Soak Up the Summer at an Outdoor Pool

The forecast is for hot summer sun and fun at the City of Edmonton’s outdoor pools!

It’s opening weekend at 3 of the City’s outdoor pools – Mill Creek, Fred Broadstock, and Queen Elizabeth. Come on, summer – we’re ready and waiting! Grab your swimsuit, your family and friends and jump in.

Mill Creek Outdoor Pool

9555-84 Avenue
11am – 9pm daily

Fred Broadstock Outdoor Pool

10515-158 Street
11am – 7pm daily

Queen Elizabeth Outdoor Pool

9170 Walterdale Hill
11am – 7pm daily

Borden Park Outdoor Pool (11200-74 Street) and Oliver Outdoor Pool (119 Steet and 103 Avenue) will open Saturday, June 2, 2012 with hours from 11am to 7pm on weekends and 3pm to 7pm on weekdays.

Operating hours are subject to change and pools may close due to inclement weather. For daily outdoor pool updates or for more information, visit www.edmonton.ca/outdoorpools.

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City Hall Career Centre Goes Digital

Edmonton only municipality in Canada with unique approach to recruitment

The City of Edmonton is on the leading edge of its employee recruitment with the opening of the new Digital Career Centre in City Hall. Located across from the Citizen and New Arrival Information Centre, the centre features three touch-screen monitors and two computers to provide an interactive and engaging experience for job seekers.

Through state-of-the-art technology, visitors can see the City of Edmonton’s workforce in action, view job opportunities and apply directly online to positions. Visitors can also watch videos that showcase the diversity of careers available and learn first hand from City employees about many of these jobs. It will also help the City streamline the more than 80,000 applications it receives every year.

“Through the centre, we can more effectively target employment and labour market needs, helping individuals make positive and successful career decisions,” said Aly Moorji, Recruitment Team Lead.

It’s this comprehensive and client-centered employment service that will help the City continue to build on its dynamic and diverse workforce of more than 11,000 permanent and temporary staff members.

“Looking for a new job can be a challenging process, especially for those new to Canada, grappling with not only a new home and culture, but for some a new language,” said Moorji. “It’s that spirit of diversity and inclusion that makes Edmonton such an innovative and welcoming community.”

Both the Digital Career Centre and the Citizen and New Arrival Information Centre add to the number of services that help newcomers settle in Edmonton.

One-on-one assistance is available at the centre Monday through Friday from 10am to 2pm.

The Digital Career Centre is a collaborative effort between the City of Edmonton and Alberta Human Services.

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It’s Not Too Late to Sign Up for the Subway® Coronation Triathlon

It’s not too late to get active in the City of Edmonton’s 28th annual Subway® Coronation Triathlon – one of Alberta’s first urban triathlons. There’s still time to sign up to go for gold or to help out behind the scenes. This exciting event is sure to bring out the super athlete in all who participate.

Date:  Sunday May 27, 2012
Time:  7am–2pm
Location:  Peter Hemingway Fitness and Leisure Centre, 13808-111 Avenue

Compete

The course kicks off with a 1 km swim at the Peter Hemingway Fitness and Leisure Centre, transitions to a 26 km cycle over Groat Road, and ends with an 8 km run through Coronation Park to Mackinnon Ravine and back. Register as an individual or as a team of 2 or 3. Participants must be at least 16 years old.

Volunteer

Experience the excitement of the triathlon by volunteering. There are volunteer opportunities for all ages and abilities on race day. High school students can accumulate volunteer hours toward volunteer requirements. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old unless accompanied by an adult. To volunteer, please call 780-496-4935, email rfsvolunteer@edmonton.ca or visit www.edmonton.ca/SubwayCoronationTriathlon and follow the volunteer links.

For more information, please visit www.edmonton.ca/SubwayCoronationTriathlon.

Registration

To register to participate in the Subway® Coronation Triathlon, please visit karelo.com.
Online registration only.

Registration deadline is Tuesday May 22, 2012.

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Keep an Eye Out for the Wheeled Ones!

Motorcyclists face higher risks than other drivers

The warm spring weather has resulted in more than just greener grass, blooming buds and smiling citizens. It also means there are far more motorcyclists sharing the road.

Unfortunately, the increased presence of motorcyclists doesn’t always come along with an increased awareness by other drivers, and each group must exercise vigilance in order to save lives and prevent serious injuries.

“Motorcycle operators are more vulnerable to being seriously injured or killed if they’re involved in a collision,” says Gerry Shimko, Executive Director, Office of Traffic Safety, City of Edmonton. “Other drivers must remind themselves that these vehicles are out in large numbers this time of year. That awareness can go a long way toward preventing collisions.”

For their part, motorcyclists must take extra steps to  minimize risks on city streets and area highways. It is important that operators use roads suited for their skill level, wear the proper protective gear, watch for unexpected actions by other drivers and adhere to the posted speed limit.

A video provided courtesy of the Transport Accident Commission in Geelong, Victoria (Australia) shows the importance of motorcyclists following the speed limit.



“Driving even a few kilometres an hour less can make a significant difference in reaction time,” adds Shimko. “Motorcyclists have the same rights as every other road user but the reality is that the consequences of a collision with another vehicle are always far worse for the person riding the motorcycle.”

Research by the Foothills Medical Centre at the University of Calgary shows that motorcyclists are more than 3.5 times more likely to get injured or die than other motor vehicle drivers. “All of the injuries in motorcyclists occurred during the summer months, leading to an adjusted risk of almost 8 times compared with that of the motor vehicle driver,” said Dr. Rick Buckly who co-authored a research paper on the dangers faced by motorcylists.

In 2011, there were 199 motorcycle collisions in Edmonton that resulted in 4 deaths and 139 injuries.

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Edmonton Named as Host City for Women’s World Cup Canada 2015

FIFA, the international governing body of soccer, and the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) have named Edmonton as 1 of 6 official Host Cities for the 2015 Women’s World Cup.

The Women’s World Cup – the largest single sports event for women in the world – will be the first single sport event in Canada to be held from coast to coast.

“These games will be an inspiration for our young soccer players, great fast-paced entertainment for local fans and a fantastic way to share Alberta with millions of soccer enthusiasts around the world,” said Alberta Premier Alison Redford.

“The FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada is a fantastic opportunity for our country and we’re very proud to be a part of it,” said Edmonton’s Mayor Stephen Mandel. “When we host major events in Edmonton, we take the celebration beyond the stadium and it is embraced by our entire community. The summer of 2015 will be something really special for Edmontonians and the athletes and coaches we host from around the world will have a true Canadian experience.”

Edmonton has a strong history of stellar women’s soccer events. The 2002 FIFA U-19 Women’s World Cup Championship final had the largest audience ever for a women’s youth match.

“Canada 2015 has already made history as this will be the first FIFA Women’s World Cup in which 24 national teams will participate,” said FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, who attended the announcement in Ottawa. “The Host Cities play a crucial role in delivering a FIFA competition, and I am sure that seeing world-class footballers across Canada will inspire a whole new generation of girls and women to get involved in the game.”

Canada was selected in 2011 as the host country for the Women’s World Cup. The CSA then initiated a process to select a minimum of 6 host cities.

Other host cities in 2015 will be Moncton, New Brunswick; Montreal, Quebec; Ottawa, Ontario; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The federal, provincial and municipal governments are partnering with the Canadian Soccer Association to present the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015.

Early next year CSA and FIFA will announce the schedule of which games will be held in the host cities. All games will be held in Commonwealth Stadium.

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