SUMMER 2016 • FREE RGING ME WR E IT T E S R E S B 2 016 THE DOWNTOWN EDMONTON COMMUNITY LEAGUE AND THE OLIVER COMMUNITY LEAGUE NEWSMAGAZINE THE BEAT GOE S ON Inside the core’s live music revival Heritage Daze Safe Haven When does history Community leagues outweigh property rights? helping refugees +6 reasons dogs love Summer Shade Oliver and Downtown Saluting the trees we love (and one reason they don't) the YARDS SUMMER 2016 inside PUBLISHER FRONTYARDS JARRETT CAMPBELL 4 COMMUNITY 7 OLIVER COMMUNITY EDITOR LEAGUE UPDATES “Block Connectors” rekindle OMAR MOUALLEM community spirit; the long wait for an ART DIRECTOR 5 DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY urban bike route is almost over; inside JENNIFER WINDSOR How leagues can help refugees; the board games revival; plus league EDITORIAL INTERN the Valley Line LRT needs more events. Kalyna Hennig time; neighbourhood parents find play dates for their kids and selves; CONTRIBUTING EDITOR 9 AROUND THE CORE Lee Craig, Tracy Hyatt, plus league events. A grab bag of hidden gems, gossip Rhonda Kronyk and noteworthy events CONTRIBUTORS Tracey Anderson, Jessica Barratt, 12 INNER VOICES CBW Caswell, Jeff Day, Angela Designated dog parks strengthen Johnston, Roberta Laurie, Brittany communities. So why don’t we have Nugent, Samantha Power, Daniella 12 one yet? San Martin-Feeney, Celia Shea, Nikki Wiart The List THE MOVE Six reasons your 13 MARKETING & EVENTS An Oliver engineer masterminds a puppy loves the core Sona Chavda micro-home ACCOUNT MANAGERS Adriana Amelio, Sona Chavda, Dan Rose THIRD PARTY AD SALES Rob Lightfoot, T8N Publishing Inc. GOVERNANCE BOARD Live from the Core CHAIR After decades of struggle, a resurgence Jarrett Campbell of central music venues signals the 14 TREASURER beginning of a new era Eric Hermanns BY C.B.W. CASWELL SECRETARY Lee Craig COMMUNITY LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVES Lisa Brown & Simon Yackulic (Oliver); Chris Buyze & Milap Petigara (DECL) DIRECTORS AT LARGE: BACKYARDS Carolyn Jervis, Rhonda Kronyk 22 INFOMAGIC CONTACT US Quantifying our neighbourhoods’ wealth of trees The Yards Magazine 1011, 10301 104 St. NW 23 STREET SMARTS Edmonton, AB T5J 1B9 We asked our neighbours: Have you ever committed ADVERTISING SALES or witnessed a random act of kindness in the core? [email protected] Published by 24 NEW URBANISM The Central Edmonton Buoyed by the downturn, new surface parking lots News Society 18 threaten to undo urban progress in partnership with Is This the 26 YOU ARE HERE Next to Go? Friendly faces from last season’s community events A resident of the historic El Mirador apartments finds out how we weigh ON THE WEB heritage against infill, Grey Gardens: The Living Bridge is one the city’s finest density and economics examples of urban intervention, but it is not without its theyardsyeg.ca BY ANGELA JOHNSTON controversies BY CELIA SHEA theyardsyeg.ca/grey-gardens facebook.com/theyardsyeg @theyardsyeg COMMUNITY LEAGUE UPDATES Downtown Edmonton Community League DECL board of directors: Chris he construction is underway. It couldn’t be more excited. Buyze (President), Ian O’Donnell (VP), sometimes come with headaches for Our community league continues to evolve Milap Petigara (Treasurer), Jillian Gamez T drivers and aggravating detours for to meet the needs of residents. Recently we (Secretary), Phil Anhorn, Erin Duebel, pedestrians. welcomed our first families to our regular Yvonne Epp, Laurissa Kalinowsky, The changes are long overdue and the Urban Kids Playgroup (p. 5). But as some Christie Lutsiak, Alena Manera, Jarrett investment to improve our Downtown—to things change, some stay the same: We’re Mykytiuk, Chris Pilon and Scott Winder. turn it from an auto-focused daytime place hosting our annual Toonie Pancake Break- to a 24/7 entertainment and residential fast this June but with an added twist—a decl.org enclave—are finally here. But the showy parking lot sale! Just another great way to [email protected] Downtown condos still only represent a support our community (p. 5). @declorg small percentage of the residential growth We hope you enjoy this construction in Edmonton. All core neighbourhoods—not season. It won’t be one of the last. just ours—have to do better jobs of encouraging residen- Remembering Patrick Cardinal tial infill, good urban design, “DJ Cardinal,” or Pat as 104 AVE pedestrian-oriented amen- he was known to friends, OCL 118 ST. 116 ST. 103 AVE ities and active transportation passed away this April 112 ST. 111 ST. 109 ST. 105 ST. 104 ST. 103 ST. if our city is going to be vibrant after a two-year battle with 102 AVE and financially sustainable for pancreatic cancer. Pat will the next generation. always be known as a great JASPER AVE DECL This neighbourhood that supporter of DECL through 100 AVE we call home is improving his volunteerism as a board slowly to meet the needs of member (2010–2014), his residents. This June we cele- help with events, his can-do brate the long-anticipated ground-breaking attitude, and not to mention his good tunes. What’s a Community League? and construction of Alex Decoteau Park Pat was a radio industry guru who managed Community Leagues are unique to (details on p. 5). This amenity is to support major stations across North America, the thousands of residents who’ve made the including Power 92 in the 1990s. On the day Edmonton. They’re inclusive, grassroots, “Warehouse Campus” home, who provided before he died, Pat learned that he would be community-based organizations found a catalyst for further residences in the area. inducted into the Canadian Broadcasters in each of this city’s 150-plus neigh- The park is 10 years in the making, so we Hall of Fame on May 5. bourhoods. They facilitate healthy, safe, informed and connected communities Oliver Community League by promoting participation in recreation, social activities and civic advocacy at the ou walk by them everywhere. They Community League hosts events to bring our sidewalk level. They’re volunteer-run and are…your neighbours. But how well whole neighbourhood together. On June 18, promote volunteerism because getting do you know them? the league is hosting its annual rummage sale Y involved is a great way to learn more about There is a tendency to live in isolation, espe- (details on p. 7). The hall will be packed with cially when we reside among high-density trinkets and treasures, so be sure to stop by. your neighbourhood and city. It’s also a populations like Oliver. It’s easy to be unseen, Our annual Canada Day Pancake Break- fantastic opportunity to learn valuable to come and go and never truly connect with fast also returns this summer on, well, July professional skills, meet your neighbours those you live near. 1, of course. Join in this tradition and meet Efforts like the Abundant Commun- upwards of a few hundred neighbours over and have fun. Join the movement today! ities Initiative (ACI) are trying to reduce pancakes and maple syrup (details on p. 7). isolation and bring neighbours together. Summer is always a busy time for folks: “Block Connectors” literally knock on the Children are out of school, vacation time doors of homes and tirelessly unite neigh- gets put to use, gardeners—on their lawns, bours in similar interests, backgrounds, balconies or community plots—work hard OCL board of directors: Lisa Brown cultures and hobbies (read about them on on their bounty. And, of course, there are the (President), Craig Lidstone (Vice- p. 8). In doing so, they create micro-villages countless festivals filling summer days and president), Simon Yackulic (Secretary), of connection throughout Oliver—food is nights. Long, warm days bring us out of our Mary McPhail (Treasurer), Anika Gee, shared, stories are told, friendships are made. homes and onto our streets, which presents Marjorie Henderson, Justin Keats, Knowing your neighbours is a wonderful opportunities to share even a wave and smile Rowan Kunitz, Luwam Kiflemariam, Tim way to be connected to your community. We with a passerby. Take the opportunity—even Mallandaine, Angelika Matson, Marija encourage you to open your door to the ACI if you need a pet to break the ice (read about Petrovic, Erin Wright and Hossein Zahiri. Block Connectors and reap the benefits of the benefits of dog parks on p. 12). However neighbourliness. you choose to meet your neighbours, olivercommunity.com In addition to this initiative, the Oliver research shows that we’re all healthier for it. [email protected] Our community is stronger, safer, livelier and 780-454-2450 4 THE YARDS SUMMER 2016 more inclusive when we know one another. • FRONTYARDS SUMMER DECL EVENTS The Streetcar JUN. 10 Alex Decoteau Park Returns! Groundbreaking Ceremony irst, the good news: Downtown’s treas- Join Mayor Don Iveson, Coun. Scott Fured summer festivals, such as Taste of McKeen, community members and Edmonton and Cariwest, won’t be displaced descendants of Alex Decoteau for this mile- from Churchill Square by Valley Line LRT stone almost 10 years in the making. After construction this year, as was first expected. the ceremony, stick around for activities The bad news? The new LRT might not and speakers on the park’s design. n 1pm, break ground in the core until 2018, which 105 St. and 102 Ave. means the connection from Downtown to Mill Woods will have to wait longer. JUNE 18 When it’s finally completed four years Annual Toonie Pancake Breakfast later, expect to feel a touch of nostalgia. and Parking Lot Sale Rather than the underground stations Down- This year we’re adding a rummage sale, towners have grown accustomed to, the new sponsored by Impark. It’s free to register line will operate at-grade, alongside traffic for DECL members, $15 for everyone with platform access from the sidewalks, like else.