St. Albert news

• EPL's 2018 writers-in-residence: Hagen and Hingston

  15-11-2017 23:23 via edmontonjournal.com
  Darrin Hagen has historical plans for his just-announced stint at the library. The accomplished playwright is named one of two writers-in-residence for 2018 by the Metro Federation — a consortium of the public library systems of Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan, St. Albert and Strathcona County.
  Local author and publisher Michael Hingston is the other winning residency recipient. He’ll be spending the 12-month position in the three outlying communities — like Hagen writing, spe
  
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• Gamma Knife suite at the University of Alberta Hospital

  15-11-2017 23:15 via edmontonjournal.com
  The University of Alberta unveiled their new Icon Gamma Knife which will deliver accurate doses of radiation to tumours and lesions of the human brain while minimizing the impact on the patient.
  The first procedure is scheduled for December 4, 2017 and will provide patients with scalpel-free and painless surgery. 
  
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• Bill proposes standard kindergarten start age, axes 2.4-kilometre busing limit

  15-11-2017 23:07 via edmontonjournal.com
  Families may no longer need to live more than 2.4 kilometres from school for their children to qualify for busing, if a new bill is passed as drafted.
  Bill 28, tabled in the legislature Wednesday by Education Minister David Eggen, would also give the minister the power to “direct boards to co-operate” on busing students where school districts overlap. Edmonton’s Catholic and public school districts currently run two separate school bus networks.
  The bill would also put a kinder
  
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• Even with electric cars, world oil demand expected to grow for years

  15-11-2017 22:48 via edmontonjournal.com
  Even the spread of alternative-fuel vehicles and increased energy efficiency won’t quickly stop the growing international demand for oil, a speaker at an Edmonton energy symposium said Wednesday.
  About five million electric and hybrid vehicles are expected to be sold this year, rising to 30 million cars, trucks and other vehicles in 2030, or approximately five per cent of the world’s fleet, said Julie Afanasiff, senior vice-president of Sequeira Partners Inc.
  This would cut oil consu
  
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• NDP launches tax relief program for rural Alberta municipalities

  15-11-2017 22:40 via edmontonjournal.com
  Alberta’s municipal affairs minister announced a tax relief program for rural communities Wednesday while promising fiscal restraint to balance the provincial budget.
  “I won’t mince words. Difficult decisions will have to be made and we will have to tighten our belts to return Alberta to fiscal balance,” said Minister Shaye Anderson in an address at the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties (AAMDC) convention.
  The organization — which is holding it
  
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• Kingsway Mall overhaul includes pop-up space for food vendors

  15-11-2017 22:36 via edmontonjournal.com
  Kingsway Mall is undergoing a $50-million overhaul that’s redeveloping the former Target store and providing space for start-up food vendors.
  “I think our new additions are bringing new customers and creating some excitement for our regular customers,” general manager Susan Denney said Wednesday.
  “We have seen extra traffic since opening the new wing Oct. 17.”
  Part of the location once occupied by Target is now taken by Marshalls, HomeSense and a relocated H&M s
  
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• Person found dead after Alberta Beach house fire

  15-11-2017 20:42 via edmontonjournal.com
  RCMP and fire investigators are probing the cause of an Alberta Beach house fire and the circumstances surrounding the death of one of the home’s occupants.
  Lac St. Ann Fire Services were called the blaze at around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday to find the two storey home “fully engulfed in flames.” 
  Firefighters discovered the body of a 40-year-old man on the main floor of the residence and despite attempts to resuscitate the victim, he died at the scene.
  
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• Halsey cancels tonight's Rogers Place electropop concert

  15-11-2017 20:10 via edmontonjournal.com
  Suffering a personal emergency, Halsey has cancelled her Wednesday night show at Rogers Place.
  The New Jersey-born 23-year-old electropop singer-songwriter is currently on her hopeless fountain kingdom tour in support of her radio-friendly second album, and Live Nation announced the cancellation by press release Wednesday morning.
  Halsey suddenly stopped her show at the Saddledome last night, reportedly after learning about a family emergency.
  Her stage name is an anagram of her real first name
  
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• Gay-straight alliance bill passes

  15-11-2017 19:34 via edmontonjournal.com
  A bill preventing Alberta schools from notifying parents if their child joins a gay-straight alliance passed Wednesday morning. 
  The NDP government has said the bill protects kids, ensuring schools won’t out them to their parents. It closed a loophole, it said, which some schools had used to flout the spirit of the school act.
  The United Conservative Party argued it was political overreach, and there was no need for the legislation. 
  Debate over the bill was at times heated and e
  
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• Filmmaker Frederick Kroetsch and his 85-year-old dad revisit Arctic

