Province, city, Oilers ownership group teaming up on event park, new Ice District housing
The money would also pay for the demolition of the Coliseum, the Oilers former home arena.
The Alberta government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the city and OEG Sports and Entertainment, signalling its willingness to move ahead with the project while negotiations on the deal continue.
"I'm very confident that we will [reach an agreement]," Premier Danielle Smith said Friday at a news conference at the fan park in Ice District.
"Everyone involved understands the benefits of revitalizing downtown Edmonton and the land nearby. All of this work will lead to better public safety, more affordable housing and more space for fun."
The three major projects — a new event park beside Rogers Place, 2,500 new housing units in the Village at Ice District, and demolishing the Coliseum and improving the Exhibition Lands area — are expected to cost a combined $408.2 million.
The memorandum of understanding says the event park would cost about $250 million and the housing another $68 million. Another $90 million would be earmarked for tearing down the Coliseum and improving the Exhibition Lands area.
Municipal officials in Edmonton were thrilled to learn last week that the provincial budget included $106 million over three years for those projects.
But according to government news releases and officials who spoke at Friday's news conference, if the budget passes the legislature and the three parties reach a deal before the end of August, the provincial government will spend $183.4 million on the projects — about 40 per cent of the total cost.
The vast majority of the provincial dollars would be in grants, but some would come through the Edmonton Capital City Downtown Community Revitalization Levy. Community revitalization levies let municipalities borrow against future property tax revenues to help pay for infrastructure development.
The City of Edmonton would cover another third of the overall cost, paying $137.8 million total, mostly through the levy, according to a news release.
OEG Sports and Entertainment would pay $87 million total for the event park and Ice District housing. The company is not contributing to the Coliseum's demolition, the release said.
"This memorandum of understanding reinforces our collective desire to build a thriving downtown," Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said during the news conference.
"Our downtown is a major economic driver, but it is also a neighbourhood that deserves to be an affordable and amenity-rich community."
A map and conceptual images show the housing will be built over several city blocks, just north of the arena, and feature a green space.
The event park will feature several hockey rinks and a stage for performers, all under a canopy, images show.
The developments are part of Phase 2 of OEG's Ice District development, which aims to attract people to the area every day year-round, not just for hockey games and concerts, said Tim Shipton, OEG's executive vice-president of external affairs.
The housing will include different types of units to meet the needs of Edmonton's growing population, Shipton said.
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Calgary Herald
an hour ago
- Calgary Herald
Q&A: Flames goalie Dustin Wolf on contract talks, Olympic aspirations and the Rogers Legends of Hockey
Dustin Wolf will be back in Calgary's sporting spotlight Saturday, although he'll be wearing soft-spikes instead of skates and will be hitting golf balls rather than stopping pucks. Article content The Flames' goaltender is part of a star-studded lineup for the Rogers Legends of Hockey, a fundraising shootout that follows the second round of action at the Rogers Charity Classic at Canyon Meadows. Article content Article content Also participating in this closest-to-the-pin competition are Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Sarah Fillier, Adin Hill, Meaghan Mikkelson, Mark Scheifele, Stuart Skinner and Matt Stajan, plus a pair of elite junior golfers. They will be swinging for up to $200,000 in prize money, all of it to be directed to charity. Article content Article content Wolf, 24, will undoubtedly have the support of the local crowd, especially if he is up against Skinner, who tends twine for the arch-rival Edmonton Oilers. You may even hear a few howls from the gallery. Article content In advance of his tee-time in the Rogers Legends of Hockey, Postmedia's Wes Gilbertson connected with Wolf to chat about his golf game, his Olympic aspirations, negotiations on his next contract and summer in the Stampede City … Article content Article content Article content Q: We'll talk hockey in a few minutes, but we should start with your second appearance in the Rogers Legends of Hockey event at the Rogers Charity Classic … How is your golf game these days? Article content Wolf: 'Golf might be the worst sport on this planet, just due to the fact that you can shoot 80 one day and you can feel great, and then you can shoot a 95 the next day. It's a sport where it's the tale of two tapes. My game is in decent order. I wouldn't say it's the best. But like I said, I could play my best round two days from now and then my worst in a week. So it certainly keeps you humble, that's for sure.' Article content Q: Are there any similarities between protecting a 6×4 net and trying to hit a golf shot to six feet — or even better, four feet — from the pin? Article content Wolf: 'I don't know. I've become accustomed to standing in a 24-square-foot net. That's kind of second nature to me now. Trying to stick a very small