT tured the article was not about lar set up Home and Garden FLOWERPOTS AT THE MOTHER’S DAY GARDENING EVENT the event. What a shame the and great Show, but if you AT THE ALBERTA AVENUE COMMUNITY LEAGUE. newspaper did not use the door priz- want local, knowl- picture to report on the event es. It was edgeable vendors called home to squeeze out because it was fabulous! like being Scheyk Jill with a small town feel don’t another half hour to take in For those of you who were transport- MARGARET LARSEN, ONE OF THE VOLUNTEERS ON THE miss this event next year. the final session on window ed out of GARDENING DAY PLANNING COMMITTEE, AT THE PRAIRIE The sessions were very box gardening by Rat Creek’s CONTENTS Edmonton GARDENS TABLE SELLING BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS good – they all delivered valu- own Gardening Diva. I was pre- able info but I must say I could disappointed I did not win the Editorial ...... 2 spring and into a prairie she told me she had a whole have listened to the Urban box that was given away – but garden that had already been area set up for the children’s Farmer for several more hours. I am going to try some of the Letters to the Editor ...... 2 planted, watered and weeded. programs. They must have been Besides just giving me garden tips she gave in my boxes. I love to garden so I rear- good judging from the smil- info, he inspired me. I think I All in all, a fabulous after- Community News ...... 3 ranged an otherwise busy day ing kids I saw carrying pots of might dig up another part of noon, well worth the time to carve out four hours to take flowers they my yard to try and I did mention this was all Local Business ...... 4 in this event. I knew the effort had planted. a few things he free, didn’t I? My thanks to all was going to be rewarded as When I suggested. My those who volunteered time Housing & Development ...... 6 I stepped into the hall. There stepped into four hours flew or supplies to bring this event were white picket fences, wish- the hall I was by: meeting together – let’s make it an Our Neighbourhoods ...... 8 ing wells, birds, door prize amazed. The friends I knew; annual spring celebration! One tickets, free seeds for mothers, volunteer making new last plug- if this is the caliber of Resident Profile ...... 10 a plant swap and I had not crew who put ones over dis- programming available in our even made it past the foyer. this event cussions about community – mark your calen- Law & Order ...... 11 I was pleasantly surprised together had gardening, all dars for June 9, as the avenue to meet my librarian friend transformed while enjoying “Goes to the Dogs”. They are The Gardening Diva ...... 12 Louella from Sprucewood the place into delicious refresh- doing an all day event focus- Library as I was wrestling with an urban gar- ments provided ing on dogs. I can not wait; Homegrown Renos ...... 13 my conscience about how many den retreat. Allan Judy by Doug and the my dog and I will be there! plants it would be proper for Plants, topiar- crew at Flavor Events ...... 15 me to take. For a brief moment ies, flowers and garden props Budz- a local catering company. onlineEXTRA Gardening Day Photo I thought she might have been were everywhere – an explo- I must confess I even album at www.ratcreek.org RAT CREEK PRESS EDITORIAL JUNE 2007 • VOLUME 9, ISSUE 06

PHONE 780.479.6285 EMAIL [email protected] Just Say Yes To Rent Control WEB www.ratcreek.org

MANAGING EDITOR Karen Mykietka JILL SCHEYK Kolias, recently told the know your rights as a renter. I The vacancy rate is at record EDITOR Dawn Freeman Calgary Herald that rent con- allowed my rent to be increased lows, so the times of being GRAPHIC DESIGN Leanne McBean A recent Ipsos-Reid survey trol also means “controlling with no notice at all. If I had able to rely on “if you don’t been a savvy renter, I might like it, move” are gone. ADVERTISING found that 92 per cent of wages, salaries, oil and gas renters and 78 per cent of prices, and prices as a whole have saved much of the stress Unless of course, you DISTRIBUTION Canada Post homeowners in Edmonton and – like they did in Russia.” that came with the extra dollars. want to stake out a nice BOARD MEMBERS Calgary support limits on the Comparing a rent- Waits for affordable or house in Saskatchewan. Kathleen Quinn, PAAFE two cities’ skyrocketing rents. controlled Alberta to the low-income housing can be Jill is a Grant MacEwan student doing Peter Rausch, AABA Well, why not? Edmonton Soviet Union in the time of years long, and most Albertans her Journalism internship with the Rat Verna Stainthorp, Spruce Avenue renters have been getting Stalin might be a bit much. don’t have years of extortion- Creek Press. Cheryl Walker, Parkdale the shaft from the province While fettering the free ate rents in their pockets. Cath Jackel, Alberta Avenue since this boom started. market might drive a spike Cindy Burgess, Eastwood Unfortunately, the door through political hearts in the Patricia Jessome, Alberta Avenue to rent control slammed shut Legislature, Edmontonians Your Rights as a Renter for at least a long while after are in a painful situation More board members welcome. the grassroots Conservatives that can only get worse. • The landlord must provide 24 hours notice to enter your voted not to tell the govern- Even the little increases RAT CREEK PRESS ASSOCIATION rental unit except in the case of an emergency. ment to put all the Affordable hurt someone. Earlier this year 2006 Recipient of the Solicitor General Housing Task Force’s rec- there was a $100 increase in • If you rent a unit for a fixed term (e.g. a one year lease) and Crime Prevention Award ommendations in place. my own rent, which is rela- continue to pay monthly rent when the lease expires, but Box 39024 RPO Norwood Tories just can’t bring tively reasonable in comparison do not sign another year’s lease, your tenancy has become Edmonton, Alberta T5B 4T8 themselves to to reports from periodic (monthly) by implication and you need only give OUR MISSION interfere with $500 to upwards one month’s notice to vacate. the Almighty Prosperity is great, of $1,000. Too The mission of the Rat Creek Press • The most a landlord can ask for as a security deposit is Association is to highlight community Free Market. but how many bad for me I was But supply a student who one month’s rent. news, activities, and recreational Edmontonians are opportunities as well as local residents and demand already paid out • If your landlord did not do a move-in inspection, he or she and businesses to support the growth in an economy really prospering? 90 per cent of her cannot make deductions from your security deposit. of a strong, vibrant, well-connected as hot as monthly income to community. Edmonton’s the rental company. • Your security deposit must be deposited in an interest- doesn’t work Two jobs earning account, the interest from which is to be paid to OUR FINANCIAL SUPPORTERS quite as well when people don’t and a six-day work week you at the end of each tenancy year unless you have agreed Norwood Neighbourhood Association have choices. Prosperity is great, later, I struggled to fit in my otherwise (e.g. at the end of the tenancy) Spruce Avenue Community League but how many Edmontonians school obligations around Elmwood Park Community League are really prospering? my time spent in a cubicle • The security deposit (minus any deductions) must be Alberta Avenue Business Association The new legislation that or behind a cash register. returned to you within thirty days of the end of the tenancy. PAAFE - Prostitution Awareness & stops rental increases from Now with the new laws Action Foundation of Edmonton going ahead more than once temporarily stopping another • The landlord must give a minimum three months’ notice to a year is about as useful as a raise of $50, who knows increase the rent if you pay rent monthly, twelve weeks if stick of gum in a dam. The how many zeroes will be you pay weekly, or 90 days on any other period of tenancy. city will ring in the new year tacked on the next increase. with a quiet night at home, Rent control, even tempo- • You can get more information from If You Eat, waiting for the dreaded rary, is the best solution avail- www.landlordandtenant.org, drop by the Landlord and rental increase form letter. able to the province right now. Tenant Advisory Board office at Nova Place, 8904-118 You Qualify! Without rent control, all Why should prosperity come at Avenue, or call 496-5959. the government is saying to the expense of Edmontonian’s • The Alberta Government offers the Residential Tenancy gouging landlords is “Lay off, ability to provide themselves Dispute Resolution Service to handle claims up to $25,000 but just for a few months.” and their families with a clean, for a filing fee of $75. The CEO of Boardwalk secure living situation? Rental Communities, Sam In lieu of rent control,

ing by-law as it stands when have provided support to many Unsuitable development developments fit within the developments of apartment stopped by community action existing neighbourhood and buildings and group homes. Individuals at all income RAY COTÉ all aspects of respect for privacy levels benefit from for anyone living to the north participating. On March 22, a delegation on that block; there was no from Spruce Avenue parking available for multiple Community League and vehicles; the traffic is already several residents of the com- a nightmare; and it just plain HELP YOURSELF munity appeared before the did not “fit” at that location. Stretch your food budget. Subdivision and Development Following private delib- Eat Healthy foods Appeals Board (SDAB) to erations the appeal by Spruce oppose the development of a Avenue community was row-house style development successful, and the develop- in the neighbourhood. ment permit was denied. The HELP EACH OTHER The group presented a League is active in attend- well-prepared and thought- ing the City of Edmonton Christy Morin Improve your combined VOLUNTEERS LIKE ALLAN WICKEM MADE THE MAY economic buying power ful appeal to express that the workshops regarding Smart CLEAN UP DAY A HUGE SUCCESS Spruce Avenue community was Choices and the 118 Avenue not looking for exclusivity, but Initiative, and is also under- May clean up day a huge success HELP YOUR COMMUNITY rather that the focus of their taking the task of updating Contribute to the commu- objections had to do with the the Area Redevelopment Approximately 60 volunteers bins at Alberta Avenue also turned out on May 5, after a had a steady stream of loaded nity through volunteering at appropriateness of that specific Plan (ARP) and redevelop- project in that specific location. ing the community park. week of soaking rain, to help down vehicles. A line up of the place and interest of It was a major concern Spruce Avenue boasts beauty our neighbourhoods. vehiles for two or three blocks your choice. $2 from every that a permit had been issued many types of development Twelve trucks headed out to was common. Other teams basket is contributed to to develop row housing on a within their community tackle the mountains of large hit 118 Avenue with cans of items such as appliances and paint and covered up around local housing projects. single lot. Other comments including apartment build- from the nearly 200 residents ings both high-rise and low- couches littering our alleys. 40 instances of graffiti. The who signed a petition oppos- rise, businesses, row housing, They responded to over painters included a group ing this particular development single and multiple family 100 calls for pick up and of students from Parkdale were: how the proposal was not dwellings, housing for the drove miles of alleys picking School, volunteers from the Receive $40 basket of family friendly; that it did not handicapped and the dis- up discarded items. It is Mustard Seed, members of the food, pay only $20. suit the existing surroundings; abled, and group homes. as estimated that 80 truckloads beautification working group the size, character and scale of well as major institutions of garbage were brought in and other local residents. Find Sign up today! the row house development such as hospitals, Kingsway by our volunteers. The public more Big Bin dates on page 15 474.5546 was not in keeping with the Mall, and NAIT. They are a onlineEXTRA More clean up pictures at www.ratcreek.org surrounding homes; it violated strong supporter of the zon-

