Edmontonians May09

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ALBERTA’S LARGEST INDEPENDENT PAGING COMPANY

with

T

he Edmonton radio market has long been respected as one

of the best in Canada, as witnessed by awards presented to local stations virtually every year at the annual Canadian Music Week.

For example, belated congrats to both The Bear (Astral) and CISN (Corus) for their recent national recognition as “best of” at CMW in Toronto. Plus, Ryan Zimmerman of The Bear was named Program Director for the Year.

Winning industry awards like these are huge accolades for the hard work and commitment it takes to make radio stations great. We’re up against much larger cities like Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver for this annual event.

We’ll have four new contemporary signals launching in the near future as well. No dates have been announced as that is part of the game plan but most will be on-air by year’s end. Taken individually, here’s what we have to look forward to.

CTV owns The Bounce, very ably managed by James Stuart who will be launching the new station Essential FM. The format is described as classic alternative, featuring Pearl Jam, Nirvana, The Cure, The Clash, U2 and Soundgarden.

James explains, “The station is awaiting word from the CRTC on its proposed frequency on 95.7 FM. Essential is going to fill a void in the market, by playing music that is not currently heard on any Edmonton radio stations.

Eighty percent of our playlist will be music that, while familiar, is not available. If you dug the music in the late ’70s, ’80s and early ’90s, this will be a station that fits your music tastes.”

The next newcomer is from veteran John Yerxa, with a youth-based radio station at 107.7 on the dial. John’s family roots trace back to CFCW which was owned and operated by his father, the late and legendary Hal Yerxa. John’s station will be called new 107fm (check it out at www.new107fm.com), featuring new rock, hip hop, dance and alternative pop. He promises 80 percent of the music will be current—meaning from the last six months. As well, the station will be very active in the social media scene, including Facebook and Twitter. John is quite proud—and justifiably so—that he is the only native Edmontonian to own and operate a radio station in our city.

Rawlco, owners of Magic 99, won the rights to launch what is described in the industry as a “Triple A” format—Adult Album Alternative. This, generally speaking, is music that is not heard on commercial radio here in Edmonton, but you may be familiar with some of the artists through airplay on CKUA: David Gray, James Morrisson, Adele and others. The station will be managed by Kurt Levens who says, “Rawlco Radio is thrilled at the prospect of running a new FM radio station in Edmonton, a sister to Smooth Jazz Magic 99, which signed on in December of 2005. You’ll eventually be able to find our new station at 102.3 on the FM dial. We have been approved for an adult-hits format.

“Edmonton’s a world-class city. We love it here! And we’re excited about the chance to do even more to serve our community!”

The fourth new licence is from Harvard Broadcasting, based in Regina. It’s been growing quickly over the past few years with new licences in Fort McMurray and Calgary. Edmontonians may remember its president, Bruce Cowie, who managed CFRN/CTV here several years ago.

The format is soft adult contemporary, and the station will be called JENN FM. It will play a variety of music representing a range of artists, decades and styles, including pop, rock, R&B, reggae, jazz, alternative and world music from the ’80s, ’90s and 2000s. We’ll hear artists like Colbie Caillat, Amy Winehouse, Fiest and Arcade Fire. JENN-FM will also focus on new and emerging artists, including releases from Canadian artists.

Harvard’s news release outlines the format: “News and information programming will also be balanced with the music. As part of our commitment to keeping Edmonton listeners up to date with their city, JENN-FM will have coverage of the topics that are of importance to Edmontonians.

“News will air twice an hour in the morning and every hour throughout the weekday and weekend. Some of the other information programming features that will appeal to the JENN-FM audience will be discussions on personal finance strategies, career and personal development.”

So, more stations… more jobs… more variety… more competition is on the way. √ Marty Forbes is the recently retired VP and general manager of The Bear, EZRock and The TEAM 1260 Sports Radio. Contact marty@edmontonians.com EDMONTONIANS MAY 2009

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EDMONTONIANS MAY 2009

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Poll

CELEBRATING

20

STATION

YEARS

With Linda Banister

FOUNDER DICK MacLEAN

MAY 2009

Vol. XX

T

No. 5

SHARON MacLEAN Publisher and Advertising Director Telephone: 780.482.7000 Fax: 780.488.9317 e-mail: info@edmontonians.com edmontonians.com

INSIDE

he City is growing and so too is the LRT. To better serve Edmontonians, construction is currently underway for the 7.5 kilometre South LRT Expansion. As well, there are a number of other planning studies researching future possible LRT routes. This month’s Edmontonians’ poll focused on the LRT expansion from downtown to NAIT.

ARE YOU AWARE OF AND INTERESTED IN A DOWNTOWN TO NAIT LRT PROJECT?

VOX POP Mark Scholz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Marty Forbes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 POLL STATION NAIT LRT/Banister . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 DOORS OPEN FESTIVAL Schedule of events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 More than box stores/Lauber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Psychogeographic Tour/Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Philosophers Café . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Festival Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

78% Percent

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

22%

WHAT IS YOUR OVERALL IMPRESSION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT?

CIVIC BUZZ New Hotels/Norwood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 VISIONARIES Contré/Gazin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Horner/Croucher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Briefs/Croucher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Social Media/Schwabe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 MEDIA MINUTE Perfect Storm/Hogle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 THE BUSINESS OF LOVE The Wedding/Jespersen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 LIVELY LIFESTYLES MenuMagic/Berry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Absolute Bodo/Bodo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 BARB DETERS

Said they had not heard of the NAIT LRT project prior to this survey

Said they had heard of the NAIT LRT project prior to this survey

To begin the survey, respondents were asked to indicate if, prior to the survey, they had heard of the City of Edmonton Transit Downtown to NAIT LRT project. Over three-quarters (78 percent) of respondents stated they had, while 22 percent had not. On a scale of 1 to 5 (with 1 being not at all interested and 5 being very interested), they were then asked to rate their personal level of interest in this project. Almost half (48 percent) reported they were interested (4 or 5 out of 5), while 25 percent indicated a moderate interest, and 26 percent were not interested (1 or 2 out of 5).

Editor

COLUMNISTS Linda Banister John Berry Linda Bodo Cheryl Croucher Marty Forbes Bruce Hogle Ryan Jespersen David Norwood Erin Rayner Mark Scholz Walter Schwabe Nizar J. Somji FEATURE WRITERS Barb Deters Greg Gazin Rick Lauber Peter Drake McHugh Marcus Miller Marg. Pullishy

WHERE AND WHAT DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN TO NAIT PROJECT?

Percent

editor@edmontonians.com

GRAPHIC PRODUCTION Rage Studios Inc.

THIS MONTH’S COVER

Next, respondents that were aware of the project were asked how they would describe their overall impression of the Downtown to NAIT LRT project. The majority (58 percent) indicated they were somewhat (31 percent) or very positive (27 percent), while 35 percent said they were neutral toward the project, and five percent stated they were somewhat negative toward the project.

Respondents with a somewhat negative impression of the project were asked why they felt that way. Reasons varied: The city needs more public transportation and public transportation should serve other areas; not everyone would use it; money should be put into the existing LRT and not into expansion; and the project was poorly designed.

Respondents that had a neutral, somewhat or very positive impression of the Downtown to NAIT LRT project were also asked why they felt the way they did. Twenty-one percent thought it would be good for NAIT students; 19 percent believed the city needs more public transportation and should also serve more areas. Thirteen percent stated it would make transportation easier for many people, and another 13 percent thought it would reduce traffic. √

Monthly Poll Station Online Question

39%

Visit www.edmontonians.com to register your opinion

36%

Want a question included in the Edmontonians Poll?

Contact Linda at 780.451.4444 or e-mail lbanister@edmontonians.com.

17%

PHOTOGRAPHERS Terry Bourque Barb Deters Josh Dunford SPECIAL PROJECTS Edmontonians Transformers Tom Bradshaw Les Brost Steffany Hanlen Larry Ohlhauser

Respondents that were previously aware of this project were asked where they had heard about the Downtown to NAIT LRT project. Respondents most frequently stated newspapers (39 percent), followed by television news (36 percent), the radio (17 percent) and the news (unspecified) (17 percent). When asked what they had heard about the project, 26 percent heard the City was planning to expand the LRT from downtown to NAIT. Eighteen percent heard the project was in the planning state and no decision had yet been made, while 14 percent indicated that they had heard there was difficulty agreeing on the route the LRT will take, and 12 percent heard the project was too expensive.

Said they became aware of the NAIT LRT project through the newspapers

Said they became aware of the NAIT LRT project through the television news

Said they became aware of the NAIT LRT project on the radio news

Linda Banister is a certified management consultant and the owner of Banister Research and Consulting Inc., a full service provider of market research and program evaluation services.

Visit www.banister.ab.ca.

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Miki Andrejevik at Great West Saddlery loading dock on 104 Street Photo by Terry Bourque Published by 399620 Alberta Ltd. on the first day of each month at C-100 Park Side Tower, 8920-100th Street Edmonton AB CA T6E 4Y8. ©All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted or reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Manuscripts: must be accompanied by a stamped, selfaddressed envelope. Edmontonians is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts.

All stories Copyright ©Edmontonians Publications Mail Agreement No. 40023292 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Circulation Department C-100 Park Side Tower, 8920-100th Street Edmonton AB CA T6E 4Y8 Email: info@edmontonians.com

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THAT WAS THE MAY THAT WAS “After a great deal of hype, the Palace Casino opened April 4 with a poof. They managed to lose money for the first couple of days, but were on track by the weekend, enjoying a profit.” ~Barry Pritchard Gaming—Time Out 1990

I

was off Planet Edmonton

for a good chunk of April.

Touched down on the East Coast for a spell and visited the nation’s capital. That being said, I am a little thin on the goings on around here. You’re damn right Martin... On April 11th, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting in the Winspear Centre. The artist in town was outstanding singer/songwriter Martin Sexton who was joined by opener Chris Trapper. Guitarist John Mayer said that Martin is “the best live performer I’ve ever seen.” The show was pretty stripped

Martin Sexton

In the past two attempts, the event raised just over $180,000 for the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Cross Cancer Institute. It would be amazing to surpass the quarter-milliondollar mark, as well finally to make our way into the book.

