Old Strathcona Area Community Council Meeting Notes — May 2011

Submitted by Nona German, QACL Rep on OSACC

Reminder: www.oldstrathcona.ca Many area activities are noted on this site!

OSBA: Old Strathcona Business Association: Will have Facebook and Twitter.  OSBA is looking for event bloggers (500 words), photos, etc.  Contact OSBA:  http://oldstrathcona.ca  sign up for their community newsletter.

Alberta Downtown Conference — Red Deer May 11, 2011:  Shirley Lowe from OSBA to attend. 
Silly Summer Parade — July 1
SOS Fair – mid-July
Whyte Avenue Closures — There will be periodic closures of portions of Whyte Avenue to accommodate summer activities. Again, see website:  www.oldstrathcona.ca

Scona Road Project — ROAD NOW CLOSED until Dec 31.  See the City Website for details.  http://www.edmonton.ca/transportation/roads_traffic/scona-road-widening-and-99-street-rehabilitation.aspx

• Death by Chocolate:  Is going to change to a Dairy Queen.
• B’s Diner will move to the building between Fountain Tire and the Glass Shop. Needs Renovations; addition of kitchen facilities.
• Palomar Building (2nd Cup): 1950’s building. Upcoming renovations to reflect this era.
• Chapman Bros Bldg: (Le Château): Renovations planned.
• Richards Block :  $1 million renovations inside and out.  Top 2 floors residential; bottom commercial.
• Tipton Block: to become a Donair Shop.  OSBA challenging the permits as it is felt the area has enough Donair (& Donair type food places).

Old Strathcona Clean Team:  Cleaners are hired through Boyle Street. Future funding might be an issue. Community Leagues? Participation in a cooperative venture to help keep our area clean of the weekend clutter?

By-Law Officer:  Kayla Tipton is new to a By-Law position in our area.  

Edmonton Moravian Church:  Programs suspending for the summer:  Single parents evening, bi monthly soup nights, Wednesday canteen.  They have a number of programs. See their website for details:  http://www.edmontonmoravian.com/

Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton: News and Events:  http://www.caedm.ca/sj/news-events

Holy Trinity Church: has a new Minister:  Christopher Pappas (sp?)

Boyle Street:  http://boylestreet.org/ Many community programs.  

• Identification Bank:  collaboration between United Way and Homeless Commission.  Space being secured at Boyle Street to store identification.  Job description being posted.  A one year pilot project. To start in June 2011.
• Education Program:  Through Sunchild E-Learning.  On line numeracy and literacy courses offered.  22 weeks long.  60% success rate thus far.

Outreach in Old Strathcona/River Valley has connected with a number of new individuals.  More folks are moving into the Whyte Avenue area as summer approaches. With the closing of the van service; there are more concerns about hygiene and clean socks for our homeless residents. Outreach workers are carrying socks with them.

HOMELESS CONNECT:  http://www.homelessconnect.ca/       SUNDAY MAY 15
Homeless Connect is a community event bringing together agencies, businesses and volunteers, on one day and at one location, to provide a range of services which can help homeless people out of homelessness.

Strathcona Library: http://www.epl.ca/about-epl/branches-and-hours/strathcona-branch.  

Summer programs are listed on their site.
**TBA:  Outdoor Reading Room – there is a need for volunteers.  Stay Tuned.
June 16:  2:00pm – 5:00pm Seniors Tea in honour of ‘Seniors Week’
June 27:  6:00 – 8:00pm  Multicultural Café hosted by migrant workers and new immigrant group
Mobile Lab will be available for teens to learn computers & applications

Armoury:  Numbers are steady.  Community Complaints ?  Call: 780-468-7070 ext. 304/305.  It is not a drop in centre as there are mandatory structured workshops the youth under age 21 have to participate in.

Youth Basketball:  Wednesdays 6:00-7:30 Strathcona Baptist Church.  Moving to outside courts soon at Old Scona School.

City of Edmonton:  many programs.  See website:  http://www.edmonton.ca/

• Panhandling Program:  Have a Heart; Give Smart will be up and running again.
• Tipton Park:  Retrofit of the wading pool is coming up.  Tipton Arena:  may close.  Looking at having a community picnic to discuss options for the park.
• Grant Program – application deadline June 15.  $2,500 grants (5 on south side; 10 in other parts of city)
  *must be cooperative ventures with other community groups/members.  Last year 15 groups on the south side received funds through this program.
• Capital City Clean-up:  http://www.edmonton.ca/environmental/capital-city-clean-up.aspx
  GET INVOLVED!

TRANSIT PILOT PROJECT:  starting September long-weekend through end of November.  The intent of this project is to stop the late night revelers from traipsing through our neighborhoods.  Project is on a $25,000 budget.  There will be a bus each 12 minutes.

Integrated Transit Pilot Project.    From 01:30 – 03:30 (am) there will be a bus leaving 103rd Street and Whyte Avenue.  It will do a route of stops North on 109th to 87 Av and go west to Lister Hall.  Then it goes South on 114th to 76th Avenue.  Then East on 76th Avenue to 109th Street.  Then South on 109th Street to 61 Avenue.  It will veer over 111th to Southgate where there will be a “manned” taxi stand.

Edmonton Police:  Theft from automobiles -- very common.  Crime reduction programs always going on.

Garneau Community League:  see website for program information.  http://www.garneaucommunity.org/index.php/subpage/category/the_community_league/
AGM is May 11, 2011

Queen Alexandra Community League:  see website for program information.
http://www.qacl.ca/
AGM is May 31, 2011

Strathcona Community League:  see website for program information.
http://www.strathconacommunity.ca/
AGM was held May 9, 2011

Walking Map of Interest FYI:  www.edmonton.ca/transportation/21896_Walkable_Strathcona1.pdf