2 RAT CREEK PRESS JUNE 2007 COMMUNITY NEWS

Parking concerns raised at streetscape open house North Central Rec Centre may Around 330 people took the raised over parking, Brian van fully supports the current pro- relocate to Stadium opportunity to check out the Sickle, from Planning and posed plan. “We knew we’d lose streetscape plan on May 9th at Development, did further some side street parking and City council approved a pro- $20 million to contribute an open house held at Eastwood study and number analysis we’ve looking at how we can posal to explore a partnership to the project in addition to the hall. and presented the results to make it up,” says Rausch, “We with the Edmonton Eskimos to city’s confirmed investment Although supportive the Alberta Avenue Business are working with businesses to build a north-central recreation of $29 million. of the draft plan’s other ele- Association (AABA) on May identity back lane parking and centre next to Commonwealth “When I was fighting ments, Lorne Billingsley-Smith, 16. Currently, 118 Avenue and have staff park behind build- Stadium. against NAIT’s [location], I was a new resident to Alberta sidestreets between 82 and 89 ings. We’re also looking at some “We’re hopeful that against it because it’s very awk- Avenue, is strongly opposed Street can accomodate about two hour parking maximums we’ll continue to go down ward to access,” says Councillor to the reduction in parking. 300 parked vehicles. van Sickle and the potential of using under the same timeline,” Teresa Ed Gibbons, “I’m not saying “The ability for me as a says this is probably more park- used areas such as the parking Miller-Grayston said. Miller- the Commonwealth is the per- resident to walk to neighbor- ing than any commercial street lot behind the Nova building.” Grayston is the supervisor fect place but the other sites hood shops and services helped in Edmonton and it is very “When we get to the partner of facility development were getting remote to you.” attract me to move here,” says under used. A vehicle count in point where there is lots for the city of Edmonton. “My number one concern Billingsley-Smith, “But these April 2006 and again in May of parking problems that The original north NAIT is that the community is con- businesses also need their non- 2007 showed only 94 and 85 means we are successful,” campus location had a tenta- sulted with,” adds Gibbons. local, “rubber tire” patronage, parked vehiles respectively. Councillor Ed Gibbons said. tive completion date of late Public consultation for the to continue and to thrive. I The proposed plan for 83- The new streetscape of fall 2009 or winter 2010, project will begin in September drove to Popular Bakery from 89 St calls for an overall 21% 118 Avenue will come in but provincial funding for this year after city staff have Riverdale, before buying a reduction in car parking while stages: 83-89 St. in 2008, the project fell through. more details on what the residence in Alberta Avenue adding around 44 parking 89-94 St. in 2009; 97-102 The Eskimos have a total of structure will look like. -JS and did use the existing, side spaces for motorcycles/scooters. St. in 2009; 94-97 St. in street parking amenity. Peter Rausch, executive director 2010; 78-83 St. in 2011; and Because of the concerns of AABA, stated that his board 102-106 St. in 2012. -KM Eastwood Health Centre to break ground in June Zero quality of life? After an appeal against the build- CEO of Capital Health ing was struck down in March, Sheila Weatherill and vice presi- The City of Edmonton con- on the priority list for revitaliza- ratings are flawed and reflect the groundbreaking for the dent of the primary care divi- ducted a study of the city’s 213 tion which translates to invest- more about neighbourhood Eastwood Primary Health Centre sion Marianne Stewart will be neighbourhoods to help decide ment of city dollars in our area. affluence than quality of life. will go ahead on June 4 of this saying a few words. The details which neighbourhood should While it only made head- Councillor Ed Gibbons year, according to Mark Dixon, regarding other speakers at the be a priority for neighbourhood lines recently, the report came stated he was not happy with director of marketing and special event are still being finalized. revitalization. Twenty indicators out in 2006. “The Rat Creek the report, “It was an insult projects for Capital Health. Later in the year Capital were used to determine neigh- Press chose at that time not to to say Alberta Avenue has The groundbreaking is Health will be hosting open bourhood quality of life. Each publish anything on the report,” zero quality of life.” He talked open to the public. houses for the community. -JS neighbourhood was given a said editor Dawn Freeman. about the wonderful garden- score between 0 to 100. The bad “We found it to be neither use- ing show the community just news is the ratings portray our ful nor beneficial information put on and how community What’s up with the Cromdale Hotel? neighbourhoods in a poor light for or about our community.” engagement is happening. Spokesmen for Spirits Liquor, the current owners of the Cromdale – Alberta Avenue was actually In numerous letters to the (Note the report is based on data Hotel, are tightlipped about the hotel’s future. Though there have given a quality of life rating of Edmonton Journal after their been rumours about the possible fate of the hotel, Spirits Liquor 0. The good news is five out of front page story on Sunday, from 2002 or earlier and may not reflect our community today.) won’t discuss the subject – JS eight of our neighbourhoods are May 13, people stated the -KM JILL SCHEYK & KAREN MYKIETKA avenue initiative revitalization The Avenue Initiative is a community based Thank you community neighbors. revitalization of 118th This wouldn’t happen without you! from Nait to Northlands. The community has come Grafitti Removal/ Large Item Clean-Up Day together to work with the This day was a great success. Tons of garbage & large items were removed from alleys City to create a council and public spaces. Thanks to all the volunteers for their wonderful help & dedication. approved strategy Those Bloomin’ Back Alleys! Gardening Show that will create a safe, This enchanted gardening day was filled with music, flowers, colours, informative walkable community workshops and great people. Enter your bloomin’ back alley challenge! for everyone. Remember to include a “before” picture. Deadline August 1st. Zoning and Streetscape Meetings The Revitalization Committees were delighted to see great numbers in attendance for the open house and public meeting. Your input and concerns are very important. Please watch for new information in September. Arts on the Ave presents “Arts Alive!” festival The second annual Arts Alive! family festival is coming to the Avenue this September. The “No-Tie” Visual Art Sale and Gallery-September 28. Festival Day-September 29. Arts Alive! Festival includes dance, theatre, visual art, film, music, interactive art workshops and more! Volunteers are needed. www.artsontheave.org Avenue goes to the Dogs, June 9th Please see page 9 for details

For information call Judy Allan 496-1913

RAT CREEK PRESS JUNE 2007 3 LOCAL BUSINESS to preserve the architectural ing is “a great example of style of that era. Often what modern architecture” that the public sees as a run down Holdsworth would like to Historical study of 118 building fit only for a visit see preserved and restored. from a bulldozer, Holdsworth Unfortunately, being sees as an architectural gem. on the register does not pre- Ave to begin For instance, the old vent a building from being West’s Cards shop at 78 St torn down. Resources on is “one of the few remain- the Register are “flagged” so KAREN MYKIETKA says, “We are extremely pleased – especially old photographs.” ing boom town structures”, that when any development to have this grant. We’ll be It’s not just old buildings Poulin’s Pest control at issues arise, the Heritage The buildings along 118 Av- working with the Planners become involved enue between Northlands and Heritage Planners to either try and save the NAIT are being surveyed to and the Avenue buildings or ensure appropri- identify any historically or ar- Initiative to get ate development occurs. chitecturally significant build- information out Incentives and grants are ings. Homes two blocks north to businesses available for owners wishing to and two restore historic buildings. The blocks south City can also include protec- are also being tion clauses in zoning bylaws examined which give priority to resto- (that means ration of heritage buildings. blocks 116, Holdsworth has already sug- 117, 118 and gested this to planners looking 119). into the rezoning in our area. “We need Once this survey is done to identify the plan is to look more widely what is there at the surrounding neigh- before it gets bourhoods which also have destroyed,” Freeman Dawn numerous heritage buildings. says City of The project is being Edmonton Heritage Planner and residents.” funded jointly by the City David Holdsworth. Once the Local of Edmonton and the prov- survey is completed at the resources are an ince through a grant from end of the year, the Heritage important part of Freeman Dawn the Municipal Heritage Planners will recommend this type of proj- WEST’S SPORTS CARDS AND POULIN’S EXTERMINATORS ARE CLASSIC EXAMPLES OF HISTORI- Partnership Program. adding significant sites to the ect. Holdsworth CAL ARCHITECTURE, SAYS CITY HERITAGE PLANNER, DAVID HOLDSWORTH For more information or to Register of Historical says, “We would pass along information Resources. appreciate any information that are added to the register. 87 Street is “classic 50’s of your own, contact David Peter Rausch of the Alberta people have on the neighbour- Many structures built in the architecture,” and the Holdsworth at 496-5281 or Avenue Business Association hood or particular buildings 1950’s and 1960’s are included old Georges Cycle build- [email protected]. ABC Parties On Zoning in on zoning

After 42 Years KAREN MYKIETKA duplex homes (RF3) to row Initiative Coordinator, “but housing (RF5). Residents did we also felt that many people Zoning and development is a not take kindly to this proposal. had questions and concerns JILL SCHEYK & PETER RAUSCH moved to Kingsway Mall in hot topic in our neighbourhood. The application for zoning that were not addressed.” 1976 the business became ABC Residents started lining up at change on 118 Avenue was sub- Smaller community meet- The wedding business can be a Wedding and Party Rentals. Alberta Avenue a half hour mitted and will go before City ings will be held in the fall to crazy one – ABC Weddings and The family opened ABC before the start Party Rentals’ Bruce Demkiw Bridal next door in 1990 to of the April 16 knows that better than anyone. complement the rental busi- pubic meeting His family has been putting wed- ness and make the store on zoning. dings together for 29 of the 42 one-stop shopping for a Over 300 years that they’ve owned ABC. bride or groom-to-be. people filled “You have to be quick The stores provide every- the hall for a to adapt,” Demkiw, who is thing – the dress, the table presentation set-up, and if you by the City need them, a 7,000 of Edmonton square foot tent, mini- Planning and doughnut and pop- Development corn machines, and department on a chocolate fountain. the proposed Delivery, set-up and plan and zon- takedown are included ing changes for in the rental fee. 118 Avenue Through the years and surround- ABC has added cus- ing blocks. tomized invitations, The plan decorative archways and called for pillars, dance floors, changing zon- staging and lighting ing along 118 to its product list. Ave to CB2

