The City of Edmonton is setting a new precedent for sustainable communities. The Blatchford redevelopment has already begun; transforming the heart of Edmonton and the previous site of the City Centre Airport into a world-leading residential development.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Mark Hall, Executive Director of the Blatchford Redevelopment. He shared his insights on the project and what role it will have in shaping Edmonton’s future.

The Vision

Conceptual image created by Perkins+Will

The City of Edmonton’s collection of strategic plans, “The Way Ahead”, sets out a framework for Edmonton’s future urban growth. The Blatchford redevelopment has been able to bring in many innovative environmental, social, and economic ideas from Edmonton’s strategic goals into one plan:

• Blatchford’s sustainable technologies — ensuring 100% renewable energy.
• Mixed-use open spaces — optimizing walkability, public transit, and cycling.
• Economically-sustainable amenities — creating approximately 10,000 jobs onsite.

As Mark expresses, “The Blatchford project is a good opportunity to demonstrate how Edmonton’s strategic plans can all come together.”

The Residents

Conceptual image created by Perkins+Will

Mark described the Blatchford community to be an “equal opportunity for all”. The development will attract Edmontonians of all ages, including student housing for the post-secondary institutes that are close by.

The community is designed so that residents can “live, work, learn and play at various times of their life.” Blatchford is intended to be a gathering space for the community, filled with opportunities for residents who lead an active lifestyle and would like to live in a family-oriented space. The development’s design will also include community garden plots, so that residents can enjoy growing their own food and contribute to the sustainable vision of the area.

The Impact

Conceptual image created by Perkins+Will

Edmonton has taken the lead in developing a community that successfully brings together environmental, social, and economic sustainability — without any limitation on demographics. The project will bring Edmontonians together in the center of the city, and transform 217 hectares into a state-of-the-art urban development; host to 11,000 dwellings. The first residents could be living in the area as early as 2016.

“We haven’t found any other development that has everything in one,” Mark commented. “This is something that people will come to Edmonton to see.”

For more information about the Blatchford project, send a message to your councillor.

NextGen will be participating at the Pride Parade on Saturday, June 7. Join us to walk with the group and enjoy the festivities at Churchill Square. NextGen has also won best overall float for two consecutive years!

Date: Saturday, June 7

Event time: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Where: 107 Street between Jasper Avenue and 102 Avenue (Find someone in a NextGen t-shirt to check-in.)

To sign up:

• RSVP here on our Eventbrite invite.
• Participants must sign up before June 3 to take part.

NextGeners at the Pride Parade.

Edmonton’s NextGen is excited to introduce you to the presenters for Pecha Kucha Night 19 (PKN 19):

• David Rauch - #OpenPianoYEG: Popup Public Pianos
• Jason Darrah - Civic Engagement and the Innovation Nation
• Michael Ross, Structural Engineer-in-Training - Extreme Enginerding
• Chris Floden, Founding Member of Yegbees - Urban Beekeeping: Waiting for Edmonton
• Mike Kendrick - Modern Myth in Professional Wrestling
• Omar Reyes, Associate Pastor, City Centre Church - Romancing Silence
• Ian O’Donnell - The Importance of Being Earnest
• Peter Woytiuk - A Year In The Life Of A YEG EV
• Nola Kilmartin, Principal Planner, City of Edmonton - Building Around, Within, Above and Below: A Push for the Extraordinary
• Blue Knox, Co-Chair Alberta Not-for-Profit Case Competition, Managing Editor The Wanderer Online Magazine - On Being Small

If you haven’t already, you can purchase your digital tickets online here.

We’ve partnered with Edmonton Pride Festival Society and are embracing the outdoors, come rain or come shine! Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria also returns for PKN 19 with gift cards for all ticket holders.

Date: Thursday, June 5, 2014
Time: Doors and bar open at 6:30 p.m. Presentations begin at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Sir Winston Churchill Square, Edmonton
Cost: $17 or $15 with student I.D. + taxes.

Join the conversation on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #yegpkn.

PKN 19 features presentations on local ideas, projects and musings in the 20 slides at 20 seconds per slide format made popular by worldwide by Klein Dytham Architecture. More than 200 presentations have been given at Edmonton PKNs to date on wide-ranging topics, from donairs to lighting up Edmonton’s bridges and everything in between.

PKN 19 is sponsored by: City of Edmonton, Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria, Graphos, Stantec and Klein Dytham.

What is Pecha Kucha?
Drawing its name from the Japanese phrase for “the sound of chit chat”, Pecha Kucha Night was devised by Tokyo’s Klein Dytham Architecture in February 2003 as a venue for young designers to meet, network, exchange ideas and discuss their work in public. It rests on a presentation format that is based on a simple idea: 20 images, each shown for 20 seconds, for a total presentation length of six minutes and 40 seconds. Why this format you ask? It keeps presentations concise, fast-paced and entertaining.

