River Valley News - Mar 13/25

Balancing development with protecting historical and cultural landscapes

In June 1915, Edmonton faced a devastating flood. The North Saskatchewan River swelled by 13 metres, engulfing businesses and homes, marking a pivotal moment in the city's history. Before this catastrophe, the river's edge was dominated by industry, far from the recreational haven it is today.

Recognizing the need for change, the city enlisted Frederick Gage Todd to envision a park space that would meet the future needs of its citizens. Todd's vision transcended mere urban planning as it was a call to preserve and cherish the natural beauty of the river valley for generations.

The flood served as a critical wake-up call. Embracing Todd's vision, the Government of Alberta established the River Valley Park System, transforming Edmonton's urban landscape into a vibrant ribbon of green. Today, the park system is now 22 times the size of New York's Central Park.

However, the creation of the River Valley Park System had unintended consequences. The 1915 flood and subsequent developments initially left the historic Rossdale Fort Cemetery and Traditional Indigenous Burial Ground unprotected. These sites, integral to our collective heritage, were overlooked in the wake of progress.

Acknowledging this oversight in the River Valley Park System expansion is crucial as it reminds us of the need to balance development with the protection of our historical and cultural landscapes. https://www.edmontoncommonwealthwalkway.com/river/the-great-flood-of-1915

Male and female belted kingfishers both fierce protectors of their nests

Jeffrey Gammon photo

The belted kingfisher (megaceryle alcyon) is a large, conspicuous water kingfisher, native to North America. It is a stocky, medium-sized bird that measures between 28–35 cm (11–14 in) in length with a wingspan of between 48–58 cm (19–23 in). The adult female averages slightly larger than the adult male and is more brightly coloured. This means that the kingfisher shows reverse sexual dimorphism.

The bird is often seen perched prominently on trees, posts, or other suitable watchpoints close to water before plunging in headfirst after its fish prey. It also eats amphibians, molluscs, small crustaceans, insects, small mammals, small birds, reptiles and berries. While flying about its habitat, the kingfisher frequently emits a characteristic rattling call. Accordingly, a small group of belted kingfishers is known as a rattle, concentration, or kerfuffle.

A fun fact about this bird is that it nests in a horizontal tunnel made in a riverbank or sand bank and excavated by both parents. The female lays five to eight eggs and both adults share the task of incubating the eggs and feeding the young. During the breeding season, males may also exhibit a strong degree of territoriality in the immediate vicinity of their nest, chasing away other birds and predators alike. https://inaturalist.ca/taxa/2548-Megaceryle-alcyon

Rossdale rezoning, renewal, and green economy projects need your input

The city is offering some opportunities to inform municipal decisions about rezoning applications, renewals, and economic growth. Please only answer surveys from the municipality where you live.

The first opportunity to inform municipal decisions relates to the Rossdale Centre Rezoning. The City of Edmonton is considering an application to rezone the Rossdale Brewery area, along 100 Street NW between 98 Avenue NW and Rossdale Road NW. If approved, the application would preserve the Rossdale Brewery while allowing development around it, including up to 17-storey buildings and up to 490 dwellings. Residents can contribute to a discussion board until March 16.

The second opportunity has to do with the Rossdale Neighbourhood Renewal. The City of Edmonton is planning a renewal of Rossdale, including roads, sidewalks, and lights. Residents can let planners know how they move around and experience Rossdale by completing an online survey until March 23.

The final one is in regard to a Green Industries Questionnaire. The City of Edmonton seeks feedback from businesses that contribute to the local green economy, which will be used to understand the state of that economy and how the city can support growth. This survey will be open until April 30.

Links to the respective surveys here https://edmonton.taproot.news/briefs/2025/03/06/calls-for-public-engagement-rossdale-rezoning-renewal-green-economy

March 6 Issue

Julia shares “Love the artwork.”

Random Thoughts Passing Scene by Jesse Sherburne, ETS Centennial Garage https://www.edmontonarts.ca/public-art/random-thoughts-passing-scene

Comment or Contributions

Please note articles may not reflect the position of NSRVCS. River Valley News is meant to be a clearinghouse for the variety of opinions and ideas about Edmonton’s River Valley.

Email river valley photos, event information, comments, or questions to nsrivervalley@gmail.com

Forward this link to anyone you think may want to sign up for this newsletter https://www.edmontonrivervalley.org/newsletter-signup

River Valley News - Mar 6/25

Old Strathcona valued for its architectural richness and historical integrity

Karen Wall sketch

Prior to its amalgamation with Edmonton in 1912, Strathcona existed as a separate community on the south side of the river. It was incorporated as a town in 1899 and as a city in 1907. Following amalgamation, Edmonton’s commercial development overtook Strathcona’s, and this slow-down in economic growth served as a factor in the preservation of Strathcona’s historic buildings. The area also became known as Old Strathcona. 