Jill Scheyk Jill which allows ERIN GREENHOUGH, LEFT, AND KRYSTAL MILLEN, Book early for for develop- RIGHT, TOAST THEIR HARD WORK AS SALES AS- summer weddings, ments of up SOCIATES WITH ABC WEDDINGS & PARTY RENTAL because June, July to four stories and August are peak with com- the second generation owner, rental times, Demkiw said. mercial on said. He’s seen it all, from a An extensive prod- the ground year’s planning to a week’s. uct list is available online level and any Planning time is get- at abcweddings.com. combination ting shorter due to busier of commercial, Judy Allan Judy lives, Demkiw added. ABC Wedding & Party Rentals office, and RESIDENTS LINING UP TO GET IN THE ZONING PUBLIC MEETING ON APRIL 16 One couple got engaged 10428 – 118 Avenue residential on a trip to Edmonton and 479-2777 above. CB2 also allows were married and throwing www.abcwedding.com a reception two days later. for a great diversity of busi- Council in the fall. The residen- allow for “two-way discussion” ABC opened in 1965 as Hours of Operation: ness uses. Many areas of 118 tial zoning changes are on hold Allan added, “We want to make ABC Hobbies, drawing cus- Monday, Tuesday & Friday, Ave already have this zoning. pending further consultation. sure that people’s concerns are tomer from the Sears across Saturday 9:30 am – 5:30 pm; The plan also proposed “It was fantastic to see listened to and that people have the street to their family-run Wednesday & Thursday 9:30 am – 8:00 pm rezoning the 117 and 118 so many people turn out,” an understanding of how rezon- specialty store. When Sears blocks from single family and said Judy Allan, the Avenue ing the area will impact them.”

4 RAT CREEK PRESS JUNE 2007 ADVERTORIAL Which of These Costly Home-seller Mistakes Will You Make When You Sell Your Home?

EDMONTON - A new report they want for their home and to Get Your Home Sold Fast has just been released which become disillusioned and and For Top Dollar.” reveals 7 costly mistakes - worse - financially disad- To hear a brief recorded that most homeowners make vantaged when they put their message about how to order when selling their home, and home on the market. your free copy of this report, a 9 Step System that can As this report uncov- call 1-866-815-9646 and enter help you sell your home fast ers, most homesellers make ID#4900. You can call any- and for the most amount of 7 deadly mistakes that cost time, 24 hours a day, 7 days money. them literally thousands of a week. This industry report shows dollars. The good news is Call NOW to find out how clearly how the traditional that each and every one of you can get the most money ways of selling homes have these mistakes is entirely pre- for your home. become increasingly less and ventable. less effective in today’s mar- In answer to this issue, This report courtesy of Donna ket. The fact of the matter industry insiders have pre- Straus, Royal Lepage Arteam. Not is that fully three quarters of pared a free special report intended to solicit properties already homesellers don’t get what entitled “The 9 Step System listed for sale.

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RAT CREEK PRESS JUNE 2007 5 HOUSING & DEVELOPMENT HOUSING & DEVELOPMENT

97 Street in the Delton com- “I’m sure you could extend said. “There’s the challenge Inner city group builds munity, stands to push that your arm and hit the houses of finding ways to create number over 400 with 26 more (there,)” Hartridge said with a more housing, especially in units in a walkup apartment. laugh. “It’s very manufactured.” this extremely volatile and needed housing Construction on the EICHS is in a tough heated economic situation.” new singles building awaits business. Building any kind Construction costs spiraling final funding, but EICHS has of housing in Edmonton out of control is another prob- JILL SCHEYK affordable housing has given her. received a letter lem the hot economy “It’s enabled me to become of support from has caused, he added. There are three family projects independent…it’s a really good the community. The waiting list in the Alberta Avenue area run feeling to know I can go to “I think is a testament to how by the Edmonton Inner City work and support myself and people in the hard it is to keep up Housing Society (EICHS), but my daughter,” Hartridge said. community with demand. Those executive director George Kelly “What this company has appreciate the interested in a ten- doesn’t think you could pick done for me is phenomenal.” fact that we ancy with EICHS them out of the crowd. The idea for EICHS started manage in the are quoted a wait EICHS builds unla- in 1982, when people living long term,” time of between two belled housing for low-income in the inner city recognized a Kelly said. and three years. singles and families. That shortage of affordable hous- “Anyone can These are chal- means no signs, and designs ing due to Edmonton’s 70s build a project, lenges EICHS is that fit with the style of the boom, according to Kelly. it’s really how willing to face to help neighbourhood. It also means At the time, he was you manage it people lead comfort- no premature judgment. employed with the Boyle (that counts.)” Rebecca Lippiatt-Long able lives in a city “Balanced communi- McCauley Health Centre. For After 3 years on EICHS waiting list, Kim McLeod was very where just meeting ties have different people with “The physicians would have Hartridge, her happy to move into one of their new fourplexes in Norwood in basic needs can be different income levels liv- a person come in who’d been community is April 2004. McLeod has been raising three of her nieces and financially daunting. ing in them,” Kelly said. beaten up, they’d fix him up and the perfect fit nephews since birth. Brandon, 10, goes to Norwood School and Earlier this year she was hop- Kelly won a ROOPH And EICHS residents then send him back,” Kelly said. Jordan, 2, stays home with his aunt. Not pictured is Halle, ing for. She (Recognizing have a history of being valu- EICHS was born so that 5, who was fast asleep after a long, busy day at Norwood able members of the com- person wouldn’t have to go back loves the big Outstanding trees and walk- Kindergarten. McLeod said, “It’s hard to find a decent place to Organizations, People munity. Some volunteer with to that unsafe environment. live especially when you have children.” She is very grateful to community organizations, and The company incor- ing her dogs in and Housing) award EICHS who not only provided a roof for her family but helped a few are even members of porated in 1983 and was the beautiful for outstanding lead- the board for EICHS itself. registered as a charitable older area. out with furniture as well. We are grateful to Kim for helping ership in the housing Marilyn Hartridge* is one organization not long after. Though her deliver the Rat Creek before we started with Canada Post. sector. The awards of EICHS success stories. A Almost 25 years later, the best friend lives were presented by the resident of Parkdale and mother company houses more than in the moneyed suburb Lewis is a unique challenge. Edmonton Housing Trust Fund. to a young daughter, Hartridge 300 people. A new project Estates, Hartridge thinks it’s her “I think certainly the loves the freedom that having called ‘Home Base,’ located on friend who should be jealous. challenges are many,” Kelly *Name changed for personal reasons

How would you feel about affordable housing in your neighborhood? *Affordable housing is housing where people pay no more than 30% of their gross monthly income in rent or mortgage.

Residents on There should be a mixture Councillor Ed Gibbons on affordable housing: affordable housing: – not all lower income, but a mixture in our community. INTERVIEWED BY When asked about to allow secondary suites. KAREN MYKIETKA increased crime, he responded, The biggest issue with online EXTRA Read all the full Affordable housing, if it is for “Crime happens everywhere.” affordable housing tends to be comments at www.ratcreek.org seniors, single parents that are raising children or the working Councillor Ed Gibbons has City Council acknowl- its concentration. “There are lived in north east Edmonton edges the housing crisis in examples of mixed housing** I would prefer to see afford- poor. for over 30 years. He is very Edmonton and has created the in other parts of the world,” able home ownership, or • Brenda Kuzio, Eastwood familiar with our seven little “Cornerstone Plan” with the says Gibbons. “We’re working alternatively, rental housing for neighbhourhoods; he even lived goal of increasing affordable on it in Edmonton…If you do special interest groups. I am This area is already the most in Parkdale for a time. Gibbons housing by 2500 units in five it right off the bat; everyone not comfortable with rental affordable in the city, for says he spends a disproportion- years. But Gibbons says, “I knows what they’re going into.” properties run by absentee ownership and renting. When ate amount of his time in our represent northeast Edmonton What about 118 Ave? landlords. I would love to see you can’t exist anywhere else community especially given it and every other part of the The zoning changes applied spaces available for artists to you end up here. Encouraging is just a fraction of the area he city better get its share.” for will allow more residential live and work. more low-income people to represents. “To meet the demand for development (up to 3 stories • Cindy Burgess, Eastwood come to Alberta Avenue will not help the area. When asked if our north housing, it [affordable hous- above commercial). While the central community has a ing] shouldn’t just be in older community seems generally Almost half of my block is • Jim Maxwell, Alberta Avenue high concentration of afford- areas. It should be all over. It’s supportive of this, many people rental and nine “affordable able housing, Gibbons was a tough sell,” adds Gibbons. do fear that the development houses” will be ready for Middle and higher income quick to respond, “No, we’ve “We press developers could be more “Nova build- occupancy in the fall. Two affordable housing for own- got more in Abbottsfield and for 5-10% affordable hous- ings” – aka affordable housing. rentals are already the source ership would be great. This Claireview. Go up to my north ing,” says Gibbons, “We “We need housing like of serious concerns due to the area of the city already has end, parts of Londonderry, push them hard…most of Nova but I don’t think that’ll indifference of the people con- more than its share of the low Delton. You don’t touch that them now know that our happen all the way along [118 cerned and the “absentee land- income and social housing. Let type of density and the prob- council pushes for 5-10% Ave],” responds Gibbons. lord” problem. I can be com- the rest of the city take their lems in there.” Pockets of right off the bat…We should “It comes down to whatever passionate, but the reality is share of the welfare. Owner affordable housing exist all over have done this years ago.” the market will support. It’s that my home is my retirement occupied housing is the most Edmonton even in Riverbend. In addition, many new not just 118 Ave that goes shelter and I would like to live desirable as people then have Gibbons added, “Where I developments are zoned to through these pressures [of my golden years in peace. an investment and commit- live you have to drive through allow secondary suites (e.g. unwanted development].” • Rene Ladsous, Alberta Ave ment to the community. • Donna F, Norwood a complete community of Twelligar Towne) and exist- Edmonton Housing to enter ing neighbourhoods all over **Housing developments with units for While we presently have some The only way any commu- my cul de sac. I don’t see it the city are also being con- lower, middle and higher income house- Habitat for Humanity hous- holds. anymore. It doesn’t bother me.” sulted with to change zoning ing here, I would like much nity can stay active, alive and more of this. The entire city secure is to have home owner- needs more affordable housing, ship (including Habitat). I’m not just Parkdale. I leave the not saying that rental proper- �������������������������� house every weekday morning ties are a bad thing, but they at 7:15 AM and see homeless must be controlled if a com- ���������������������� people sleeping where they munity is to be viable and to can. More affordable hous- succeed. �������������� ing would help some of these • Judy Adams, Spruce Avenue ���������������������� people. ������������������������������������� • Margaret Mooney, Parkdale ������������������������������ �������������������� ���������������

