A skating trail in Rossdale
I heard about a great 2.5 km skating trail in Etobicoke (Toronto) - it is shaped like a figure 8. It looks like great fun, and I thought that a similar trail around the repurposed Rossdale plant would be fantastic.
What would make you fall in love with winter in Edmonton? We already have several great winter festivals and lots of outdoor activities. But we want to build on these and transform Edmonton into a world leading winter city; one where urban design reflects our northern climate, where snow and ice are used as resources and where public spaces are vibrant, inviting and comfortable places to be even on cold days.
I heard about a great 2.5 km skating trail in Etobicoke (Toronto) - it is shaped like a figure 8. It looks like great fun, and I thought that a similar trail around the repurposed Rossdale plant would be fantastic.
Create and groom cross country ski trails throughout the river valley for recreation and commuting. The trails can be anchored by 'warm up' shacks and open community fire pits. These warm up shacks can be fixed assets that also offer services in the summer (bike rentals, ice cream...)
I love the idea of having lots of fabulous winter activities for Edmontonians and visitors. However, we need to have a comprehensive strategy for cleaning snow off the sidewalks. We want moms with stollers, people with mobility challenges and seniors who are afraid of falling to be able get out of their homes so that they can attend these events and participate in community life. Let's make our city as safe as possible ...more »
I love the idea of having lots of fabulous winter activities for Edmontonians and visitors. However, we need to have a comprehensive strategy for cleaning snow off the sidewalks. We want moms with stollers, people with mobility challenges and seniors who are afraid of falling to be able get out of their homes so that they can attend these events and participate in community life. Let's make our city as safe as possible for everyone in Winter!
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Lets open up an outdoor pool, like the Jasper Park Lodge, for some swimming during the winter months.
We have small children and they always climb the snow mounds where snow has been piled up next to parking lots/rinks/trails. I have noticed many other children do the same as well, and, they do spend hours climbing, sliding and jumping about on them. Maybe there is an opportunity to create snow hill mounds in various parks, Churchill Sq. for kids to play on. It would be an easy, unstructured playing opportunity with ...more »
We have small children and they always climb the snow mounds where snow has been piled up next to parking lots/rinks/trails. I have noticed many other children do the same as well, and, they do spend hours climbing, sliding and jumping about on them.
Maybe there is an opportunity to create snow hill mounds in various parks, Churchill Sq. for kids to play on. It would be an easy, unstructured playing opportunity with minimal investment. Churchill square could benefit as it would entertain the kids and draw familiesin. a thought anyway
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A lot of European cities host outdoor Christmas markets in the winter with traditional Christmas foods, hand made gifts, communal areas (e.g. bonfires/ licensed venues) and entertainment/ activities. I think an Edmonton version of this in Churchill Square would provide a much needed kick off to celebrate winter outside and downtown in the heart of Edmonton at this time of year - even if just for the business lunch crowd. ...more »
A lot of European cities host outdoor Christmas markets in the winter with traditional Christmas foods, hand made gifts, communal areas (e.g. bonfires/ licensed venues) and entertainment/ activities. I think an Edmonton version of this in Churchill Square would provide a much needed kick off to celebrate winter outside and downtown in the heart of Edmonton at this time of year - even if just for the business lunch crowd.
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Allow and encourage an ice bar festival/week where bars can create an outdoor ice bar and have an outdoor patio area to enjoy the ice drinks on.
I don't know the exact title, but i'd love to see the Red Bull Crashed Ice race here. It's currently operated in Quebec City, i believe, and it involves a downhill ice race course, with individuals competing against one another for time. We could start it at the top of the river valley, with the race concluding at river level. It draws huge crowds, is nationally/internationally marketed, and would be a huge draw!
The recent Alberta Ave winter festival closed off the street for street hockey and was very successful. Could we close a portion of a downtown street that has no through access or could be closed with no real negative effect on traffic flow (e.g. portion of 102 Street N of Jasper, etc) for similar activities during the week? A week or two. Maybe even flood portions of it to get outdoor ice. There are 1000's of workers ...more »
The recent Alberta Ave winter festival closed off the street for street hockey and was very successful.
Could we close a portion of a downtown street that has no through access or could be closed with no real negative effect on traffic flow (e.g. portion of 102 Street N of Jasper, etc) for similar activities during the week? A week or two. Maybe even flood portions of it to get outdoor ice. There are 1000's of workers in the downtown, you only need a few to use it regularly, especially over the lunch hour to make a go of it. Provide nets, simple barriers...
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Sidewalks & Public spaces - We need to pay more attention to creating inviting, public pedestrian streets and places downtown that are inviting, safe, and attractive for businesses and people. Generous sidewalks, attractive street elements, and attention paid to pedestrian crossings at intersections. Patios - Encourage restaurants and pubs to have patios year-round, including heat lamps and blankets for patrons. Allow ...more »
Sidewalks & Public spaces - We need to pay more attention to creating inviting, public pedestrian streets and places downtown that are inviting, safe, and attractive for businesses and people. Generous sidewalks, attractive street elements, and attention paid to pedestrian crossings at intersections.
Patios - Encourage restaurants and pubs to have patios year-round, including heat lamps and blankets for patrons. Allow mulled wine to be served by vendors in designated corners.
In effect, putting more money in to the pedestrian street realm using good urban planning 'best practices' will go a long way to encouraging winter activity on the streets downtown!