ball tight to a very small cup isn't necessarily in my sweet spot as of yet. Maybe I can say differently if I hole one out Saturday, but it certainly makes you uncomfortable. And then you add people into the gallery and the nerves pick up and it adds a different level of stress. You just don't want to hit anybody and next thing you know, you chunk one. So hopefully I can eliminate those and stick a couple tight.' Article content Wolf: 'Sure, but you can't be perfect at either of them. Every shot is different. Every time you're on the tee-box, it's different. You can never hit the same two shots or make the same two saves. Both sports will keep you humble. Granted, one is out of your control and one is very much in your control. Yeah, you're always striving for perfection in golf, but you watch the tour and those guys aren't holing out shots almost ever. It just goes to show how difficult that sport can be.' Article content Article content Q: You've been hanging around Calgary for most of this off-season. What have you learned about the city over these past few months? Article content Wolf: 'Well, I've learned that the weather doesn't know what it wants to do. It will be 80 degrees (Fahrenheit) and sunny and no clouds in the sky. And next thing you know, there are black clouds everywhere and the rain is coming down and there's lightning striking. But the city, as a whole … I had a great time during Stampede. I was able to get an up-close look at everything that goes on with the rodeo and the chuckwagons, and I made it out to a couple different concerts throughout the week. There's so much this city has to offer. You're trying to find new restaurants you enjoy, and you always seem to end up at the same crew of them over the summer. So I've really enjoyed it. I would prefer a few more days of sun so we could hit the course a little more. But other than that, it's been great.' Article content Article content Q: We know that Flames fans would like to see you sticking around this city for a long, long time. Can you give us an update on whether there's been any talk of a contract extension? (Editor's note: Wolf's current deal expires at the end of this upcoming campaign.) Article content Wolf: 'They're working, that's about all I can really tell you. There's talks, but nothing really confirmed yet. I'd love to stay here and I think they want me to stay here, as well. So as soon as something comes to fruition where both of us like where we're at, I'm sure it won't be long after that point where pen will be to paper.' Article content Q: Have you received any word from USA Hockey about whether you might be on the radar for the 2026 Winter Olympics? Article content Wolf: 'I haven't heard anything or been told anything. I'm going to have to be one of those guys who shows out early in the season to earn my way on that squad. It's the Olympics, the best of the best, so nothing is ever given. Obviously, there are a lot of fantastic American goaltenders in the league right now. If I get an opportunity to go, I'll be sure to take full advantage of it, whether that's getting to play, getting to back up. Even if I'm doing neither of those (as the third-stringer), I'll certainly be looking forward to taking in the experience of the Olympics. You don't get many opportunities in your lifetime to be around that sort of stuff, so I'll certainly do everything I can to put myself in a position to get a chance.' Article content Q: Although the Flames will be your primary focus, can that sort of individual pursuit be a positive driver, to have something like an Olympic invite in the back of your mind? Article content Wolf: 'Certainly. There's always going to be something that's out there that is going to drive you to be better, whether that's earning the starting job, making the playoffs, winning the Cup, earning a spot in the Olympics, striving for an award if that's what you're looking for. There's all kinds of different aspects within the game of hockey that can drive you and that is certainly going to be one of them. There's definitely a hill to climb in order to get there. But, at the same time, you only have three or four opportunities, max, over your career — and that's if you're playing for a long time — to get to go to the Olympics. I'm glad that the NHL has given approval that guys can go and if you get a chance to go, you want to be able to make the most of it.' Article content Q: OK, one more before we let you get back to the driving range … Just over a month from the start of training camp, how are you feeling about this upcoming season, both from a team and individual standpoint? Article content Wolf: 'Team-wise, we had high expectations for ourselves last year. Obviously, everyone else had low expectations of us, but I think we proved that we deserved to be in the conversation of playoffs. And we're really running it back as the same team. Other than Vladdy (Dan Vladar) leaving, we didn't really change much. A couple of depth guys. I think that goes to show they're confident in us as a group. I know they want young guys to come in and play well and earn spots and push to make roles on our squad. So I know there's a lot of young guys looking to do exactly that. And for myself, I'm starting to really push on the ice right now. This is the time where I get my legs moving. You're really in the hunt now — time is ticking and as soon as September rolls around, you want to be in full gear. So things are looking up. There's always going to be bumps along the way when you're starting to get back into the swing of things, but I'm certainly excited for the next month leading up to camp.'