Consider the 2007 marathon softball game: Team Cross and Team Stollery battled for 108 hours and 3 minutes— 694 innings… equivalent to nearly 100 games. Collectively, 1480 runs were scored, with only 86 separating the exhausted teams. The score isn’t as important as the money raised.

The Home Run for Life 3 is happening in Waskatenau—population 260— northeast of Edmonton. You can help out their cause through sponsorship or donations by going to the website at http://homerunforlife.synthasite.com. By the way, about 400 volunteers are needed to make it all happen.

5th Annual Jeans and Jersey What a great event. What a down… both musicians had guitar and voice. The night was simply magical. The sight. The Sawmill Banquet & Catering reason I wanted to write about this night was something Martin told the crowd. He Centre was filled with every sports jersey you kept mentioning what a “gig” this was, could imagine. I saw a meaning how great it was to play at the table of Team Canada, Winspear. Then after a while he simply lots of Oilers and Esks said, “I have played Carnegie Hall and and NY Rangers Guy this room is just as good but newer.”

Lafleur. The event raises When he added, “If I had a place like funds for the Alberta this where I lived…I wouldn’t miss a Diabetes Foundation. show,” it made me think. He is damn 2005 CTV’s Josh Classen was right. We are so lucky to have that room the MC, I was the in our city. I can’t wait to get back in auctioneer, and Paul there for another show. I think that show Sveen was the comedian. could be the Derek Trucks Band’ on The honorary chair was June 25th. They are playing at the Oiler Andrew Edmonton International Jazz Cogliano. I have Festival. This is my not-toa ton of respect be-missed recommendation Josh Classen for the ADF—an for next month. Also organization that appearing at the Jazz does it right. It Festival are Branford was founded by Marsalis and John a group of Abercrombie. concerned Edmontonians Swing batter batter… who want a Here is something that a cure for Type 1 group of Edmontonians is and Type 2 working on. I had a chat with diabetes. In a Derek Schesnuk, assistant nutshell, they raise money manager of guest services at and lots of it... and that money from Northlands. He told me plans are generous donors goes to research. officially underway for Chapter III of Cheques are welcome year round. Be Home Run For Life to take place from sure to keep the 6th annual Jeans and from June 30th through to July 5th.

Committee members have once again set Jersey dinner and auction in mind for next spring. forth a plan to make it into the Guinness Book of World Records.

Doors Open Edmonton... is a family-friendly, free festival. Lots of Home Run For Life interesting architectural gems are open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, May 23rd and 24th. A great opportunity to learn more about our built heritage, plus poetry readings, special tours and debates. Read all about it—right here in Edmontonians. √

“Armin Preiksaitis needs $170 million for the Old Towne Market project… for downtown’s ailing east side. ‘The heart of Edmonton is its old commercial core—the Gibson, Goodridge and Brighton Block, Kenmo Lodge and the Hub Hotel.

Each tells a story and there’s a real opportunity to bring that out...’” ~Joan McCauley 1991 “The Maxwell Taylor’s Group paid $110,000 for the dormant Trumps restaurant... Trumps will become McCormicks... ‘It will be an adult version of Maxwell Taylor’s,’ said a spokeshuman. McCormicks will offer GST, but no MSG.” ~Dick MacLean 1992 “Income tax knocks at the front door but other taxes slip in unnoticed... In 1992... the average family will pay income taxes of $9,106. Other taxes (oil, motor vehicle, amusement, property) will amount to a total of $14, 431. No wonder we’re broke.” ~Brian Champion 1993 “...no doubt this is the best time of the year for hockey fans, but with the Oilers playing golf, who is there to root for? Calgary? Spare me!

Vancouver? When they start getting lots of snow and the temperature plummets to minus 30… then I’ll root for their hocky team. Maybe.” ~Jay Stewart Sports 1994 “Tony Sheppard’s family built the Rossdale Brewery in 1904 and later expanded it to what is now-Molson’s on 121 Street.” ~Edmontonians Nov 1995 “By the time you read this, the 5th Annual Garlic Festival at the Sorrentino’s seven restaurants will be history… but the odour will linger.” ~Muggsy Forbes Funny Pompous & Unfair 1996 “Laporte Pcl, an international chemical company and industry leader, sees the potential of Edmonton as a smart city. The company has recently invested $31 million to expand its Raylo Chemicals subsidiary in Edmonton, and is now constructing a new bulk pharmaceutical manufacturing facility.” ~Dr. James Murray Smart City 1997

“At best, plans for Edmonton’s Municipal Airport are still up in the air.” ~Erica Branda Smart City Segues 1999

2008

“Naming streets instead of using street and avenue coordinates started a few years ago. I live in Mill Woods... I still get lost here without a map... I smile at the memory of a lighted portable sign that said: If you’re lost, you’re in Burnewood.” ~Bill Pidruchney Behind the Scenes 2000 “We can show off the grand vision of Louise McKinney Park... main features are a number of concrete pavilions and a boat dock…

Stunning—and for only $10 million.” ~Ken Karpoff Business of Sports 2001 “...these 20 young women and men have accomplished as much or more than people years older. They’ve had a little help. They’ve conquered risk.” ~Don McMann on the inaugural Sizzling Twenty under 30 2002 “Unigroup Architecture & Interior Design Inc. expects to have Terry Vaughn’s Sports Lounge, on the main floor of the historical McLeod Building, ready for the grand opening next month. Think modern décor for the plus 25 crowd.” ~Linda Hall Business Buzz 2003 “What is uncontested is that Alberta, among provinces and throughout North America, has a brilliant reputation for recycling that garners waste tourists from around the world...” ~Drake McHughThinking globally, acting locally, going portable 2004 “With (Brad) Pitt here last fall filming The Assassination of Jesse James at historic Fort Edmonton Park, paparazzi from all over the world swooped down on the city like birds in an Alfred Hitchcock movie.” ~Barb Deters $10-million Pitt Stop 2006 “...the Garneau Theatre building... has been sold by the folks who have owned it since it was built 61 years ago. There’s a very good article by Lawrence Hertzog about the Garneau building in his book, It’s Our Heritage.” ~Muggsy Forbes Funny Pompous & Unfair 2007

Mark Scholz, owner of MES Communications Inc. offers a variety of services including production, creative and entertainment. For more information or to suggest a story idea, email mscholz@edmontonians.com EDMONTONIANS MAY 2009

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Edmonton Festival Saturday and Sunday, May 23rd and 24th Numbers correspond with sites on map, pages 10 & 11 Event Registration and information, contact: Liesel at 780 424 6512 ext. 226 or e-mail: lknalld@albertaheritage.net

Saturday, May 23 1 10:30 a.m., 12 noon, 1:30 p.m.

104th Street walking tour with Jon Hall From Jasper Avenue north to 104th Avenue, 104th Street is lined by the largest collection of pre-WWI warehouse buildings in Edmonton.

Explore commercial life at the turn of the century through the architecture, uses and stories of the old warehouses and business buildings.

Many have been converted to other uses but the beauty and charm of these old brick buildings still radiates. Enjoy the modern version of Edmonton’s Downtown Farmers Market which has been in operation for over 100 years.

Non-strenuous walking is required. Tour length is 60 minutes.

Meet in front of Coboco Lofts 10249 - 104 Street Self-guided walking tour

2 12 noon -1:00 p.m.

Made in Edmonton Movie Will the Real Alberta Please Stand Up? Hosted by Michael Phair Friendly? Rednecks? Mavericks? Rich?

Eco-destroyers? Optimists? Alberta is known for strong stereotypes, but they’re just the tip of the grain elevator.

Dual Alberta is a five-minute snapshot of the tensions between those enduring images and lesser-known realities about the province and her people. A companion, one-minute film, Alberta in One Word, features Albertans summarizing the essence of the province in— you guessed it—one word. Director Geo Takach will be in attendance. The long version will premier on June 12 on the City TV network across Canada.

Enterprise Square Atrium 10230-Jasper Avenue

3 1 – 4 p.m.

Visionary Bus Tour Ken Cantor of Qualico will share his ideas and personal vision for the Capital City—what he thinks is hot and not… and how he would like to see things develop. This is a rare opportunity to imagine your city as it might be. Enjoy the comfort of Edmonton Transit’s special heritage tour bus.

The afternoon starts and ends at the 102 Street entrance of Enterprise Square.

Register by May 20th.

4 3 p.m.

Philosophers’ Café Get inside the heads of some of Edmonton’s architects and designers as they discuss topics including adaptive reuse and historic designation in Edmonton. Moderator Peter Osborne of Stantec Architecture. Comments and questions welcome.

6th Floor of the World Trade Centre 600-9990 Jasper Avenue Register by May 20th.

5 1 - 4 p.m.

Art Gallery of Alberta Art Rentals Open House The Art Gallery of Alberta is making its temporary home in the historic Enterprise Square. Come and see what’s new and get a behind-thescenes look of Art Rentals and Sales Department.

Enterprise Square 10230 Jasper Avenue

6 1:45 - 3:30 p.m.

Alberta Legislature Building — Behind the Scenes Tour Participants will be taken on an extended tour of the Legislature. In addition to usual tour route, you will visit the Chamber and the Palm Room.

Space is limited.

Register by May 20th.

Alberta Legislature Building 10800 - 97 Avenue For more information on the Alberta Legislature building, visit http://www.assembly.ab.ca

7 2 - 4 p.m.

Garneau Block walking tour with Todd Babiak Take a walking tour of the Garneau area with award winning author, Todd Babiak. His second novel The Garneau Block was long-listed for the Giller Prize and won the City of Edmonton Book Prize.

Meet in front of Sugar Bowl Café 10922-88 Avenue Register by May 20th.

8 12 noon - 2 p.m.

