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Highlights

Isaac Friesen: From the Youth Stage to a Festival Coordinator

By Corine Demas

Isaac Friesen got started with Heart of the City by performing on the Youth Stage, and is now a key volunteer with the festival.

Ben Calf Robe Traditional Pow Wow
Zocalo is Back and Blooming

By Anita Jenkins
Servus 107th Avenue Branch to Relocate

By John Kolkman
Earth’s Refillery Coop Enters The Piazza

By Paula E. Kirman

Neighbourhood Views

McCauley Author Awarded for Debut Novel: Benjamin Hertwig (pictured above), McCauley resident and co-owner of Paper Birch Books, has received the Robert Kroetsch - City of Edmonton Book Prize on for his debut novel Juiceboxers. The $15,000 prize was presented by the Edmonton Arts Council at an awards ceremony on May 7th. Marilyn Dumont, who also lives in the area, was a runner-up for her poetry collection South Side of a Kinless River. Juiceboxers is also a finalist for Amazon Canada’s 2025 First Novel Award. The winner will be announced on June 5th. Caption: Paula E. Kirman. (Lisa Martin)

Good Friday Outdoor Way of the Cross: Edmonton’s 45th Annual Good Friday Outdoor Way of the Cross happened on April 18th. The theme was “Walking Together in Hope.” The walk began at Sacred Heart Church and stopped at several inner city locations where speakers talked about different aspects of social justice. (Paula E. Kirman)

Independent Bookstore Day in Little Italy: Independent Bookstore Day in Little Italy took place on April 26th at The Piazza, featuring extended hours at Paper Birch Books, a food truck, an indoor bicycle storage area, and more. Volunteer Amy Wong stamped people’s passports as they visited independent bookstores throughout the city. The event was supported by the Viva Italia District Association (VIDA). (Paula E. Kirman)

Colourful Blossoms in Bloom: One of several ornamental crabapple trees blooming near 96th Street and 102nd Avenue in mid-May. (Paula Kirman)

Green Leaves Signal Spring in Little Italy: Bright green treetops dominating the south side of Giovanni Caboto Park in mid-May. (Paula E. Kirman)

New Mural Celebrates Community Cultures: “The Land We Share,” a solar panel mural, has been installed on the north side of The SunRise at 10609 101st Street (formerly Capital Tower). Designed by Edmonton Indigenous artist Lance Cardinal, the mural celebrates First Nations and Chinese communities. It features animals representing the Seven Sacred Grandfather Teachings in Indigenous culture on the left and the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac on the right. (Paula E. Kirman)

Volunteers Clean Up McCauley: Volunteers like Gail Silvius gathered behind McCauley Apartments on May 3rd to help clean up the neighbourhood. The event was supported by the McCauley Community League and e4c. (Paula E. Kirman)

Sidewalk Inspiration in Boyle Street: An inspiring message written in chalk on a Boyle Street sidewalk seen in late March. (Alan Schietzsch)

Inside This Issue

The Problem Property Initiative in Boyle Street and McCauley

Here is what the City's Problem Property Initaitive has been up to in our area.
Another Choice for Diverse Treats in the Community

Dining Out By Alan Schietzsch

Another choice for cold treats representing delicious diversity.
Spring is Here - and So is Our AGM

McCauley Community League Update By Corine Demas

Our spring party was delayed, and our AGM is coming up soon.
Isaac Friesen: From the Youth Stage to a Festival Coordinator

Heart of the City Festival Society Artist Profile Series By Corine Demas

Isaac Friesen got started with Heart of the City by performing on the Youth Stage, and is now a key volunteer with the festival.
GLOW Spring Lantern Parade 2025

By Corine Demas

The GLOW Spring Lantern Parade represented connections between the arts and community.
Facing Our Challenges

MLA Update By Janis Irwin

Times have been challenging, but we can still celebrate summer.
Brain Injury Awareness Month

Ability and Community By Ian Young

June is Brain Injury Awareness Month - here are some resources.
A Little More About the Edmonton Intercultural Centre

Some more background on the EIC following its 10th anniversary back in December.
Discussing Politics

McCauley Musings By Paula E. Kirman

Some general post-election thoughts.Being aB
June-July 2025

Editor’s Notes By Paula E. Kirman

We're halfway through the year. Here are ways to connect and help.
Clarification

A clarification concerning an article in our previous issue.
Dog Walking Reminders

Important reminders for people who walk their dogs in the area.

Web Exclusives

Community Screenprinting Party

By Lisa Prins and Allison Sivak
Sharing Stories, Traditions, and History

By Paula E. Kirman
Local Authors Nominated for Edmonton Book Prize
Earth’s Refillery Coop Enters the Piazza

By Paula E. Kirman
Dragon Food Tour Nominated for Edmonton Tourism Award

By Paula E. Kirman
Trees in McCauley: The Past and Future of McCauley’s Urban Forest

By Gail Silvius
Through Their Lens: Indigenous Perspectives in Focus

By Gail Silvius
Lunar New Year in Chinatown Welcomes Year of the Snake

More web exclusives »

McCauley Historical Booklets

The McCauley Historical Booklets series is produced with the support of McCauley Revitalization/City of Edmonton.

View all booklets »

Upcoming Events

Jun

8

12pm – 4pm

Little Italy presents Love Local

The Piazza
Jun

19

5:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Parking Restrictions: Edmonton vs Montreal

Commonwealth Stadium Area
Jun

22

11:30am – 3:30pm

Peace Walk with Elder Lorette

McCauley Community Garden (9528 107 Ave.)

View all events »

Next Issue . . .

Volume 46, Issue 4 (August-September 2025) will be published August 1st, 2025. Articles and photos concerning community news, events, and opinions are welcome for both our print and online editions. We also occasionally accept submissions of poetry and cartoons. Deadline for the print edition: July 12th, 2025. Send submissions to: editor@bmcnews.org. Articles should be 400 words or less and accompanied by photographs (JPG, in high resolution) when possible.