  15-11-2017 17:02 via edmontonjournal.com
  Ten years ago, Frederick Kroetsch opened a dusty ammunition case in his parents’ basement. What he found inside — reels of old 8-mm film — would take him on a journey of a lifetime with his 85-year-old father.
  “I grew up hearing all these stories about the High Arctic,” Kroetsch says. “When I saw this film I was like, ‘Wow! My dad’s stories they’re … they’re not bulls–t!’ ”
  Fred’s dad, Hugh Kroet
  
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• Overnight fire levels home under construction in Windermere

  15-11-2017 16:31 via edmontonjournal.com
  An early morning fire ripped through a home under construction in southwest Edmonton Wednesday.
  Edmonton fire crews were called to the home at 2:27 a.m. in the newly developed area of Windermere Drive SW. Eighteen fire units arrived on scene less than 10 minutes later at 2:36 a.m. to find the home completely engulfed in flames.
  No one was living in the house at the time of the fire and no one was injured. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to just the one house, with slight heat and wind
  
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• 'A punch in the face': Morale takes deep dive in city's communications branch

  15-11-2017 15:06 via edmontonjournal.com
  Edmonton’s communications team held a sharing circle last year to understand why the branch had such low morale.
  There were tears. Some blamed workplace harassment and disrespect, saying there was bullying in the city and among the clients they serve that wasn’t being dealt with.
  But the employees saw no evidence city officials dealt with those bullies in 2016. Instead, two months later, they instead sent the whole communications branch to respectful workplace training.
  “Why we
  
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• Edmonton refuses to release harassment data for city employees

  15-11-2017 14:23 via edmontonjournal.com
  The City of Edmonton is refusing to release employee survey results that show how many workers report seeing or experiencing harassment on the job. 
  But even the city’s general survey results from September 2016 show pockets of low morale among women. 
  In three branches — real estate and housing, fire rescue services and human resources — women answered Edmonton’s most recent employee engagement survey in ways that show much lower job satisfaction than men.
  In t
  
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• Wednesday's letters: Community sandboxes are back

  15-11-2017 14:00 via edmontonjournal.com
  Re. “What happened to sand boxes for ice?” Letters, Nov. 3
  City crews have filled all 150 community sandboxes across the city early in November and continue to revisit them frequently.
  Community sandboxes are a courtesy service offered by the City of Edmonton and available at participating community centres throughout Edmonton. While every attempt is made to keep sandboxes filled, the first priority of crews every season is to keep major roads and sidewalks clear of snow an
  
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• Opinion: Canada must call for return of Lebanon's prime minister

  15-11-2017 14:00 via edmontonjournal.com
  Lebanon is in the vortex of the Middle East’s perpetual political storm, again.
  Speaking about the Middle East is like entering a house of mirrors — easy to get in, hard to come out. Every occurrence in the region is intertwined within a perplexing history of tribalism, religion, politics, wars and violence, replete with periods of unending horrors.
  Fast forward. On Nov. 4. Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who is also a Saudi citizen, was asked to visit Saudi Arabia to mee
  
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• Mayor Don Iveson suggests city 'rip the … Band-Aid' and demolish Coliseum

  15-11-2017 14:00 via edmontonjournal.com
  Council could use available funds in this city budget to demolish the Coliseum, Mayor Don Iveson suggested Tuesday, pushing for a quick solution for the soon-to-be vacant building.
  Northlands will stop hosting events in the 40-year-old landmark this year, shutting the doors and giving the keys Edmonton officials Jan. 1.
  Officials estimate it will cost $1.5 million annually to maintain the building, and many residents don’t want a boarded-up building attracting crime and bringing down the n
  
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• Edmonton soldier pleads guilty to charges of stealing, fraud at court martial

  15-11-2017 14:00 via edmontonjournal.com
  A military cook whose life spiralled into drug and alcohol addiction after a motorcycle crash is facing a court martial for a stealing credit card, small change and cigarettes from his comrades.
  Cpl. Jeffrey Kroetsch pleaded guilty to theft and fraud Tuesday at a military court martial.
  He was charged with stealing a Mastercard from one coworker, which he used to buy $765.90 worth of stuff; of stealing $40 from another coworker’s change purse and then coming back to steal a quarter an
  
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• Editorial: Complaints overhaul needed

  15-11-2017 14:00 via edmontonjournal.com
  If there’s one employer in the city that should set the bar for a workplace, it should be the City of Edmonton. Working in local government offers stability, attractive pay and employee benefits and even gives the opportunity to make a difference in the community. Indeed, the city often boasts about being a great place to work.
  It’s discouraging to learn that despite all of that, many past and current city workers describe a flawed employee-complaints system that leads to pockets of
  
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• Coun. Andrew Knack pitches trackless train as transit solution for Edmonton