Derive Edmonton: a Psychogeographic exploration of the city Meet at the Courtyard on Jasper Avenue between 112 and 113 Streets.

Brochures available. Groups of five, led

by Kristy Trinier and her team, will explore the Oliver community. Wear appropriate footwear and bring recording devices: camera, taperecorder or sketch/note pad.

Maximum 40 participants Register by May 20th.

9 12 noon – 5 p.m.

15 Holy Trinity Orthodox Church 16 17 18 19 20

10902-96 Street McDougall United Church 10025-101 Street Saint Joachim Catholic Church 9924-110 Street Beth Shalom Synagogue Jasper Avenue & 120 Street Anglican Parish of Christ Church 12116-102 Avenue Robertson-Wesley United Church 123 Street & 102 Avenue

21 1 - 3 p.m.

Edmonton Archives: Behind the Scenes Tour Chief Archivist Michael Payne will take you on an insider’s tour of the newly renovated Armouries and the City of Edmonton Archives “building within a building”. Space is limited Register by May 20th.

Prince of Wales Armouries 10440-108 Avenue.

2 - 3 p.m.

22 Writers in Place Book Event at Audreys Books Attend a reading and conversation with Marina Michaelides, an Edmonton-based writer and an award-winning documentary filmmaker. Her latest book Renegade Women of Canada— The Wild, Outrageous, Daring and Bold profiles a number of Canadian women who have pushed the envelope. Display of books with a local twist.

Audreys Books 10702 Jasper Avenue

23 1 - 3 p.m.

Francophone Quarter: Poetry Reading and Historic Buildings Tour 1:30 p.m. A reading by 4 voix, 4 voies! Four bilingual Edmonton women, whose mother tongue is French, explore various themes common to their heritage.

Participants: Project Director Jocelyne Verret, Maritimes; Magali Laplane-Gibbins, France; Pierrette Requier, Alberta; and Josée Thibeault, Québec.

Guest artists: Anna-Marie Sewell, Mi’gmaq – Eastern Canada; and Naomi McIlwraith, Cree—Western Canada.

Music: Marc de Montigny and Ernest Chiasson.

24 1-3 p.m. Guided tours to St. Thomas Health Services Centre and French Parish will also be provided. Meeting place for tours is the Pavillon Lacerte—La Salle Historique.

Campus Saint Jean 8406 Marie-Anne-Gaboury Street (91 Street).

25 12 noon – 5 p.m.

SNAP Gallery Open House View current exhibits: La Petite Mort by Marcelle Hanselaar in the main gallery, the U of A Graduating class show Varsolsa on display in the outer gallery, and the Red Strap space. Get a behind the scenes look at the Open Studio.

SNAP Gallery 10309-97 Street.

For event up-dates, please check www.doorsopenalberta.com

SNAP Gallery Open House View current exhibits: La Petite Mort by Marcelle Hanselaar in the main gallery and the U of A Graduating class show Varsolsa on display in the outer gallery and the Red Strap space. Get a behind the scenes look at a Letterpress Class.

SNAP Gallery 10309-97 Street.

10 1 – 3 p.m.

Freemasons Hall Take a tour of the historic Masonic Hall, built in 1930. Learn about the building and the various rooms from Lodge members, and view the interesting and beautiful architecture.

Freemasons Hall 10318-100 Avenue.

Sunday, May 24 11 1 - 3 p.m.

Louise McKinney Park Poetry Trail with Ted Blodgett and Linda Wedman Edmonton’s Poet Laureate Ted Blodgett will lead participants along the Louise McKinney Park Trail, stopping to read his poems below each light post.

Event is rain or shine.

Louise McKinney Park Grierson Hill between 95 and 99 Street (south of Shaw Conference Centre).

1 - 3 p.m.

Places of Worship-Self-guided Visits 12 Ansgar Lutheran Church 9554-108 Avenue 13 St. Josaphat’s Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral 10825-97 Street 14 Sacred Heart Church of First Peoples 10821-96 Street EDMONTONIANS MAY 2009

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Edmonton’s Legacy

More than box stores and strip malls

Doors Open Producer Miki Andrejevik and Adriana Davies, executive director and editor-in-chief of the Heritage Community Foundation

By Rick Lauber

S

catter a box of jigsaw puzzle pieces on the table and you have just that: a pile of jumbled puzzle pieces. With time, creativity, patience and diligence, they can be fitted together to create a beautiful picture. Buildings, much like jigsaw puzzle pieces, can be pieced together to create a beautiful city; however, many of those buildings can remain puzzling to passers-by who may ask who made these buildings?

When were they built? What is/was their purpose?

It is these questions that Adriana Davies, executive director and editor-in-chief of the Heritage Community Foundation and albertasource.ca (the Alberta on-line encyclopedia) hopes to answer through the Doors Open Alberta Festival. “I brought that concept to Alberta and have really been the provincial coordinator of these events for, probably, eight years.” Several communities are participating, and Doors Open Edmonton launched last year.

The concept originated in 1990 in Glasgow, Scotland and grew at a phenomenal rate. In eight years, 19 million people had visited some 28,000 sites throughout 44 countries. Toronto was the first Canadian city to open its doors to the idea in 2000; residents fully embraced the idea and 130,000 had visited over 100 local buildings within two years.

For Davies, the connection between the Doors Open Edmonton Festival and the Heritage Community Foundation is a natural. “Our mandate is to link people with heritage through discovery and learning. The majority of our work has been in the development of those multimedia websites that deal with the historical and the actual, the cultural, scientific and technological heritage. But, we saw the potential of a festival like this because it can speak to people and involve them.”

THE CONCEPT OF SPACES & PLACES Davies’ goal is increased appreciation of both spaces and places. “We’re talking about heritage architecture and architectural gems,” she says, reminding us that “heritage architecture can be contemporary. I think it’s important, that whole sensitivity to buildings and built heritage.” It’s about “…defining buildings in spatial terms but also their

Photo by Terry Bourque aspirations. You get public buildings... places of worship… education, recreation and cultural centres—all of those different kinds of buildings that happen in a community. So, I’d like people to think in those terms… that space is a pretty neutral term, whereas place is important. And place is the human element and the natural... communities are defined by their physical location.”

When it comes to place, many cities are defined by certain attractions, explains Davies. “When you think of New York, you think of skyscrapers... Paris and you think of the Eiffel Tower. When you think of Edmonton, what do you think?” Many envision our sprawling river valley... some see City Hall or the Alberta Legislature... others picture West Edmonton Mall.

Recognizing that this is a growing and evolving city, Davies wants Edmontonians to be proud of their spaces and places. “Each generation is building the legacy buildings for the next generation. And, if we think about it in those terms, what is the legacy that we’re communicating with the box stores and strip malls?

We need to have an “Edmonton-ness” about Edmonton, jokes Davies who points out that this must be our city’s personality, mind-set and character. Like a dog with a bone, this “Edmonton-ness” must be something that locals can bite onto and not let go. They must wholeheartedly promote this; drawing others to our city.

Davies laments that the University of Alberta remains largely ignored. “We don’t take enough pride in the university... The university is over 100 years old and has formed leaders and professionals. It has contributed to every aspect of our lives, but are people aware of it? Do they read the history of the university?”

She fears civic pride, as a whole, is lacking. “Every Edmontonian should have a vision of the city... unless we do that, we’re basically saying that we’re content with second-rate and with disposable architecture and disposable buildings. So, we all have to become proactive in terms of the city that we are building—everyday, every month, every year.” As Alberta’s capital city, it is crucial for Edmonton to create, and maintain, a positive first impression and an identity.

Doors Open Producer Miki Andrejevik, who recently

came on board, concurs with the festival’s value. “I truly believe that the buildings we live in and the public spaces where we work and congregate shape us—our lives and the ways we live and think about our environment and our city. I believe that every building has as many stories as people [who occupy them]… so we should think that way and try to preserve.”

Interestingly, Andrejevik experienced an opening of career doors himself. “I finished my law degree and, being young, I had ideals to change the world. I figured out that somehow I can change the world more by going into arts management and producing arts events, concerts, performances, operas and festivals than being a lawyer.”

Now, after 25 years working in the arts, he has built an impressive CV. He has served as the general manager of the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, the executive director of the Writer’s Guild of Alberta and also of Alberta’s only professional choir, Pro Coro Canada.

Edmontonians with a creative bent will recognize Andrejevik as the driving force behind Litfest, Edmonton’s International Arts Festival.

Doors Open Edmonton faces the challenge of being the newest festival in a city known for numerous incredibly well-staged events, many of which are performing arts oriented. So this is a different kind of festival, and Davies admits it’s experiencing growing pains. What Doors Open Edmonton requires, she says, is further support on a grander scale. “It is part of a provincial, national and international movement and it’s still in the embryo and gestation stage. Organizations and the city need to come on-side… If we’re not aware of the buildings and the activities that happen in them—how they define us and how they pass on values from one generation to the next—then I think we’re impoverished.”

Through the event’s international history and a person’s natural curiosity, the Doors Open Edmonton Festival has the bones to become another success story. Last year, more than 2100 peple participated in tours and events. As more doors—and minds—open to the idea of exploring spaces and places, the puzzles of our past come to light.

As the character of the city emerges, so too does the vision of its future. √

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7

Meet at the Courtyard on Jasper

By Rick Lauber

A

“

r u o t c i h p a r g o e g o h psyc

Take a

By Marcus Miller

A

of Oliver

WHAT? Psychogeographic tour?

Curious, I went to Wikipedia and found out that psychogeography was defined in 1955 by French artist and theoretician Guy Debord as the “the study of the precise laws and specific effects of the geographical environment, consciously organized or not, on the emotions and behavior of individuals.” Not much help.

So I turned to Kristy Trinier to put it in practical terms… something everyone could understand.

“Basically,” she explained, “it means that your surroundings impact the way you think and feel, and nier conversely, the Kristy Tri way you think and feel impacts your surroundings.

All environments can be perceived to have an aesthetic value which impacts the people in that space. The built urban environments are either highly organized or designed… or not.

