Edmonton, I’d like to introduce you to Wade Sorochan. Though chances are you’ve already met. After 30 years interviewing city residents, celebs and politicians on Edmonton’s airwaves, Wade’s become a respected voice and passionate spokesperson for being informed and getting involved in civic affairs.

That’s why we’re happy to welcome him as the new host of Edmonton This Week, our weekly radio show and podcast which starts its new season this Saturday, September 10, on 630 CHED (7:30 am and 6 pm).

I sat down with Wade to chat about his time as a broadcaster in Edmonton and why he thinks Edmonton this Week is an important way for people to stay informed and get involved.

Tell me a little about your time as a broadcaster in Edmonton.

Well, I was born and raised in Edmonton so have been fortunate to spend my whole career here. I started in radio back in 1980 when got my first break on CJCA’s Bill & Bill Show, which was then the top rated talk show in Alberta. I worked for a while behind the scenes then became a feature on the program, nicknamed “The Tone Arm” because of my knowledge of music and how I used music to enhance the show, which at the time was not really done in the talk show industry in North America.

I love talk and information radio and I eventually hosted my own talk show on CJCA called Life Talk With Wade Sorochan, which was similar to The Bill & Bill show in that it was really a two and a half hour free-for-all. We had guests like celebrities and experts, but I really just wanted to let Albertans talk about whatever they wanted to talk about. In the end, the show became very successful as one of Edmonton’s most interactive radio shows.

What are the ingredients for a great interview?

First it comes down to what makes a good interviewer: Someone who is a good listener, who is very inquisitive and knows the subject inside and out. If you have those qualities, your guest  will  feel comfortable responding to the questions and you’ll be prepared for a line of questioning that may arise that you didn’t plan on. You have to always be thinking about what the listener might want to know and try to provide that information through the interview.

What drew you to the City’s Edmonton this Week radio show on CHED?

I’ve always thought the show was a great vehicle for people to learn what’s going on in the city and about the programs and initiatives the City is constantly working to provide.

People don’t get a lot of opportunity to go behind-the-scenes and hear from the people who actually work to make Edmonton a world class city. There’s so much amazing work being done all the time and I think the more people learn, the more they will be proud of their city and the more they’ll get involved.

What do you hope listeners take away from the new season of Edmonton this Week?

They should take away the fact that this city is not stagnant. Especially these days you can almost feel it moving forward like a freight train; moving to be a leader in so many different areas – technology, transportation, economic revitalization. And when you hear that you think: ‘Wow, the City is really doing something for me here.’

When people get complacent I believe it’s because of a lack of knowledge. This show gives you that knowledge of what the City is doing and then hopefully you’ll understand that they’re doing it for you. To make your life better in the city that you live in. I hope we can really get to that this season.

One addition I’m excited for this season is a new chance to provide feedback on topics and suggestions for the show through email. People can get in touch with the show at etw[at]edmonton.ca (replace [at] with @) and let us know what they want to hear more of on the show. We really want the show to be timely with what’s happening this week. Hence, the title “Edmonton this Week” I guess (laughs).

What keeps you living and working in Edmonton after all these years?

I just love this city. Like everyone I gripe about the weather, but you know what? I have so much to be thankful for in Edmonton. My roots are here, my family, and when I look around at the growth and really feel the rhythms of the city there’s amazing things happening all around.

The more I stay informed, the more I really delve into what’s going on in the city, the more I’m invested in it. It becomes more than just a city. It becomes my city. And that’s an important feeling to have. I hope that I can bring some of that passion to my time as the host of Edmonton this Week.

The Edmonton This Week radio show airs every Saturday at 7:30 am and 6:00 pm on 630 CHED.

Edmonton this Week is also available on iTunes

Please leave your thoughts and comments below, or email the show at etw[at]edmonton.ca

Construction of the North LRT to NAIT is well underway. Crews have been working hard during the 2011 construction season, removing buildings, relocating utilities, and, most significantly, relocating roads such as Kingsway.

The project is on schedule to open to public service in April 2014. Obviously there’s lots of work planned between now and then. When the North LRT opens to service it will provide sustainable transportation options to thousands of Edmontonians, but as construction progresses the City and its contractors are always exploring ways to make North LRT construction as sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible.

So far the City has found a few ways to enhance sustainability during construction:

Asphalt and concrete
Asphalt removed from Kingsway and other roadworks is used as dust-free; clean surfacing for construction lay-down areas around the North LRT project. Excess material is recycled at the City’s aggregate recycling facility.

