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Highlights

Denis Frigon: A Polished Production and Magical Moments

By Rachael Roberts

A profile of Denis Frigon, who has played Heart of the City a number of times with different acts.

Remembering Emile Moisan

By Candas Jane Dorsey
Club 97 Enters The Quarters

By Corine Demas
Springtime in McCauley
Hidden Sophistication on 97th Street

By Alan Schietzsch

Neighbourhood Views

Blessing Chinatown Businesses: Although the annual outdoor Lunar New Year parade was cancelled due to extreme cold weather, several Lion Dance teams blessed the businesses along 97th Street and area on February 22nd. Pictured above is the Hong De Dragon and Lion Dance Association. This annual tradition was supported by the Chinatown Business Improvement Area (BIA). (Manual Focus Photography - Ruth Ng)

Giovanni Caboto Park Illuminated: The entrance to Giovanni Caboto Park lit up at night. (Paula E. Kirman)

Family Day at the Rink Rescheduled: This year, Family Day at the Rink did not actually happen on the Family Day weekend. Unseasonably warm temperatures resulted in ice maintenance issues at the McCauley Rink. Instead, the event was held the following weekend on February 22nd when colder weather allowed for better ice conditions. As always, the event featured horse-drawn wagon rides, a bonfire, skating, live music, and a community meal prepared by the Pagnotta-Mannarino family in memory of Albert Pagnotta. Pictured above: Steven Johnson (centre) entertains by the bonfire as Antonio Pagnotta (left) and Sandra Der enjoy the music. (Paula E. Kirman)

JJay Studio Gets Moving in McCauley: Jayelle Warken, founder of JJay Studio which opened on February 28th at 10816 95th Street, poses next to the studio’s logo. She worked in mental health and addiction for the past eight years before following her dream of opening a neighbourhood studio. The studio’s focus is on movement including yoga, Pilates, breathwork, Qigong, and somatic dance. (Paula E. Kirman)

Colours Coming Out at Night: The colours of Boyle Street Community Services’ okimaw peyesew kamik / King Thunderbird Centre after dark. (Paula E. Kirman)

Welcoming the Year of the Horse with Lunar New Year Celebrations at the RAM: The annual outdoor Lunar New Year parade on 97th Street was cancelled due to extreme cold weather, so the Chinatown Business Improvement Area (BIA) took all of the celebrations indoors at the Royal Alberta Museum on February 22nd. The event featured Indigenous drumming and dancing from Dancing Cree. This is the first year that Indigenous dancers danced with the drumming for the Lion Dance, and the Lions danced along with the Indigenous drums. (Manual Focus Photography - Wesley Ng )

Valentine’s Day Memorial March: The annual Valentine’s Day Memorial March happened on February 14th at Sacred Heart Church. The march commemorates missing and murdered Indigenous women in Alberta. (Paula E. Kirman)

Togather Chinatown Gathers in New Location: The 2026 Togather Chinatown Arts Festival took place on February 7th and 8th in a new location: Pacific Mall. The festival features local artists, organizations, and small businesses that are community-minded and represent diversity and inclusion. (Paula E. Kirman)

International Women’s Day Luncheon: The Chinatown Transformation Collaborative Society hosted a luncheon on March 8th at The Lingnan Restaurant to celebrate International Women’s Day with inspirational stories from women leaders representing different cultures and communities. From left: Teresa Spinelli of the Italian Centre Shop, Sandra Azocar (President of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees), Donna Coombs-Montrose (Edmonton’s Historian Laureate), and The Lingnan’s Amy Quon. (Dan Hempel)

Welcoming the Year of the Horse with Lunar New Year Celebrations at the RAM: The annual outdoor Lunar New Year parade on 97th Street was cancelled due to extreme cold weather, so the Chinatown Business Improvement Area (BIA) took all of the celebrations indoors at the Royal Alberta Museum on February 22nd. This is the popular and colourful Lion Dance. (Larry Wong)

Shanghai Night at Emperor’s Palace: The Chinatown Transformation Collaborative’s Shanghai Night on January 31st welcomed the Year of the Horse with entertainment, food, and a 1930s Shanghai glamour dress theme. The sold-out event took place at the Emperor’s Palace (10638 100th Street). (Paula E. Kirman)

Ceremonial Puck Drop at McCauley Cup: From left: EPS Chief Warren Driechel and Edmonton Oilers Alumni Al Hamilton and Georges Laroque drop the puck in the ceremonial face-off to begin the 15th annual McCauley Cup on January 24th. (Paula E. Kirman)

Inside This Issue

Springtime in McCauley

The community rink space and other parts of the neighbourhood will be activated this spring season with lots of opportunities to bring the community together.
Denis Frigon: A Polished Production and Magical Moments

Heart of the City Festival Society Artist Profile Series By Rachael Roberts

A profile of Denis Frigon, who has played Heart of the City a number of times with different acts.
Hundreds of Walkers Show Community Pride and Brave Frigid Temperatures to Support Bissell Centre

Hundreds of people walked on a cold evening for a good cause.
Hidden Sophistication on 97th Street

Dining Out By Alan Schietzsch

It's a cafe, cocktail bar, and restaurant serving high class food and drinks in Chinatown.
April is Poetry Month

By Jon Lai

A short poem about reading poetry.
Meeting Our Community’s Needs

MLA Update By Janis Irwin

The aras's MLA is back in the legislature and also in and around our community.
Spring Reflections

Update from City Council By Anne Stevenson

A reflection on current events in Boyle Street and McCauley, including Chinatown and Little Italy.
It’s Tax Time Again

Ability and Community By Ian Young

Are you a low-income person needing help with your taxes? Here are some options.
April-May 2026

Editor’s Notes By Paula E. Kirman

Here's what happening with the paper as spring arrives.
Two Decades Later

McCauley Musings By Paula E. Kirman

Reflection about the paper, 20 years later.

Web Exclusives

Citizen Initiative Petition: No New Coal Mining in the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains

By Gail Silvius
Volunteering at the Rink

By Gail Silvius
Citizen Initiative Petition Addresses Public School Funding

By Gail Silvius
The Piazza is Under New Ownership

By Paula E. Kirman
Book Examines the Exclusion Act

By Gail Silvius
Seasons at Ociciwan Gallery

By Gail Silvius
Seeds and Saplings at the Rink

By Gail Silvius
The “Tenderbox”

By Darcia Parada

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

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Next Issue . . .

Volume 47, Issue 3 (June-July 2026) will be published June 1st, 2026. 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: May 12th, 2026. Send submissions to: editor@bmcnews.org. Articles should be 400 words or less and accompanied by photographs (JPG, in high resolution) when possible.