Our second #YegIdeaXchange is happening next week!

Latitude 53
Thursday, March 19
6:30 pm | Drinks, eats and social space
7:00 pm | Panel discussion begins

Hashing it out with Edmonton’s creators, makers, innovators and YOU!

Edmonton’s NextGen hosts #YegIdeaXchange  - Urban Form in Edmonton

#YegIdeaXchange is a free event but please RSVP and let us know you’re attending!

This is the second in a three part dialogue series held by the Voice Working Group of Edmonton’s NextGen.

A panel composed of local creators, makers, and innovators will speak about their ideas, projects and insight around Urban Form and City Building in Edmonton. The panel will encourage attendees to get involved in and shape the evening’s discussion, leading to a real dialogue allowing participants to hash out issues, opinions, and ideas surrounding Urban Form and City Building in Edmonton.

The panel:

Chris Dulaba (@CALLIDUSDevMgmt) - Callidus / Beljan Development
Simon O’Byrne (@Simon_OByrne) - Stantec Consulting
Jarrett Campbell (@jarrettcam)- Brookfield Residential & Oliver Community League President
Carmen Douville (@CarmenDouville) – Instructor, Industrial Design, University of Alberta
Jeff Chase (@chase_jeff) – City of Edmonton

The WinterCity Drink Competition has been extended this year to January 20. Enter your Non-Alcoholic or Alcoholic beverage for a chance to win some great prizes!

Alcoholic Drink Category: 

• 1st place: Edmonton Winter Staycation
• 2nd place: Eau Claire Distillery Prize  

 Non-Alcoholic Drink Category:

• 1st place: Edmonton Winter Staycation
• 2nd place: One Family All Facility Annual Pass

More information:

• Vote for or enter your own non-alcoholic beverage
• Vote for or enter your own alcoholic beverage

Don’t let the cold weather keep you inside! There is plenty to do in this city, even at -20. This weekend, NextGen is spotlighting the Deep Freeze Festival produced by Arts on the Ave.

This Saturday from 12:00 – 8:00 and Sunday from 12:00 – 6:00, come down to 118th Ave to celebrate winter like the Vikings did! Admission is free, but donations are accepted. Coats for Kids is also welcoming donations of gently used winter coats at the event.

So how exactly does a Viking celebrate winter? With many competitions of strength and artistry, of course. Stop by to watch the street hockey tournament, or sign up to participate in the Chisel and Chainsaw ice carving contest if  creating frigid sculptures is more your style. The Lamppost Cozy contest involves inventive yarn bombing of local fixtures. There will also be curling, skating, ice sculpture games and the famed Deep Freezer races, which are exactly what they sound like!

Music, dancing, carriage rides, storytelling and a free showing of Frozen will be available for Edmontonians who prefer spectating to melee. And no Viking revelry would be complete without a visit to the Ice Bar (for the adults in attendance.) Be careful where you wander though, as a full Viking encampment has been built and you might come across a warrior or two!

Saturday evening will close in grand style with fireworks at Alberta Ave Park, and a special Return of the Vikings! Party at the Alberta Ave Community Centre from 7:00 – 11:00. There will be dancing, dining and a musical performance from the Canadian Reggae band Tasman Jude. Tickets are available at Carrot Coffeehouse or the festival Info Booths at $10 for anyone 11+ and $5 for children under 10.

Arts on the Ave is still looking for volunteers for the event, so if this sounds like your kind of adventure, you can sign up here to help out with fire stoking, skate rentals, tobogganing and the heritage games. It’s a great opportunity to get involved in a vibrant community and embrace our winter culture!

Happy New Year!

There are many Edmonton-based projects to look forward to in 2015. Here is a sneak peek into five of them:

Winter Shake-Up Festival

Interested in helping to re-energize Edmonton’s urban winter life? Join urban planners, designers, entrepremeurs, and community organizers for three days of exciting presentations, local field trips, and brainstorming sessions!

When: January 28-30, 2015

Where: Shaw Conference Centre

More details: http://www.wintercitiesconference.com/

Red Bull Crashed Ice

Red Bull’s annual Crashed Ice competition will be hosted in Edmonton on March 14, 2015. Come to see skaters plunge downhill on an ice ramp at over 60 km/hr; filled with hairpin turns, sharp jumps, and unexpected curves.

When: March 14, 2015

Where: Shaw Conference Centre

More details: http://www.redbullcrashedice.com/en_CA/event/edmonton

Federation of Canadian Municipalities Annual Conference and Tradeshow

This year’s largest municipal conference in Canada takes place in Edmonton. Take part in dynamic workshops, seminars, and a final tradeshow. This will be a great opportunity for anyone who wants to learn about strategies to strengthen our community.

