River Valley News - February 1, 2024

Celebrate your inner voyageur at Flying Canoë Volant

Enjoy light, music, legends and dance at this festival which runs January 31 through February 3. Begun in 2013, the Flying Canoë Volant is a creative and interactive cultural celebration designed to engage local history and everything that is great about a long winter’s night.

Inspired by the legend of The Flying Canoe and French Canadian, First Nations and Métis traditions, Flying Canoë Volant embraces Edmonton's French Quarter and our beautiful river valley. Festival activities occur at La Cite Francophone, Mill Creek Ravine and Rutherford school. https://www.flyingcanoevolant.ca/

Wîhkwêntôwin new name for Edmonton’s Oliver neighbourhood

Dennis Kovtun photo

Wîhkwêntôwin, a Cree word that is pronounced we-kwen-to-win, means circle of friends. Efforts to remove the area of namesake Frank Oliver have been ongoing since 2020, when the community league voted to rename the neighbourhood. It has been called Oliver since 1937. 

Committee members thanked Elder Jerry Saddleback for gifting the community with its new name, one they believe will better reflect the area's diversity and commitment to inclusion. The name is meant to honour the area's long history as an important gathering place for Indigenous communities.

Oliver, a member of Parliament and federal minister first elected to office in 1883, is known for discriminatory legislation, including policies that pushed Indigenous people off their traditional lands. He was instrumental in shaping Canada's Immigration Act of 1906 which restricted immigration based on ethnic origin and wrote an order-in-council to bar Black immigrants fleeing persecution in the American South from entering Canada.

The new name will be presented to executive committee and then to city council for final approval.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/oliver-neighbourhood-edmonton-renamed-1.7092029

Muskrats look similar to beavers except for their tail

Gerald Romanchuk photo

Muskrats and beavers look similar. They are both large, furry rodents that swim in water and live in the same sorts of areas, including marshes and slow-moving streams. The main difference between these two species is their tails. Muskrats have a long, thin tail like a mouse, whereas beavers have a wide, flattened tail like a paddle.

Muskrats get their name because they have musk glands that release a pungent substance. This musky fluid is thought to be used to mark territory and communicate with other muskrats during breeding season. They normally eat cattails and other aquatic plants, but they are omnivorous and will eat fish or small mammals when plants are in low supply.

Unlike beavers, muskrats do not have webbed feet. They do have adaptations to live in the water, though. They have waterproof fur and can close their lips behind their teeth to chew without swallowing water. They create lodges for themselves using decayed plant matter but have also been known to sometimes take shelter in beaver lodges. https://www.ealt.ca/blog/fun-facts-beavers-vs-muskrats

What wildlife can you expect to see in winter

Wayne Oakes photo

Wayne wrote “Thank you for another informative and educating issue. It is necessary to offer one correction. The Red Squirrel does not hibernate, not even a light-sleep hibernator. They are active at all times of the year even during our recent cold snap when it hit -39C in Whitemud Ravine Nature Reserve. They were out foraging, such as the one shown in the photo. The beaver is a local and good example of a light-sleep hibernator.”

Patsy said “You got quite a bit wrong in the hibernation article, red squirrels do not hibernate at all. Second, I very much doubt that amphibians or even reptiles wake up on warmer days, at least not in the north here. Check out https://www.nps.gov/gaar/learn/nature/wood-frog-page-2.htm#:~:text=Most%20frogs%20survive%20northern%20winters,litter%20on%20the%20forest%20floor

to see what wood frogs do. It is unlikely they would be able to come out of the deep freeze several times a winter during warmer periods.”

Tent communities not new to Edmonton

Roger emailed “My great grandparents arrived in Edmonton from New Zealand in 1905. My grandmother told me they spent their first winter in a tent at the foot of Groat Ravine. Quite a difference from the south Pacific! They survived in tough conditions much the same way our less fortunate citizens do now. They later had a house in Jasper Place but moved to Vancouver after a real estate bust in 1916. Her sister, baby Katie as she was known, died in infancy and is buried in one of the oldest graves in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Kudos to that original spirit and independence that I see in full blossom now, despite overwhelming prejudice continually expressed against the less fortunate.”

If the Drumming Stops by Peter Morin, Tania Willard & Cheryl L’Hirondelle, Mill Woods LRT Stop

https://www.edmontonarts.ca/public-art/if-the-drumming-stops

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 - January 25, 2024

Protecting the night through dark-sky sites

Hugo Sanchez photo

You can occasionally see the northern lights on a clear Edmonton night; however, if you want to see them in all their splendour, leaving the city and getting away from light pollution is the best way to do so. Dark-Sky sites are areas dedicated to reducing light pollution, conserving the night, and engaging in community outreach.