Edmonton Journal
an hour ago
- Edmonton Journal
Q&A: Flames goalie Dustin Wolf on contract talks, Olympic aspirations and the Rogers Legends of Hockey
Dustin Wolf will be back in Calgary's sporting spotlight Saturday, although he'll be wearing soft-spikes instead of skates and will be hitting golf balls rather than stopping pucks. Article content The Flames' goaltender is part of a star-studded lineup for the Rogers Legends of Hockey, a fundraising shootout that follows the second round of action at the Rogers Charity Classic at Canyon Meadows. Article content Article content Also participating in this closest-to-the-pin competition are Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Sarah Fillier, Adin Hill, Meaghan Mikkelson, Mark Scheifele, Stuart Skinner and Matt Stajan, plus a pair of elite junior golfers. They will be swinging for up to $200,000 in prize money, all of it to be directed to charity. Article content Article content The hockey heroes will sign autographs for an hour — from 2:30-3:30 p.m. — and then take aim for the green at No. 18 at approximately 5 p.m., after the PGA Tour Champions pros have completed their birdie-making business for the day. Wolf, 24, will undoubtedly have the support of the local crowd, especially if he is up against Skinner, who tends twine for the arch-rival Edmonton Oilers. You may even hear a few howls from the gallery. Article content In advance of his tee-time in the Rogers Legends of Hockey, Postmedia's Wes Gilbertson connected with Wolf to chat about his golf game, his Olympic aspirations, negotiations on his next contract and summer in the Stampede City … Article content Article content Article content Q: We'll talk hockey in a few minutes, but we should start with your second appearance in the Rogers Legends of Hockey event at the Rogers Charity Classic … How is your golf game these days? Article content Wolf: 'Golf might be the worst sport on this planet, just due to the fact that you can shoot 80 one day and you can feel great, and then you can shoot a 95 the next day. It's a sport where it's the tale of two tapes. My game is in decent order. I wouldn't say it's the best. But like I said, I could play my best round two days from now and then my worst in a week. So it certainly keeps you humble, that's for sure.' Article content Q: Are there any similarities between protecting a 6×4 net and trying to hit a golf shot to six feet — or even better, four feet — from the pin? Article content Wolf: 'I don't know. I've become accustomed to standing in a 24-square-foot net. That's kind of second nature to me now. Trying to stick a very small ball tight to a very small cup isn't necessarily in my sweet spot as of yet. Maybe I can say differently if I hole one out Saturday, but it certainly makes you uncomfortable. And then you add people into the gallery and the nerves pick up and it adds a different level of stress. You just don't want to hit anybody and next thing you know, you chunk one. So hopefully I can eliminate those and stick a couple tight.'