When: June 5-8, 2015

Where: Shaw Conference Centre

More details: http://www.fcm.ca/home/events/annual-conference-and-trade-show.htm

Edmonton’s Metro LRT Line

The City expects to have the LRT expansion to NAIT open early 2015. The new line will have stations at MacEwan Univeristy, Kingsway/Royal Alexandra Hospital, and NAIT–adding approximately 13,200 riders to Edmonton’s LRT network. Visit the City of Edmonton’s website for more details.

Pecha Kucha Night 21

Hear from incredible speakers on issues that impact our city. Each presentation is six minutes and 40 seconds; a format that is fast-paced, energizing, and entertaining

Where: Colours Restaurant in Northlands Park

When: March 5, 2015

More details on Pecha Kucha: http://www.pechakucha.org/

It was a snowy November night that brought in the 6th annual Edmonton Timeraiser, however Boyle Street Plaza was filled with art lovers who had come to bid their volunteer hours in a silent auction for a variety of artwork. The average piece was auctioned off for 100 volunteer hours, and altogether the event raised 4,000 hours to be contributed to Edmonton non-profits and volunteer organizations.

Timeraiser is a Canada-wide initiative that aims to enrich communities through volunteer time contributions, support local artists, and create non-monetary access to artwork . The 2015 Edmonton Timeraiser may be far in the future, but you should mark your calendars as it is a lot of fun for some great causes.

However, you don’t need to wait until next year to volunteer! NextGen had the chance to speak with several non-profit organizations at Edmonton Timeraiser who will need volunteers with all kinds of skill sets. Find out below if there is anything for which you can offer your time!

CASA is a major community-focused provider of mental health services for infants, children, adolescents and their families, located in Edmonton and serving central and northern Alberta. Volunteers are needed to work the Casa Gala on May 1, 2015 and the Family Bike Ride. No prior commitment is needed, and registration is not skill specific. For further information click here.

Dogs With Wings is an organization that trains qualified assistance dogs for Albertans with disabilities. It has been active since 1996 and has provided access to 105 service dogs. Dogs With Wings needs volunteers with graphic design experience to create brochures and posters, as well as foster families for the dogs. Fostering is a two year commitment, and more information can be found here.

Freewill Shakespeare Festival is a non-profit theatre company that stages two plays by William Shakespeare each summer. Interested in volunteering? There are administrative, graphic design, photography, and fundraising positions available. Volunteer roles to work the festival as ushers, ticket takers, concession stand handlers and more. Further information to be found here.

Futurpreneur is a non-profit organization that provides financing, support, training and mentorship to young entrepreneurs throughout Canada. Their target demographic is 18-39 so is a perfect match for the interested NextGen-er. Futurpreneur is always looking for mentors to provide lessons from their own experience in business. If this sounds interesting to you, click here.

The Pride Centre of Edmonton is an organization that has provided services and support to the LGBTQ community in Edmonton for the past 40 years and is completely volunteer run. There are available roles for all skill sets, including positions to plan events, conferences, Pride month, as well as administrative volunteers and Drop-In hosts to greet people during the Drop-in hours at the centre. There is also a specific need for musicians to instruct a youth music and songwriting class. Find out more here.

There are many more non-profits in Edmonton which need volunteers. Timeraiser is one way to support these organizations, create widespread awareness and actively increase volunteering in the community. NextGen encourages all interested Edmontonians to use their skills to contribute to these worthy causes in our city.

It’s the greatest week of the year for those Edmontonians who are cinematically inclined. From September 26 to October 4, The Edmonton International Film Festival is taking place at Landmark Cinemas 9 in City Centre. There is exceptional programming all week as well as opportunities to meet the directors, writers and actors behind the films.

The “Our Own Backlot” series showcases Canadian-made short films, and NextGen had the chance to catch up with some Albertan filmmakers who are featured.

Adam Bentley, Director of “Teenage Dance”
@adambentley_fpu

What inspired you to make “Teenage Dance”?

I was inspired to make Teenage Dance by a friend in Ottawa who was going through a similar situation as the protagonist at the time. In addition, I wanted to perfect my use of the twist ending.

What has your experience been like as an Edmontonian filmmaker?

I really enjoy filming in Edmonton because most artists are happy to support each other and film making costs are lower here than in other major Canadian cities.

What kind of advice would you give to artists based in Alberta?

I would recommend that Alberta artists join and become active with their local artist-run centre. This is where they can meet other artists, use deeply discounted resources to make art, and find an audience for their work.

Be sure to check out the rest of the “Our Own Backlot” series this Saturday, October 4th. As always, tweet @EdmNextGen with your impressions of the film festival or leave them in the comments below.

Maybe you are like me and every year it takes you until halfway through the Fringe Festival to realize that you haven’t seen a single play. And then even more valuable time is wasted trying to pick from a list which is seemingly interminable, and has seemingly equally fascinating subjects. Well, put down the list. Here are two you cannot miss.