Edmonton is an example of a highly designed grid-style city. The layout of the streets, the design of the buildings, and all of the people and objects in the space comprise the environment.”

Does that mean that beauty is in the eye of the beholder? That it doesn’t really matter what’s objectively out there—it all depends on how I’m feeling, or what I’ve just eaten?

“There are many theories which explain how environment impacts behaviour, for example, the ‘broken window’ theory, which is used as part of crime prevention strategies… Graffiti, litter, garbage, and evidence of vandalism such as broken windows are considered ugly in the eye of the majority of beholders, and often lead people to feel that they do not have to behave responsibly in these areas (using trash receptacles, etc.) when they normally would.”

As part of Doors Open Edmonton, Trinier is offering us a chance to wake up and re-discover the Oliver community during Derive Edmonton: A Psychogeographic Exploration of the City on Saturday, May 23rd. She was recently received the Northlands award for an emerging artist; her solo exhibit,

otherworld, is on now at the Art Gallery of Alberta until June 7th. And, as public art director of the Edmonton Arts Council, Trinier is well qualified to reorient our aesthetic vision of the city… to help us re-assess and re-value the things we tune out.

The random patterns generated by the psychogeographic walks are used by artists, designers and psychologists to disengage you from how you typically see your neighbourhoods and cities, and to allow another perspective. It is a simple exercise in achieving objectivity.

It is important to notice all of the visual elements together as a single entity... where buildings, sidewalks, cigarette butts, garbage bags, people, shopping carts and power lines all merge to create an image. The point is to begin to see the detail of the urban landscape... to notice contrast, pattern, line, colour, negative spaces.

The idea is to experience the city, not as the municipal planners and corporate developers intended, but with fresh eyes. Often the most interesting parts of a city occur, not by dint of approved planning methods but, accidentally, through organic use and even neglect. These forgotten and overlooked sites can be real gems, but they can’t be found through the tourism office. They must be discovered by looking—differently. In other words: by stepping out of the habitual, zombie-like mode most of us assume as we go about our daily business, and by rebooting our senses.

Regardless of how a person values ugliness or beauty, it may be possible to be fascinated or interested in the city as either ugly or beautiful.

For now, your beauty may be my ugliness. But Trinier’s psychogeographic tour will put us both to the test and may just be the urban makeover we’ve all been waiting for. Certainly the price is right. √ Marcus Miller is assistant curator of the Art Gallery of Alberta, and a member of the Doors Open Edmonton steering committee.

The event is free. Participation is limited to 40 people. Register on-line by May 20th, 2009: lknalld@albertaheritage.net.

CAFÉ

behind the scenes of our City’s bright spots. rchitecture… tells the history of our City and contains the stories This helps people understand and of Edmontonians. We walk past appreciate Edmonton’s architecture and the history it has to offer. these buildings everyday; they Adriana Davies, provincial coordinator of become characters within the story of what Doors Open Alberta, insists that we must Edmonton is to us. We might not know what happens inside, behind the scenes, but not shut the doors on our heritage they make up the streetscapes of the city we architecture. Instead of indiscriminately swinging the wrecking ball, she is adamant call home,” says Peter Osborne, an that many creative options for reuse exist. associate with Stantec Architecture, and a She too cites the adaptive reuse of the Bay member of the executive committee of the Building as a prime example. Enterprise Alberta chapter of the Royal Architectural Square now serves as the downtown Institute of Canada. campus of the University of Alberta, the “Some buildings within this fabric temporary home of the Art become bright spots, and stand out from the Gallery of Alberta, and rest. These bright spots houses two media outlets. become landmarks with Peter Osborne Others include the Revillon which we orient our Building/Boardwalk mental maps of the Market, an ecclectic mix City.” of food outlets, Osborne will serve as restaurants, shops, offices moderator at the Doors and classrooms. Its Open Philosophers’ Café, neighbours in the where a panel of local Warehouse District are architects and designers conversions to stores, will “have a critical galleries, eateries, offices discussion about and condominiums. architecture and what we The Philosophers’ have to start to think about.

Café will be held on We wanted to take a look Saturday, May 23rd at the World Trade at buildings and the adaptive reuse of heritage buildings. Do we Centre beginning at 3:00 pm. Depending on use our existing building stock, or renovate, the number of speakers, it could run between one to two hours. “I’d like to leave or reuse them in interesting ways?” a little bit of time at the end... there’s He explains, “Preservation, however, nothing worse than having it cut off early does not mean mothballing our history or due to lack of time,” notes Osborne. putting it into glass jars to be viewed but Comments and questions will be not touched. It means we need to adapt it welcomed. “I hope the audience gets and reuse it; making it part of our living history. A building like Enterprise Square is involved, that it’s participatory and we get more significant today, now that it took on a more of a ‘town hall’ feel rather than having a panel of experts telling us what we should new life, than had it simply been replaced.

New generations of Edmontonians now can think.” √ experience the Hudson’s Bay Building; The event is free, but seating is limited. keeping it a living, breathing and active Register on-line by May 20th, 2009: place. Organizations like Doors Open lknalld@albertaheritage.net.

Alberta give people the opportunity to see

CONGRATULATIONS to Edmontonians for their participation and support for Doors Open. from

(Provider of some of the best doors in town)

EPCOR Tower at Station Lands and Golden West Business Park

www.qualicocommercial-edm.com EDMONTONIANS MAY 2009

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SATURDAY, May 23rd

SUNDAY, May 24th

10:30 a.m., 12 noon, 1:30 p.m.

104th Street walking tour with Jon Hall Meet in front of Coboco Lofts —10249 - 104 Street 104 Street self-guided walking tours

1 - 3 p.m.

Louise McKinney Park Poetry Trail with Ted Blodgett and Linda Wedman Event is rain or shine.

Louise McKinney Park—Grierson Hill between 95 and 99 Street (south of Shaw Conference Centre).

1 - 3 p.m.

Places of worship-self-guided visits Ansgar Lutheran Church—9554-108 Avenue St. Josaphat’s Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral—10825-97 Street Sacred Heart Church of First Peoples—10821-96 Street Holy Trinity Orthodox Church—10902-96 Street McDougall United Church—10025-101 Street Saint Joachim Catholic Church—9924-110 Street Beth Shalom Synagogue—Jasper Avenue & 120 Street Anglican Parish of Christ Church—12116-102 Avenue Robertson-Wesley United Church—123 Street & 102 Avenue

12 noon -1:00 p.m.

Made in Edmonton Movie Will the Real Alberta Please Stand Up? Enterprise Square Atrium—10230-Jasper Avenue 1 – 4 p.m.

Visionary Bus Tour Board the Edmonton Transit’s special heritage tour bus at the 102 Street entrance of Enterprise Square.

Register by May 20th.

3 p.m.

Philosophers’ Café 6th Floor of the World Trade Centre—600-9990 Jasper Avenue Register by May 20th.

1 - 4 p.m.

Art Gallery of Alberta Art Rentals Open House Enterprise Square—10230 Jasper Avenue 1:45 - 3:30 p.m.

Alberta Legislature Building — Behind the Scene Tour Register by May 20th.

Alberta Legislature Building—10800 - 97 Avenue 2 - 4 p.m.

Garneau Block walking tour with Todd Babiak Meet in front of Sugar Bowl Café —10922-88 Avenue Register by May 20th.

12 noon - 2 p.m.

Derive Edmonton: a Psychogeographic exploration of the city Meet at the Courtyard on Jasper Avenue between 112 and 113 Streets.

Maximum 40 participants Register by May 20th.

12 noon – 5 p.m.

SNAP Gallery Open House 10309-97 Street.

1 – 3 p.m.

Freemasons Hall 10318-100 Avenue.

1 - 3 p.m.

Edmonton Archives: Behind the Scenes Tour Register by May 20th.

Prince of Wales Armories—10440-108 Avenue.

2 - 3 p.m.

Writers in Place Book Event at Audreys Books Meet author Marina Michaelides Audreys Books—10702 Jasper Avenue 1 - 3 p.m.

Francophone Quarter: Poetry Reading and Music 1:30 p.m.

Guided Tours 1-3 p.m.

Meeting at the Pavillon Lacerte—La Salle Historique.

Campus Saint Jean—8406 Marie-Anne-Gaboury Street (91 Street).

12 noon – 5 p.m.

SNAP Gallery Open House 10309-97 Street.

Event Registration and information, contact: Liesel at 780 424 6512 ext. 226 e-mail lknalld@albertaheritage.net

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19

12 ANSGAR LUTHERAN CHURCH

1 104th STREET - DOWNTOWN

ANGLICAN PARISH OF CHRIST CHURCH

13 ST. JOSAPHAT’S UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL

Ely E R F amily-Friend

14 SACRED HEART CHURCH OF FIRST PEOPLE

&F

Plus...

KELLY BLOCK - DOWNTOWN

SITES & EVENTS HERITAGE BUILDINGS OF INTEREST (not numbered) 21

20 ROBINSON-WESLEY

14

UNITED CHURCH

12

13

15 HOLY TRINITY 15 ORTHODOX CHURCH

9

25

2 3

5 4

8

16

1

18 BETH SHALOM SYNAGOGUE

McDOUGALL UNITED 16 CHURCH

22

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6 10

17 SAINT JOACHIM CATHOLIC CHURCH

23

24

25 SNAP

OLD ST. STEPHENS BOYLE MCCAULEY GIBSON BLOCK

7

ATHABASCA HALL

WHYTE AVENUE

CORBETT HALL

1

CONNAUGHT ARMOURY

OLD STRATHCONA FARMERS’ MARKET EDMONTONIANS MAY 2009

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OLD STRATHCONA FIREHALL

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EDMONTONIANS MAY 2009

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11

C ivic Buzz with David Norwood

100s of new hotel doors

OPEN TO VISITORS

T

he economic downturn/

recession seems not to have affected Edmonton as much as it has some other areas of Canada, including Calgary and Vancouver. Not to say that there haven’t been job losses; there have been, especially in energy service industries and construction. While some developments have been put on hold or slowed down, none have actually been cancelled, as they have in other cities, notably Vancouver.