To be recognized as a Dark-Sky site, there is a rigorous application process and commitment to preservation and conservation. Interestingly, the first site to be designated was the Beaver Hills Biosphere, which includes the area between and including Elk Island National Park, Cooking Lake, and Miquelon Lake Provincial Park.

Dark-Sky sites are not just for stargazing, they are a part of a conservation effort to minimize the effects of light pollution on wildlife and ecosystems. Many animals and plants use daylight length to initiate reproduction and migration, and light pollution causes changes to their normal rhythm. Countless bird species migrate by night, and light pollution causes them to alter their migration times or their route. https://www.ealt.ca/blog/fun-facts-protecting-the-night

Kinnaird Park named after one of the City’s first commissioners

Kinnaird Park, east of 82 St and south of 111 Ave, is named after George Kinnaird who arrived in Canada as a Hudson Bay apprentice accountant in 1876. He travelled to Edmonton in 1886, still in service to the Hudson Bay Company as an accountant.

In 1900 he left the company to work for the town of Edmonton, first as a secretary-treasurer, and after as one of the two first commissioners of the city. His job as commissioner lasted from 1905 to 1908, after which he left the city’s service. In 1915, he was appointed City auditor.

Mr. Kinnaird was honoured with the naming of the ravine and park associated with Rat Creek. On the north side of the ravine, land was purchased by the City in the early 1900s. Rat Creek ran through this property, with the ravine bearing the same name. By 1916, the ravine was commonly known as Kinnaird Ravine, officially re-named in 1967, when Kinnaird Park was named.

As the city developed, Kinnaird Ravine was used as a dumping ground for garbage and construction debris. Sewage lines were built under the Rat Creek bed in the 1930s. In 1974 a jogging trail was cut through Kinnaird Ravine with the Canadian Militia Force laying down the gravel. https://citymuseumedmonton.ca/2016/01/26/the-kinnaird-bridge/

What wildlife can you expect to see in winter

Jason Teare photo

While most of Alberta’s birds migrate away for the winter, some like grouse, crows, magpies, chickadees, waxwings, certain sparrows and many owls are year-long residents.

Other animals stay here but are unlikely to be seen as they enter a state of hibernation. True hibernators, such as red squirrels and bats sleep so deeply that they almost never wake up until spring. Light-sleep hibernators such as bears, raccoons and skunks occasionally wake up in response to environmental changes, or if they get too hungry.

Cold-blooded reptiles and amphibians experience brumation, which is similar to hibernation. To avoid freezing, they move underground or to the bottom of water bodies that are deep enough to not freeze solid. Like light sleep hibernators, its normal for them to wake up during warm periods.

Animals like deer, mountain sheep, coyotes, cougars, rabbits and porcupines continue business as usual throughout the cold months. https://www.aiwc.ca/blog/albertas-winter-wildlife/

Practicing ethical wildlife photography means minimal impact

John E. Marriott photo

There is no singular definition for what constitutes ethical wildlife photography, but it means having as minimal an impact as possible on an animal. Baiting wildlife with food to bring them closer, as well as intentionally causing disturbance or distress, is seriously frowned upon.

The goal is to act like a fly on the wall while the animal exhibits its natural behaviours: eating, hunting, sleeping. As more people start wildlife photography as a hobby or career, ethics and education become ever more important. Especially as social media enables spectacular images to be circulated more widely than ever before.

Detailed, thoughtful guidelines for ethical wildlife photography are readily available, and yet photographer faux pas remain widespread. Last June, for example, a post on the Ontario Parks blog stated that some photographers had smeared peanut butter and cat food on trees to attract pine marten and cut branches off pine trees to get a better shot.

When John E. Marriott was working on his photography book The Kootenay Wolves back in the mid-2010s, he made a pact with himself: if a wolf spotted him at a rendezvous site, where they raise their pups, he would never return. About a year into the project, one noticed him and sounded the alarm among the pack. “That was the last time I ever went in there,” Marriott says. https://canadiangeographic.ca/articles/do-not-disturb-practicing-ethical-wildlife-photography/

Sturgeon fossil discovered in YEG river valley

Alice wrote “I was intrigued by the item about the 72-million-year-old sturgeon fossil found in the river valley, and it occurred to me other items about the geology of the river valley might be interesting to readers. We tend to think we have rather boring geology around here, compared to the Rockies. In fact, there’s so much history packed under our feet, like the Mazama Ash layer you can see in the bank below the High Level Bridge.”