For more information, visit pechakucha.org

NextGen Month takes places in the month of June and it is an exciting time to connect with young people in Edmonton. There are a number of great events taking place in June (see below) so make sure to attend the NextGen Month kick off event to hear more about them!

NextGen, an initiative of the City of Edmonton is proud to be working with the next gen community and TD to create and promote NextGen Month. 

Check out all these events taking place in June! #nextgenmonth

If NextGen Month is new to you and you want to learn more about how to engage Edmonton’s next gen demographic in your organization’s activities, we’d love to talk to you. Come to our NextGen Month event or the other events taking place in June and hear all the great things that NextGen and community organizations are working on!

Celebrate the kick off to NextGen Month, June 4

Celebrate the kick-off to NextGen Month on June 4 at a reception at Latitude 53, featuring music, entertainment and the NextGen Month proclamation by Mayor Don Iveson.

When: June 4

Where: Latitude 53 at 5:00pm, Speeches at 6pm

Thanks to everyone who RSVP’d!

Summer is coming, and that can only mean one thing: it’s almost time for NextGen Month! To celebrate the upcoming month of exciting events, we will be presenting a weekly series of Q&A sessions with NextGen committee members and city councillors. So take a moment to sit back and get to know a NextGen-er!

Mark Boulter, Market Research Advisor

@markboulter

NextGen Role: Partnerships Chair, involved with NextGen for 6 months

What drew you to get involved with NextGen?

I really enjoyed all of the events that NextGen put on and I wanted to become more engaged in the Edmonton community.

How would you describe Edmonton’s next generation?

Ambitious. Hardworking. Motivated. Those are the 3 words that quickly come to mind when I think of Edmonton’s Next Generation. In my opinion it would be hard to find such a high concentration of these three attributes anywhere else in Canada.

What is your favourite NextGen moment to date?

It would be difficult for me to nail down a specific moment. NextGen has given me an opportunity to meet a diverse group of smart, forward-thinking Edmontonians and that has been by far my favourite part.

What do Edmontonians need to know about NextGen month?

That your schedule will be packed for the month of June! Keep an eye on the NextGen social media feeds and newsletter for a list of great events happening across Edmonton! There is a little something for everyone between events organized by NextGen and our community partners. I hope everyone is able to take in at least a few of the options during the month – they won’t regret it!

And finally, what is the best thing about Edmonton in the summer?

Edmonton has some fantastic offerings in the summer. For me it is a combination of Edmonton patios, golf courses, long sunny evenings and the walking trails.

Tune in next week for the continuation of our series!

Edmonton’s NextGen is excited to present Pecha Kucha Night 19 (PKN 19):

Date: Thursday, June 5, 2014

Time: Doors and bar open at 6:30 p.m. Presentations begin at 7:30 p.m.

Location: Sir Winston Churchill Square, Edmonton

Cost: $17 or $15 with student I.D. + taxes.

Buy Tickets: Purchase your digital tickets online

We’ve partnered with Edmonton Pride Festival Society and are embracing the outdoors, come rain or come shine!

PKN 19 features presentations on local ideas, projects and musings in the 20 slides at 20 seconds per slide format made popular by worldwide by Klein Dytham Architecture. More than 200 presentations have been given at Edmonton PKNs to date on wide-ranging topics, from donairs to lighting up Edmonton’s bridges and everything in between. The presenter line-up for PKN 19 will be announced shortly.

Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria also returns for PKN 19 with gift cards for all ticket holders.

Join the conversation on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #yegpkn.

PKN 19 is sponsored by: City of Edmonton, Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria, Graphos, Stantec and Klein Dytham.

What is Pecha Kucha?
Drawing its name from the Japanese phrase for “the sound of chit chat”, Pecha Kucha Night was devised by Tokyo’s Klein Dytham Architecture in February 2003 as a venue for young designers to meet, network, exchange ideas and discuss their work in public. It rests on a presentation format that is based on a simple idea: 20 images, each shown for 20 seconds, for a total presentation length of six minutes and 40 seconds. Why this format you ask? It keeps presentations concise, fast-paced and entertaining.

For more information, visit pechakucha.org

About Edmonton’s NextGen
Formed in 2006, Edmonton’s NextGen is an initiative of the City of Edmonton that is focused on creating a city that attracts and gives a voice to the next generation in the life and growth of Edmonton’s communities. NextGen is a hub for connecting people, places, community and ideas. Through events, leadership opportunities and professional development, NextGen fosters young leaders and supports initiatives of interest to the next generation.