Buildings
The City avoids removing buildings for its capital projects as much as possible, but several buildings had to be removed from the North LRT right-of-way. Whenever feasible, houses are relocated rather than demolished (four houses were saved from the North LRT project). Materials such as wood, brick, concrete, steel and other metals from demolished buildings are recycled. Approximately 90 per cent of material from the removed buildings was retrieved through this process.

Alternative Transportation
A multi-use trail will be built adjacent to the North LRT in accordance with the City’s strategic plans, The Way We Move and The Way We Green. Both plans encourage people to use motor vehicles less and increase use of active modes of transportation (such as cycling, running and walking) and of transit.

Trees
Saving as many trees as possible is part of the City’s mandate. Trees obstructing the LRT right-of-way are relocated as often as possible; trees that can’t be relocated are removed, but the wood from the trees is donated to grade school landscape projects and artworks. Leftover organic material is chipped for use in tree wells throughout Edmonton, or mulched and composted.

Landscape
Extensive landscaping is incorporated into the North LRT design, to add green space and trees to Edmonton’s urban form.

Water
Design of the future MacEwan Station allows rainwater to be collected and used for irrigation.

LRT operation alone accomplishes sustainability initiatives. Once the North LRT to NAIT is in full operation it’s expected to add approximately 13,200 weekday riders to Edmonton’s LRT network.  Ridership will continue to grow exponentially as Edmonton continues to grow and the LRT extends further west, northwest, northeast, south and southeast.

Building and growing a sustainable city requires careful consideration of reusing and recycling whenever possible. As Edmonton continues to grow the City and its contractors have a responsibility to be ever conscious about the future – not only of Edmonton, but of the planet as a whole.

Recycling is only one of the many steps people can take to practice environmentalism.

To learn more about Edmonton’s environmental strategic plan, visit www.edmonton.ca/thewaywegreen.

To learn about various recycling programs in Edmonton, visit www.edmonton.ca/recycling

Welcome to the Edmonton this Week Podcast, an in-depth look at City of Edmonton programs and initiatives that affect your life. Each week, our host, Marvin Polis of the City of Edmonton’s Communications team, takes us inside City Hall and around Edmonton to speak to the people who operate our city and have big plans for its future.

Listen to the entire show:

Listen to an interview:

• Eco mobility flash mob/Park(ed) 2011
• Renewable Energy and Green Building
• Front Yards in Bloom
• Elder Abuse Awareness

The Edmonton This Week radio show airs every Saturday at 7:30 am and 6:00 pm on 630 CHED.

Edmonton this Week is also available on iTunes

Please leave your thoughts and comments below, but note that it may take time to answer specific questions.

Welcome to the Edmonton this Week Podcast, an in-depth look at City of Edmonton programs and initiatives that affect your life. Each week, our host, Marvin Polis of the City of Edmonton’s Communications team, takes us inside City Hall and around Edmonton to speak to the people who operate our city.

Listen to the entire show:

Listen to an interview:

• Bike Month 2011
• Downtown Arena update with City Manager Simon Farbrother
• New home insulation rebate program
• Summer storms flood prevention

The Edmonton This Week radio show airs every Saturday at 7:30 am and 6:00 pm on 630 CHED.

Edmonton this Week is also available on iTunes

Please leave your thoughts and comments below, but note that it may take time to answer specific questions.

The City and the Katz Group have approved an agreement framework to build a new downtown arena in Edmonton. While the two organizations still need to develop and agree on a final Master Agreement, this marks a crucial next step.

The agreed-upon terms reflect what the City has heard from residents in Edmonton, and substantially meet Council’s conditions from April. The framework puts a cap on the building cost, identifies that the City will own the building and land and guarantees that the Edmonton Oilers will stay in Edmonton for at least 35 years.

The agreement framework includes:

• The price for the  arena building is set at $450M
• The City’s contribution to the building is $125M
• The Katz Group will contribute $100M
• $125M will come from a user-pay facility fee
• The City will own the building and land
• The Katz Group will operate the building and be responsible for all maintenance, upgrades, operating and capital expense costs

So, what’s next in the Arena saga?

Next up will be the negotiation of a final Master Agreement between the City and the Katz Group. This agreement will more clearly define the obligations and responsibilities of each partner and will advance the project to the next stage. Also next – design of the project will start, including discussions with Edmontonians.

For more information on the downtown arena project visit:
http://www.edmonton.ca/downtownarena

Welcome to the Edmonton this Week Podcast, an in-depth look at City of Edmonton programs and initiatives that affect your life. Each week, our host, Marvin Polis of the City of Edmonton’s Communications team, takes us inside City Hall and around Edmonton to speak to the people who operate our city.