Enid and the Death Wish:

This multimedia production follows the post-funerary musings of four individuals who are reeling in the loss of Enid, their respective friend, lover, rival. A true tragicomedy, this show goes by shockingly fast and for the most part, has a light touch.  The standout performance comes from Philip Geller as the boyfriend in mourning. You’ll be surprised how much you laugh.

Location:  

BYOV 42, Planet Ze Design Centre

Performances:   

Wednesday, August 20  - 8:00 PM
Thursday, August 21 – 9:30 PM
Friday, August 22 – 5:15 PM
Saturday, August 23 – 8:15 PM
Sunday, August 24 – 5:15 PM

All in the Timing:

Don’t pass this title over! This series of vignettes is one of the most delightful performances I have ever experienced at the Fringe.  Comic and human, the skits are filled with a edge-of-your-seat, perma-laugh energy.  One skit prominently features a pick-axe sticking out of the head of a prominent Marxist historical figure, as his wife reveals an affair with the gardener. The third act has a tire swing. Need I say more?

Location:

BYOV 46: La Cite Francophone – L’Uni Theatre

Performances:

Wednesday, August 20 – 6:15 PM
Thursday, August 21 – 9:45 PM
Friday, August 22 – 6:45 PM
Saturday, August 23 – 6:00 PM

So don’t wait, you still have time! Get out there to search for seemingly impossible-to-find venues, delicious street food and memorable performances in one of the best festivals Edmonton has to offer. You won’t regret it.

Ellen Chorley

Premiering at the Edmonton International Fringe Festival this year, The Hollywoodland Burlesques has had a great response from audiences so far. Ellen Chorley wrote the script and stars in the lead role as Gossip Queen Louella Parsons. Here’s what she had to say about the show:

1)  What inspired the idea for The Hollywoodland Burlesques?

As a theatre company, Send in the Girls has looked for historical stories to present as burlesque. We like that the vintage feel really lends itself to the format we work with (a traditional play with burlesque storytelling).  We look for historical characters who bring dramatic or scandalous stories to the stage, and then use our imaginations to fill in the blanks when the history books don’t give enough details.  We were attracted to the idea of the feud of Hollywood reporters Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons—and so I started researching into the era and the big stories of the period—which is where I stumbled upon the tragic tales of Jean Harlow and Peg Entwhistle.  I think, ultimately, we wanted to show the dark side of Tinseltown—a theme that is just as prevalent in 1932 as it is today.

 2)  Give us three reasons why audiences can’t miss this show at the Fringe.

• #1: I think the story is very compelling, the show looks beautiful— the costumes, wigs, tuxedos and corsets are divine (there is nothing like Old Hollywood glamour), and the performances are both flashy and extremely  real.
• #2: I think Send in the Girls’ work is hugely based on experimentation and collaboration, which makes our company quite unique in Western Canada— especially since we work with burlesque.
• #3: Coming to the see the show supports us creators and independent artists!

3)  Why did you decide to use 1930s Hollywood as a backdrop?

We picked the characters first and then placed the show in the time period these characters existed.

4)  What about the The Hollywoodland Burlesques are you most proud of?

As well as serving as Co-Artistic Director/ Playwright in Residence for Send in the Girls Burlesque, I am also the Artistic Director of a children’s theatre company, so a lot of the work I do is quite light and playful.  I think the writing of The Hollywoodland Burlesques really captures a darker feel and I love that.

5)  What did you find most challenging?

This is so silly, but honestly the most challenging thing about performing the show is smoking and drinking on stage.  It’s been really hard to handle my cigarettes, lighters, matches and champagne glasses all while keeping up with the scene.  I poured ‘champagne’ (sparkling apple juice) down the front of my dress last night.

6)  Are there any lessons or takeaways you want audiences of the show to walk out of the theatre with?

I just think that society has a huge obsession with celebrity and fame, and I guess it’s just interesting to think that celebrities are humans too—and that fame doesn’t get you everything that you want.

7)  How is the show being received by audiences so far?

We have had great houses and very enthusiastic audiences so far, which is very exciting because we are performing off of the main site this year in the French Quarter (which is about a 10 minute drive from the main Fringe site).

8) Why do you think theatre in Edmonton is important?

Theatre itself is important because creating it allows us to share our stories, practice empathy and have conversations.  Theatre in Edmonton is important because supports our community.

9)  Do you have any other recommendations for shows at the Fringe this year?

Tons:

• Ligature Marks
• Flora and Fawna’s Field Trip
• It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Superman
• John Cusack
• Zanna Don’t
• 3…2…1
• Trickstars
• Letters to Laura
• Tree Hugger
• Love and Death (or If We are Treading on Thin Ice, We Might As Well Dance)
• All in the Timing
• Sweet Lies

… and I make a cameo appearance in a play called Kurt Mann:  Buyer and Seller of Souls. 

