Pop star Taylor Swift is slated to do two shows at Rexall Place in August.
Photograph by: Kevin Kane
, Getty Images for iHeartMedia
Will it be another 12 months of political jaw-droppers, hockey sorrow and construction madness, or will the new year bring unprecedented budget cuts, sporting glory and a slowdown in growth? Here, the Journal takes a look at 15 things to watch for in 2015.
Oil prices
Perhaps you’ve already lost thousands in investments. Compare that to the millions gone from provincial coffers because of tanking oil prices. With the price still sinking, Premier Jim Prentice warned Albertans will face an "unprecedented fiscal hole" of $6.25 billion in the upcoming budget year, with times feeling harder than the 2008-09 recession or the harsh mid-’90s. Watch the spring budget for government funding decisions to health care, education, justice and climate issues.
The Oilers
What can we …
Why don’t …
No. Please …
Leading into the Christmas break, Edmonton won just one of 20 games, dropping the team to dead last in the NHL standings. Yet even if the Oilers’ "unbearably light brand of hockey" (according to columnist David Staples) ranks them the worst, new draft lottery odds are changing this April so the worst team in the standings will have a 20-per-cent chance of winning the No. 1 pick instead of 25 per cent. Other "worst" rankings have better odds than before. So while Edmonton could land top draft picks Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel, watch for outrage, since Edmonton already has Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Nail Yakupov. And really, how has that helped?
Walterdale Bridge
The arches, cables and deck of the $155-million Walterdale Bridge are set to open to drivers in late 2015. The new three-lane bridge — the first downtown bridge built for traffic since the 1971 opening of the James Macdonald Bridge — will be Edmonton’s only North Saskatchewan crossing without permanent piers, since it’s held up by the arches themselves. Next up: demolition of the century-old worn-out metal-decked green bridge. Will anyone launch a renewed fight to preserve the old bridge and convert it into a glass-deck restaurant?
New LRT line
Best not to hold your breath for the opening of the 3.3-kilometre Metro LRT line toward NAIT. Hopefully, the trains will be ready for boarding in February … or March … but after an initial two-month delay last spring due to problems with the signals and control systems, followed by another six-month lag, and comments from an irate mayor, let’s hope the city gets the keys to the trouble-plagued signalling system from the contractor early in the new year and the cars start rolling through the Kingsway/Royal Alex station. After all, that station has been open since June 2014.
Bill 10
Bill 10 will head back to the legislature in the spring sitting after Premier Jim Prentice hit the hold button on the contentious bill Dec. 4, declaring more public consultation is necessary. The bill sought to balance the rights of parents and school boards with the rights of students to form gay-straight alliances by potentially forcing the groups to meet off school property. Will Prentice somehow satisfy both those aligned with Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, who worries Albertans risk being portrayed as "hillbillies" if the bill is to pass as is, as well as those who believe Calgary’s Roman Catholic Bishop has it right, calling the bill a "win-win" for everyone?
New schools
No new schools are expected to open in 2015, but parents and students should keep an eye on ongoing construction, since Alison Redford’s government promised 50 new schools and 70 modernizations in 2013. All but five of those are slated to open by fall 2016. In Edmonton, the ground has been broken on three new Catholic schools (K-9) and five public schools (various grades). But keep in mind: a new replacement school for three public schools in Edmonton’s northeast, also slated to open September 2016, has already been delayed to 2017.
Women’s World Cup
Edmonton will be hosting 11 games at Commonwealth Stadium during the FIFA Women’s World Cup soccer competition June 5 to July 6. The month-long event, with 52 matches in six Canadian host cities, is expected to attract 1.5 million fans. The artificial turf will remain in the venues, including in Edmonton, despite threats of legal action by a group of international players, stating real grass is better and doesn’t discriminate against women, as does the artificial stuff.