6 RAT CREEK PRESS JUNE 2007 HOUSING & DEVELOPMENT HOUSING & DEVELOPMENT

allows secondary suites, forcing them to sell; however, says, “There is going to be Zoning Q &A duplexes. If it’s an RF3, you if surrounding lots sell then higher density development can do certain things to it you could have row housing but it’s going to be well KAREN MYKIETKA density development to sup- already…and all the LRT area built next door. The zoning planned and well thought out. port the business strip on 118 is zoned for high density. So change will likely increase There’s going to be commu- Zoning is a hot topic but one Ave and increase safety with it’s buyer beware.” property values. nity input into it…You’ll keep that is misunderstood. To help “eyes on the street” started the uniqueness of each area.” clarify matters, here are some here. Later, the task of sort- You can look up all the zon- Q: Are developers pushing for questions that have been raised ing out if we had the proper ing info on a city website (see zoning changes? Q: What will be done to pre- and their answers. zoning for this development “Get the scoop” on page 9). A: Yes and no. Peter Rausch of vent a bunch of cheap and fell to the Development and the Alberta Avenue Business ugly apartments from being Q: When did rezoning become Revitalization Working Group. Q: Will home owners in the Association says, “We’ve had built in our neighbourhood? part of the revitalization plan? proposed RF5 zone (117 and a lot of people interested in A: Councillor Ed Gibbons A: Rezoning was initiated by Q: What is our current zoning? 118 blocks) be forced to sell purchasing property. Many says, “I’m very friendly with residents and was part of the A: Pockets of 118 Avenue if the zoning is changed so are waiting for the zoning developers in North East plan right from the begin- and adjacent residential row housing can be built? changes.” Ed Gibbons says, Edmonton. I know most of ning. The plan, as it emerged, blocks already allow higher A: The City is not a developer “When the economy is good, them. I work tough with has always been presented to density development such as and it very rarely appropriates it’s going to develop 118 them. But they know until I’m the community for feedback commercial buildings with land. The single family homes Avenue. Developers are look- happy, it’s going no where… through updates, open houses 3-4 stories and walk up apart- on these blocks will con- ing for places and where is I’m talking to people all the and the Rat Creek Press. ments. Other sections of our tinue on even if the zoning is better than near the city centre time. I’ll look at them and say, community are zoned for low changed. But as homes go up like Alberta Avenue.” ‘I don’t think so.’” The Alberta Public meetings where resi- and high rise apartments. The for sale, they could be bought Avenue Business Association, dents shared their vision for rest of our neighbourhoods are by a developer who tears Q: Will the character of our local community leagues, and the area first started in March zoned RF3. down the house and builds neighbourhood be ruined the Avenue Initiative working 2005. On April 30, 2005, row housing. At some point if we allow higher density groups will also work to ensure residents participated in a Councillor Ed Gibbons says, developers may even approach developments to replace sin- developers built appropri- design charette with Dan “People don’t realize that most home owners and offer to pur- gle family homes? ate and aesthetically pleasing Burden. The ideas for higher of this area under RF3 already chase their property. No one is A: Councillor Ed Gibbons buildings.

Should we encourage higher density development* in some areas of our community? *such as row housing, walk up apartments or high rises

The majority of our neighbor- should be given to the existing hoods are currently zoned for housing and communities. It is single family homes and duplex- a well known fact that walkups es with the allowance for rede- and high rises answer the needs velopment to housing with up to of a transient population and four units per building (RF3). do not promote the creation of Supporters of increased den- a community spirit. sity believe more people living in • Rene Ladsous, Alberta Avenue an area will help spur and support a vibrant business Yes (but not high rises). district and will increase safety by Ideally, it should be the kind having more “eyes on the street.” that contributes to building Opponents argue that allow- community and connecting ing housing that is not people, and be based, as far as single family will ruin the possible, on sound environ- character of our mature neigh- mental principles, encouraging borhoods, cause more traf- energy efficiency, recycling, fic and parking problems, etc. Creative use of spaces that Councillor Janice Melnychuk, on development: and in fact increase crime. are currently unused or under- utilized would be an added I believe that quality commu- would need to respond in a to help guide us in creating Local residents on bonus. nities can look many different coordinated to way to the inclusive, beautiful commu- development: • Anne Nield, Parkdale ways and I believe that very housing crisis we now face. nities with a range of hous- few are only single family. If We began the development of ing types and price points. online EXTRA Read all the full Higher density housing that you think of our main roads a Smart Choices program that Edmonton is reaching comments at www.ratcreek.org respects the human scale of the they usually have apartments would find ways to address its outer limits for develop- neighbourhood and is target- or duplexes lining them as these challenges on a city ment at a time when the ing middle and higher income a buffer to the single family wide basis rather than one industry can not keep up with people would be desirable. housing that proceeds away neighbourhood at a time. demand for new housing. NO This would help create more of from the main roadway. This Part of that approach This means that we need to a mix of people and strengthen density allows for business/ means looking at the places consider the challenges and revitalization. commercial access to traffic in Edmonton where higher options for expanding urban I don’t think increased diversity • Donna F, Alberta Avenue flows for commercial health. density makes sense, such sprawl and make good deci- is the answer to revitalizing any In the past 20 years we as at the LRT line. These sions to increase density in community. I think you do it by have also seen a change in who are called Transit Oriented such a way that maintains cleaning up the community. You lives in our communities such Developments and this was and encourages the creation have to respect the people who YES as: seniors living longer and previously part of your area of quality communities. are already in the community. staying in their homes, smaller plans. The NAIT student I would urge anyone • Verna Stainthorp, Spruce Avenue families, and more single housing node will be close who is interested in Smart I believe that higher density occupants of all ages. These to where the northern leg Choices to check out the No, in the Alberta Avenue area brings more people into the changes alone mean that the of where the LRT will go so website at: www.edmon- there is already quite a mix and I area, and the more people on business must look farther again it’s related to transit. ton.ca/SmartChoices feel that the roadways and park- the streets, the safer I feel. for customers, which means We should look to the ing can no longer manage higher • Yoko Sekiya, Alberta Avenue more need for transportation. communities, not just in For more information on our density without endangering City council realized Edmonton, which have been city-wide long range strategy for the community spirit and the People of all economic levels some years ago that with the able to integrate further densi- development: safety of our children. I feel too are looking for a place…If one coming economic boom we ty into older neighbourhoods, www. FocusEdmonton.ca many multi-family dwellings are chooses to live downtown, replacing single family dwellings quality of life improves just and upsetting the balance and by cutting off an hour drive, harmony of the community. greenhouse gasses are reduced • D Taylor, Alberta Avenue and one then has an opportu- nity to enjoy a modest price neighbourhood with all its unique attributes. YES, BUT • J. Pearson, Alberta Avenue Yes, row housing and walkups should be encouraged, but carefully. Much consideration

RAT CREEK PRESS JUNE 2007 7 OUR NEIGHBOURHOODS

� � � � � � � � Neighbourhood by the numbers

KAREN MYKIETKA our eight neighbourhoods at ship rate. It also has the least 80 per cent. It has numerous property crime per capita, * Please Note: All figures are based on walkup apartments and half and is one of the communi- 2005 statistics. of its housing stock is rentals. ties with zero violent crime. One third of the population Parkdale and Alberta Period and type of is in their 20s, which corre- Avenue also have high owner- Construction sponds with the 22 per cent of ship rates with 61 per cent ����฀���฀����฀ Since the areas south of 118 the population being post-sec- and 58 per cent respectively Avenue were settled first, ondary students. Thirty-nine in 2005. Parkdale ownership ���฀����฀������฀��������฀����฀ Parkdale, Alberta Avenue and per cent of Westwood residents increased 7 per cent between Spruce Avenue have the most are employed full-time. 1999 and 2001 and another houses built prior to 1946. Next in line for rentals 5 per cent between 2001 and Alberta Avenue has the oldest is Eastwood at 35 per cent 2005. Alberta Avenue hit its Kinder Art (July 3-6) $12 Encore! Encore! (July 30 – Aug 3) $25 housing stock with 54 per cent and then Cromdale at 31 ownership high with 62 per Alberta Avenue Hall 9-11:30 am Spruce Avenue Hall 9 am – 4 pm Ages 3-5 yrs #245503 Ages 6-12 yrs #245766 of homes built before 1946, per cent. These communities cent in 1996. Ownership indeed many of those were have similar average incomes decreased 1 per cent between Sportin’ Around (July 3-6) $20 Puppet Theatre (Aug 7-10) $12 Spruce Avenue Hall 9 am-4 pm Eastwood Hall 9-11:30 am built in the early 1900s. All with about one third of the 2001 and 2005. Alberta Ages 8-12 yrs #245753 Ages 3-5 yrs #245658 three also have a good portion population employed full- Avenue’s high ownership rate

