RAT CREEK PRESS CIRCULATION 12,500 WWW.RATCREEK.ORG OCTOBER 2014 NEWS >> ART INSIDE: Community News Make time to create art Have a safe and fun Nina Haggerty offers free classes Halloween at the Great Pumpkin Event >> P2 Community News MP Peter Goldring is retiring from politics. >> P3 What’s On Part of McCauley School grounds have been transformed into a micro orchard. >> P4 Perspectives Cadence Bergman discusses the importance of Westwood arena. >> P7 Special Feature Learn how Edmonton’s On Tuesday and Wednesday nights, this room is full of people creating art. >> LORRAINE SHULBA Food Bank stocks its shelves. >> P8 NICOLA DAKERS Mark recommended trying the “There is quite a range There is no lack of interest- Community Art Night at Nina of people who attend the ing new lessons and the sup- I was the kid that went to Haggerty Centre for the Arts. Community Art Nights,” said plies are all free for participants Words We Ave a fine arts school and played Entering the doors into the Susan Seright, lead artist of to use thanks to grants from Enjoy some poetry from tackle football. I loved the Nina Haggerty was like enter- the Tuesday Community Art the Alberta Jubilee Auditoria RCP’s Poetry Slam. creative arts, but never felt ing a space of pure creative Night. “Teachers and doctors, Society and Telus. I was any good at creating delight. There was art hung people from the community, Classes run from September >> P10 art. I turned to something I everywhere, rows of tables and people from other communi- to June with the Community was good at: tackling people. chairs, vast shelves of supplies, ties, people from all over!” Art Night held on Tuesdays However, a few years ago in and even a model dragon hang- Focusing on interaction and from 6:30 to 8:30 pm and Everybody’s Business my early 30s I felt a strong ing up high near the ceiling. I enjoyment, artists are free to the Family Art Night held Discover two Latin desire to start creating. One was hooked. create and engage with those on Wednesdays from 6:30 to American businesses on night I came home from work, Each class starts with 10 around them. 8:00 pm. Alberta Ave. grabbed some paper and pencil to 15 minutes of technical “I try to teach a little bit of >> P11 crayons, locked myself in my instruction and then partici- technical, but not a lot, so that COMMUNITY ART NIGHT room, and started drawing and pants are set free to create art. I everyone has fun,” said Seright. Tuesday nights from Slice of Life colouring. Four happy hours made poster prints, telling sto- Seright plans to make every 6:30-8:30 pm Dave Von Bieker later, knew I needed some art ries with shapes and shading, art class interesting, changing ponders gratitude and in my life. transferring images, and even the programming slightly from FAMILY ART NIGHT Thanksgiving. I took a few professional art creating decent paintings with year to year to ensure par- Wednesday nights from classes, making sure to sit at the my non-dominant hand. The ticipants learn new skills in 6:30-8:00 pm >> P12 back of the class to avoid nega- freedom of learning how to each class. “This year we will tive attention. I did not enjoy use the tools, while not having do some print making, collage Both classes take place those classes due to the focus to be perfect, let me express and fabric, book making, wax at the Nina Haggerty on perfection of technique. myself. I was making art! And resist, two classes on making Centre for the Arts 9225 I often left feeling exhausted I was meeting great people each glass and six classes on clay 118 Ave and dejected. Then my partner time I attended. making.” 2 COMMUNITY NEWS RAT CREEK PRESS . OCTOBER 2014 NEWS >> COMMUNITY Free spooktacular fun! Great Pumpkin Event embraces safe Halloween TALEA MEDYNSKI The evening begins at 4 pm with “Spook and Bannock” Halloween is lurking around (soup and bannock). Afterwards, the corner and kids are get- people can go trick-or-treating ting their costumes ready in and then return to Bent Arrow anticipation of trick-or-treating. for an evening of activities. While the popular holiday can Most activities begin at 5 pm. be a lot of fun, safety is also a “Most activities will be in concern. the gym and the south side of “There is an issue with safe Parkdale school,” said Fowler. trick-or-treating in some areas. Activities include wagon Kids tend to roam,” explained rides, arts and crafts, and sto- Sherry Fowler, Bent Arrow’s rytelling by Edmonton Public White Cloud Head Start pro- Library staff in a tipi. People gram team leader. can sit by the campfire and sip It’s the idea of safety that hot chocolate, enter a costume got Bent Arrow Traditional contest, walk down a haunted Healing Society talking