And some mentioned here previously— the Icon I and II, Quest, and others—are moving forward. Meridian, Alta Vista South, the Venetian, Panache, Serenity, the first four medium-rises at Century Park are nearing completion.

New hotels are also sprouting in Edmonton. While we continue to await the arrival of some of the major chains such as Hyatt or Sheraton here (preferably downtown), new hotels on the outskirts of the city are either completed or under construction. Others have changed brands in the last year or so.

Here’s a look at some of the activity.

At the corner of Ellerslie Road and Gateway Boulevard, four new hotels are under construction. Almost complete are a Hampton Inn by Hilton, a Sandman Hotel, a Best Western, while a Four Points by Sheraton is in its early stages.

The Hampton Inn joins two others in the Edmonton area, one in the west end and one near the International Airport in Leduc. The Four Points joins another Sheraton on Argyll Road at 75th Street, and one being constructed in northwest Edmonton. The new Sandman twins that chain’s representation in Edmonton; the other is located on 178th Street just south

of Stony Plain Road. The Ellerslie Road Best Western complements four other Best Western hotels in the Edmonton region.

Days Inn opened a new location near Old Strathcona in 2008, and another one in the far west end in 2007. Two other Days Inns are located in the Edmonton area, one downtown and one near the International Airport. Days Inn is part of the Wyndham Hotel Group, as are Wingate, Ramada, Travelodge and Howard Johnson, all of which are represented with one or more locations in Edmonton.

The proposed Courtyard by Marriott hotel which was to be attached to the north terminal of the Edmonton International Airport is effectively on permanent hold, while Edmonton Airports seeks another investor. The hotel project was a victim of the U.S. economic downturn. The developers are based in North Carolina, and American banks have not placed a priority on financing hotel projects in recent months. Now that construction costs have decreased in the Edmonton region, the possibility of a hotel attached to the airport is more feasible than ever, and the need for one definitely exists.

Holiday Inn Express is about to open a new six-storey hotel just north of 23rd Avenue and Calgary Trail. It will join several other Holiday Inn Express hotels in the capital region. Holiday Inn and Suites is planning a new 300-room hotel and convention centre between Calgary Trail and Gateway Boulevard, between the Great Canadian Superstore and Travelodge. The same chain recently opened a new Holiday Inn and Suites on

170th Street and 113th Avenue. The Holiday Inn–Convention Centre near the Sherwood Park Freeway is completing an expansion, taking its room count from 93 to 168.

Edmonton-based Westcorp Properties Inc. has also helped transform the city’s hotel scene with three boutique-style hotels. The first hotel to be renovated was the Varscona on Whyte Avenue, in the heart of Old Strathcona. It has been a consistent hit, with Murietta’s restaurant, O’Byrne’s Irish Pub, and Second Cup coffee shop, along with other stores. More recently, Westcorp transformed a distinctly unattractive, almost vacant midrise office building a block east of the Varscona into a sparkling, attractive boutique hotel, Metterra. Its 98 guest rooms complement the 89 available at the Varscona. The newest Westcorp property is the Matrix on 106th Street and 100th Avenue, near the central business district and the government centre. Originally built in the 1960s as the Coachmen Inn, the hotel has seen a number of different brands, including Edmonton’s first Holiday Inn. Westcorp totally renovated and refurbished the hotel, opening it in 2008 as a 173 room, upscale boutique hotel. It’s good to see a local company successfully create attractive properties in Edmonton.

Coast Hotels has been active in the area, having assumed responsibility for the 34-storey Edmonton House Suite Hotel early in 2008, while maintaining its 22-floor Coast Edmonton Plaza a few blocks away. It also operates the Coast Edmonton East hotel in Sherwood Park.It turned over operation of its Coast Edmonton South property to Radisson

Hotels in late 2008.

The Radisson Hotel Edmonton South has undergone renovations to bring the property into line with other Radissons worldwide. The chain will also be opening the Radisson Suites Edmonton Airport this year. These are the first Radisson properties in the Edmonton area, though several years ago a serious proposal was made to turn the Cambridge building on Jasper Avenue (now condos) into a Radisson hotel.

Rumour has it that the River Cree Resort and Casino, which already boasts a four-star Marriott Hotel, will add another hotel, which is likely to be a Courtyard by Marriott. There’s no definite word on the project yet, but the success of the existing hotel and resort suggests that another hotel is feasible.

With the downturn in the economy, fewer people are travelling, so it is unlikely that we will see a new major hotel in the downtown core any time soon. On the other hand, major developments take time—two or three years at least—to bring to fruition, and the timing may be just about right to entice another upscale hotel chain—a Hyatt?—to locate in downtown Edmonton.

Many of us remain optimistic and upbeat about Edmonton’s future, and there’s no reason to doubt that the bust will evolve into another boom, perhaps sooner rather than later. √ David Norwood is a freelance writer/editor.

Contact dnorwood@edmontonians.com

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Stephane Contré wins the nova NAIT prize

By Greg Gazin

I

t reads like a Hollywood screenplay.

After joining the military at 17 and traveling the globe, soft-spoken and mild mannered Stephane Contré from Quebec City becomes a beat cop in Ottawa. His hobby is tinkering with technology and caressing computer code to help him to do his job better.

One day, it will enable authorities to fight crime in a way no one really thought possible: to predict when and where it would happen… and to stop it before it occurs.

After three years in our nation’s capital, Contré finds himself deep in North Central Africa, in the Republic of Chad. He is many time zones away from Canada’s House of Parliament and even farther away from his wife Tia. She has returned to her hometown, Edmonton, where the couple met when he was posted at Griesbach with the Military Airborne School.

In Chad, Contré is a security advisor for EnCana Corp. on an oil and gas exploration project, mitigating security issues. He recalls, “This is where things started to percolate… looking to see where and when things might occur. I was looking for more attributes within the criminal space that would lead to better forecasting and allow us to better manage our security forces.”

Two years later—and before things really get off the ground—he faces another challenge: His position abruptly comes to an end.

Perhaps it is a blessing in disguise. Contré is over 11,000km away from his wife… it’s “a 32-hour flight”… they see each other every 35 days.

pays for Contré IDENTIFYING CRIME HOT SPOTS Being home “also gave me the time I needed to work on my models.”

And work he did: evenings and weekends and any available time. Tia recalls one stretch when she barely saw him from before Christmas until the first week of January.

Unfazed, she was fully supportive. “I’ve always known him to be this way. If he wasn’t doing what he’s doing, I’d wonder what was wrong with him. At least, I know he’s home and not at the bar.”

But Tia didn’t just sit around and watch him work. She partnered with him.

“She’s my sounding board,” says Contré. “Furthermore, I’m a cop first and a programmer second.” And, she’s better at handling the business affairs. “My wife is from a family of entrepreneurs.”

“I encourage him and rein him in,” she says. He adds, “Like a manager and a boxer—you know, like Rocky.”

In 2005, Contré joined Edmonton Transit System (ETS) as a crime intelligence analyst. “It was a perfect place to pilot this project”—one he had been working on for years. “I had an opportunity to validate my models in a live environment.”

His vision became the Daily Crime Forecast (DCF), Windows-based software designed to assist police and security agencies in deployment of patrol resources.

Contré says that agencies—depending on their method

of managing intelligence—typically will deploy to specific locations, commonly known as ‘crime hot-spots’ because there are chances of a crime occurring. These exist because spatially there is a clustering of incidents at the same place. Contré takes this concept and pushes it to another dimension.

“If you look past the crime data—data collected by an agency—you can look spatially where things happen, but also temporally.” Temporal factors or attributes include time of day, day of the week, day of the month, month of the year within incident data.

“All of these things are relevant in determining when a crime is likely to occur.” And, no, factors such as weather and a full moon are not statistically significant, according to Contré’s data sets.

By applying proprietary algorithms and performing data mining procedures, a process of extracting hidden patterns from data, DCF produces a threat map or crimemapping component. “It tells the officer where and when to deploy to maximize efficiency. (Asking) ‘where can I go right now to be sure or be most effective in terms of deterring crime or apprehending criminals?’”

During a special event, like a rock concert, resources will naturally be deployed. But, the forecast becomes invaluable when it’s just a regular day. “Like a Saturday in a certain area in April. If you look back, you can see definite trends occurring and capitalize on it.”

Continued on page 16

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The “dog’s breakfast of innovation”

By Cheryl Croucher

goes gourmet

A

lberta’s innovation framework is getting a facelift. But it’s more than just a nip and tuck. Bill 27 is reconstructive surgery which the government justifies as necessary to ensure Alberta is a strong contender in the emerging next generation of knowledge economy.

Bill 27 was introduced to the spring sitting of the legislature by Doug Horner, Minister of Advanced Education and Technology.

When passed, it will be known as the Alberta Research and Innovation Act, and it will reconfigure such icons of the province’s scientific landscape as the Alberta Research Council and the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research. Nor will recent initiatives like Alberta Ingenuity, iCORE, and the various research institutes avoid resculpturing.

According to Horner, it’s about alignment and focus.

“When you look at the number of organizations that we have within the province, they’ve been created in some cases out of a desire to react to a specific sector, or a specific proposal. But, to give you an example, life sciences: The Life Sciences Institute crosses a number of different territories—nanotechnology, biosciences. It crosses into the health field. So why wouldn’t you group that under one?”

BRIEFS

answering questions within the biosciences sphere. And then let’s have one group that’s responsible for taking those answers and turn them into a commercially viable or social good or whatever the outcome is supposed to be, but do it all right here in the province.”

So how does this all play out?

The intent of the proposed legislation is to enable the government to create one new advisory body and four provincial corporations.

The Alberta Research Council, Alberta Ingenuity and He comments as well on nanotechnology and ICT. As enabling technologies, they cross many boundaries.

“So we’re bringing them together to give focus. What we’ve said is we need to have an institute that’s responsible for answering questions in health. Let’s have an institute that’s responsible for answering questions in energy and the environment.