Big Concerts
Rexall Place will host pop princess Taylor Swift Aug. 4 and 5 as part of the singer’s world tour for her new blockbuster album, 1989. The album (named after Swift’s birth year) is battling Disney’s Frozen soundtrack to become the bestselling album of 2014. The singer herself is a seven-time Grammy winner and likely the biggest draw for Edmonton in 2015, battling Bryan Adams, coming in January, and British boy band One Direction, visiting in July.
Political musical chairs
The seating plan in the Alberta Legislature will be drastically changed by the time elected representatives return for debate in the new year. With nine former Wildrose MLAs crossing the floor to the Progressive Conservatives, only five Wildrosers remain as the official Opposition, facing off against a 72-member political juggernaut as well as their former leader Danielle Smith, a backbencher until or unless Prentice appoints her to cabinet. Whose voice will rise above the mess: interim Wildrose Leader Heather Forsyth (set to leave politics for family reasons in 2016), Liberal Leader Raj Sherman with his fragmented band of five, or NDP Leader Rachel Notley?
Travis Vader case
Albertans should learn more in the coming months about the ongoing case of Travis Vader, facing recommenced charges of first-degree murder in the 2010 deaths of Lyle and Marie McCann. Vader was first charged with two counts of first-degree murder in April 2012, but those charges were stayed in March 2014. Vader’s lawyer Brian Beresh has said he may bring forward a motion for abuse of process. Vader spent more than four years in remand for various related and unrelated offences. He has filed lawsuits against the Crown and RCMP and others alleging malicious prosecution and mishandling of the case. Vader’s next court date is Jan. 23.
Downtown construction
Construction will continue full-force on various downtown projects already started, including the 18,641-seat Rogers Place and hockey arena on the north side of 104th Avenue and 103rd Street. The new 25-storey Kelly Ramsey building continues to rise and is expected to be complete in 2016, seven years after being gutted by fire. The $340-million Royal Alberta Museum north of City Hall was on budget and on time mid-year, with a late 2017 scheduled opening. Will the changing face of downtown boost vibrancy or create a glut of empty spaces?
Galleria project
The proposed Galleria project, the downtown arts campus backed by a team of philanthropists and a city commitment of $50 million max, should head into detailed design planning stage in the new year once an architecture firm is hired. The $850-million project will be developed in stages, with the first stage creating space for University of Alberta’s music, art and design students. The signature galleria or covered public square won’t get going for years — and not until organizations confirm interest in locating there.
Federal election
Will the federal Liberals and New Democrats make any headway in Alberta in October’s federal election? Both Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and NDP Leader Tom Mulcair held caucus retreats in Edmonton in 2014 seeking to boost support as electoral boundaries shift, six new ridings emerge and several MPs are set to retire, including Edmonton-East MP Peter Goldring, in Ottawa for 18 years. Linda Duncan is the province’s only NDP member and Brent Rathgeber, the only independent MP. Watch for provincial-turned-federal politicians Kent Hehr and Darshan Kang to seek election in Calgary and put Liberals on the Alberta map.
Commonwealth Games bid
On Sept. 2, Edmonton will find out if its $6-million bid for the 2022 Commonwealth Games beat out Durban, South Africa. Our city last hosted the games in 1978. A win would boost Edmonton’s vision to become a summer sport destination with a strong volunteer base. Pivotal to Edmonton’s bid is a major upgrade, including a pool expansion, to the Kinsmen Sports Centre, key for training and the event itself. A city committee gave the renovation plan a thumbs-up, although some councillors would like that money spent at other rec centres.
University finances
The University of Alberta is substantially increasing tuition for business and law students starting 2015. Will the $21 million pulled in from this and other fees help the new university president balance his budget come spring, when the drop in oil prices will certainly affect provincial funding to post-secondary institutions? David Turpin takes over July 1 as U of A president from Indira Samarasekera, under whom close to 150 faculty and staff were laid off in 2013 to help balance the university budget by 2015. During her term, student enrolments were also cut by increasing enrolment requirements.
jsinnema@edmontonjournal.com
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