ABC’s &123’s (July 9-13) $14 Surviving Summer (August 7-10) $22 of homes built during the post- time. Eastwood has double the does not correlate with lower Sprucewood Library 9 -11:30 am Parkdale –Cromdale Hall 9 am-4 pm World War II boom. Delton population and more families crime rates; it is number two Ages 3-5 yrsFULL #245507 Ages 8-12 yrs #245779 has the greatest percentage of while Cromdale has a signifi- for violent crime in our area. Kitchen Kapers (July 9-13) $15 3,2,1.. Blast Off! (Aug 13-17) $27 post-war houses at 52 per cent. cant share of post-secondary Elmwood Park is about Spruce Avenue Hall 1:30- 4 pm Eastwood Hall 9 am-4 pm Eastwood had slow but students (15 per cent.) The half renters and half owners. Ages 6-9 yrs #245508 Ages 10-12 yrs #245782 steady development between biggest difference between the Spruce Avenue had the same Arts Galore (July 9-13) $28 Multi Sports (Aug. 13-17) $25 1946 and 1980. Eastwood Hall 9 am-4 pm Spruce Avenue Hall 9 am- 4 pm Ages 6-12 yrs #245755 Ages 6-12 yrs #245767 Much of the apartment Art Alive (July 16-20) $15 Hip Hop (Aug 20-24) $15 building phase Spruce Avenue Hall 1:30 - 4 pm Alberta Avenue Hall 1:30-4 pm Ages 6-9 yrs #245512 Ages 6-9 yrs # 245660 in Cromdale and Westwood Adventure Us (July 23-27) $27 Alberta Avenue Hall 9 am-4 pm occurred during Ages 6-12 yrs #245762 the 1960s and Move and Groove(July 30- Aug 3) $15 1970s. Alberta Parkdale- Cromdale Hall 1:30-4 pm Avenue had the Ages 6-10 yrs #245657 most new con- truction between Registration began 1996 and 2001 May 12, 2007 Phone 496-4999 press #2 with 60 new dwellings. Cromdale has the most units (181) in apart- ment buildings of five or more stories. Eastwood has the most units in walkups (819), followed closely by Cromdale two neighbourhoods is the profile in 1991 but owner- CarCar ShowShow (760). Cromdale and Parkdale crime rates (see graphs.) The ship has slowly decreased are the only two neighbour- ownership rate in Cromdale since then and now there is & Dance hoods with a significant has been increasing steadily only 42 per cent owner occu- & Dance number of owner-occupied, since 1986 when it was only pied dwellings. This is not onon AlbertaAlberta AvenueAvenue apartment-style condos. 18 per cent. Today it is at 31 just due to apartment rentals Alberta Avenue has 30 per cent. Eastwood had a 4 as 209 of their 551 houses dwelling units in room- per cent increase in owner- were also rentals in 2005. ing houses and collective ship between 2001 and 2005. Neighbourhoodresidences, while %฀owned Parkdale %฀rented Delton has the highest Rental rate does not affect Alberta฀Avenuehas 10. All other neighbour- 58 42 rate of home ownership with crime rate Cromdalehoods have less than 31 three. 69 71 per cent of all dwelling Is there a relationship between Delton 71 29 being owner-occupied in 2005; the rental rate and crime? No, EastwoodOwners versus renters 35 65 this is down from 75 per cent there isn’t. The facts speak for Elmwood฀Park 49 51 ParkdaleIs there a right balance 61 of 39 in 1999. Despite the slight themselves. Look at Eastwood Spruce฀Avenueowned and rented dwellings 42 58 decline, Delton’s ownership and Cromdale: similar rental Westwoodfor a neighbourhood? 20 80 rate has always been the high- rates but very different crime rates. Compare neighbour- Neighbourhood฀Comparision฀of฀owned฀vs฀rented฀dwellings Municipal฀Census,฀2005 hood rental rates with their property and 100 violent crime 90 29 rates; there is 80 42 39 no obvious cor- 51 70 58 relation or link. 69 65 60 80 %฀rented 50 Spruce %฀owned Avenue has an 40 71 astronomically 30 58 61 49 high property 42

Percentage฀of฀dwellings 20 31 35 crime rate, but 10 20 it also includes 0 Kingsway Mall. How much of rk le ale a elton that property venue md D venue ฀A ro astwood od฀P arkda ฀A estwood o P e crime happened C E c W lberta lmw pru residentially is A E S Neighbourhoods unknown. A data analysis of Sponsored by EPS statisitcs The Alberta Avenue Business Association 11770 95 St 471-2602 Westwood, the com- est in the community. Delton shows that city-wide, there is [email protected] munity nearest to NAIT, has has very few apartments which a correlation between property www.alberta-avenue.com the highest renter rate of all contributes to the high owner- crime and the presence of malls continued on page 9...

8 RAT CREEK PRESS JUNE 2007 OUR NEIGHBOURHOODS Get the scoop on your neighbourhood

KAREN MYKIETKA Building Class: 2 storey with someone adding suites to a Avenue basement house, a home-based tailor goes to the Dogs Ever walk down your street Property Type: Residential shop, a drain cleaning service and see some new development Land Use: Single Family and surprise, surprise a home- and wonder what’s happening? Dwelling based outcall massage centre Ever get your tax bill and won- Approximate Living Area (m2): (what exactly is that anyway? der what other houses in your 133.7 I’m not sure I want to know!) area are assessed at? Curious to (Does not include basement Ahhh! Now to another know what year a house was area or 3rd level of split level) hot topic – zoning. Everyone built? Basement Development: No who is thinking of purchasing Want to know what neigh- Garage: Yes property should always research bourhood/community league Fireplace: No the zoning of the surrounding you live in? Want to find the Effective Year Built: 1916 area so they don’t get any nasty parks and schools in your Hmm. It’s not always surprises down the road. Look area? Need to find out your 100% accurate. We have a fire- up zoning by address, address garbage pick up schedule? place. The house always had range or neighbourhood. You All this and more is pub- a wood fireplace but someone may have to zoom in on the licly accessible on the City actually walled over it at some map to see the zoning. No of Edmonton maps website point! It was discovered dur- surprises on the blocks around at www.maps.edmonton.ca. ing the gutting process and me; they are all RF3 which is a Enter the site and click on retrofitted with a gas insert. low density development zone the interactive map or make Shhh! Don’t tell anyone allowing single family homes a selection from the menu on – the city might find out. and duplexes but can allow the left side bar. Note: the Locate anything – an up to 4 units per dwelling. drop down submenus didn’t address, address range, postal Those of you on the west always display properly for code, named location, neigh- side of 97 Street may be sur- me. Click on the menu item bourhood, intersection and prised to know you’re zoned (locate or residential or gen- zoning! Choose a neighbour- RA7 for low rise apartments Join 118 ave as it eral) to get the submenu. hood and get a little back- from 112 Ave to 118 Ave, then goes to the Dogs with Go to “Sites of inter- ground paragraph about it the RA7 zoning is on the east dog games, dog events, est” under the General menu while the interactive map out- side of 97 St. north of 118 Ave. dog adoptions, and find hospitals, parks, lines it in red. Open the com- What this means is as houses go demonstrations, churches, schools and sports plete neighbourhood profile for sale, they can be bought up family fun, prizes June 9, 2007 facilities by neighbour- for 100+ pages of information by developers who knock them hood even create a map . on the area including popula- down and build apartments. and food. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Search for current tion, martial status, ethnicity, The areas close to Northlands 9210 - 118th Avenue development applications housing, income, labour force, and the Stadium are zoned for All pets must be leashed and Call Judy for more info 496-1913 or applications dating back mobility, crime and education. low, med and high rise apart- under control! to November 2005 by To find out what is going ments. It might be years even Sponsored by Avenue Initiative neighbourhood or ward. on near your address, go to a decade or more before that Look up any city address “locate” and enter your address. type of development comes in under residential assessments At the bottom, click for a list – but it can happen. So buyer and you’ll find out a lot! I of development application beware – know what you might searched my address and found: near you. I checked 150m get as neighbours and don’t around my address and found buy it if you don’t like it. Tax Roll: 4071908 my neighbour’s permit for his Assessed Value: $145,500 garage, people building decks, Be in the know!

continued from page 9...

and transit centres in neighbourhoods. Violent crimes often happen in clusters and can vary greatly  from year to year in one neighbourhood.  Plus violent crime is usually not random; it is concentrated  amoung those in high-risk lifestyles like gangs, drugs  and prostitution. Send your  comments or  thoughts to  [email protected].        CRIS BASWALDO AND TRACEY   PATIENCE ENJOYING TIME AT  THE BLOOMING BACK ALLEYS  GARDENING SHOW AT ALBERTA AVENUE COMMUNITY HALL.    Judy Allan Judy

