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Edmonton

Museum celebrates mammoth first year in new home

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Museum celebrates mammoth first year in new home

October 03, 2019

The Royal Alberta Museum’s first year in its new downtown Edmonton home was record-setting, as hundreds of thousands of visitors flocked to discover history.

Museum celebrates mammoth first year in new home

Minister Leela Sharon Aheer and executive director Chris Robinson celebrate the Royal Alberta Museum’s one year anniversary in its new downtown location. | La ministre Leela Sharon Aheer et le directeur général du Musée royal de l’Alberta Chris Robinson célèbrent le premier anniversaire du musée dans son nouvel emplacement du centre-ville.

More than 400,000 visitors have taken in millions of years of Alberta’s natural and cultural history since the museum opened its doors on Oct. 3, 2018. Museum-goers were treated to bronze mammoth unveilings and exhibits that included the Canadian premiere of Vikings: Beyond the Legend. The RAM was also a stop for participants in The Amazing Race Canada.

“The new Royal Alberta Museum was years in the making. Thanks to everyone who has made its first year such a success. The museum is a dynamic space where Alberta’s diverse and fascinating stories are shared. Our province’s history is constantly evolving and so is this wonderful space.”

Leela Sharon Aheer, Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women

“One year ago, Albertans welcomed us back with open arms. We couldn’t wait to open our doors again and share this space with our community. The response has exceeded our every expectation. And we aren’t standing still – we are continuing to learn about our visitors’ wants and needs, and adapting to provide the best experience possible.”

Chris Robinson, executive director, Royal Alberta Museum

A year of highlights

Community-focused partnerships

RAM’s partnership with the Mustard Seed’s Seedworks program has provided meaningful work for 14 community members who otherwise faced barriers to employment. In the past year, Seedworks employees have worked nearly 5,700 hours, welcoming visitors at the building’s front doors, providing front-line customer service, answering questions and directing patrons to amenities within the facility.

Making an accessible museum

The lights, crowds, and sounds of museums can be barriers to visitors with sensory processing differences. There are a number of resources to make the museum visit more comfortable for these visitors. Sensory Sundays, which happen before the museum opens to the public, are an opportunity to experience the museum with adjusted gallery settings such as soft lighting and reduced noise, along with various activities. There is also a Sensory Room, a calm space for individuals looking for a place to recharge or reflect. The Sensory Room is in the piloting phase until Oct. 27, 2019.

Sharing more of Alberta’s collections

In addition to its main permanent history halls, RAM presented three exhibits in changing galleries. These galleries shared the histories of Edmonton’s own Great Western Garment (GWG) company, an ode to the objects that preserve memories of the First World War, and a look at the lives of early black settlers in Alberta. In the next year, RAM will open two additional rotating galleries.

Bringing the world to Alberta

Vikings: Beyond the Legend landed in Edmonton – the only Canadian stop for this travelling exhibition from the National Museum of Denmark. With more than 650 objects and the 1,000-year-old planks of the longest Viking warship ever discovered, this is the largest touring exhibition of Viking artifacts in the world. The Vikings are leaving Oct. 20, 2019.

Offering a versatile event space

The museum also offers a 250-seat theatre, conference rooms and lobby spaces for a variety of event rentals. The Bank of Canada’s launch of the new $10 bill, featuring Viola Desmond, and a dance challenge in CTV’s The Amazing Race Canada were among 125 events hosted in the past year.

Contributing to Edmonton’s and Alberta’s profiles

RAM received mentions in top Canadian travel destination lists and museum openings to watch for, as well as accolades for its design and architecture.

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Alberta

Male suspect involved in tragic incident between Beaumont and Edmonton sought by police; EPS release photos of suspect

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News release from the Edmonton Police Service (EPS)

The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) is assisting the RCMP with the investigation into a tragic incident that claimed the life of an innocent woman last night on 50 Street.

Yesterday, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, at approximately 9:40 p.m. various EPS resources were deployed to the area of 50 Street and 22 Avenue SW at the request of the RCMP. It was reported to police that RCMP attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a suspicious U-Haul in Beaumont, when the vehicle fled. The U-Haul subsequently travelled north on 50 Street into Edmonton, where it struck and killed a woman inspecting the exterior of her vehicle. Moments later the U-Haul came to rest just outside a gas station off of 22 Avenue and 50 Street.