And let’s have an institute that’s responsible for

P

rion researchers Dr. Neil Cashman from across Canada as well as from the United States, Asia and Europe met in Edmonton this spring to discuss their latest findings.

The conference was hosted

by PrioNet Canada and the Alberta Prion Research Institute.

Misfolded prions are the culprits behind bovine spongiform encephalopathy or “mad cow” disease. And while mad cow seems to be well under control, it has raised the red flag on other prion diseases like chronic wasting disease (CWD).

The big concern now for scientists is the spread of CWD through wild herds of deer, elk and possibly caribou.

According to Dr. Neil Cashman, the scientific director of PrioNet Canada, “It has been estimated that a hundred years in the future there will not be a single cervid—deer, elk or caribou—left in North America because of the unrelenting advance of CWD. My colleagues and I feel that there is a significant risk of penetration to the north, and the northern economy’s [loss] of the caribou herd would be nothing short of a disaster of the first order for aboriginal populations.”

Scientists revealed at the conference that prions shed from infected deer linger in the soil for decades, making containment of this disease in the wild very difficult.

PrioNet Canada belongs to the national Networks of Centres of Excellence. There is a great deal of collaboration between PrioNet Canada and the Alberta Prion Research Institute. √ ~ Cheryl Croucher

PRION CONFERENCE

advances CWD concerns

www.prionetcanada.ca

Doug Horner

Dr. David Westaway

Shadoo Protein detected

by student researcher

A

nother step forward in understanding what causes prion diseases like mad cow is the recent discovery of the shadoo protein.

Dr. David Westaway of the Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases at the University of Alberta says shadoo is the name given to a theoretical protein by scientists studying DNA sequences on chromosomes. Its actual existence was confirmed by a student in Westaway’s lab. The student showed that shadoo is abundant in the brain and has a lot of features similar to normal prion proteins.

As Westaway explains, “We think that they may be part of a family of molecules on the surface of brain cells that help brain cells deal with damage. We have looked at what happens to the shadoo protein in an animal that has a prion disease… We were very surprised to get a very simple answer: that the shadoo protein starts to disappear. In one sense, the fact that the shadoo protein disappears when animals are replicating prions, it is what we call a tracer. We didn’t expect to make this discovery, but somehow when the protein is disappearing, it’s telling you that prions are replicating.”

Dr. Westaway speculates this may be related to yet another class of proteins called proteazes which function as a waste disposal team in the body. √ ~ Cheryl Croucher You can learn more about the research underway at the Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases at www.prioncentre.ca.

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related programs from Alberta’s ICT strategy would merge to form a new organization focused on technology commercialization.

The Alberta Energy Research Institute will become the energy and environment corporation. A new bio-industries corporation will be formed by the merging of the current Alberta Agricultural Research Institute, Alberta Forestry Research Institute, and Alberta Life Sciences Institute. iCORE, the Informatics Circle of Research Excellence, will be integrated into the province’s funding of research capacity in post-secondary institutions.

As for the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, it will become a new provincial corporation with a stronger focus on strategic health research.

What will happen to the billion dollar endowment funds for AHFMR and Alberta Ingenuity? Horner sings the praises of these two research funding agencies, but recognizes, “times are changing. The framework is changing. Those endowments, the way they were operated before… are they going to work better in this new framework or do we need to change the structure there?

And, I think the word that came back was change some of the structure. Don’t change the endowment. Leave the endowment so there is still the resource there to fund and to attract and to keep those highly qualified people. But make sure it’s a part of the new framework and not outside of it.

And that’s really what we’re doing.”

How did we get here?

Afterall, the Alberta Research Council dates back almost 90 years. The AHFMR came to life in 1980 and its success is the envy of many countries around the world. So successful that, in 2000, the provincial government created a new scientific endowment in its image, the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Scientific and Engineering Research or, as we know it, Alberta Ingenuity.

Says Horner, “We brought together about a year-and-ahalf ago all of the stakeholders and representatives from all the different places within our research and innovation system. There were pretty close to 200 people in the room.

We put up a map of the innovation system. I called it the

dog’s breakfast of innovation in Alberta today. We just asked the question of the stakeholders of the system: is that the right framework for what you are doing today and what you are going to do in the future? And frankly, the answer was no. Change was needed.”

What has followed over the ensuing months is a lot of soul searching and questioning. There have been reviews by international panels and many, many meetings.

“The legislation that we introduced this spring, Bill 27, is a response to what the stakeholders told us they wanted it to look like,” explains Horner. “Remember, too, the framework is really the train tracks. Everybody else will put those cars on the rail. Our job is to build the track and make sure it connects the right places to the right tracks. And that’s really what this framework is all about.”

But even as Bill 27 is discussed in the legislature, many of the critical operational details of the new framework have yet to be worked out. Who stays? Who goes? What happens to current research projects and programs?

When asked if this new framework with its focus on three main priorities works to the detriment of basic research, Horner answers with an emphatic “no”.

“I don’t know how I can be much plainer than just to say that’s BS… because that’s not what we’re doing. What we’re saying is basic research is a prime component of the ongoing funding that we provide to post-secondary education in the Province of Alberta. The research and innovation agenda—the extra dollars that come through— have always been project specific even to the part of the NSERC grants that have been provided through the federal government. And many of the other projects that come through have almost always been peer reviewed. They’ve almost always been project specific. We’re never going to step away from peer reviewed, quality research within the province. And basic research is a part of that.”

A fourth pillar of the new framework is a strong emphasis on commercialization or getting technology to market, and doing so within Alberta. To help that process along, the province will set up a “concierge service”. Much like a concierge in a hotel, Horner’s service will “take and

A

t the present Dr. David Knox time, the only way to confirm whether cattle are suffering from mad cow disease is to test them after they are slaughtered.

However, the research of Dr. David Knox and his colleagues at the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg may soon lead to a simple urine test for mad cow disease.

Dr. Knox presented his findings at the recent prion conference in Edmonton which was hosted by PrioNet Canada and the Alberta Prion Research Institute.

As Dr. Knox explains, an examination of cattle urine would reveal biomarkers that indicate whether the cattle are infected, long before clinical symptoms appear.

“We found one marker, at least in our small test set, that is able to discriminate with 100 percent accuracy between control and infected samples. And that’s a protein called clusterin. However, it requires further validation.

Does it work in all BSE infected cattle is one question. And the other question is, do you see increased amounts in response to other types of infection as well?”

Mad cow disease has a long incubation period. The good news is that Dr. Knox has detected the biomarker in urine as early as eight months after infection—long before clinical symptoms appear in cattle. √ ~ Cheryl Croucher

URINE TEST for mad cow means early detection

www.prionetcanada.ca Cheryl Croucher’s interviews on prion research were funded by a grant from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research

On the MAY

hold that inventor by the hand, bring him through our entire system so that he commercializes his idea here.”

He points out, “The most successful jurisdictions in commercialization around the world talk about a cluster concept. There’s a cluster of supports around that innovator.

So if there’s a venture capitalist across the street, there’s a business plan guy next door, there‘s a prototype facility down the road. There’s Stanford University there, maybe I can get some research done. The whole cluster is there.”

The province has already invested in a number of initiatives including the voucher plan for prototype development to attract venture capital to Alberta.

Horner says, “As you get the momentum going, things start to happen and people start to think about what’s going on in little old Alberta up there. And in this economic climate right now, we’re getting a lot of attention because we are almost an island in this tsunami of economic meltdown.”

Will this new framework for research and innovation work? Only time will tell. Over its 89 years, even the Alberta Research Council has been reinvented several times. The government’s purpose hasn’t really changed since the days of Henry Marshall Tory, then president of the University of Alberta. As Tory put it, the government’s overall intent in 1920 in establishing the scientific agency was “to lay the foundations of accurate knowledge upon which we can build our industries with security in the future.” √ http://www.advancededucation.gov.ab.ca/research To hear Cheryl’s conversation with Doug Horner, visit www.innovationanthology.com Cheryl Croucher hosts Innovation Anthology which is broadcast on CKUA Radio at 7:58 am and 4:58 pm Tuesdays and Thursday. Or download the podcasts at www.innovationanthologyy.com

HORIZON

May 5 to 8 5th Annual World Micromachine Summit “Energy and the Environment” Host: ACAMP Fairmont Hotel Macdonald www.mms09.org May 6 CIC Edmonton AGM Speaker: Nelson Fok: Bisphenol-A in Plastic Bottles General Public Invited 5:30 to 8:00 pm UofA Faculty Club Papachase Room RSVP: gelminil@macewan.ca

May 27-29 Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association 2009 Conference In Calgary www.cvca.ca/news/events/ 2009AnnualConference.aspx

JUNE June 1 2009 ASTech Awards Nominations Deadline www.astech.ab.ca

May 26 Business Link Small Business Seminar Financing Your Innovatiave Venture Presenter: Wendy Lam, AVAC 12:00 to 1:00 pm #100, 10237 – 104 Street www.canadabusiness.ca/alberta/events May 27 Business Link Small Business Seminar Building Your Business Presenter: novaNAIT 1:00 to 4:00 pm #100, 10237 – 104 Street Cost $35 www.canadabusiness.ca/alberta/events

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MacEwan BlogCamp – A first for Canada

Social media

101

media with Walter Schwabe

H

ow does a post-secondary institute open the door to social media for the first time?

Well, if you’re Jana Clarke, marketing manager for the MacEwan School of Business you go big, which is exactly how it should be.

First item on the list is to shoot an interesting and funny video webisode series with local acting and directing talent. The webisodes are entitled Mike and Lenny—Mike played by Richard Meen of MacEwan commercials fame and Lenny played by Donovan Workun of Atomic Improv. They tell a story about choosing a career in business and why considering Management Studies at MacEwan should be the first step. Mike and Lenny was directed by Jeremy Chugg of Brainstorm Productions and, through this process, I’ve come to better appreciate how the mind of a professional director works. Jeremy is a talented guy and he has a tough job. To see his work, search Google for Mike and Lenny, you’ll find all three episodes ready to roll.