Summer is coming, and that can only mean one thing: it’s almost time for  NextGen Month! To celebrate the upcoming month of exciting events, we will be presenting a weekly series of Q&A sessions with NextGen committee members and city councillors. So take a moment to sit back and get to know a NextGen-er!

Jeff Chase, Urban Planner

NextGen Role: Civic Committee Co-Chair, involved with NextGen for 8 months

What drew you to get involved with NextGen?

Edmonton is a city that supports and listens to the voices of Edmonton’s next generation. This is an incredible opportunity, giving us the chance to shape our city and to inform the way we grow forward. I wanted to be involved in NextGen, because I care about an Edmonton that is  shaped by its next generation and wanted to work with other passionate people doing cool stuff. As a relatively new Edmontonian, getting involved with NextGen was also a way to make new friends, build new relationships and network with like-minded people.

How would you describe Edmonton’s next generation?

Edmonton’s next generation are people with a potent mix of energy, creativity, passion, dynamism, enthusiasm and pride. The next generation are movers and shakers in Edmonton who are doing all sorts of cool things to support a vibrant Edmonton today and into the future. Some are involved with NextGen, others are doing all sorts of other things that make our city a better place to live, work and play.

What is your favourite NextGen moment to date?

We recently had a 2014 strategic review workshop. During one activity in the workshop, everyone had the chance to go around the room and post various NextGen events planned for the coming year on large posters for each month. It was amazing to see all of the activities and events that NextGen is involved in and working towards as volunteers. I felt inspired by the energy and enthusiasm of the people around the room and excited by all the things we’re doing over the next year.

What do Edmontonians need to know about NextGen month?

NextGen month is going to be an awesome time! We’re planning, partnering, and supporting all sorts of events that are going to be fun, engaging, interesting AND take advantage of the great weather that is just around the corner. From hosting an outdoor PKN in Churchill Square to celebrating pride, we’ve got loads going on! It is a time to celebrate Edmonton’s next generation. Check out our website for more information. Hopefully I’ll see you around!

And finally, what is the best thing about Edmonton in the summer?

Where do I start? Grabbing delicious food from a food-truck in Churchill Square before a quick game of ping pong, followed by a walk through the stunning river valley to one of the many festivals happening through summer (in shorts and flip-flops). I left out a cold pint in one of the many beer gardens. Edmonton is awesome in the summer!

Tune in next Friday for the continuation of our series!

You saw our posts and thought to yourself “Pecha Kucha will be the PERFECT time to share my love of….” and then the smoke detector went off because your dinner was burning. Or did you start working on a presentation but got so engrossed in the latest episode of Game of Thrones (can you believe who died in the last episode?!) that you didn’t finish.

It’s okay!

Because we are still accepting submissions for Pecha Kucha Night 19! Happening June 5, 2014 in Sir Winston Churchill Square, this is your chance to present your amazing incredibly fantastic idea to some of Edmonton’s most engaged and creative young people. Some of the most recently presented topics ranged from donairs to nanotechnology – we just want to hear what you’re passionate about!

Just submit your presentation here, using our handy form. The deadline for submissions is May 8, and we’ll review them all in the following week. Can’t wait to see them all in June!

What is Pecha Kucha?
Drawing its name from the Japanese phrase for “the sound of chit chat,” Pecha Kucha Night was devised by Tokyo’s Klein Dytham Architecture in February 2003 as a venue for young designers to meet, network, exchange ideas and discuss their work in public. Presentations consist of 20 images, each shown for 20 seconds, for a total presentation length of six minutes and 40 seconds. Why this format you ask? It keeps presentations concise, fast-paced and entertaining.

For more information, visit pechakucha.org.

About Edmonton’s NextGen
Formed in 2006, Edmonton’s NextGen, an initiative of the City of Edmonton, is focused on creating a city that attracts and gives a voice to the next generation in the life and growth of Edmonton’s communities. NextGen is a hub for connecting people, places, community and ideas. Through events, leadership opportunities and professional development, NextGen fosters young leaders and supports initiatives of interest to the next generation.

NextGen Month unites and celebrates a new wave of volunteer organizations dedicated to making Edmonton a place that young people choose to live, learn and work now and in the future.

At a variety of events throughout the month of June, Edmontonians ages 18 – 40 can connect with Edmonton’s next gen community, get involved, share ideas, be creative, meet new people or help shape the city’s future.

Are you hosting an event this June that you think may be a fit to be promoted as part of our NextGen Month? Let us know about it.

NextGen is proud to be working with the City of Edmonton and TD to create and promote this year’s calendar of events. NextGen Month is an exciting time to connect with young people in Edmonton, and we want to help like-minded organizations throughout the City be a part of that success.

If you have an event in the month of June that focuses on engaging next gener’s in YEG and you would like to propose it for addition to the June calendar, please email details to nextgen@edmonton.ca by Thursday, May 8.