SEPTEMBER 2009 your free COMMUNITY newspaper ALBERTA AVENUE DELTON EASTWOOD ELMWOOD PARK PRREE PARKDALE EEEKK P SPRUCE AVENUE T CCSSRRE WESTWOOD RSRSAAT BUILDING COMMUNITY . ENCOURAGING COMMUNICATION . IN CREASING CAPACITY CIRCULATION 13,000 PH: 780.479.6285 EMAIL: [email protected] Kaleido brings a multitude of arts fun for fourth year MARI SASANO We’ve enjoyed festivals on the Avenue all summer, from dogs to pupusas. But now it’s time for the big one: Kaleido, which runs September 25, 26 and 27. Now in its fourth year, festival organizer Christy Morin is finding that the festival is beginning to come together to represent the character of the Avenue. “This year I think we’ve kind of figured out what Kaleido’s personality is—now the name is Kaleido, it’s no longer Arts Alive. And then we decided to look at the locations: there are so many neat places on the avenue, let’s use them and use them as a backdrop or a landscape for the art,” she says. So this year, performances and installations are going to fill the unusual spaces in and out of the various buildings on 118th Avenue, putting huge lanterns on top of buildings and turning the back of the Alberta Cycle building into Theatre Alley. Dancer Nicole Tritter will turn walls into dance floors, Romeo will woo Juliet in the playground, and the Bedouin Beats dancers will Epic Photography sashay on the corner outside their studio. A CROWD GATHERS AROUND THE FIRE AT LAST yEAR’S KALEIDO FESTIVAL And there’s another theme that emerged accidentally, be a display of vintage cars. experiencing art?” the Avenue as well. Those of us the area’s reputation for being with three car-related projects. “Some people will say This sense of innovation is who live near here, we all know a hotbed for artists. And with Theatre artist Clinton Carew whether this is really what one of the strengths of Kaleido, what to expect and feel very the grand opening of the Nina presents Carjack, where audi- theatre and arts and dance is but there will be some defin- comfortable walking around Haggerty Centre, Morin sees ences get into his vehicle with all about, but I think it is for ing features that will remain, and we have no hesitation, new opportunities for the festi- two actors in the front while he Kaleido. It’s giving people a such as the two outdoor music but we have friends who come val in the future, and artists in takes you on a joyride around taste of what’s happening on stages, artisan market, and fire from other areas in Edmonton general. the neighbourhood. For visual the Avenue,” says Morin. pits (bring your own hotdogs!). and we can show them what “And now we’re getting to arts, local auto airbrushing art- “It’s about experiencing the And it’s quickly beginning the avenue is about and wel- be more and more artsy down ists will be taking an old van arts in a playful way, not the to define the character of our come them. We’re shutting the here, whether they like it or and creating a new masterpiece. standard conventional theatre, neighbourhood. street down for three blocks, so not! Artists are so visionary and And composer Bill Damur is music and dance. It’s quirky, “I think the personality it’s come and see who are the they work hard so it’s happen- going to be taking old car parts it’s about breaking down bar- of Kaleido is becoming very performers, who are the artists ing.” and make them into a musical riers or being avant-garde. And strong. It’s about experiencing who live here.” All events are free, but piece. On top of that, there will isn’t that the way we should be not just art but experiencing As Kaleido grows, so does donations will be collected. CONTENTS ARTS ON THE AVE PRESENTS THE 4TH ANNUAL 10th anniversary Editorial ........................................2 submissions FREE News Briefs ................................3 EVENT! The Rat Creek Press turns 10 Donations this year! Business Briefs .........................5 welcome To celebrate we are printing a special Tenth Anniversary Seniors ............................................6-7 GO TO artsontheave.org FOR THE FESTIVAL PROGRAM issue in October, and we invite Local Colour .....................................9 BETWEEN all residents to write your September 118 AVENUE, 92–94 STREET memories or stories to share. 