The Old Strathcona Provincial Historic Area was designated in 2007. The area covers approximately five city blocks from 85 Avenue south to 80 Avenue and from 102 Street west to 106 Street. Early construction was wood-frame such as with the Strathcona Hotel and the Orange Hall. However, due to the devastation of many prairie communities by fire, in 1902 the Town Council passed a bylaw mandating the construction of non-wood buildings, many of which were then built of brick.

The heritage value of Old Strathcona lies in its pre-World War I commercial and social development. Its architectural richness and the integrity of its historic buildings is unlike most other areas of Edmonton. Some of the historic buildings in the area include the Strathcona Hotel, the Crawford Block, the Dominion Hotel, etc. https://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/edmonton_archives/strathcona-neighbourhood

Firefighters urge Edmontonians to keep pets leashed near embankments

EFRS photo

On Monday February 24, a dog was separated from its owner and wandered too close to a steep edge along the river valley. The dog went down the embankment and ended up stuck in a spot its owners couldn’t safely get to. The owners called Edmonton Fire Rescue Services for help.

The Technical Rescue Team responsible for bringing the dog back to safety— firefighters trained in high-angle, confined space and water rescues –said that calling for help in this situation was the right thing to do because of how steep and close to the water the embankment was.

Pet owners are encouraged to keep their animals leashed near embankments and on low-lying trails near water, especially during freeze-thaw cycles. “If a pet becomes unreachable down an embankment or falls through ice, call 9-1-1,” a spokesperson for Edmonton Fire told CTV News Edmonton. “Do not attempt to rescue them yourself.”

The same advice applies to bystanders who see animals or people fall through the ice or get stuck near rivers, stormwater ponds, drainage outfalls and other bodies of water. https://www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/article/dog-rescued-after-falling-down-river-valley-embankment-pet-owners-reminded-to-be-cautious/

‘Land Use Podcast’ highlights impact of golf courses on the river valley

Land Use Podcast is home to discussion on a wide range of land use issues affecting public policy. If you’re a landowner, planner, public official, conservationist, or involved in industry, then is podcast was made for you.

The podcast is a part of the Alberta Land Institute, which is based out of the University of Alberta’s north campus. The independent research institute funds and conducts land-use related research in order to provide tools for land users and policy makers to balance all the competing interests for Alberta's land base. The institute’s specific areas of interest include ecosystem services markets, sustainable agriculture, soil health, and land use, resilience and environmental risk.

On December 3, 2024, the podcast released an episode that covers golf courses as land use in Edmonton’s River valley. University of Alberta’s Arshdeep Kaur and Damian Collins explore if these exclusive green spaces are the best use of the land in the river valley. They also delve into how golf courses intersect with biodiversity preservation and water conservation. You can listen to the full podcast on Spotify. https://www.ualberta.ca/en/alberta-land-institute/resources/land-use-podcast.html

“There is a river…” a poem by B. Plante

Lori Frank art

Below is a poem about Edmonton and the river valley written by B. Plante. It is featured on PoemCatcher: Visions in the web. This site was put together by Edmonton’s 4th Poet Laureate, Anna Marie Sewell, and is meant to celebrate the poetic voice of Edmonton.

“There is a river …”

Reverse dialysis

Columbia Icefield’s glacial melting

pure, fresh, cold

assumes the character of the towns

it flows through.

Entering Edmonton, it defines us.

Murky sediment – friction’s evidence

it carves out a green oasis.

Cleansed again it is pumped through pipe and falls.

A High Level waterfall

delights and arouses the heart.

Enjoy more poems about Edmonton and the river valley here https://webofvisions.wordpress.com/miscellany/

City moves forward with building first nordic spa near river valley

Eric says “When one councillor asked the developer why he didn’t want a top of bank walkway so the public could enjoy the spectacular views of the valley, the developer said he didn’t want any noise made by them to disturb his customers, who were expecting quiet as part of their spa experience. The CBC article isn’t that great.”

WALKWAYS by Derek Besant, The Quarters Armature https://www.edmontonarts.ca/public-art/walkways

Comment or Contributions

Please note articles may not reflect the position of NSRVCS. River Valley News is meant to be a clearinghouse for the variety of opinions and ideas about Edmonton’s River Valley.