Vancouver Sun
4 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
'Fully in support': Some Alberta separatists try to rally support in the Trump White House
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Between the Edmonton Oilers making their second consecutive Stanley Cup appearance, Prime Minister Mark Carney's well-publicized links to the region, and Premier Danielle Smith's regular appearances on Fox News, Alberta has been on America's mind a lot this year. As the province's cross-border profile rises, talk at home has shifted to what kind of relationship it might forge with the United States, or even the world, as an independent country. President Donald Trump's fiery rhetoric about Canada becoming a 51st state rankled Canadians, fuelling a wave of nationalism and giving the Liberal party fresh momentum ahead of the spring election. In turn, Alberta's separatist movement, long frustrated by being overlooked by Ottawa, especially under prime minister Justin Trudeau, has increasingly been gaining steam and pushing for a referendum on sovereignty. Separatists tout a future with lower taxation, fewer regulations and full control over matters such as policing, immigration and trade. They believe they can fare better in negotiations with the U.S. without Ottawa's interference, and some have even suggested how Alberta independence could be beneficial to the U.S. Back in April, leaders of the Alberta Prosperity Project (APP), a separatist organization, visited Washington to share their thoughts with the White House. In turn, the APP says, the Trump administration signalled its support for Alberta independence. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'We had a discussion about Alberta sovereignty,' said Dennis Modry, a retired heart surgeon and leader of the APP, 'and when we walked into the boardroom, the very first comment was that the U.S. administration is fully in support of Alberta becoming a sovereign country.' The separatists will have to be patient, though. On Thursday, the APP had its application rejected to quash a special court review of its proposed referendum question. That means the review, requested by Alberta's chief electoral officer to determine if the referendum is constitutional, will go ahead. The APP has argued that the review is premature because it hasn't collected the required amount of signatures yet. The Republican Party of Alberta, a separatist political party, sees the petition as unnecessary and is demanding that Smith's government simply schedule a referendum as soon as possible. Anti-separation advocates, meanwhile, are already collecting signatures and hope to have roughly 300,000 names against independence by the end of October. While Alberta's independence movement has been gaining momentum — the Republican Party of Alberta says its membership has tripled to 25,000 members since Carney's election — inside the province, some of its leaders see international alliances as equally crucial, particularly with the United States. In some ways, Alberta, with its resource-rich land and strong conservative, pro-oil and anti-regulatory leanings, seems perfectly aligned with Trump's drive to roll back efforts aimed at achieving net-zero emissions. To help forge such an alliance, Modry's APP met with 'the highest echelons of the US administration' back in April, he said, noting that he's been asked not to divulge names. Before the talks, the APP created a document detailing the benefits of Alberta sovereignty to the U.S., outlining 'opportunities in which the U.S. administration could facilitate Alberta sovereignty.' He refused to share details about those benefits, but Modry said they left the meeting 'very confident that the U.S. would be supportive of Alberta's sovereignty.' When asked whether the U.S. is doing anything now to support their independence bid, Modry said the U.S. team asked what they could do. He stressed that the APP told the Americans it was not asking for anything in particular. No other meetings are planned between the APP and the U.S. administration, and the next talks would come only after the petition succeeds and before a referendum is held, Modry said. Not all separatist leaders think such outreach is wise. Cameron Davies, the president of the Republican Party of Alberta, which has a memorandum of understanding with the Independence Party of Alberta — both organizations want Alberta to become a constitutional republic — said he has not been in touch with the White House and that any such contact would be 'improper' until after a vote. 'As a sovereign independent Alberta Republic,' he added, 'we would of course reach out to international leaders, seeking support and recognition.' Some analysts are skeptical that the U.S. would really support or get involved with Alberta separatism. 'I really don't see a situation whereby the United States would interfere in another country's affairs like that,' said Andrew Hale, a senior policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. Trying to boost Albertan separatism might have the opposite effect, he added. 'I think it would backfire because everything President Trump has done so far with Canada has backfired.' 'The bullying of Canada has actually increased Canadian unity,' Hale said, noting how bizarre it is to see Quebec separatists waving Canadian flags and rallying around Canadian unity. Adrienne Davidson, assistant professor of political science at McMaster University, tends to agree, noting how Trump's tariffs have only worked 'to bolster a stronger sense of Canadian national identity' and 'national solidarity to push back against American bullishness.' The push for an Alberta independence referendum comes as no surprise. 