25–27, 2009 Columns ................................10-14 Send submissions to the editor at [email protected]. Community Calendar ............15 RAT CREEK PRESS SEPTEMBER 2009 • VOLUME 11, ISSUE 09 The reward of a long life is a PHONE 780.479.6285 WEB www.ratcreek.org MANAGING EDITOR lifetime of experience Jan Buterman [email protected] EDITOR EDITORIAL Mari Sasano ence! They say youth is wasted ety that tends to think of them begin in October. [email protected] WITH MARI SASANO on the young, but I can’t merely as dependents rather Our community is very GRAPHIC DESIGN imagine wanting to be young than individuals. This month’s mixed. There isn’t anyone I Leanne McBean forever—to feel that insecurity Rat Creek Press covers a range know who doesn’t have small [email protected] There was a time when I felt about proving myself, and the of topics: housing and health children, single adults, and ADVERTISING very busy with my life. I didn’t uncertainty about what my care, history and creativity. seniors living on their street. make time to see my family Jazz Wyatt life will amount to. It must be The issues that affect older Many of us don’t live near [email protected] very much, especially my par- wonderful to be able to under- people aren’t all that different our extended families any- ents who worried constantly stand all of that in hindsight. from anyone else’s. But older more—myself, I have lived DISTRIBUTION Canada Post about how I was doing. But Not that you can gener- people can be vulnerable eco- my entire life an ocean away BOARD MEMBERS these days when I call my par- alize about what seniors are nomically and socially. Our from my grandparents. So Sheryl Boisvert, Alberta Avenue ents, there’s a good chance that like— they’re a diverse group writers have taken on some of for some of us, we never have Joanne Siebert, Eastwood I get their answering machine! as any. You can’t just assume these issues, coming from dif- contact with older people other Gina Gariano, Delton Now they’re the ones enjoying that you’re going to look or ferent perspectives. than the ones that live in our Lori Youngman, Alberta Avenue their lives, filled with volun- act a certain way once you hit Cora Mclachlan writes neighbourhood. They are our Cheryl Walker, Parkdale teering, friends, and hobbies. the retirement years. I have about her grandparents, who grandparent surrogates, they Cath Jackel, Alberta Avenue No wonder they are now friends who are in their 50s lived in Norwood, where she often fill the roles of childcare Harvey Voogd, Delton calling retirement age the More board members welcome. and 60s who have to remind herself has chosen as her home. worker, neighbourhood watch, Creative Age. Having worked me of their age. Who can tell Our former managing editor community volunteers, and RAT CREEK PRESS ASSOCIATION for decades, building careers anymore? Dawn Freeman looks into the historians. 2006 Recipient of the Solicitor General and raising families, seniors In this issue, we celebrate local seniors’ drop-in scene. We have a lot to learn Crime Prevention Award Box 39024 RPO Norwood are able to branch out and seniors: who they are, what And I had a great chat with from seniors— if you can keep Edmonton, Alberta T5B 4T8 rediscover who they are. I envy they do, and the challenges Ann Jones, who is organizing up with them! them their lifetimes of experi- that come with aging in a soci- an open stage for seniors, to OUR MISSION The mission of the Rat Creek Press Association is to highlight community news, activities, and recreational opportunities as well as local residents LETTER TO THE EDITOR and businesses to support the growth of a strong, vibrant, well-connected community. There were four young boys who volunteered at the Avenue Goes to the Dogs on June 13 at Alberta OUR FINANCIAL SUPPORTERS Avenue Community League. Tim, Brandon, Brett and Deven were a big help in making sure that Norwood Neighbourhood Association Spruce Avenue Community League all the dogs at the festival got fresh water to drink and to swim in. The Avenue Goes to the Dogs Eastwood Community League organizers would like to express their thanks to these four Elmwood Park Community League Alberta Avenue Business Association boys for working so hard and providing such kindness PAAFE - Prostitution Awareness & to our neighborhood pets and all the rescue dogs at the Action Foundation of Edmonton Alberta Lottery Fund festival. There were a lot of dogs at the festival who were available for adoption. Some of these boys helped with the festival the year before and returned for a second time. We hope to see you boys again next year! Jo-Ann Siebert Avenue Goes to the Dogs AVENUE GOES TO THE DOGS THANKS VOLUNTEERS YOUR HOME DESERVES THE BEST MORTGAGE Take advantage of today’s low interest rates. INTERESTED IN Find out about our mortgage and HELOC options. ADVERTISING? Kevin Mauthe Personal Banking Specialist CHECK OUT OUR Ph: 780-408-7735 Denise Wareham Mortgage Specialist AD RATES AND Cell: 780-717-4042 Karm Dhillon Personal Banking Specialist INFORMATION Ph: 780-427-3218 ATB Financial 118 Ave 8804 - 118th Avenue AT 780-427-4171 WWW.RATCREEK.ORG 2 RAT CREEK PRESS SEPTEMBER 2009 NEWSBRIEFS All sides weigh in on City Centre Airport decision Eastwood Dog Club Update You and your dog are invited to join us for off-leash fun a on MARI SASANO there is a great deal of optimism and construction.