River Valley News - December 21, 2023

May not feel like winter, but outdoor skating spots open

City-operated ice surfaces are maintained and monitored daily. Ice surfaces will be closed if conditions are unsafe for users. Please keep off closed ice surfaces and obey all posted signage. Use ice surfaces at your own risk and be safe.

Edmontonians can lace up their skates and experience Edmonton's river valley ice rinks at various locations, including a new skating surface at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park, which opened on December 8. Victoria Oval, Victoria Iceway, Rundle Park IceWay, Castle Downs Park, The Meadows and City Hall are also open.

A portion of the Rundle Park IceWay, Castle Downs Park and Jackie Parker Park will allow shinny hockey upon opening. For more information about the City’s outdoor skating surfaces, pavilion hours and ice conditions, visit https://www.edmonton.ca/activities_parks_recreation/outdoor-ice-rinks

BirdSmart education in-person presentation includes a live bird of prey

During the winter months, the Beaverhill Bird Observatory operates an education outreach program called BirdSmart Education. Its staff give in-person presentations with a live bird of prey to all grade levels (pre-K to 12) that are tailored to match the Alberta Curriculum and focus on birds, conservation and climate change.

Last winter, it gave 222 presentations to 17,500 students and 1,000 adults, a 50% increase over the previous winter. Presentations are also available to afterschool groups, seniors’ homes, birthday parties and more. Book your presentation to learn about the natural world at http://beaverhillbirds.com/environmental-education/birdsmart-program/

We are looking for new members of our board of directors

In preparation for our Annual General Meeting in March 2024, the North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society invites you to be involved with a dynamic organization seeking to preserve Edmonton’s river valley for future generations. If you are interested in being nominated to the Board of Directors, please contact us nsrivervalley@gmail.com

We have four current priorities. We participate in discussion about the future of the new Big Island provincial park in Edmonton’s southwest river valley. The society is an active stakeholder in plans for a National Urban Park that would connect ecological systems and regional landscapes along the North Saskatchewan River in Edmonton and the Metro region.

On an ongoing basis we work to conserve and preserve of Edmonton’s river valley by being vigilant about development that impacts Bylaw 7188, the North Saskatchewan River Valley Area Redevelopment Plan. Finally, we have a vibrant communications platform consisting of a weekly newsletter, Facebook posts, and a daily presence on Instagram and Twitter. Learn more at https://www.edmontonrivervalley.org/

Make native plant seeds your Christmas gift

Apache Seeds at 10136-149 Street NW, Edmonton has partnered with the Edmonton Native Plant Society (ENPS) to sell native plant seed packages throughout the winter. What more down to earth present is there then the gift of native plant seeds to your friends and family.

Of Birds and Such by Public Studio, Strathearn LRT Stop

https://www.edmontonarts.ca/public-art/of-birds-and-such

Comment or contribution

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

River Valley News - December 14, 2023

YEG 2023 Christmas bird count on Sunday, December 17

Gerald Romanchuk photo

The Edmonton Nature Club sponsors the Edmonton count. This traditional citizen-science project contributes information to an immense database managed and analyzed by Birds Canada and the National Audubon Society. Thousands of Christmas counts occur around the world.

The Edmonton count has been conducted 65 times from 1906 to 2013, and continuously since 1955. Only one Christmas bird count has ever had over 1000 participants: Edmonton. We hold the world record for number of participants, for any count, anywhere, which was 1288 participants in December 1987. 

Volunteers can participate in two ways. Feeder watchers tally birds in their yard and teams of counters, referred to as bush beaters, scour the city to gather information on bird numbers. If you would like to join the Christmas bird count, check out https://www.edmontonchristmasbirdcount.ca/participate.html

UCP MLA private member bill 204 seeks to block Edmonton and Canada national urban park initiative

Leduc-Beaumont MLA Brandon Lunty has introduced private members’ Bill 204, the Municipal Government (National Urban Parks) Amendment Act. He claims his bill will protect and defend Albertans’ interests when it comes to the creation and development of these parks in their communities, as currently the federal government can bypass the province and work directly with municipalities on national urban parks.

