How can we deal with terror threats like the one made against West Edmonton Mall and other shopping centres? Is it a serious threat or is it marketing? What action should we as citizens take? Our downtown clock towers are not keeping time very well and need some maintenance. What can do we do about that? Why don’t we budget for this sort of thing? How else could we fund improvements? Why don’t hockey players want to play in Edmonton? Do they not like the city or is the team the problem? Why didn’t any of the current players stand up for Edmonton? What’s the deal with the 311 Explorer? Why should citizens care?

We discuss all those questions and more! We also discuss the upcoming Red Bull Crashed Ice event and the Magna Carta Tour.

Here are some relevant links for this episode:

• West Edmonton Mall named in al-Shabaab video as possible target
• Police and RCMP working to ensure West Edmonton Mall is a safe place
• Deteriorating clock tower running out of time (April 22, 2009)
• Edmonton’s Friendship Tower clock not quite keeping up with the time
• Edmonton Oilers is least favorite NHL destination for players, ESPN reports
• Character
• Edmonton 311 Explorer
• Red Bull Crashed Ice
• Magna Carta comes to Edmonton for its 800th anniversary

Thanks for listening!

Why are our hospitals falling apart? Why haven’t we planned properly to maintain them? Are we doing a better job with other things, like neighbourhood renewal? Why can’t the Oilers seem to turn things around when other teams have been able to? Are fans finally starting to stay away from games as a result? What’s going on with the Northlands Arena Strategy Committee? Is the cancelled Santa Claus Parade a bad thing or an opportunity? Are we tough enough to get outside? Why hasn’t Earth’s General Store found success on 104 Street?

We discuss those questions and more!

Here are some relevant links for this episode:

• From burst pipes to invading ant colonies, problems plague Alberta’s hospitals
• Oilers standing pat, GM Craig MacTavish says
• Janet Riopel named Edmonton Chamber of Commerce president
• Northlands Arena Strategy Committee launches Exploration Subcommittee
• Northlands Arena Strategy Committee launches Engagement Subcommittee
• You better not cry, you better not pout: Santa Claus indoor mall parade cancelled
• Your Guide to Winter 2014/2015 Festivals & Events in Edmonton
• Earth’s General Store marketing survey

Thanks for listening!

There are lots of new restaurants to try, including Ampersand, a revamped North 53, and a bunch of lunch spots all around Central LRT Station. It’s a great time to enjoy downtown eats! On the topic of food, have you seen the Sexy Men of YEG Food calendar? All proceeds go to support the Edmonton Food Bank.

What can be done in the region to ensure we have positive economic development in the future? There’s an opportunity here, so how can we seize it? How does the City Charter fit into this opportunity, if at all?

Thanks to some funding from TEC Edmonton, we have a new Health Accelerator moving forward in Edmonton. Will we see 50 new health-related companies created as a result? How will this be different than previous efforts to succeed in the health-commercialization space?

Finally, we have a beautiful new public washroom in Borden Park. Have you checked it out?

Here are some relevant links for this episode:

• Edmonton Oilers fire goaltending coach Frederic Chabot
• The Sexy Men of YEG Food
• Edmonton region must take steps to secure economic future, report says
• TEC Edmonton’s Health Accelerator + Innovate Calgary’s Kinetica Ventures get funding go-ahead
• A Beautiful Public Washroom in an Edmonton Park

Thanks for listening!

1. Ryan Smyth’s retirement &  the success of the Edmonton Rush
2. The Galleria Project
3. The end of the Great Divide Waterfall, the start of Light the Bridge
4. Edmonton would fare well in the zombie apocalypse

In the first topic, we talk about Ryan Smyth’s retirement, a positive note to end a negative season on for the Oilers (even though we’re sad to see him go). We also talk about the Edmonton Rush and the amazing season they’re having! Moving on to the Galleria, we talk about the latest developments in the project. Mack is still opposed, Graham is now onside with the project. In our third topic we applaud the end of the Great Divide Waterfall, and look ahead to LEDs on the High Level Bridge. Finally, we talk about the popular post on how Edmonton would do in the event of a zombie apocalypse (spoiler: we’d do well!).

Here are some relevant links for this episode:

• Ryan Smyth joins the Edmonton Rush for their final game of the regular season
• Organization Needs Fixing – OilersNation
• The Edmonton Galleria Project
• Councillor’s turn off the tap for Edmonton’s Great Divide Waterfall
• Light the Bridge
• Canadian Cities Most and Least Likely to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse

Thanks for listening!

We also delve into the notion of civic identity. Edmonton’s seems to be intertwined with the Oilers, but can that change? Of course, it’s hard for us to chat about the Oilers without touching on the arena too! That didn’t take long, did it?

The episode is a bit random, we admit, but we’re still figuring this out so thanks for joining us on the journey! As always, we’d love your feedback, so don’t be shy!