10)  Is there an opportunity to see The Hollywood Burlesques after the Fringe?  What are some other projects we can look forward to seeing from you?

We don’t have plans to remount The Hollywoodland Burleques quite yet, but we have had the awesome opportunities to remount our other two burlesque plays (Tudor Queens: A Burlesque and A Bronte Burlesque) within the main theatre season, so hopefully we will be able to find another opportunity like that for The Hollywoodland Burlesques. This next year, I’ll be performing in a cabaret in November and then mounting my children’s play Birdie on the Wrong Bus in January 2015.

Tickets for The Hollywoodland Burlesques can be purchased online or at a Fringe box office.

Louella Parsons. Photo credit: DB Photographics.

Playwright Mac Rogers and director Taylor Chadwick bring Fringe theatregoers into a twisted world of unrequited love, real-life video games, and murder. Ligature Marks explores how far two individuals, in the throes of their own personal desperation, are willing to go to achieve what they frantically desire. Terry, played by Christopher Schulz, has reluctantly agreed to live with his ex-girlfriend Jill after being released from a minimum security prison. Jill, played by Morgan Smith, is obsessed with Terry and wants to do whatever she can to make him stay with her. To appease them both, they decide to enact a multi-player computer game, titled ‘Noir’.  A dark plotline follows, filled with intrigue, morally depraved decisions, and eventually — murder.

Morgan and Schulz’s performances were compelling — displaying both of their versatility and range. Despite the inherently dark theme of the play, the writing was witty and laced (thankfully) with moments of humour. At times, it was difficult to know when the play was within a fantasy and when it was ‘real-life’, but perhaps this was intentional. Ultimately, Ligature Marks challenges the audience to question their standards within relationships: how far are you willing to go in order to get what you want?

Location: Walterdale Playhouse (10322 83 Ave)

Performances:

Tuesday August 19: 9:30pm
Thursday August 21: 11:15pm
Friday August 22: 2:45pm
Saturday August 23: 6:45pm

More Information:

• https://www.facebook.com/events/803212269710857/?source=1
• http://www.fringetheatre.ca/

     Photo credit: DB Photographics.

The creators of Tudor Queens and A Bronte Burlesque bring us into the world of Hollywood glamour, where ethics are questioned and underlying motives exposed.

If you’re looking for a carefree, feel-good show, this isn’t it. Although the production is punctuated with a few fun dance performances, cast members Delia Barnett, Ellen Chorley, Chris W. Cook, Madelaine Knight and Elena Porter deliver on a raw and gritty performance. Questioning the allure of Hollywood, the audience is catapulted into the underpinnings and sacrifices of fame. Secrets, gossip, murder, and top 40 music—The Hollywoodland Burlesques really has it all. Buy a ticket if you would like to see a solid story and powerful performance.

Location: BYOV #46 La Cite Francophone (8627 91 Street)

Performances:

Monday, August 18 at 9:45 pm
Tuesday, August 19 at 3:30 pm
Wednesday, August 20 at 9:30 pm
Thursday, August 21 at 3:45 pm
Sunday, August 24 at 2:00 pm

More Information:

• http://www.sendinthegirlsburlesque.com/
• http://www.fringetheatre.ca/

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.

Friendly and fun loving individuals exchanging words and laughter over excellent beer is what took place at The Yellowhead Brewery last Wednesday, April 2 for The Local Good’s monthly Green Drinks event – featuring Local Literature.

As participants walked through the door, they received a unique mad lib, containing content crafted by a local author. Completing the mad lib granted submission for a chance to win stellar prize draws and interacting with others was the only way to do it.  Everyone wore a name tag dictated if they were a “noun” or a “verb” and this corresponded to which applicable words they would supply for the mad libs of others.

Well-known and respected individuals who are actively involved in Edmonton’s literature community later took center stage and shared their achievements and passions for the audience. Avid writers and readers weren’t the only ones in attendance at the event. A few folks from Rapid Fire Theatre gave entertaining performances in promotion for the upcoming Bonfire Festival taking place April 8 – 12.

The Brewery was packed and the event was a success – filled with good conversation, love for literature, and quality beer to accompany. The next Green Drinks event, taking place Wednesday, May 7,  will be exploring the theme of Good Business – Local, Green and Social Enterprise. Get your tickets here!

The next Green Drinks event will take place on Wednesday, April 2^nd at the Yellowhead Brewery.

This month’s theme celebrates Local Literature. Come to mingle with local authors, poets, editors, and storytellers. You might even take own your own piece of local literature as a door prize.

For more information, visit The Local Good or purchase tickets on Eventbrite. Act soon — tickets are selling fast.

See you there!