Edmonton veteran served his country despite discrimination
Joseph John “J.J.” Belanger was born in Edmonton, Alberta in 1925. He enlisted in the military as a teenager during the Second World War and served as a wireless air gunner in the Royal Canadian Air Force.
He flew in Lancaster bombers on raids over occupied Europe. During one mission in mid-1944, enemy fire hit J.J.’s plane and he was wounded by shrapnel. The crew had to bail out along the coast of France where J.J. spent three days in a small dingy before being rescued.
Only three of the plane’s eight crew members survived. One of the dead was the bomber pilot, an Australian named Gordon and J.J.’s lover. They had met at the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan base in Winnipeg earlier in the war and had spent much time together.
This tragic loss was very hard for J.J. and was made even worse because their love had to be hidden from the wider world. Grieving the death of his partner too openly would have caused problems, so he couldn’t express the full depth of his sorrow.
J.J. had already come out to his family and to Gordon’s parents, who lived in England during the war. After the war, he returned to civilian life and moved to the west coast.
https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/people-and-stories/joseph-john-belanger
Urban green space can help local wildlife deal with climate change
As an Arctic Ambassador Centre, the Edmonton Valley Zoo works with Polar Bears International to help educate Edmontonians about the effects of a warming climate on northern biodiversity. Fall is a special time of year to highlight such climate impacts on polar bears because that’s when they gather on the shores of Hudson Bay to wait for the sea ice to return, so they can hunt their seal prey.
However, with the Arctic warming at a rate four times faster than the rest of the planet, the ice-free summer period is now three-to-four weeks longer than it was in the 1980s, straining the limits of the bears’ fat reserves and making it difficult for survival.
Similar to the Arctic, with Edmonton’s more northern position, historical climate records indicate that Edmonton is also warming at a faster rate than the global average. In the absence of climate action, research predicts that Edmonton’s annual average temperature of 2.1 C will increase to 5.5 C by the 2050s and to approximately 8 C by the 2080s.
A recent study using data from the City of Edmonton’s WildEdmonton project gives a window into a potential solution. Published in Nature & Ecology (July 2023), the findings suggest that while climate change can make it more challenging for wildlife in urban areas, these effects are lower in more vegetated cities. Therefore, to help local wildlife deal with the stress of climate change, keep and make more green space.
https://transforming.edmonton.ca/protecting-wildlife-from-the-effects-of-climate-change/
River valley assault in Louise McKinney Park creates fear and questions
Edmonton is a great place to live and our river valley is the jewel in its crown, writes Lucy. However, recent events have sullied its reputation. I belong to an urban pole walking group. In early October, my friend and I were walking in Louise McKinney Park beneath the Convention Centre along the river path.
It was a beautiful afternoon when suddenly my friend and I were attacked from behind by a middle-aged man yielding a club. I was knocked face first into the concrete path and sustained a fractured nose and elbow. My friend was pushed into the grassy verge where the man continued to beat her with his club. She was able to fend him off somewhat but was beaten severely on the head, requiring 18 staples to close the wounds.
We screamed as loud as we could. Other people approached and our assailant ran off. The people who came to our assistance were marvelous, holding pressure on my friend’s bleeding wounds and helping me into a sitting position. They called emergency services, who arrived very quickly and we were transported to hospital. The police artist did a good picture for circulation amongst the police, but the assailant has not been caught. The police artist did a good picture for circulation amongst the police, but the assailant has not been caught.
The police said violent men always choose a vulnerable victim and gave us a few prevention tips.
1. Practice situational awareness; look over your shoulder frequently.
2. Walk in a large group. There is safety in numbers.
3. Carry a high decibel whistle on a lanyard.
4. Carry a travel can of hairspray.
Read Lucy’s story at https://www.edmontonrivervalley.org/projects
Mamohkamatowin (Helping One Another) by Jerry Whitehead, INIW River Lot 11.
https://www.edmontonarts.ca/public-art/mamohkamatowin-helping-one-another
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Please note that articles may not reflect the position of NSRVCS. River Valley News is meant to be a clearinghouse for the wide variety of opinions and ideas about Edmonton’s River Valley. Email river valley photos, event information, comments, or questions to nsrivervalley@gmail.com