“It is concerning that the Government of Alberta would let its battles with the federal government block municipalities from participating in an initiative simply focused on enabling Albertans greater local access to protected nature areas.” said Linda Duncan, speaking on behalf of the North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society.

In a public letter, several organizations wrote “we are surprised and dismayed by this action as the province has had representation at Edmonton’s National Urban Park Partners table since its initiation. The designation of such a park involves multiple rounds of public consultation,” meaning it is impossible for a National Urban Park to be created without the input of Albertans. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FOiv0n5bpa3IxYCZOyxd4R2RCv3WjuND/view

KingsU researcher plans to tag 20 white-tailed jackrabbits with GPS collars for study

Darcy Visscher photo

An associate professor of biology at The King's University, is about to study why white-tailed jackrabbit populations are booming in Edmonton, despite a sharp decline elsewhere. Darcy Visscher’s research team has received $100,000 to tag jackrabbits with GPS trackers to understand where they're coming from and why they are drawn to urban centres.

Looking into jackrabbit populations that date back to the early 1990s, he and his colleagues have found populations are about 80 times denser compared to rural rabbits. Previous research from 2016 suggests there were around 3,000 jackrabbits in Edmonton, Visscher said, but it seems the population increases year over year.

"Edmonton is fairly unique in that it's the very northern edge of the species range and everywhere else, the literature suggests that they're in decline," said Visscher. "So, something that they're doing is contributing to their success." Visscher sand his team plan to tag 20 rabbits with GPS collars that track their location every 15 minutes to get a sense of where they go each day. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-research-jackrabbit-population-1.7045170

Firkins house moved to Fort Edmonton by 1 Combat Engineer Regiment

The Firkins residence, now on 105 street in Fort Edmonton Park, was built in 1911-12 at 7901 Saskatchewan Drive by Ashley and Blanche Firkins, a newly wed couple from Illinois. A recent graduate from Northwestern University Dental School, Ashley’s ability to perform difficult corrective operations relating to the oral cavity and antrum was renowned.

Architecturally, the home represents one of Edmonton’s earliest and best applications of American Craftsman design. The Firkins’ Residence exemplifies Craftsman trends with its low-slung massing and horizontal proportions, use of stucco, and exposed eaves. The home’s distinct Californian Bungalowesque appearance stood in stark contrast to its contemporaries,

In late 1923 the Firkins’ relocated to California, where Mr. Firkins died on March 10th, 1933, during the Long Beach Earthquake. Said the Peninsula Times, Ashley “was operating on a patient in his second floor office in a downtown building. The building collapsed and when the masonry was pulled away he was dead, but his patient, an unidentified woman, the apron and towel still across her shoulders, walked out of the wreckage only slightly injured.”

By 1992, the aging home was the property of Rod and Audrey Karpetz who offered it, free of charge, to the Fort Edmonton Historical Foundation. The offer was accepted, and the home was moved to Fort Edmonton Park on August 27th, 199 through a unique collaboration between the Foundation and the Canadian Armed Forces which saw 1 Combat Engineer Regiment provide all the labour. https://www.forgottenedmonton.com/blog/the-firkins-residence

Editor’s Note

The link in last week’s article titled Dismantling YEG’s half-built freeway begins on Rossdale Road did not work. It should have linked to the original article https://edmonton.taproot.news/news/2023/12/01/dismantling-edmontons-half-built-freeway-begins-on-rossdale-road at Taproot Edmonton by Stephanie Swensrude.

