Winter City Strategy
Going to Council tomorrow.
Background http://www.edmonton.ca/city_governme...-strategy.aspx http://sirepub.edmonton.ca/sirepub/c...2042449752.PDF WinterCity Strategy - For the Love of Winter: Strategy for Transforming Edmonton into a World-Leading Winter City Recommendation: That Community Services Committee recommend to City Council: 1. That Attachment 1 the October 23, 2012, Community Services report 2012CSS015, outlining the WinterCity Strategy, be received for information. 2. That Administration work collaboratively with key partners and stakeholders on a detailed implementation plan for the WinterCity Strategy. Report Summary This report provides an overview of the WinterCity Strategy which is a community-led initiative that has been developed by the WinterCity Think Tank. The strategy sets direction to transform Edmonton into a world leading winter city and to encourage citizens to embrace and engage in winter. Report Background • The WinterCity Strategy is the result of a nearly year-long consultative process that was creative, diverse and broad in its reach. It is built from the ground up, reflecting local assets and issues, and telling Edmonton’s unique winter story. • In November 2011, a WinterCity Think Tank made up of community leaders (volunteers) was formed to lead the development of this strategy. • Embracing winter offers new opportunities: economically, socially and culturally. By adopting the WinterCity Strategy, Edmonton’s liveability and capacity to grow and advance the local economy are improved. While all ten strategy goals speak directly to winter, their implementation will positively impact the quality of life in the city year- round. • The strategy touches on many areas and it is also as much about shifting Edmonton’s culture as it is about changing the way we plan, program, develop and redevelop the city. Strategy Goals: • The strategy identifies ten goals, each with a number of associated action items to be implemented (Attachment 1). The ten goals are divided into four themes or pillars as follows: Pillar A: Winter Life Goal 1 – Make it Easier to “Go Play Outside”: Provide More Opportunities for Outdoor Activity Goal 2 – Improve Winter Transportation for Pedestrians, Cyclists and Public Transit Users Pillar B: Winter Design Goal 3 – Design Our Communities for Winter Safety and Comfort Goal 4 – Incorporate Urban Design Elements for Winter Fun, Activity, Beauty and Interest Pillar C: Winter Economy Goal 5 – Increase the Capacity and Sustainability of Edmonton’s Winter Festivals 4 Goal 6 – Develop a Four-Seasons Patio Culture Goal 7 – Become a World Leader in Innovative Winter Related Business/Industry Pillar D: Our Winter Story Goal 8 – Celebrate the Season and Embrace Daily Living in a Cold Climate Goal 9 – Promote Edmonton’s Great Northern Story, Locally, Nationally and Internationally Goal 10 – Kick Start and Lead Implementation of Edmonton’s Northern City Strategy: Apply a Winter Lens to our City Current City Actions: • From the City’s standpoint, much work is already underway contributing to the goals of creating a world-leading winter city. These include, but are not limited to: 1. Providing many opportunities for winter recreation in the city. 2. Supporting several successful winter festivals with the Edmonton Arts Council. 3. Making significant improvements to snow removal practices. 4. Examining and considering changes to the regulations for outdoor patios. Next Steps: • The strategy offers a bold vision and has built momentum in the community. Edmonton is poised to become a truly great northern city, but will require sustained effort to realize its full potential as a world- leading winter city. • Pending support of City Council, the next step is to begin work on a detailed implementation plan. • To achieve the culture change envisioned, implementation needs to involve key partners including the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation, the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues, the winter festival producers, local businesses, the media, thought leaders, not-for-profit and community groups, and individual citizens. • For many of the actions contained in the strategy, the recommended leads are either a WinterCity Advisory Council and/or a WinterCity Coordinator. The coordinator would take the lead in developing the detailed implementation plan, would liaise with others regarding the community projects that are quick wins, and generally focus on overall delivery of implementation plans. Policy • The WinterCity Strategy is directly referenced in The Way We Live. Strategic Policy Direction (5.2.5) which states that the City of Edmonton “promotes and celebrates winter and Edmonton’s status as a winter city”. • The WinterCity Strategy aligns with all of the six goals of The Way We Live that envision Edmonton as a vibrant, connected, engaged and welcoming community, as well as a safe and attractive city. These are all directly connected to the goals of the WinterCity Strategy. Corporate Outcomes • Transforming Edmonton’s Urban Form dmonton into a World-Leading Winter City • Improving Edmonton’s Livability • Shifting Edmonton’s Transportation Mode • Ensuring Edmonton’s Financial Sustainability • Diversifying Edmonton’s Economy • Preserving and Sustaining Edmonton’s Environment Public Consultation • Through the work of a WinterCity Think Tank, a comprehensive public consultation process reached out to over 700 people in various creative ways, and has informed the Think Tank’s deliberations in developing the ten goals. • The multi-faceted consultation helped to lay the groundwork for implementation. The discussions that occurred were an important part of beginning to shift the city’s winter culture, and have generated energy and momentum. Budget/Financial Implications • Implementation of many of the action items in the strategy requires operating and/or capital budget dollars. These specific amounts will be identified and prioritized as a part of the work on the detailed implementation plan and in conjunction with the budget process. • Administration has submitted an unfunded service package for 2013 ($362,000) to deliver on specific foundational components of the WinterCity Strategy including: 1. the creation of a WinterCity Advisory Council to champion, lead and oversee implementation of the strategy 2. a WinterCity Coordinator to support the work of the Advisory Council 3. a variety of WinterCity community projects including City Hall free skate, neighbourhood and community league creative projects/events/workshops, public education initiatives to inform and educate people about winter life in the city (social media, winter mentor program, website, host "lunch and learns") • Support for this service package would help to protect the investment to-date and ensure the successful implementation of the strategy. Justification of Recommendation 1. The report demonstrates City Council’s commitment to transforming Edmonton into a world-leading winter city. 2. Approval of the recommendation will enable Administration to determine the timelines and resources to achieve the goals and work collaboratively with other key partners and stakeholders on the implementation of the WinterCity strategy. Attachments 1. For the Love Of Winter: Strategy for Transforming Edmonton into a World-Leading Winter City – The Report of the WinterCity Think Tank 2. Edmonton WinterCity Strategy Consultation Summary Others Reviewing this Report • D. H. Edey, General Manager, Corporate Services |
Soooo...what are 3 things we will/likely come to fruition from all of this effort?