  15-11-2017 14:00 via edmontonjournal.com
  West-end Coun. Andrew Knack believes trackless trains could be the solution to the debate between adopting LRT or bus rapid transit.
  “That’s a very realistic hybrid option,” said Knack, pointing to a Chinese example expected to start operating in 2018. It runs on pavement using painted white lines as a guide. It’s currently being tested in the city of Zhuzhou, running up to 70 km/h and holding 500 passengers.
  Knack gave council notice Tuesday he intends to make a mot
  
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• Player grades: Oscar Klefbom brings his "A" game as Edmonton Oilers whip Vegas Golden Knights 8-2

  15-11-2017 08:18 via edmontonjournal.com
  What can you say about an 8-2 Oilers win this year except, “Amen!” Oscar Klefbom finally brought this “A” game and the Oil’s attack finally got going. Bruce McCurdy and David Staples of the Cult of Hockey dig into the game, along with the Oil’s trade for Mike Cammalleri.
  Cult of Hockey game grades, Oilers, 8, Vegas 2
  The Edmonton Oilers have lost plenty of games in the first period this year, but there was a sign early in the game on Tuesday night that t
  
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• St. Albert MLA spearheads inclusive page program - St. Albert Gazette

  15-11-2017 07:05 via stalbertgazette.com
  St. Albert MLA spearheads inclusive page program
  St. Albert Gazette
  The Associate Page Program was launched at the end of October and the first Page with a disability was hired. St. Albert MLA Marie Renaud spend the last year-and-a-half working with the Speaker's Office to help make the Page Program more inclusive.and more »
  
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• Poburan parents in stop scuffle with school board - St. Albert Gazette

  15-11-2017 07:05 via stalbertgazette.com
  St. Albert Gazette
  Poburan parents in stop scuffle with school board
  St. Albert Gazette
  Two Marie Poburan parents say they're frustrated with the Catholic school board's decision to not move what they believe is a dangerous bus stop. Sturgeon County residents Ryan Catena and Ross Lupaschuk approached the Gazette this week with ...
  
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• Pet Place fears feline fatalities - St. Albert Gazette

  15-11-2017 07:05 via stalbertgazette.com
  Pet Place fears feline fatalities
  St. Albert Gazette
  With winter here to stay, one pet advocate fears the lives of purring pets may be in peril unless the city takes immediate measures. More than 1,000 people have signed an online petition for a cat bylaw and safe shelter for cats in St. Albert. But ...
  
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• Memorial Cross recipient remembers late husband - St. Albert Gazette

  15-11-2017 07:05 via stalbertgazette.com
  Memorial Cross recipient remembers late husband
  St. Albert Gazette
  As the final notes of the Last Post powerfully vibrated from the trumpet during the Remembrance Day ceremony outside St. Albert Place on Saturday, Isabelle McBride stood with her head bowed, clasping her left hand over her right. The Silver Cross was ...
  
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• Keto diet the new craze for one local - St. Albert Gazette - St. Albert Gazette

  15-11-2017 07:05 via stalbertgazette.com
  St. Albert Gazette
  Keto diet the new craze for one local - St. Albert Gazette
  St. Albert Gazette
  While diets aren't one-size-fits-all, one married couple has experienced positive health results for two completely different reasons since starting the ketogenic ...and more »
  
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• Keto diet the new craze for one local - St. Albert Gazette

  15-11-2017 07:05 via stalbertgazette.com
  St. Albert Gazette
  Keto diet the new craze for one local
  St. Albert Gazette
  While diets aren't one-size-fits-all, one married couple has experienced positive health results for two completely different reasons since starting the ketogenic diet earlier this year. The keto diet is a high fat, low carbohydrate and moderate ...and more »
  
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• Business Beat: New pizza place in St. Albert Centre; business receives award - St. Albert Gazette

  15-11-2017 07:05 via stalbertgazette.com
  Business Beat: New pizza place in St. Albert Centre; business receives award
  St. Albert Gazette
  St. Albert Centre is taking a slice from the pizza industry. Konz Pizza in a Cone Canada, a franchise that specializes in cones stuffed with fresh pizza toppings, has plans to open in the centre's food court within the next few weeks. Kris Lawrie ...
  
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• St. Albert Dinner Theatre's The View From Here delivers a comedic rendering on anxiety disorders - St. Albert Gazette

  15-11-2017 06:04 via stalbertgazette.com
  St. Albert Gazette
  St. Albert Dinner Theatre's The View From Here delivers a comedic rendering on anxiety disorders
  St. Albert Gazette
  Going for a walk after supper, filling our car with gas or buying groceries are all activities that require us to leave the comfort of our home. Most of us think nothing of it. But what if stepping outdoors caused a person to break out into terrified ...
  