My team at fusedlogic worked collaboratively with the entire marketing department at the MacEwan School of Business to plan out a great social media event called BlogCamp. This would accomplish a number of key objectives, not all of which I can go into here. However, BlogCamp definitely served to get students involved… after all, they know what it’s like to struggle with choosing a post-secondary institution. Who better to take the MacEwan school spirit message to the social web than existing students? Leading up to the event, fusedlogic provided no less than 12 hours of on-site social media instruction, not only for students but also for faculty, administration and BlogCamp sponsors such as the guys from Sonic 102.9FM. We covered blogging, Twitter, Facebook and numerous other tools and platforms. Amid all the MacEwanBlogCamp.ca excitement, the day wouldn’t have been complete without a personal appearance by “Mike and Lenny,” and the guys didn’t disappoint.

One of the difficult things about this project was scheduling: Unfortunately, April 3rd ended up being right in the middle of mid-term exams for much of the School of Business. Despite that, Joe Difabio of MacEwan’s Commerce Club was instrumental in getting students involved as participants and volunteers.

So we worked extra hard to get contestants who would be willing to blog for nine hours straight. What we ended up with was a group of talented and dedicated bloggers who exceeded our expectations. If these contestants were not typing, they were on the phone to friends for votes and support. During the event I had the privilege of chatting with contestants, sponsors and audience members who were on-site and the feedback was positive. The gang at Segway Canada (located in West Edmonton Mall) said they had a great time.

Segways rock—I was surprised at how easy and how much fun they are to ride. The Ranch Roadhouse folks came out with their fun tunnel and there was never a shortage of students who wanted a chance to grab the Ranch bucks. See all the goings-on at www.macewanblogcamp.ca The entire MacEwan School of Business can be proud of the fact that they broke new social media ground with BlogCamp. Until that day, a social media event of this type and in this format has never been done in Canada. Just search “blogcamp, Canada” if you don’t believe me. √ Walter Schwabe is the Chief Evolution Officer of fusedlogic inc., a social media strategy firm and Alberta company since 2000. You can learn more at www.fusedlogic.com

Continued from page 13 Take, for example, Whyte Avenue: “It gets ‘hot’ in the evening, and when things taper down, the ‘hot-spot’ moves toward the university… drunks going home and kicking garbage cans.

Agencies then need to see where [they’ll get] the best bang for their buck and that’s where their officers go.”

Contré calls it using proactive deployment times more efficiently—in essence, arriving before the actual event and preventing the crime from occurring.

This underlying theme is slightly reminiscent of Chief John Anderton of the pre-crime squad in Washington DC. They too used advanced technology and super-natural beings known as “precognitives” to prevent crime. Of course, that was a Spielberg movie: The Minority Report was set in 2054 and Anderton was played by Tom Cruise.

While The Minority Report is based on a fictional short story, Contré’s crime forecast is real and is being used today.

To keep the information fresh, the forecast for the next 48-hour period is regenerated every day between 4 and 5AM when crime is typically at a lull, taking into account any new data introduced in the last 24hours.

Contré tells us that the DCF has been deployed to a live environment within the Edmonton Transit System where peace officers have willingly adopted the model to guide their patrols. Both managers and supervisors also use it to readily identify resource allocation priorities within the transit system.

“The software gives me reassurance that my resources are deployed in the most efficient and effective fashion possible,” says Ron Gabruck, director of ETS safety and security.

If a patrol is present it’s less likely an issue will occur and, if it does, it can be

dealt with before it becomes a larger issue. Gabruck calls this the “broken window” theory. “We deal with—and spend a lot of our time on—a lot of minor nuisance type crimes such as drinking in public, swearing and horseplay.” But ETS peace officers get there immediately to clean it up.

“If you allow this group of individuals to be in a station, then allow them to sit there and drink… to get drunk, the path could lead to crime—assaults, mischief and perhaps even robberies.”

Gabruck stresses the positive impact of being there early, impressing that perception of the safety in the system— especially in buses and transit centres— is relatively high; they strive to keep it that way.

“I have extreme confidence that my resources are where they should be when they should be. As a manager in these fiscal times, I’m please to be able to say others (transit systems) are envious.”

Gabruck acknowledges it’s a vast network and the stats speak for themselves… that, relatively speaking, crime is down. While he admits this could be from a number of factors, he is convinced that the DCF model is contributing to the reduction in crime. It “is just one part of the ETS response system… a great complement to the overall system.”

Contré’s software has changed the way crime is handled. Proactive calls (where an officer already has been deployed) are up 159 percent; reactive calls (where people call in to complain) are down 52 percent since implementation. The pre-emptive arrival of officers has clearly resulted in fewer people calling in after the fact.

Gabruck speaks highly of Contré and his creation, referring to him as “a genius… an incredibly talented individual. We’re lucky to have him.”

AWARD-WINNING RECOGNITION For Contré, stopping crime definitely has its rewards. Use of the daily crime forecast within ETS won the Canadian Urban Transit Association Award for Innovation.

And, last December, Contré and his DCF took first place in the inaugural novaNAIT Technology Commercialization Challenge The grand prize: $10,000 in novaNAIT services, including business development assistance and mentoring.

Contré addresses the media

“novaNAIT is about industry driven applied research,” says Dr. Sam Shaw, NAIT’s president and CEO. “Stephane Contré’s software fits perfectly with this model; as the winner of the competition, we are going to help him commercialize the technology he has developed.”

Finding out about the contest was a bit of a fluke. Contré explains, “I happened to be living in the right place at the right time.”

Living being the operative word—NAIT’s TechLife magazine was still being delivered for the previous occupant who hadn’t left a forwarding address.

When he noticed a picture of Dr. Shaw inviting people with a good idea to compete in the challenge, he decided to enter. Within weeks, Contré received an e-mail indicting he was one of eight finalists.

“We had to present to a board of

technology and business experts—five minutes to present and five for questions. I was able to demo the software.”

Once again the story played out to a Hollywood end: 24 hours later, the director left a message on the answering machine.

Tia delivered it to Contré, who was in the shower. “You won!” she said, with a huge grin on her face.

“Holy cow! Ten Grand!”

Contré admits that he loves his job at ETS. He’s continually looking to find ways to make the DCF even better, hoping that other agencies, like the police service, will look at using DCF. He’s also investigating the possibilities of partnering or licensing to another company, maybe one in the police and security area.

Sort of like the scenario played out in the CBS drama NUMB3RS: Charlie Eppes, a brilliant math professor uses the science of mathematics with its complex equations to help his brother, Don, an FBI special agent, ferret out criminals and solve baffling crimes. Is there a comparison to what Contré does?

“I’ve been told that before... to some extent, but that guy is waaaaaaaay smarter than I ever will be.”

Except that Charlie Eppes is pretend smart—Stephane Contré is real smart. √ Greg Gazin, “The Gadget Guy”, is a serial entrepreneur, freelance technology columnist, small business speaker, an avid Podcaster and producer of Toastcaster.com. Greg can be reached at 780.424.1881, gadgetgreg.com or greg@gadgetguy.ca You can read about the new novaNAIT Centre for Applied Research and Technology Transfer, by Cheryl Croucher in the December 2008 issue, posted at edmontonians.com.

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edia Minute with Bruce Hogle

M Perfect Storm PUMMELS M E D I A

At one time. the media’s job was relatively straightforward: Provide stimulating local content, do it fairly and avoid letting personal bias interfere in the process.

That is getting harder to do— impossible, in some cases—as the worldwide economic turmoil sweeps up the media. It appears to be the perfect storm as media woes are compounded by the accelerated onslaught of the Internet, with 1.6 billion people worldwide now on-line. That, obviously, has drastically affected revenues—especially for newspapers, where readership has dropped off dramatically.

Pew Research says 70 percent of Americans rely on TV for news, with the once dominant newspapers reduced to 14 percent. The Internet has surpassed the print media, coming in at 36 percent.

The situation here in Canada sees people watching TV an average of 10.7 hours a week; listening to radio nine hours a week; while reading newspapers just 4.4 hours a week.

Some legendary American newspapers have closed. The Seattle Post Intelligencer ceased being a print operation after 146 years. The PI is hoping to avoid extinction by going on-line with 20 journalists, rather than the 120 it previously employed.

Canadian and Albertan dailies and weeklies have not been spared. Most, like The Journal and Sun, have reduced staff... some have amalgamated... others, such as the Jasper Booster, have seen their employees lock the doors and walk away.

The mammoth CanWest empire (the GlobalTV network and newspaper chain, including The Journal) is fighting for survival with its $3.9 billion dollar debt, which required an interest payment of $30.4-million last month alone. That’s why CanWest, CTV and Quebecor were successful in getting millions in rescue funds for TV networks from the federal government.

It’s also why Canadian TV stations have been further pressing the CRTC for assistance—their profits diminished to a

13-year low of $8-million last year, down 93 percent from $112-million a year earlier.

Many Canadian TV stations no longer have local programming outside of newscasts. There have also been threats of closing stations in smaller markets, like Red Deer and Kelowna.

While servers like Google and mass media sites like YouTube, Facebook and MySpace are creating problems for the conventional media, they are now part and parcel of the lives of younger Canadians.

But, they have yet to make a profit and are having major social issues. MySpace, for example, admits it has identified and removed 90,000 sexual offenders from its site in the past three years.

Ryerson University Professor Charles Zamaria, who did an extensive report on Canadian daily study habits last year, found that Internet users, who spend more than 15 hours a week online, still find newspapers more reliable than any other source of information.

UK consulting genius Paul Zwillenberg feels newspapers—such as the Wall Street Journal—can only survive if they specialize, rather than trying to serve the masses. Other examples closer to home would be such fine niche publications as

our ethnic press, as well as Edmontonians.