RAT CREEK PRESS JUNE 2007 9 RESIDENT PROFILE Moving on up

JILL SCHEYK in February, and was $70. “After she left the build- It was barely an increase ing, I went from apartment The carpet in the front entry- at all compared to the amount to apartment. Everyone was way is a frayed acid green shag, written on the most recent getting a $100 raise except and the metal panel where the letter slipped under her door. for three of us,” Fiddler said. buzzers are is a mess of bare On May 1 she was served The company that signed wiring. three month’s notice for an the increase letter, Alliance The inside doesn’t fare increase of $1000 a month. Realty Management, could much better. The paint is Since then she’s been not be reached for comment. Your MLA has peeling. The hallway carpet getting a lot of attention. The letter says, like is a muted red with a black CTV stopped by, and so have all such letters do, that the path down the centre – not radio stations and newspa- extra cash is needed for a new office part of its original design. pers from around the city. upgrades to the building. On the door of apart- She was even invited to But so did all the others over ment 201 is a wooden crusta- a meeting at the legislature, the years, and Fiddler has location to cean with a sign: “No Crabs along with a few other ten- yet to see improvement. Allowed.” This is “They may have better serve Doreen Fiddler’s painted it once – before I apartment, and moved in,” she laughed. according to Since the passing of new you. her landlord, it’s legislation limiting rent increas- worth es to once yearly, legally the $1600 a month. increase is invalid. Still, Fiddler Fiddler is in the market for another first moved to apartment. She’s moving into Edmonton to be a local affordable housing unit near her family. in Nova Plaza on 118 Avenue. 6519฀-฀112฀Avenue She sold most The new place is clean Edmonton,฀Alberta of the things in and has security and eleva- her Meadowlake tors, all for $600 a month. Saskatchewan She’s giving her month’s home to make notice on June 1, because she the trip. believes in being a good tenant “All I no matter the circumstances. brought with “I could just walk away…. me was my sew- but I’m not that kind of per- ing machine son,” Fiddler said. She’ll move and my kids,” into her new apartment in July. Fiddler said. One of Fiddler’s sons is on For Fiddler, long-term disability and also that meant needs an affordable place to six sons and a stay. Being the kind of person daughter. She Fiddler is, she’s making him rented a house her roommate at Nova Plaza. on the south side where she stayed PETER GOLDRING up until 2 a.m. DOREEN FIDDLER POINTS TO THE HOLE IN THE BACK Member of Parliament many a night Changes to Edmonton East to wax the floor ENTRANCE AT HER OLD APARTMENT BUILDING the Residential and make bread for her family. ants facing radical rents. She’s 74 years old now, her However Fiddler wasn’t opti- Tenancies Act and RENTAL HOUSING children are grown and she’s mistic about the outcome. Mobile Home Site enjoying some time to herself. “I don’t think there’s We are all concerned that rents in the Edmonton area and the cost The one-bedroom apart- much that they could do Tenancies Act of housing have skyrocketed in recent years. While low interest ment with the green shag has about it,” she said. rates and easier mortgages have made owning a house somewhat been her home for 20 years. Her landlord told her more affordable for some, we are still faced with a shortage of In that time, the rent that everyone in the building New legislation has ushered economical rental housing for both singles and families. has risen from $325 to $595. received the same increase. Fiddler’s last increase came Fiddler put her to the test. in some changes to the rules for landlords, retroactive to When I was beginning my career, my first lodging was in a rooming-house where I shared a single room and bathroom down April 24, 2007. the hall. It was a clean and safe home with a caring landlady who cooked great meals. It certainly took care of my needs, and gave • Rent may only be me the start I needed to develop into a contributing member of increased once a year. society. This type of lodging, and indeed all forms of singles st Normal rules of sufficient housing, is now exceedingly rare in Edmonton and across Canada. Call Me 1 notice still apply. (see page 2 sidebar) People who are entering the workforce for the first time can’t afford to make the down payment required to purchase a house. They Thinking of Selling? need affordable rental housing which I believe private industry is • Landlords need to pro- best suited to provide. The government can play a role by encour- Thinking of Buying? vide a year’s notice when aging the rental construction and management industry. Call Roxanne Litwyn converting any perodic tenancy building to condo- Safe and affordable rental housing is a basic need for all Canadi- miniums or for any major ans. While I am pleased with last year’s budget allocation of $800 439-7000 renovations to a unit. million for affordable housing, this is but a starting point to address the barriers that have blocked rental development in the recent past. Your neighbourhood Realtor • During that one year’s I’ve talked about this issue at length over the years, and even Serving Central Edmonton Since 1990 notice, there cannot be any written a book about it in 2000, Housing Affordability: An Edmonton increase in rent. Concern and a National Challenge, but sadly very little was done to help under the past Liberal government. It is time to do better to FREE MARKET EVALUATION • Any notice of rent increase give all Canadians a fair chance to rent their own home at affordable or ending tenancy that rates. List of homes for sale (some restrictions apply) doesn’t comply with the What do you think? new rules will be void, and www.roxannehomes.com landlords could face up to Not intended to solicit properties already listed for sale. 495-3261 www.petergoldring.ca $5,000 in fines per tenant.

10 RAT CREEK PRESS JUNE 2007 LAW & ORDER

Two-way communication District 1 of the Downtown Division ranges from 97 St to Wayne Gretzky Drive and Norwood Boulevard set to improve between to 127 Ave. There are 23 patrol officers, 4 beat officers and 1 Community Liaison Constable over- residents and police seen by a Staff Sergeant assigned to the area. Spruce Avenue and Westwood communities fall DAWN FREEMAN ting to know the neighbour- working in our district.” hood, and the neighbours. Russell, and his supe- under District 4 of the Downtown Division. Go to The Edmonton Police Constable Russell, as the riors, Staff Sergeant Randy www.police.edmonton.ab.ca for more details. Service has appointed a new CLC for District 1, is the face Loxterkamp and Watch Community Liaison Constable of the EPS. He will be the one Commander Jerry Nash, (CLC) to District 1 of the most often seen at commu- all believe that community Downtown division, and he is nity meetings and initiatives, members are the eyes and excited to be here. and Russell is happy to be the ears of the police – and under “I applied for the position conduit for communication. the new policing model they STOP TARGETED AUTO THEFT because the community aspect “It’s my job to share infor- fully intend to make use of it. is something I enjoy,” says mation with the community Russell encourages people to Help EPS and yourself by making your vehicle a harder target Constable Mike Russell, who and to be an easy access for pass on information to him, has been with EPS for two the community to share its and says they will endeavor for thieves to steal or break into. years. “I was assigned up here information with us [EPS],” to keep residents in the loop • Use your garage. Lock your vehicle and the garage door before [when on patrol] so I says Russell. “Obviously for with return communication. • Lock your car and take the keys out know the area • Park in a well-lit area pretty well.” Constable • Completely close all windows Russell has to • Don’t leave valuables in plain view – take them inside or not only get lock them in the trunk used to a new • Use steering wheel locks and audible alarms job, but also a new policing • Engrave expensive accessories model as well • Take out removable radios and face plates – the changes • Avoid parking between large vehicles that provide to the way the cover for thieves police deliver their front- line patrol Items to AVOID leaving in plain view: services to the • phones City started • purses or wallets, about the same • pagers time he did. The new • briefcases community- • credit cards style policing • weapons model has • radar detectors divided the city into five • laptops divisions and •CD’s twenty districts • money (loose change) and includes • sports or musical equipment assigning MIKE RUSSELL IS THE NEW COMMUNITY LIAISON CONSTABLE FOR DISTRICT 1 patrol officers • removable radios (face plates). permanently to a district to immediate concerns people You can contact give them geographic owner- still need to call 911 or the Community Liaison Constable If you have any questions or information regarding a suspect ship of the communities and complaint line (423-4567), Russell at 916-5063 or at or suspicious activity please contact District 1 Community the activities within its bound- but for on-going commu- michael.russell@police. aries. Each officer has a goal of nity issues people can call edmonton.ab.ca. Also, watch Liaison Constable Mike Russell at 916-5063, or District 4 putting 25% of their on-duty me and I will make sure that out for a new Law and Order Community Liaison Constable Greg Lewis at 975-4823. time into pro-active work in information given is passed column written by Constable their district – that means get- through to my superiors, as Russell starting in the July ting out of their cars and get- well as the patrol officers issue of the Rat Creek Press. Sentinel registry

128฀Ave.

Sentinel •฀VEHICLE฀REGISTRY •฀VITAL฀STATISTICS Registry

127฀Ave. •฀DRIVER฀LICENSING •฀LAND฀TITLES

Yellowhead฀Trail •฀CORPORATE฀SERVICES •฀LIENS฀&฀SEARCHES 118฀Ave. North฀82฀St.

12818฀82฀St.฀Edmonton฀AB,฀T5E฀2T2 www.sentinelregistry.com Phone:฀(780)฀478-8832฀฀฀Fax:฀(780)฀476-5887

RAT CREEK PRESS JUNE 2007 11 SEASONAL Parsing the problem of pruning

tools. Whatever you choose lilac, decide dear reader; do you prune branches that are thinner reader, cut out the dead wood, the Gardening to purchase or borrow, quality want a shrub, or a tree? A tree than an inch and have multiple and cut down the largest inside is essential. Poor quality tools is quite possible, but will take forks. Reader, be somewhat branches. This will enable the will break, or worse, rip at a few years to achieve. Mark ruthless. Stop short of a Charlie smaller branches to grow up, Diva the poor dear Brown and provide the nice pea plant WITH CHERYL WALKER plant, possibly Christmas like leaves and yellow flowers causing harm. tree, but that caraganas are noted for. If Now dear readers, The Garden In her do make the hedge is particularly patchy, Diva (TGD) walks the non- walks, TGD things tidy. you may prune entirely to the gardening dogs in the neigh- has noticed the Remember ground. The hedge will come bourhood and she sees trees most common dear reader: back over the next few years. and shrubs in most disgraceful species requir- pruning suck- Dear reader, both lilac and situations. They are overgrown, ing pruning ers will be a caragana are pruned so that not blooming, spreading madly, are lilac bushes never-end- the pruned branches are flush or have dead patches. She is ter- and caragana ing summer with the branch they came off ribly shocked. This simply has hedges. TGD delight. of. There should be no protru- to stop. is aware that sions. There is no need to paint Trees, bushes and shrubs other species The caragana pruned branches with any sort are pruned for a variety of exist – if you Caragana are of compound. Provided that reasons, including disease, require infor- particularly you have pruned correctly, heal- height management, main- mation about susceptible ing will take place quickly. taining health, and to turn pruning those, to powdery Now dear readers, why your evergreen into a cunning please seek mildew, and a are you sitting there – go little bunny rabbit. You will out books good pruning forth and prune! require a pair of pruning shears at your local library, or con- branches that are too small, will go a long way to prevent and possibly a pruning saw. sult with an arborist. TGD is unhealthy, or are crossing over this unsightly disorder. When TGD (aka Cheryl Walker) lives Perhaps you have a friendly still limited to 500 words. other branches and remove pruning caragana, prune about and gardens in Parkdale, with the trés neighbor that has some, or them. Then prune branches a foot lower than you want the wonderful Gardening Diva husband perhaps you wish to purchase The lilac that are ‘suckers’, coming up hedge to be in September. Look and the non-gardening dogs. She has a pair. TGD is over the moon Lilacs are pruned after they from the bottom of the tree. at the inside of the hedge. Is been known to secretly “midnight about Lee Valley gardening stop blooming. To prune your Finally take another look and the inside dead, or dying? Dear prune” in her neighbour’s yards. Dogs on Parkland Fathers Are SpecialSharon E. Riley BECKY REDFORD parkland so long as your dog is: school grounds, play- Community Recreation Coordinator • leashed and on a trail grounds, sports fields and City of Edmonton • leashed and on a boulevard picnic sites at all times. • leashed and in an area Your dog’s leash must be no What is a father? Spring is finally here and has governed by signage longer than 2 meters in length. revealed some ugly truths! As permitting dogs; Note: Animal Licensing What does he do? you walk around the schools Other than being in one of the and Control Bylaw has 8 He hugs, he laughs, and park spaces in Spruce 40 designated off-leash areas, different fines to tag own- Avenue you will notice that dogs must be on a leash at all ers with penalties rang- He can be stern too. some of the dog owners have times. ing from $100 - $2500. Amanda Lewis not been picking up. Let’s keep our community He lifts us high, How do you know you are clean and safe for all our kids. Right over his head. What are the rules? walking on parkland? Please lead by example The City of Edmonton has Parkland is any property wheth- and be a considerate and Sometimes he tucks us into bed. very specific rules for dogs set er developed or not, owned, responsible pet owner! out in the Animal Licensing controlled or maintained by the Sometimes he is distant, and Control Bylaw and the City of Edmonton. Any prop- Important phone numbers: A card or a call, Parkland Bylaw. These rules are erties in your neighborhood Bylaw Services Animal Control in place for the safety of your that is intended for use by 496-8860 A gift sent at Christmas, community and the safety of members of the public for rec- Park Rangers 496-2950 your pet. reation or general enjoyment Volunteer Park Patrol 496-2950 A picture on the wall. – any green areas, groomed Report Hazards 496-2950 It’s pretty simple… parks, naturalized roadway We know that he loves us, In the City of Edmonton, you buffers, boulevards, river and Please call 496-1475 for And we love him too. must license your dog. ravine lands and community Parks for Paws information or You must clean up your pet’s leagues – are parkland! check the City website at Fathers are special, defecation. Dogs must be kept www.edmonton.ca/parks for You can walk your dog on at least 10 meters from off-leash areas. That’s certainly true.