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• Edmonton Catholic needs construction money to keep pace with growth

  15-11-2017 05:13 via edmontonjournal.com
  Catholic students need two new schools built and two old schools modernized each year to keep pace with enrolment, Edmonton’s Catholic school board chairman says.
  “We’re hopeful that those needs will fall on understanding ears,” board chairman Terry Harris said Tuesday.
  His comments came the same day a former Alberta education minister called on the province to put a moratorium on all new Catholic school construction.
  New attendance and demographic data prompted the Edmon
  
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• David Staples: Metro Line LRT should be renamed Gobsmacked Line

  15-11-2017 02:04 via edmontonjournal.com
  The Metro Line LRT’s name should be changed to the Gobsmacked Line.
  The botched LRT spur from the downtown to NAIT continues to utterly astound us with new heights of failure, with trains getting signalled to head down the wrong tracks over the weekend and with city manager Linda Cochrane’s statement that she isn’t sure if this LRT line will ever run as it’s designed.
  Cochrane’s admission, along with the cumulative problems around LRT, make me question if we’r
  
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• Alberta announces six cases of life-threatening congenital syphilis in newborns

  15-11-2017 01:55 via edmontonjournal.com
  Alberta has recorded six cases of life-threatening congenital syphilis in newborn babies this year, public health leaders announced Tuesday amid a worsening outbreak of sexually transmitted infections around the province.
  “If untreated, this infection can cause deformed bones, jaundice, brain and nerve damage, meningitis and other serious health problems in the child,” said Dr. Deena Hinshaw, deputy chief medical officer of health for Alberta Health.
  “Obviously, we are very con
  
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• 'Shattered and broken': Family still reeling over death of 19-year-old at killer's hearing

  15-11-2017 01:48 via edmontonjournal.com
  The parents of an Edmonton teenager killed just over a year ago have left their son’s bedroom untouched as they struggle to cope with his loss, court heard Tuesday.
  Christopher Fawcett, 19, died after being stabbed by his friend Connor Miller on the evening of Oct. 22, 2016.
  Court heard Miller, 21, was high on LSD when he stabbed Fawcett. The young men were with a third friend near the Alfred H. Savage Centre at 13204 Fox Dr. when the stabbing happened, police said at the time. 
  
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• Notes from the dome: Group threatens lawsuit over GSA bill, Alberta Party gears up for AGM and one more step towards Calgary byelection

  15-11-2017 01:40 via edmontonjournal.com
  Opposition Leader Jason Kenney was acclaimed as the official United Conservative Party candidate in the Calgary-Lougheed byelection Tuesday. 
  MLA Dave Rodney gave up his seat shortly after Kenney won the leadership bid Oct. 28.
  He has represented the Calgary southwest riding since 2004.
  Premier Rachel Notley has six months to call a byelection.
  Group threatens lawsuit in wake of gay-straight alliance debate
  A Calgary non-profit, the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, threatene
  
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• Officials unsure if year-end deadline for fixing Metro Line problems will be met

  15-11-2017 01:06 via edmontonjournal.com
  The trouble-plagued Metro Line LRT is poised to blow through another deadline after city officials said Tuesday the route might not reach full operation by year’s end as promised.
  A memo to councillors last spring gave an “end of 2017” target date to have all deficiencies addressed, trains upgraded and new software installed, the so-called Plan A.
  But after signalling errors directed two trains entering NAIT station Saturday to the wrong track, city manager Linda Cochrane said
  
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• NDP proposes penalties for impaired driving ahead of cannabis legalization

  15-11-2017 00:40 via edmontonjournal.com
  The NDP introduced new legislation Tuesday that aims to fill the gap in impaired driving rules ahead of cannabis legalization across Canada. 
  The federal government has proposed specific drug limits as well as penalties for drivers who break the law. Ottawa has also touted the development of a roadside drug test in preparation for the July 1 milestone when cannabis becomes legal.
  Alberta Transportation Minister Brian Mason said Bill 29 — which updates the Traffic Safety Act
  
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• Volunteer Fair marks milestone - St. Albert Gazette

  15-11-2017 00:19 via stalbertgazette.com
  St. Albert Gazette
  Volunteer Fair marks milestone
  St. Albert Gazette
  Three hours seems like a short amount of time to celebrate a decade of an event that practically serves as the engine of the community. The Community Information and Volunteer Centre is hosting its 10th Annual Volunteer Fair and they're expecting it to ...
  
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• Councillors react to proposed tax increase - St. Albert Gazette

  15-11-2017 00:03 via stalbertgazette.com
  St. Albert Gazette
  Councillors react to proposed tax increase
  St. Albert Gazette
  For some St. Albert councillors, the 2018 budget and proposed 2.9 per cent tax increase hinges on need-to-haves rather than nice-to-haves. On Nov. 6, city staff presented a $103-million budget to council with a proposed tax increase of 2.9 per cent ...
  
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