and col- hallway, and take in the fire- laborating with Neighbourhood works. Youth ages 13 to 17 Empowerment Teams (N.E.T.), can also select a scary movie to 118 Avenue Initiative, and the watch. City of Edmonton three years “I requested scary, but not ago. Their collaboration created gross,” laughed Fowler, who a community gathering called added that there would be pop- the Great Pumpkin Event. corn and pop available for the “[The idea] came from a youth. group of people in the com- The event isn’t just for fam- Go on a wagon ride at the Great Pumpkin event. >> LINDA OROSCO munity who wanted an alterna- ilies, stressed Fowler. “We’ve tive to trick-or-treating,” said had people of all ages come THE GREAT PUMPKIN EVENT Activities begin at 5 pm and will wrap up at Fowler. “It’s a way to engage dressed up and visit by the fire.” 7:45 pm to get ready for the fireworks. A partnership project with N.E.T., the City of Activities include: everybody.” In a community gathering Edmonton, and the 118 Avenue Initiative. Wagon rides, EPL storytelling in tipi outside The event has been popu- like Great Pumpkin Event, Free community celebration at: in the south yard, campfire in the south yard lar, attracting 1,000 people last everyone is welcome and more Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society free hot chocolate, arts and crafts table in year. Fowler said that while she’s importantly, a large community (located in Parkdale School) 11648 85 St. the gym, haunted hallway expecting the same number of presence means there are “eyes people again, she’s preparing for everywhere” and a better chance Event runs from 4-11:30 pm Costume contest from 5:30-7 pm in the gym 100 more. of a safe and fun holiday. Spook and Bannock 4-5:30 pm Fireworks display at 8 pm “It took off and it was amaz- “Halloween should be about Movie night for 13 to 17-year-olds (a partnership with Crystal Kids) ing. We’ve become a central having fun. If we’re all together, from 9-11:30 pm point so people can trick or it’s a safe place to be.” treat safely,” said Fowler. Norwood Square Park Neighbourhood housing Enhancement Project Residents provide input Public Consultation TALEA MEDYNSKI residents are homeowners, leav- too restrictive. ing 35 per cent as renters. Neighbourhood character We need your input on proposed enhancements On Sept. 25, Alberta Avenue Eastwood has 4,075 resi- homes are a big draw and res- for Norwood Square Park at 95 St and 114 Ave. and Eastwood residents met dents, with a median household idents would like to prevent See the concept design and give feedback on with city staff to discuss hous- income of $43,277. Sixty per unnecessary infill. Some resi- proposed changes including: ing. cent rent, and 40 per cent are dents suggested using second- Realizing Housing Potential, homeowners. ary suites rather than building • the removal of fence along a city initiative, will address In mature neighbourhoods, duplexes or fourplexes. Others 95 St & 114 Ave, housing conditions and create 35 per cent of residents rent and suggested more co-operative • upgrading of park furniture, positive housing plans for 65 per cent are homeowners. housing, quality condomini- • removal & replacement of trees, Alberta Avenue, Eastwood, Dalton Wudrich, the project ums, and seniors housing. • as well as other items. Queen Mary Park, McCauley, head, emphasized the city isn’t Residents also discussed remov- and Central McDougall. In focusing only on low-income ing derelict homes sooner and Choose one of the following public sessions: 2012, city council granted a housing. stronger bylaw enforcement of Saturday, October 4 Thursday, October 9 moratorium on non-market “We want to discuss every- overrun homes. Commonwealth The Carrot Coffeehouse housing in those neighbour- thing from high-end housing to “I thought it went well. Community 9-11am hoods and promised a neigh- entry-level housing, ownership Maybe a bit disorganized, but Recreation Centre 5-7pm Norwood School bourhood-based analysis. or rental,” said Wudrich. “We I thought it worked out well. 5:30-7:30pm Cris Basauldo, development need to find the right balance.” A lot of ideas came out,” said Sunday, October 5 director at Alberta Avenue Wudrich emphasized all Kate Walker, Alberta Avenue Italian Centre Shop October 6-10, 2014 Community League, shared her neighbourhoods are different. resident. 10am-noon Visit Norwood Child & thoughts before the meeting. “We must look at data from a “I was impressed with how Family Resource Centre She explained the city neighbourhood lens to see what positive the city consultants Monday, October 6 anytime during regular must identify what a healthy it means,” said Wudrich, who were,” said Basauldo.