'Albertans have been frustrated for a long time with Ottawa,' says Jamie Tronnes, executive director of the Center for North American Prosperity and Security, a project of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, 'and they feel that their voices aren't being heard.' The list of complaints includes limited provincial powers, initial loss of control over natural resources, and perceived unequal treatment and representation. While the true independence movement is 'a relatively recent manifestation of long-held grievances between Albertans and Ottawa,' said Davidson, 'the grievances that Alberta has with respect to the Canadian federation, with respect to Ottawa … those date back to the creation of Alberta (in 1905).' Leaders within the movement say momentum has been building for at least five decades. Modry pointed to Alberta's boom in the 1970s and how the region was devastated by the National Energy Program of 1980 under Pierre Trudeau. 'People lost their homes, lost their businesses,' Modry said, citing efforts by Trudeau's energy minister, Marc Lalonde, to increase Ottawa's economic power at the expense of the provinces. 'So what we've recognized over decades now is that very thing: The structure of Canada, the way Confederation has been set up, makes it impossible for Alberta to have a meaningful voice,' Modry said. Smith, meanwhile, is aware that the independence movement has been gaining steam. After Carney's election, she suggested she would support a citizen-led petition for a referendum. 'I believe in Alberta sovereignty within a united Canada,' Smith said in April. 'However, there is a citizen initiative referendum process that if citizens want to put a question on a ballot and get enough of their fellow citizens to sign that petition, then those questions will be put forward.' Smith is 'walking a very fine line,' said Davidson, by putting 'wind into the sails of separation' with such talk and with her Alberta Next panel tour. But Tronnes sees it another way. 'There needs to be an outlet for (Albertans') frustration,' she said. 'Given the growing demand for a referendum, blocking one could be very politically damaging for (Smith),' she added. Legal wrangling may continue, and the petition may be shot down. But Davies, for one, doesn't see this as a barrier. 'At any time,' he said, 'a referendum can be conducted, and so what we've been consistently calling for is the UCP to schedule a referendum on Alberta's independence. 'They don't have to take a side, but they need to schedule a referendum. Stop wasting time.' Whether Alberta's independence movement gets a public nod from Trump in the future is anyone's guess — and it might hurt the movement, as Hale and Davidson suggested — but Davies and Modry remain confident that they are on the path towards an independent Alberta. Polling suggests that a growing number of Albertans favour independence compared to 2021, but the numbers still fall well below a majority. Modry said he's seen polling with numbers closer to 48 per cent in favour of independence, while Davies said he's seen fluctuations between 38 and 42 per cent. And while those numbers are still shy of the 'clear majority' stipulated in the Clarity Act for any province seeking secession, both are convinced that the campaign ahead of a referendum will get the numbers where they need to be. If a referendum is called for next spring, Davies' Republicans would push Alberta to claw back power in all the areas that are constitutionally permissible. He said this should include control over immigration, taxation, and pensions. 'And, at every step of the way, if Ottawa chooses to push back … I believe that (pro-independence) number that you see today would organically increase as Albertans begin to see that Ottawa views Alberta as nothing more than a resource colony.' Davies and Modry said both Alberta and Washington want tariff-free trade and would work toward an agreement if Alberta gains independence. When asked what they would do to promote free trade with the U.S., Davies pointed out that 'Alberta doesn't have free trade within Canada.' Once independent, he sees Alberta pursuing its own economic trade agreements with the U.S, Japan, South Korea and other Western democracies, and engaging on their own terms to market and export Alberta's emerging industries: energy, mining, forestry and agriculture. This would be done 'without the interference from Ottawa,' he said, predicting success. 'I would suggest that an independent Alberta would, in fact, have greater access to foreign markets, which is something that we've lacked.' Davies also mentioned the market case for LNG, saying that Alberta would negotiate additional LNG terminals as an independent nation. If British Columbia pushes back, he added, 'then Alberta may have to look at going south of the border and accessing new LNG terminals that are being built every single year in the United States to get our energy to market.' Still, few outside the separatist movement believe an independence referendum will succeed — and even if it did, secession would face additional barriers at the federal level — but holding a referendum still sends a strong signal to both Ottawa and Washington. Whatever the outcome of a referendum — if one is held — Alberta may still emerge stronger, analysts suggest. 'Alberta is well-positioned, no matter what happens, to be able to negotiate its future in Washington, D.C.,' said Tronnes. 'Alberta has a lot of things that America needs, particularly energy, but not just energy.' Smith is now a well-known entity in the U.S. — Americans would be hard-pressed to name other provincial premiers, apart from Doug Ford — and Alberta has successfully raised its international street cred in recent years. 'The province has made the strategic choice to ensure that it has allies and friends throughout Washington, D.C., on both sides of the aisle, to make sure that when we're in a moment like this, that there is a network of people it can call upon to speak about what Alberta brings to the table,' Tronnes noted. But if the referendum is held and fails, it is no reason for Ottawa to celebrate. 'The fact that Albertans are frustrated and that people have enough grievances that they're thinking about separating is something that should give all Canadians pause,' said Tronnes. 'That should maybe tell us something about the state of our country and how we need to listen to different regions with a very attentive ear.' National Post Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here .