Collaboration by Robert Ledrer, Cezary Gajewski, Michael Syms, sculptural flagpoles at Stadium LRT station

https://www.edmontonarts.ca/public-art/collaboration

Comment or contribution

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

River Valley News - December 7, 2023

Dismantling YEG’s half-built freeway begins on Rossdale Road

Stephanie Swensrude photo

Work has begun to undo Edmonton’s incomplete 1970s downtown freeway project, with asphalt removed in Rossdale. “The changes on the Rossdale Road rehabilitation are necessary to eliminate some of the confusion where the triangle portion of 103 Street, Bellamy Hill, Rossdale Road, and 97 Avenue connect,” said Satya Gadidasu, the City of Edmonton project manager in charge of the redesign.

The former vehicle lanes have been stripped of asphalt and returned to dirt, and trees will eventually be planted. While Rossdale Road is one current option for commuting into downtown, the plan sees the road turned into a two-way, “park-like” street. An existing sidewalk will be widened to become a multi-use path for cyclists and pedestrians.

Many decades ago, the city commissioned the Metropolitan Edmonton Transportation Study (METS), which imagined a freeway loop encircling the downtown core, similar to what today exists in many American cities. Construction of the freeway loop started with the James MacDonald Bridge and the roads on either side.

The changes are the first steps in the Rossdale Transportation Network Plan. In the concept plan, 105 Street will be narrowed from four lanes to three along most of the road between the Walterdale Bridge and 97 Avenue. The plan includes adding a bike lane and widening sidewalks along the street.

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm&ogbl#inbox/FMfcgzGwHxqJfLQLllMpmwcVbQNJXMxC

City plants a record number of 180,000 trees in 2023

The 180,000 trees planted means the city made significant strides toward the goal of planting 2 million trees. The number is more than three times the previous year and includes trees planted as part of several city programs, including naturalization, Root for Trees and the Boulevard and Open Space tree planting programs.

Much of the city’s naturalization efforts were done through the Root for Trees program, its volunteer tree planting program. In 2023, 3,752 volunteers participated in the program planting 34,167 trees and shrubs at 186 events.

Naturalization is increasingly incorporated into the design of parks, neighbourhoods and projects led by the city, developers and utility companies. More than 1,000 hectares of city-maintained land is naturalized as grass or planted with trees and shrubs. 

Processes and best practices for ongoing monitoring and maintenance are being updated to consider factors such as equity, heat island effect, walking access to green spaces, recreation opportunities, wildlife connectivity and biodiversity, carbon capture and more. The city also wants to make sure we preserve existing recreation activities such as tobogganing, while also identifying areas where tree planting will have the best impact. 

The target of having two million trees planted within the next eight years is part of the city’s Urban Forest Asset Management goal of achieving 20 percent canopy cover by 2071. Video on the benefits of naturalization at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zWgiRFcwaU

Mallards winter on the open waters of the North Saskatchewan River

Bert De Tilly photo

Mallards are hardy ducks, wintering regularly in southern Ontario and southern British Columbia. In Alberta, Mallards stay on the open waters of the North Saskatchewan River as far north as Edmonton. The great majority, however, migrate to the central and southern United States, where lakes and ponds are ice-free throughout the year.

Though one of the most adaptable of ducks, the continuing loss of prairie nesting habitat, particularly grassy uplands, has caused a long-term decline in continental Mallard populations. Droughts during the 1980s and 1990s created unfavourable conditions for prairie ducks, and many former wetlands have dried out and are now farmland.

Mallards are one of the few ducks that habitually feed on grain. Barley and wheat are preferred. Most grain is now harvested by combine, and ducks cannot do much damage, except when the grain is left in swaths because of poor weather.

Throughout the ages, the Mallard has benefited people by supplying them with eggs and flesh. It has long been domesticated, and many strains of our domestic ducks show their Mallard ancestry in their bright colours. Apart from its usefulness, the Mallard is a beautiful bird that brings delight to many outdoor people. The bird watcher knows of few more thrilling sights than Mallards dropping down with feet out-thrust to find the first spring water. https://www.hww.ca/en/wildlife/birds/mallard.html

Exotic Species by Marc Siegner, Victoria Park Pavilion

https://www.edmontonarts.ca/public-art/exotic-species

Comment or contribution

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