Tent communities not new to Edmonton

Teresa emailed “My mother and father were immigrants to Edmonton in 1948. They came to Canada for a better life after the war and were only able to come if someone sponsored them and they would sign a contract to work for the sponsor for 3 years. My mom ended up on a farm, not paid, as she was paying back the couple with reference to the work contract. This was near Daysland. My father was trying to find work in Edmonton. He had no home, so he slept in the river valley. He would cover himself with newspapers. There were many who did.”

What is the city here for – climate change action

Jan commented “I would like to recommend an online course offered by Lund University, Sustainable Cities and Communities for credit, but is free to audit at https://www.iiiee.lu.se/article/iiiee-launches-sustainable-cities-and-communities-specialisation-coursera-platform

I also audited the Urban Nature - Connecting Cities, Sustainability & Innovation course which is based on results of the Naturvation program and 1,000 NbS projects in 100 European cities. It acknowledges that while there is increased public, scientific and academic interest, barriers remain that prevent implementation by cities and acceptance in the private realm by the development industry. Education and awareness must increase to bring NbS into the mainstream and to realize sustainable green economic, social and environmental solutions.”

EcoStation by Brandon Blommaert, Ambleside Eco Station

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

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 - January 18, 2024

Sturgeon fossil discovered in YEG river valley

A fragment of a 72-million-year-old sturgeon has been unearthed in Edmonton’s River Valley. The discovery was made by hikers in Capilano Park in February 2023. What they thought might be a fragment of dinosaur skin turned out to be a skull belonging to an ancient sturgeon.

Researchers at the University of Alberta believe the fish would have been two metres long when it was alive. This is the first new species of fossil fish discovered within Edmonton, according to researchers, who have named the species Boreiosturion labyrinthicus. The name references the labyrinth or maze-like patterns on the skull.

Sturgeons are found in North American freshwater environments and still exist and live in the North Saskatchewan River as a protected species. https://globalnews.ca/news/10219279/edmonton-sturgeon-skull-fossil-discovery/

Tent communities not new to Edmonton

By the 1900s Edmonton was growing quickly, and high housing costs and low availability forced many people to find diverse ways to live. A 1907 survey conducted by the Edmonton Bulletin showed that there were 1,098 tents in Edmonton, sheltering 3,294 people. Considering Edmonton's population in 1906 was just over 14,000, this was a staggering number.

Tent communities developed all over Edmonton, including in Fraser Flat (Riverdale), Galagher Flat (Cloverdale), past the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks (109 Street) in the west end (Oliver), behind the Dreamland Theatre on Jasper Avenue, and east of 95 Street near the Canadian Northern Railway tracks (between 104 and 105 Avenues).

Reacting to the growing number of tent dwellers in the City, Council passed Bylaw 121, stipulating that people could live in tents, but only if they applied for a licence and paid a $1 fee. These tents would then be known by health officials and would have to conform to the local health code. In 1912 the Edmonton Bulletin published another survey, counting 2,671 tenters in the City. https://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/edmonton_archives/early-tent-communities

Province seeking feedback on Edmonton and area flood maps

The Alberta government is seeking public input on new flood maps for the North Saskatchewan River in the Edmonton area. The flood study's authors want members of the public to review the maps and review the reports that go with them.

"We'd like to get any technical comments that they have about it," said Jim Choles, a river engineer with Environment and Protected Areas Alberta and the project lead for the study. "There may be errors, or something that needs to be addressed," Choles said. "Public engagement is an integral part of our flood studies."

The draft flood maps are an update to existing flood mapping. Studies that produced the previous flood maps were done in 1994 and 1995, Choles said, and they were extended to Fort Saskatchewan and Devon in 2007. The provincial survey closes February 12. https://www.alberta.ca/north-saskatchewan-river-flood-study-engagement

Choles said the Edmonton area is not especially vulnerable to flooding. The North Saskatchewan River valley is fairly deep and narrow compared to other areas, and there isn't a great deal of development in the valley. "We do have some, but a lot of it is forested, and so we don't find that there's a lot of areas that can be flooded," Choles said. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-draft-flood-maps-1.7075697

Bohemian waxwings meet their Waterloo

Louisa Bruinsma photo

Louisa writes “We had hundreds of Bohemian waxwings visit our home, Jan 13. Unfortunately, some of them weren’t watching where they were going or ate fermented mountain ash berries. Not sure, but they met their Waterloo by hitting our window. Usually, we have 1 or 2 fatalities by our west facing front window, but this one was massive. 

They hit at one time because I heard a big bang and thought something had fallen over in the house. My husband made little cones for them and put them in the freezer. They will find their resting place with Darcy Visscher at King’s University, who will have his students make study skins from them.”

Amiskwaciw Waskayhkan Ihtawin by Destiny Swidersk, Michael Phair Park

https://www.edmontonarts.ca/public-art/amiskwaciw-waskayhkan-ihtawin

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