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We should encourage tin can curling, or promote a curling bonspiel like the corporate challenge in order to create a more 'community' event in the downtown using the plaza behind the Library.
a winter aboriginal/ fur trade based outside event. Events could be things like: making a fire and boil some tea (a race) , snow shoe races, tall tales, round dance, orienteering, snow sculptures, snow soccer (Inuit used to play under the northern lights with a skin ball), snow angel comp....there is no end to the possibilities. It will bridge the urban aboriginal affairs committee with Edmontonians and build understanding! ...more »
a winter aboriginal/ fur trade based outside event. Events could be things like: making a fire and boil some tea (a race) , snow shoe races, tall tales, round dance, orienteering, snow sculptures, snow soccer (Inuit used to play under the northern lights with a skin ball), snow angel comp....there is no end to the possibilities. It will bridge the urban aboriginal affairs committee with Edmontonians and build understanding!
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Just like we do with our homes, have businesses and office towers compete by lighting up their entrances/street fronts for Dec/Jan. Not necessarily a Xmas theme or style, but perhaps in a more artistic or creative manner to help illuminate our darkest months.
I’ve always thought that this city needs to properly celebrate its first nations heritage. My idea would see a large festival, a massive central teepee city, and presentations by indigenous thought leaders from around the World. Think TedX meets Heritage Days, housed in warmed but winter styled event facilities in Churchill Square, Fort Edmonton and the Rossdale lands. Include local educational aspects for school children, ...more »
I’ve always thought that this city needs to properly celebrate its first nations heritage. My idea would see a large festival, a massive central teepee city, and presentations by indigenous thought leaders from around the World. Think TedX meets Heritage Days, housed in warmed but winter styled event facilities in Churchill Square, Fort Edmonton and the Rossdale lands.
Include local educational aspects for school children, food and culture celebrations, and top it off with a large sponsored awards program, which recognizes successful aboriginal thought leaders, community leaders, entrepreneurs and artists.
Let’s give the urban aboriginal population a reason to be proud of Edmonton, and where they fit in our history. Let’s show the World how we can celebrate diversity as part of the fabric of our city.
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Open up the campground near Snow Valley for winter camping. Teach winter camping classes and encourage people to experience sleeping outside in the winter.
Host a winter bike ride that includes a friendly competition for the best lighting decoration of the bikes
At certain spaced intervals along the most popular river valley trails, let vendors sell hot apple cider, hot chocolate, or other non alcoholic hot beverages to river valley hikers, walkers, snowshoers, cross country skiers, etc.
I often hike in the river valley during the winter and have always wished I could get a hot drink to
warm me up halfway through my hike instead of always having to bring my own beverage.
The city is working on new neighbourhood guidelines. On pg 19 of the Winter City report it notes: "The City of Oslo acknowledges that planning for snow removal must happen as early as the road design phase; roads need to be designed to have somewhere for the snow to go without affecting traffic flow. One of the most effective ways to plan for this is to include boulevards between roadways and sidewalks." Edmonton’s ...more »
The city is working on new neighbourhood guidelines. On pg 19 of the Winter City report it notes: "The City of Oslo acknowledges that planning for snow removal must happen as early as the road design phase; roads need to be designed to have somewhere for the snow to go without affecting traffic flow. One of the most effective ways to plan for this is to include boulevards between roadways and sidewalks."
Edmonton’s new neighbourhood guidelines should limit developer’s use of cul de sacs and should get back to developing roadways with boulevards like in the mature neighbourhoods of Edmonton.
For one, his would limit the impassable windrows left along and at the end of sidewalks.
Making Edmonton more walkable year round begins with the infrastructure we have to work with.
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I propose that we follow in Ottawa and Winnipeg's footsteps and build a large and long skating rink down the North Saskatchewan River.
We don't need to try to break the world record but we could make a massive skating rink that thousands could enjoy. There could be live music, food vendors, and warm up shacks/change rooms along the way for those cold days.
Organize a city wide competition to see which neighbourhood has the best snow man art. One option is teams can compete localy one day and the best from each neighbourhood can compete for winter winner award. Another option is to expand the competition to other winter activities.
Challenge our great restaurants to create seasonal, local dishes/menus for a month a la Fork Festival.
Dance Party in your one-piece Ski Suit? Already hosted in Montreal - This should come to Edmonton. We have the promoters to do it and already attract big name DJs / Electronic Artists! IglooFest: "You are invited to the kingdom of the igloo where you are promised the best artists of the electronic scene, a unique and compelling architectural scenography, a hilarious contest snowsuit "one piece" and an electrifying atmosphere ...more »
Dance Party in your one-piece Ski Suit? Already hosted in Montreal - This should come to Edmonton. We have the promoters to do it and already attract big name DJs / Electronic Artists!
IglooFest:
"You are invited to the kingdom of the igloo where you are promised the best artists of the electronic scene, a unique and compelling architectural scenography, a hilarious contest snowsuit "one piece" and an electrifying atmosphere that will surely generate the hottest nights of winter!"
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Too often when images or designs for capital projects like new buildings, roads, bridges, transit stations, etc., are shared, they do not include a winter scene. I'd love to see us require that all such projects include both summer and winter renderings!
If any city can do an ice hotel it is Edmonton. We are famouse for our winters. This could be a tourist attraction and could coincide with other winter festivals and events.
Summer food trucks are amazing, seasonal treats. It would be equally fabulous to have trucks kitted out with chili, hot chocolate, spicy ethnic wonders...
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