Father’s Day Events, Sunday June 17

Valley Zoo presents: Father’s Day 5Km Walk/ Fort Edmonton Park Father’s Day on the Wild Run for Prostate Cancer presents: Hats off to Dad Side Research 10am to 6pm 13315 Buena Vista Rd Laurier Park – 13400 Buena Vista Rd Dads wearing hats get in FREE. Ph 496-8787 Activities to try with Start: 9:30am Dad include pioneer carpentry, noon to 4:30pm fur trading, and golf skills. Honour the special man in Stay for the Father’s Day See live birds, snakes, frogs, your life by taking a stand Barbeque Buffet. bugs and make a wetland against prostate cancer, a Father’s Day gift for Dad. In disease which affects 1 in 7 Cost: Regular admission prices. addition, you can discover the men in their lifetimes and is paternal role of animal father’s the number one cancer threat in the wild. to Canadian men. Go to www. fathersdayrun.ca for details on Cost: Regular admission prices. how to register.

12 RAT CREEK PRESS JUNE 2007 HOMEGROWN RENOS

A Problem House Revisited Arts on the Ave opens up

Not quite. Since there had been committee comprised of Idiot, written and produced in HOMEGROWN many police visits to the house, members of the Safe Housing From Edmonton, is coming to the the house had been reported to Office, Capital Health, and Avenue Skate Park on June RENOS a Safety Codes Officer who sent local residents. We were able the Ave 15-17. This production is writ- me a letter requesting to visit to get the time for the start of LIVE ten and performed by gradu- WITH JIM MAXWELL it. What I was not aware of was fixing or demolition down to WITH SCOTT PETERS ating BFA students from the that while I was in court try- 3 months, providing there is University of Alberta, and will ing to evict the single mother, no legal action. Fighting the have a full band and seven cast This is an update on the story her dead father, and the other orders is always an option. Arts on the Ave, our local artis- members performing in the “Diary of a Problem House,” people holed up in the house, If you choose to cooper- tically diverse grassroots society, unique setting of the Avenue available on the Rat Creek it had been condemned. ate, no work can be done until is opening up a community Skate Park. And the best thing website in the April 2006 issue. The order to be con- approved by the safety codes meeting and performing space is that this is a free show. That’s www.ratcreek.org demned had been served in officer. The owner has to hire in the old Popular Bakery right, I said FREE, and there’s November 2005. I found an engineer to address the building at 9351 118 Ave. It nothing idiotic about that. Last year I told a story about a out about it in November officer’s concerns. The engineer will be a multi purpose space house that I own that became 2006. The suite in the base- prepares his or her own report that will include an art gallery, Avenue on the Ave a problem house. I let a single ment had been condemned detailing what’s wrong with cafe, and small performances The Avenue Skate Park is one mother rent the house after because it lacked kitchen and the house and how it should on the weekends. I hear that of the busiest places on the Ave, hearing her story of woe. washroom facilities. This was be fixed. He might find that they are also getting a cap- and not just because of the skate Unfortunately she was not a demolition puccino machine! The Carrot boarding. The Avenue is regu- good tenant. is the best Community Arts Coffee House larly holding music concerts on She didn’t option. doors will open June 19, with the weekends, and June is burst- pay rent, In my an Opening she turned it case the Gala on upside-down, engineer June 22 and she used did what he complete it as a drug called the with the jazz house. After a “250 pound stylings of long process engineer The White of eviction, jump test” Cat Trio. she finally on the sec- They need vacated the ond floor volunteers property with and decided to help the help of the floor prepare the the father needed space, so DyckArthur she had told more sup- if you are ART ON THE AVE IS TURNING THE OLD POPULAR BAKERY myself and port. Once artistic, and SPACE INTO AN ARTS COFFEE HOUSE the court the engineer want to get was recently has come involved in a great project, ing at the seams. As well as the deceased. to a conclu- contact Christy at 951-3585 or performance of American Idiot, For a sion, the [email protected]. Legela will be there June 20, and period of a owner can Man of War on June 27. For a few months have him American Idiot comes to the Ave full listing of events, go to www. I repainted prepare A full blown Rock Musical avenueskatepark.com, or call the house, plans to fix of Green Day’s American Becky at 477-2149. patched walls, the house and got rid of (as I did) or the graffiti. they can go Then sum- elsewhere mer came, to get the and with it work done. the homeless. The I would visit engineer’s the house plans are to work on then sent it and dis- to the cover either safety codes people in it, officer for or evidence approval. that people It is up to had been. A the owner few of those to get the people were building arrested fol- permits and lowing phone the work calls to the done by police. I got himself or to know the contractors. police pretty The work well that JIM MAXWELL IN FRONT OF HIS CONDEMNED PROPERTY HE IS FIXING UP needs to be summer. inspected One true, it was meant to be a base- and approved by the engineer night I came to the house to ment with a hot water tank and then the safety codes offi- find two people in it. They and laundry, not a suite. cer. For my problem house, were hauled out and released by Which brings us to the I have until October to have the police, and I was told that question, if somewhat belated: the renovations completed. it was not illegal for them to be what do you do if you have a They will be done by May 31. in the house. Fortunately they condemned house or buy one In housing renovations hadn’t done any damage, but with orders against it? there are always surprises. now it would be hard to prove The safety codes officer Ninety degree angles seem not they had broken in. The only will inspect the house and issue to exist, and one is working option was a ticket similar to a report detailing what needs to with construction methods one for jaywalking, a waste of be done with a deadline beyond from decades when there may time considering the homeless which there may be demolition. or may not have been building have At this point the owner has a codes. The safety codes officer nothing to pay with and there’s few options, not all of them and your engineer are aware of no way to follow up on it. good for the neighbourhood. this and, if you cooperate I was finally able to stop An appeal of the orders can with them, they’re willing to the break-ins by boarding up be made to drag things out. A work with you to get your the windows and padlocking few years ago I chaired a CAP project up to code. the doors. My problems solved? (Community Action Project)

RAT CREEK PRESS JUNE 2007 13 Gam es

Canada Day es Priz On July 1st bring the family down to Food Vanguard Park with Christian Life Center, for a free BBQ! BBQ starts at 12:30pm. ts rd or 12140 103 Street. For more info. Call Sp 471-2250!

Day฀Camp฀ KZAMM Christian฀Life฀Center฀10123฀Prince฀Elizabeth฀Ave,฀Edmonton฀AB฀T5G฀0X9 ฀฀฀฀฀฀฀฀฀฀฀฀2007฀ Phone:฀471-2250฀฀Fax฀471-2260฀฀Email:฀[email protected] CHILD฀INFORMATION:฀

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JUNE฀15!฀ Workshop฀Registered฀For:฀฀฀�฀Drama฀฀฀฀฀�Sports฀฀฀฀฀�฀Nature฀฀฀฀฀�฀Art฀฀฀฀

Choose฀ONE฀of฀the฀following฀weeks฀to฀register฀for:฀ Choose฀Week฀:฀฀�฀Week฀1฀(July฀9-13)฀฀฀฀฀�฀Week฀2฀(July฀16-20)฀฀฀฀฀�฀Week฀3฀(July฀23-27)฀฀฀฀฀฀ Week฀฀1:฀July฀9-13 ฀฀฀฀฀฀฀฀Week฀3:฀July฀23-27฀ ฀฀฀฀฀฀฀฀฀฀฀฀฀฀฀฀฀฀฀฀฀฀฀฀฀฀�฀Week฀4฀(July฀30-Aug.฀3)฀ Week฀2:฀July฀16-20 ฀฀฀฀฀Week฀4:฀July฀30-Aug.3฀ PARENT/GUARDIAN฀INFORMATION฀