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Not 3, dozens
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I think it is great to see this strategy being proposed because Edmonton is a winter city . Often times i go to bed thinking what can be done to improve life in Edmonton as a winter city. Maybe on 104Th street we could have a winter outdoor market on weekends . Perhaps if there are some green houses in Edmonton that can grow fruit and vegetables they could sell them in the winter on 104Th street. I know that when i move my bussiness back to Edmonton that i would go to a farmers market in the wintertime to buy fresh vegatables.
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^The City Market moves into City Hall during the winter...although selection isn't quite as good and I am not sure what they have for produce.
I agree an outdoor winter market would be great, something like the markets they have in European cities for Christmas.. serve hot spiced wine and other wintery drinks on patios.. Lots of people (me included) say that Edmonton is a great place to be over the summer and boring for the other 7 months of the year... great to see some action being taken to make Edmonton better all year :) |
My suggestion...Fur hats are awesome and everbody would be much more happy outside in winter if they were wearing one.
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LOL... "4 season patio culture"... this things' got Ians' stank all over it!! :P
But... in this environment, I hope the initiative can drive some good policy I think fur hats are a fantastic idea. Big, Russian ones. |
'LOL... "4 season patio culture"... this things' got Ians' stank all over it!! '
I was a participant on the think tank/stakeholder group on behalf of DECL and this was part of the area I was tasked with. I am quoted in the guideline book:) Section 6. |
Quote:
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^We do... typically in mid November. No booze though, that would be irresponsible and fun.
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What a great idea I'm all for this. Hope a wintercity council is formed that will actually make an impact and not just forgotten about in a couple years.
If I had the money, my dream business plan is to open a mostly glass enclosed cafe by day lounge by night. Where the inside is completely decorated like an outdoor patio down to stone floors and whatnot. And most of the glass is retractable and stored for the summer. I don't know if this would make any sense financially, but I'm not in the position to think it that far. Hopefully one day I'll be able to give it more thought. |
HOORAY!
Edmonton councillors warm up to the idea of a winter strategy BY GORDON KENT, EDMONTON JOURNAL OCTOBER 23, 2012 1:09 PM 0 STORYPHOTOS ( 2 ) Participants in the 25-km skating marathon race at the 22nd Annual Silver Skate Festival & Winter Celebration held at Hawrelak Park in Edmonton on Saturday, February 18, 2012. Photograph by: Larry Wong , edmontonjournal.com EDMONTON - Councillors gave a big, gloved thumbs-up Tuesday to a winter city strategy encouraging Edmonton residents to embrace their coldest season. “My family is on board,” Coun. Don Iveson told the community services committee, explaining they have skis and are planning an outdoor party in December. The strategy suggests changes to the way the city and its partners approach the season, including how festivals are supported, how the city is marketed, and how roads and neighbourhoods are designed. A volunteer think-tank consulted with the public and came up with a long list of recommendations, including skating through the river valley, taking more risks with snow and ice, and allowing jaywalking across neighbourhood streets. http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...102/story.html |
When one considers that Edmonton has 7 months of winter ,it is time to celebrate it as a time of fun. Maybe we could have an Apple Cider festival every January. We could have alcohol and none alcoholic . Once again 104Th street would be perfect for this kind of festival.
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The bigger goal here is to change attitudes and remind people that there are many free or near free ways to enjoy winter in their backyards, immediate communities and around the city.
Sure we can create some cool new festivals or activities, but we do not need to reinvent the wheel here. |
Want me to like winter? I'm up for a good snowball fight! Let's bring this back:
Edmonton's Snowball Fight Tournament - Yukigassen Edmonton |
This is one of the boards I would like to help steer. As an avid supporter of Edmonton, I want to get more involved in a committee like this or something else.
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Then hop on:)
For more information: Susan Holdsworth Project Manager email = first.last@edmonton.ca Sue is great and will help find a way to get you involved or direct you to where you can. Another good option is through your community league. Feel free to PM me with questions or the like. |
Thanks I'll email her.
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Want more people to like winter? Replace Edmonton's rinky-dink Santa Claus indoor pedway parade with a real honest-to-goodness outdoor parade.
If Winnipeg can have an outdoor Santa parade that has lasted 103 years so can Edmonton. If the DBA wants to stick to the indoor pedway parade, maybe either Old Strathcona or Alberta Ave can step up to the plate? |
^I agree, the parade should outside....
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