Listen to the entire show:

Listen to an interview:

• Get Ready in the Park
• Compost Awareness Week
• REEL Waste Film Fest
• Connections 2011

The Edmonton This Week radio show airs every Saturday at 7:30 am and 6:00 pm on 630 CHED.

Edmonton this Week is also available on iTunes

Please leave your thoughts and comments below, but note that it may take time to answer specific questions.

Welcome to the Edmonton this Week Podcast, an in-depth look at City of Edmonton programs and initiatives that affect your life. Each week, our host, Marvin Polis of the City of Edmonton’s Communications team, takes us inside City Hall and around Edmonton to speak to the people who operate our city.

Listen to the entire show:

Listen to an interview:

• North LRT construction launch
• Cornerstones: Our house next door
• Master Naturalist Program
• 15 to Clean Challenge

The Edmonton This Week radio show airs every Saturday at 7:30 am and 6:00 pm on 630 CHED.

Edmonton this Week is also available on iTunes

Please leave your thoughts and comments below, but note that it may take time to answer specific questions.

What a whirlwind the 2011 construction season is going to be for the North LRT to NAIT.

It’s not like the project has been invisible to date. There’s lots of construction activity happening, especially on and around the North LRT right-of-way on 105 Ave, 105 Street, 104 Street and Kingsway. EPCOR, ATCO and other companies have been relocating utilities on these and adjacent roadways.

Here’s a recent shot of the power utility relocation happening on Kingsway that has partially closed the road already.

Bigger Impacts About to Begin

With the dynamic duo of SNC Lavalin and Graham Construction recently hired as the North LRT construction management team (see Vancouver’s Canada Line and Calgary’s West LRT for recent samples of their work), engineers and technicians are hustling to get an aggressive 2011 construction schedule in place. In May, the hustle moves onto Edmonton roadways, big time.

Starting May 2, 2011 a four-block section of Kingsway will be closed between 102 Street and 106 Street until mid-October. All vehicle traffic will detour on 101 Street and 111 Ave. Pedestrian access will be maintained along the south side of the Kingsway closure.

Take a look at this graphic for details:

Kingsway Closure Necessary

The Kingsway closure is required for the North LRT project. Essentially, all the Kingsway traffic lanes in this location need to be moved several metres to the south, to create space between the roadway and the Royal Alex Hospital for the future Kingsway/Royal Alex LRT Station.

Take a look at this graphic, keeping in mind the goal is ultimately to provide easy access from Edmonton’s LRT network and the adjacent transit centre to health services:

Hands down, this is the most significant construction impact the North LRT project has to offer, for a two main reasons:

• On the average weekday Kingsway carries about 17,800 vehicles that will have to detour;
• The Royal Alex Hospital is right next to the Kingsway closure (emergency access will be maintained on 102 Street).

When you consider traffic flows and, more importantly, health services, no other aspect of North LRT construction has a more significant impact than the Kingsway closure. That’s why the North LRT team is applying such an aggressive construction model. The goal is to get in, get the work done, and get out in a single construction season.

Thinking Long Term

If successful, this strategy will minimize future closures of Kingsway during construction of the Kingsway/Royal Alex LRT Station over the next two years. Traffic will flow on Kingsway while the station is being built.

By 2014 the City hopes to achieve its North LRT vision. Take a peek at this video for a detailed idea of what that vision looks like.

Questions?

For the Kingsway closure and all construction activities related to the North LRT the City will be sending out bulletins, updates, newsletters, tweets and media releases.

Questions and comments are received at lrtprojects@edmonton.ca

[Editor's Note: Please excuse the low sound level on the videos. Using headphones helps.]

Edmonton City Manager, Simon Farbrother, and Lorna Rosen, the City’s Chief Financial Officer, speak to media about the proposed downtown arena project on March 31, 2011. The conference follows the release of new reports on the proposed downtown arena which provide Council with additional information for the next phase of decision-making, at the April 6 Council meeting.

Read the news release.

The April 6th Council meeting can be live streamed here.

Opening Remarks

Media Questions (part 1 )

Media Questions (part2)

Welcome to the Edmonton this Week Podcast, an in-depth look at City of Edmonton programs and initiatives that affect your life. Each week, our host, Marvin Polis of the City of Edmonton’s Communications team, takes us inside City Hall and around Edmonton to speak to the people who operate our city.

Listen to the entire show:

Listen to an interview:

• North LRT Sustainability
• Proposed Downtown Arena and Revitalization (learn more)
• Spring Roadway Maintenance

The Edmonton This Week radio show airs every Saturday at 7:30 am and 6:00 pm on 630 CHED.

Edmonton this Week is also available on iTunes

Please leave your thoughts and comments below, but note that it may take time to answer specific questions.