Name:______Relationship฀to฀Child______฀ Workshops฀Available:฀ Address:______฀Postal฀Code______฀ Phone฀#฀(Home):______Phone฀#฀(Work)______฀ Drama: LIGHTS,฀CAMERA,฀ACTION!฀This฀workshop฀includes฀ Emergency฀Contact฀Name:______Relationship฀to฀Child:______฀ video,฀stage฀presentation,฀improve,฀Black฀light฀effects฀and฀“freeze฀ Phone฀#฀(Home):______฀Phone฀#฀(Work)______฀ frame”.฀฀ Additional฀information฀concerning฀the฀child’s฀health฀or฀activities:฀ Sports:฀RUN,฀RUN,฀RUN!฀This฀workshop฀is฀a฀great฀opportunity฀to฀ ______get฀outdoors฀and฀be฀active.฀A฀great฀source฀of฀sportsmanship฀and฀team฀ ______฀ building!฀ Will฀you฀allow฀your฀child’s฀picture฀to฀be฀taken฀for฀promotional฀purposes?฀(ie฀brochures)฀ Please฀Circle฀one:฀฀Yes฀฀No฀ Nature:฀ADVENTUROUS?฀Explore฀the฀creatures฀and฀surroundings฀ I,฀______฀thereby฀release฀Christian฀Life฀Center฀of฀any฀legal฀or฀financial฀ of฀our฀great฀outdoors.฀This฀workshop฀will฀allow฀children฀to฀explore฀ responsibility,฀in฀case฀of฀accident฀or฀injury฀involving฀my฀child฀while฀involved฀in฀any฀activity฀or฀program฀ Nature฀at฀its฀best!฀ sponsored฀by฀or฀coordinated฀as฀part฀of฀Kzamm฀Kids/Christian฀Life฀Center.฀฀Further,฀I฀give฀permission฀to฀the฀ Kzamm฀and฀Christian฀Life฀Center฀staff฀and฀or฀volunteers฀for฀emergency฀treatment฀by฀a฀doctor,฀nurse,฀EMT฀or฀ competent฀other฀in฀case฀of฀accident฀or฀medical฀emergency฀involving฀my฀child฀if฀I฀am฀unable฀to฀be฀reached.฀฀All฀the฀ Art:฀BRING฀YOUR฀CRAFTY฀HANDS!฀Enjoy฀a฀wide฀variety฀of฀art฀ information฀I฀have฀given฀is฀complete฀and฀is฀correct฀to฀the฀best฀of฀my฀knowledge.฀฀I฀also฀give฀my฀permission฀for฀my฀ child฀to฀ride฀the฀bus฀to฀and฀from฀Kzamm฀or฀on฀Kzamm฀outings฀when฀necessary฀ options.฀This฀workshop฀will฀give฀the฀children฀the฀opportunity฀to฀be฀ Parent/Guardian creative฀and฀develop฀their฀own฀creation฀to฀take฀home฀and฀enjoy!฀฀ Signature:______Date:______

14 RAT CREEK PRESS JUNE 2007 EVENTS CHECK OUT THE NEW ONLINE CHANGES COMING AT bring household waste like paint, FREE Family Art Nights continue exciting venture. There are many COMMUNITY CALENDARS ALBERTA AVENUE COMMUNITY varnish, household cleaners or through June. Come and opportunities for “growth” and All our community events & LEAGUE batteries. All events run over a collaborate on the creation of a one we are welcoming volunteers, meetings are now on google The Alberta Treasury Branches has Saturday and Sunday from 9 am of a kind mixed media sculpture gardeners and gardening space calendars. Go to www.ratcreek.org/ graciously offered to lend Alberta to 5 pm. that will be one of five sculptures ideas. For more information on calendar and scroll down to view Avenue a number of volunteers to presented at Capital EX. the project please contact Crystal one of the four different calendars. help make our outside grounds June 9 & 10 @ Woodcroft 13915 Kids at 479-5283, ext. 0 or Dianne Click on an event to get the details. area safer for public use and to 115 Ave BE A PART OF THE GRAND at Healthy Alberta Communities at improve its appearance. Among June 16 & 17 @ Kennedale PRIX! 471-2724. You can create your own google the projects proposed include: 128109 58 St Spruce Ave Community is looking calendar and add any of these removing the dilapitated/rotting Aug 18 & 19 @ Kennedale 128109 for volunteers to sell 50/50 tickets GUERRILLA GARDENING calendars to your personal one. skating rink; putting in bedding 58 St at this summers Grand Prix race on Guerrilla Gardening is an Go to www.google.com/calendar plants around the hall; removing Sept 22 & 23 @ Commonwealth July 20-22. For more information international organization for the and sign up for free. Then go the cook stoves from the grounds. Stadium 112 Ave & 90 St contact Verna on 479-8019. improvement of local areas both to +other calendars and search This will be discussed at the urban and rural. The website “118th Avenue” and add desired next community league meeting RAVINE ALL CLEAN! COMMUNITY GARDENING www.guerrillagardening.org gives calendars. scheduled for June 12 at 7 pm. 19 people helped clean Kinnard The Avenue Community Garden good details on projects started Ravine on Sunday, May 5. They Initiative is growing! Since Susan by this group both in Canada To submit your event or post a SHOW, SHINE & DANCE picked up about 85 bags of Penstone, a representative of and worldwide. The Edmonton free community notice (max 75 Friday, June 22, 6-10 pm at Alberta garbage and 4 or 5 shopping carts Edmonton Community Garden chapter has just been opened in words) email [email protected] Avenue Hall (9210 118 Ave). See from the Stadium LRT towards the Network, presented at Eastwood Alberta Avenue. The first project or call 479-6285. Events & notices ad on page 8. river: about 1000 feet. “We cleaned Community League last February is going to be putting some printed in the paper as deemed out 4 homeless camps and would community interest is growing plants in a concrete planter on appropriate by the editorial team ARTS ON THE AVE PRESENTS have gotten another if it hadn’t and developing. The first stage the northeast corner of 118 Ave and as space permits. THE OPENING OF “THE CARROT” been occupied and they refused will begin in upcoming weeks as and 94 St on Saturday, June 16. Friday, June 22, at the old Popular to vacate,” says Warren Sarauer, gardeners learn about gardening Donations of outdoor plants, GARAGE SALE Bakery space (9351 118 Ave). Live the clean up organizer. He added, and are given the options of trees or shrubs or even seeds and Saturday and Sunday, June 1 and music by The White Cat Trio. See “The ravine was quite clean away “container” gardening and/or the bulbs needed. For more info or to 2, 9am to 4:30 pm at Norwood page 13. from the homeless camps as most possibility of working together donate contact Nick at 473-5289 Golden Manor (11715 95 St), in of the dog walkers keep on top of in donated gardening space or [email protected]. front of the building. KEEP THE NEIGHBOURHOOD ADit.”S SarauerIZE฀IS฀VERTICAL฀BUSINESS฀CARD stated there were a lot supplied by a kind neighbour..3฀MONTHS฀ CLEAN. MAKE USE THE THE more camps with bigger groups in Crystal Kids Youth Centre and PIANO LESSONS THE AVENUE GOES TO THE CITY’S BIG BIN EVENTS them this year which he attributes Healthy Alberta Communities Beginners only, ages 6-10, using DOGS Big Bin Events are large item I฀APPOLOGIZE฀THAT฀I฀DO฀NOT฀KNOW฀HOW฀TO฀SAVE฀AS฀JPEG฀CAN฀to the economy. are the driving forces behind the John Thompson Series. Very reasonable rates. Call 479-4054. Saturday, June 9, 10am-4pm at roundups held on various YOU฀PLEASE฀LET฀US฀KNOW฀IF฀YOU฀RECEIVED฀IT฀PROPERLYthe Avenue Community Garden Alberta Avenue hall (9210 118 weekends during the summer. NINA HAGGERTY CENTRE FOR Intiative and are excited to be Ave). See ad on page 9. Residents can dispose of large THE ARTS part of such a healthy community CHILDREN’S SUMMER bulky items that are unacceptable 9704 – 111 Avenue, ph 474-7611 project. The opportunity to PROGRAMS for collection by waste collectors.K IMBERLYFamily Art NightFERLAND cultivate relationships as well See ad on page 8. There is no charge. Note: Do not Thursdays, 6:30 – 8 pm as produce, promises to be an

Edmonton SPRUCEWOOD BRANCH FAST,฀FRIENDLY,฀AFFORDABLE฀SERVICE Public Library 11555 - 95 Street Call 496-7099 to register PENLEY฀CONTRACTING Decks,฀Fences,฀Renovations Silly Songs With Larry COLLIN฀PENLEY฀ 2 p.m. Saturday, June 9 Top฀Quality฀Silver฀ Ages: 5 – 12 years Jewelry฀ New฀to฀the฀Avenue฀area฀ Ph:฀915-2502฀฀ ฀฀฀฀฀Email:฀[email protected]฀ Join Larry the Cucumber and Bob the Tomato as they Choose฀from฀8,000฀pieces฀ Fax:฀485-4954฀฀ ฀฀฀฀฀Web:฀www.penleycontracting.com take a journey down memory lane and relive some of their Best฀retail฀prices฀around฀ favorite silly songs. Extreme sillyness warning!! Guaranteed฀.925฀Silver฀ Full฀money฀back฀ guarantee For฀advertising฀rates฀and฀info฀check฀out฀ Home฀silver฀parties฀ Creepy Crawlies www.ratcreek.org฀ 2 p.m. Saturday, June 16 Order฀on-line฀or฀call฀today฀ or฀phone฀479.6285.฀ Ages: 5 – 14 years (780)฀554-8303฀ Presented by the Royal Alberta Museum www.avenuesilver.com Place฀a฀business฀card฀ad฀for฀only฀$40! Your chance to get up close and personal with some of the biggest, baddest, creepiest bugs in the world.

Summer Reading Club – Legends and Lore 2 p.m. Saturday, June 23 Ages: 4 – 12 years Ceremonial drummer, singer and storyteller Denise Miller entertains with a mix of stories, songs and ballads from her SICO Expert interior Cherokee, Mohawk and Celtic roots. She’s sure to keep Jasper 2 1/2" eggshell latex sash brush you spellbound. We are pleased to welcome Denise Miller $4.69 Sale $17.99 Reg $28.99 to Sprucewood to help us start our Summer Reading Club.

Summer Reading Club – Max’s Marvelous Time Machine! 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 4 Ages: 3 – 12 years Come ride Max’s Marvelous Time Machine with him and his dog, Fred. Their wild adventures into the past uncover a mystery puzzle. Discover ancient worlds from the time of the Dinosaurs to that of the Great Pyramids, and even meet a pirate or two! It’s a ride you’ll never forget! Presented by 471-6160 Hours: Mon-Fri 8 am - 5 pm Kaybridge Puppets. Supplier of Sico and Pittsburg paint • All your painting supplies at an everyday low price

RAT CREEK PRESS JUNE 2007 15 �������� �������������

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Edmonton Joint Planning ���������������������������������������������� Committee on Housing ������������������������������������� ����������������������� ���������������������������� ��������������������������� �������������������������������� �������������������������������������

16 RAT CREEK PRESS JUNE 2007