Email river valley photos, event information, comments, or questions to nsrivervalley@gmail.com

Forward this link to anyone you think may want to sign up for this newsletter https://www.edmontonrivervalley.org/newsletter-signup

River Valley News - Feb 27/25

Forced labour used as a moral good in Alberta penitentiary

McDermid Studio photo

The Alberta Penitentiary operated on Edmonton’s River Lot 20 from 1906 to 1920, where Clarke Stadium is today. It was the first federal prison in Alberta.

Theft was the most common crime prisoners were charged with, followed by manslaughter and murder. Prisoners were not allowed to speak while in their cells. They were called by number instead of their name and were often punished during their prison sentence. A bread and water diet was one common punishment. A constant in prisoners’ lives was hard labour.

Forced labour was built into the Canadian prison system. Newspaper stories and government reports framed prisoners as unproductive and immoral people. Forced labour was a way that prison officials wanted to “correct” them. This labour was used to make many products which were sold to farmers, industry, or back to the government. Indeed, penitentiary buildings across Canada were built by prisoners themselves.

Farming was another form of forced labour. Many prisoners also worked in the prison’s coal mine. While not all prisoners were put to work in the farm or coal mine, they all had some type of job. Brick making, carpentry, blacksmithing, and stone-breaking were all common tasks.

The injustices of prison labour in Edmonton did not end when the Alberta Penitentiary closed in 1920. In 2025, Edmonton has one of the highest concentrations of prisons among major cities in Canada. In their great book, Solidarity beyond bars: Unionizing prison labour, Jordan House and Asaf Rashid argue that work as a moral good, and a way to produce profit, are still key ideologies behind the Canadian prison system. https://citymuseumedmonton.ca/2025/02/25/hard-times-in-the-alberta-penitentiary-1906-1920/

City moves forward with building first nordic spa near river valley

After weighing the pros and cons of allowing a nordic spa to be built in southwest Edmonton, city councillors voted unanimously to pass a rezoning application for the project on Monday, allowing it to go forward. Scandinave Group Inc. has proposed building Edmonton’s first nordic spa in Brander Gardens, right beside the river valley, on land owned by the University of Alberta Properties Trust. 

Steve Arsenault, the company's president and CEO, said the project will include saunas, steam baths, cold plunges and outdoor relaxation areas, among other features. He said the spa will enhance Edmonton's reputation as a wellness destination and bring investment dollars, jobs and tourism revenue to the city.

Also speaking in support of the project, Melissa Radu, the executive director of destination stewardship with the marketing organization Explore Edmonton, said the spa would help businesses attract visitors during the slower winter and shoulder seasons. She said wellness tourists spend more than other visitors, directly benefiting local businesses.

Some critics told councillors the project would harm the environment and questioned how a private facility would benefit the public. "This will destroy, despite the rhetoric, the rich biodiversity on the property," said Ramsay Heights resident Gloria Michalchuk. Opposing speakers also brought up concerns about consultation with First Nations and the desire for a public walkway on the top of the bank, overlooking the river. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/nordic-spa-rezoning-passed-1.7467512

This debate for the official city bird will be one for the ages, don’t miss it!

On Saturday March 8, join Bird Friendly Edmonton and the Edmonton Valley Zoo for a battle of laughs and likely very many bird puns. The ‘City Bird Debate for the Skies’ will take place at the Otter Room, Edmonton Valley Zoo Plaza. The event goes from 6:00pm to 7:00pm, and doors open at 5:45pm.

Moderated by Belinda Cornish, an Edmonton based award-winning playwright, this event is bound to be a lively debate of sharply crafted comedic arguments and humorous avian related ad libs. Three passionate bird enthusiasts will be debating for who they think should be the top bird in the Edmonton City Bird Vote. 

The format will be part debate and part comedy competition, with the audience picking the winner of the evening. Who will the audience choose as the night's winner? The clever and bold Black-billed magpie? The gentle and shy Boreal Chickadee? Or will it be the regal Blue Jay?  

Audience members are encouraged to come ready for fun and dress up as one of the final three city birds with a costume. Or if not a full-blown costume, "Disney bounding" but for birds is strongly encouraged. https://buildingourzoo.ticketspice.com/city-bird-debate-at-the-edmonton-valley-zoo

Heart Beat of a Nation by Brad Crowfoot, City Hall https://www.edmontonarts.ca/public-art/heart-beat-of-a-nation

Comment or Contributions

Please note articles may not reflect the position of NSRVCS. River Valley News is meant to be a clearinghouse for the variety of opinions and ideas about Edmonton’s River Valley.

Email river valley photos, event information, comments, or questions to nsrivervalley@gmail.com

Forward this link to anyone you think may want to sign up for this newsletter https://www.edmontonrivervalley.org/newsletter-signup