After crashing the U-Haul, the male suspect then reportedly stole a Honda Civic that was parked outside the gas station with a child inside. Police did consider an Alert to the public at the time, though thankfully the child was located unharmed in the area of 66 Street and 25 Avenue minutes later. The suspect then fled the scene in the Honda Civic. The stolen vehicle has since been recovered outside of Edmonton.

The EPS and RCMP continue to actively seek the identity and whereabouts of the male suspect described as being approximately 5’11” who was last seen wearing a black hoodie with white text on the front, brown shorts and black shoes. CCTV photos of the suspect are included below.

“We are incredibly saddened to hear about the tragic death of the innocent woman who was killed on 50 Street,” says Det. Nigel Phillips with the EPS Investigative Response Team. “Our hearts are with her family and friends who will now have to carry on with this unfathomable loss.”

“We are doing everything we can to track down the suspect and we trust the public will help us identify and locate him as soon as possible.”

Assist to identify and locate: Male suspect running in area of 50 Street & 22 Avenue SW
While the RCMP is leading this investigation, the EPS is assisting and working collaboratively with its law enforcement partners.

Anyone with information about the suspect’s identity and/or their whereabouts is asked to contact the EPS immediately at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com/250.

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Alberta

Province forms Edmonton Public Safety Cabinet Committee in response to homeless encampment crisis

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Edmonton encampments: Deputy Premier Ellis

Deputy Premier Mike Ellis issued the below statement in response to Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi’s announcement of his intention to declare an emergency:

“In November, Premier Danielle Smith ordered that an emergency cabinet committee be created and convened in response to the issue of crime and gang-related activity within encampments across the City of Edmonton.

“Alberta’s government cares deeply about vulnerable Edmontonians and we will always ensure that anyone who wants shelter and supportive services will receive it. However, we will not stand by and watch as vulnerable Albertans and the general public continue to be extorted, taken advantage of and killed by gangsters and deadly drugs.

“The Edmonton Public Safety Cabinet Committee (EPSCC) is comprised of ministers from departments that oversee operations and/or administer programs that promote public safety and support the transition of Edmonton-based encampment residents into safe, secure and appropriate arrangements.

“The cabinet committee membership includes:

  • Danielle Smith, Premier (chair)
  • Mickey Amery, Minister of Justice
  • Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services
  • Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health
  • Ric McIver, Minister of Municipal Affairs
  • Jason Nixon, Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services
  • Searle Turton, Minister of Children and Family Services
  • Dan Williams, Minister of Mental Health and Addiction
  • Rick Wilson, Minister of Indigenous Relations

“Also sworn into the committee are:

  • Cody Thomas, Grand Chief, Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations
  • Dale McPhee, Chief, Edmonton Police Service

“This committee has met continuously since its initial meeting on Nov. 29, 2023, to plan a joint response. Our government is working on an action plan alongside Alberta Health Services, Edmonton Police Service, the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations and several departments from the City of Edmonton, including Edmonton Fire Rescue Services.

“Our government will continue to respond to these issues following the expected court decision on Jan. 16, no matter the outcome. We will have a more detailed statement regarding this response once the court decision is made.”

Additional quotes

“It is dangerous for the mayor and others to continue to suggest that vulnerable Albertans do not have anywhere to turn. This is false and will lead to more folks choosing not to seek out shelter because they fear they’ll be turned away. I have said before and will continue to say: there is safe space in shelters around the city and nobody will be turned away. We have more than enough room for every homeless person in the city of Edmonton to have a warm, safe place to stay. It is completely inappropriate and dangerous for the mayor, or anyone, to suggest Edmonton is out of capacity in our social services sector or our emergency shelter systems. Anyone needing shelter space will be kept care of.”

Jason Nixon, Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services

“I have been working and will continue to work diligently alongside the provincial government, in the spirit of reconciliation, for months on the serious action that is needed to get all people off the streets, including First Nations people. Encampments are not a safe place and letting people overdose and freeze in the cold is not reconciliation.”

Cody Thomas, Grand Chief, Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations 

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