As a matter of fact, Edmontonians Publisher Sharon MacLean has already embraced the concept of social media without compromising the hard copy edition of her publication. As you read this issue, countless more are viewing the magazine on-line at www.edmontonians.com, and accessing Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin to follow specific areas of interest. MacLean admits she and Editor Barb Deters will reach far more readers on-line throughout this global village than would ever have been possible in print.

Tough economic times bring out ingenuity in mankind. Look at Alexander Graham Bell and the telephone; Henry Ford and the automobile; Thomas Edison and the light bulb.

People in the media are not immune to change… especially those who know that is their key to survival. √ Bruce Hogle is the former news director at CFRN TV and recently retired head of the Alberta Press Council. Contact bhogle@edmontonians.com

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17

lifestyles LIVELY

The Business

of Love

With Ryan Jespersen

Magic

MENU

W

edding Day. It’s been dreamt of for decades and planned for a year.

Preceded by a popped question, the months leading up to March 22, 2009 have been hashed out here in The Business of Love. My now-wife Kari (Skelton) Jespersen and I shared our stories with you as we worked alongside some of Edmonton’s most talented service providers. From designing invitations, planning the details of a destination wedding, sticking to a fitness plan or journeying through pre-marital counseling, it was an eventful year! Finally, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon under a sunny sky at Playa Potrero, Costa Rica, it was our turn to get down to business, so to speak...

with Chef John Berry

T Here comes my bride, arm-in-arm with the self-described “FOB,”—father of the bride—Gary Skelton. My favourite photo.

With the Pacific Ocean and beautiful Playa Potrero as a backdrop, the bride and groom exchange vows in front of 41 friends and family.

The breath-taking ceremony space was designed in conjunction with former Edmontonian Larissa Banting of Weddings Costa Rica.

Eric Wah

Kari and her girls: Amber Ball, Cathy Huynh, Brenna Stuart, Megan Jespersen, Amy Miller and Tammy Cetiner.

Jespersens!”

Officially: “the

hai cuisine is one of my favourites because of its hot or spicy dishes. Thai food has five fundamental flavours in each dish or the overall meal: hot (spicy), sour, sweet, salty and bitter. A welcome treat for the taste buds—something different from the more familiar Chinese, East Indian and Vietnamese fare.

Thai food is often considered a single cuisine, when in fact it’s made up of four regional dishes: Northern, Northeastern (or Isan), Central and Southern. The difference shows in the dishes. For example, Southern Curries tend to contain coconut milk, whereas Northeastern dishes contain lime juice.

When it comes to spices, Thai food is known for its abundance of fresh herbs,

Hoa Chung

Groomsmen (left to right) Andrew Jespersen, Jeff Chivers, Jonas Jespersen, Jeremi Skelton, Kyle Jespersen and Jeff Nielsen wait in line for my words of wisdom.

Spectacular sunset at Playa Potrero...our 41 wedding guests came from Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Cache, Brooks and Pasadena, California.

Must have been something in the water! My brother Jonas caught the garter... then Kari’s sister Megan snagged the bouquet.

Photos by Josh Dunford

Ryan Jespersen hosts Breakfast Television weekday mornings from 6-10 am on Citytv.

E-mail Ryan at rjespersen@edmontonians.com

spices and fish sauce.

Shrimp paste, fish sauce, kaffir lime leaves, lemon grass, ginger root, turmeric, coconut milk, Thai basil, a large variety of chillies, lime juice and coconut milk are staples in the cuisine.

Rice is a basic component of Thai Cuisine, as it is in most Asian meals. The much sought after, sweet smelling Jasmine rice comes from Thailand where it is grown in the central plains. Steamed rice is served with aromatic curries and stir-fries and incorporates generous quantities of chilies, lime juice and lemon grass. The dish may be poured into the rice creating khao rad gang, which is very popular when time is of the essence.

Noodles are also popular in this cuisine; however, they are often served as a single dish or in soups.

Protein—beef, chicken, pork, squid,

Thai Fusion shrimp and many different ocean fish— rounds out the Thai plate.

Edmonton boasts many excellent Thai restaurants. Eric Wah, the owner and creative genius behind The King and I, is perhaps the best known of all our Thai restaurateurs. His is a favourite dining spot for the Rolling Stones when they are in town, as well as many other celebrities.

The food is excellent and truly reflects the incredible taste of Thailand.

Eric has opened restaurants in Calgary and Edmonton. After his original restaurant in Old Strathcona burned down in the early 1990s, he re-located to Whyte Avenue at 107th Street.

His uncle lives in Bangkok and Eric travels there once a year to source food trends and cuisine. He says the reason Thai Cuisine is so popular is because of the health benefits of the food. As hot as you like it, but it’s often stir-fried, stewed or steamed.

According to Eric, Pan-Asian fusion is taking the world by storm. Dim Sum, Sushi... it’s all rolled into one now.

“It’s all fusion, not pure cuisine anymore, and that’s what makes it exciting.” He explains that, because everything is customer driven, many flavours and sauces are being intertwined. And for our palates, that’s a good thing!

I asked Eric to share his recipe for spring rolls—The King and I makes thousands every month.

He obliged and explained, “Paw Pia Thawt means deep fried rolls in Thai. Each Asian country has its own recipe for spring rolls which originated from China. The ingredients and seasoning they put into the rolls are as distinct as the culture they represent.

Every Thai restaurant in town puts in its own special touch or secret to make the rolls stand out from the others. At The King & I, we use taro roots as our special ingredient. After steaming, the root vegetables add a fragrant nutty flavour to the ground pork; moreover, the soft texture contrasts with the chewy silver noodle and crispy outer shell when biting into it.” √ For recipes, go to Edmontonians.com and visit the Lively Lifestyles Blog.

Contact Chef John Berry at jberry@edmontonians.com

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Wobblers If you are looking for a twist on the classic vase, ‘Wobblers’ are vessels that weeble, but never fall over.

These little delights are crafted from round wooden coasters or art plaques and incorporate tubes to accommodate flowers. Line up a series of them on a flight of steps, use them as place-card settings, or disperse them through a bookcase or end table for colour and whimsy. √ Level: simple √ Cost: $2.00 – $3.00 √ Time: 1 – 2 hours

Materials • Large test tubes/Vanilla bean tubes/Cigar tubes – approx.

6” long • Round wood coasters/wood art plaques/scrap wood 1/4” to 3/4” thick & 3 1/2” to 4” in diameter.

• Craft paint (optional) • Wax or Varathane

with Linda Bodo

Test Tube

BABIES

M

y green thumbs are calling—yelling actually. They are itching to plunge into untamed territory where delicate buds unfurl as they escape the clutches of their winter hibernation. Longer days, balmy nights, and rays of sun partnered with ample room and board ensure a bounty guaranteed to keep me in fresh-cut flowers for months. My callused hands work the soil ruthlessly ridding the terrain of unwanted rock and incessantly massage chunks of soil until they crumble to a velvety powder. Victories over slugs and invasive plantings are easily forgotten in the quest of textbook deadheading and pruning. At times, the work seems endless.

And then, one day, it happens. The sweet scent of summer arrives, so impossibly intoxicating that I almost want to eat it. It hovers over the garden beckoning the birds and the bees in a breathtaking profusion of colour… and I realize that blisters, broken nails and an aching back were well worth it. The payback is considerable.

It’s so gratifying to reap the rewards of your efforts with home-grown flowers for your digs. Not to worry— you don’t need a huge inventory to make a bold floral statement. Displaying single blooms in clever devices— designed to make each flower a statement—is a simple project and easily accomplished. √ Linda Bodo is author of Enjoy Life Outside. Visit www.absolutebodo.com for upcoming appearances and project demonstrations; view other DIY projects; or order her book. Contact: lbodo@edmontonians.com Go to edmontonians.com and visit the Lively Lifestyles blog.

Tools

Window Dressing My ‘Window Dressing’ project will spruce up any window with cafe style curtains detailed with small pockets that house test tubes—perfect for single blooms. Windows clad in these sheer accoutrements are guaranteed to make you smile with every glance outside. You can whip up this project for next to nothing by recycling an existing curtain and saved floral tubes, vanilla bean tubes or cigar tubes. √ Level: simple √ Cost: $2.00 – $10.00 √ Time: 2 – 3 hours

Materials • Sheer fabric (size of window with hems + 12” for pockets) – use a stiff organza, drapery sheers or an existing curtain • Test tubes/Floral tubes/Vanilla bean tubes/Cigar tubes, 3” – 5” long • Thread • Curtain rod • Brackets

Jigsaw Drill / drill press Pencil/tape Cloth Sander & 180 grit sandpaper Spade bit of various sizes

Paint brush Gloves Goggles

Step by Steps • If using scraps of wood to make coasters, cut with jigsaw 3 1/2” to 4” in diameter.

• Mark center of coaster/plaque/disc and bore hole with appropriate spade bit slightly smaller than diameter of test tube. Slowly and patiently file out bored hole until test tube is a snug fit. If central hole has become too large for test tube, add a small dollop of hot glue on inside walls of hole and spread around perimeter to create a tight fit.

• Finish with two coats of paint if desired and seal with several light coats of Varathane or wax.

• Add test tubes, fill with water and display your favourite blooms. √

Tools Scissors Tape measure Cloth or towel

Sewing Machine Pins Iron

Step by Steps • Cut fabric to size 1” wider and 3” longer than window. Roll a 1/4” hem on sides and bottom and sew a 1” sleeve at top for rod. Steam press with a damp cloth to prevent scorching.

• Cut several strips of 2 1/2” fabric with the grain, and sew a 1/4” hem on the long sides. Press. Cut strips into 4 1/2” units, and hem top and bottom.

• Position pockets on curtain, pin in place and sew, leaving top open. Feed rod through sleeve and hang curtain. Fill test tubes with water and flowers, and insert in pockets

lifestyles

Visit Chef Johnʼs blog for this monthʼs recipes • Spring rolls • Sweet & Sour Soup

johnberry.wordpress.com

Got questions or comments on Lindaʼs project? Go to her blog: lindabodo.wordpress.com EDMONTONIANS MAY 2009

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EDMONTONIANS MAY 2009

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