AV (Ann Vriend) is a McCauley resident who makes an impact with her music. She is still well-known for the outdoor porch concerts held in front of her home during the height of the COVD-19 pandemic which brought people from the neighbourhood - and beyond - together.

Her newest song is "A Dollar & A Suitcase. It was released in May and features AV's band of all-women vocalists, The Inner City. The song tells the story of AV's grandmother's immigration from The Netherlands to Canada in 1951, and was writte as a gift for AV's mother's 60th birthday.

"I think the hope is a remembrance of, or a deepened appreciation of the sacrifices and journeys of those who came before us, especially those of our mothers and matriarchs," says Laurelle K., a member of the Inner City, who responded to interview questions because AV was putting family first and attending to her mother's health. 

"Ann actually wrote this song years ago before AV & the Inner City was even an idea. It was inspired by a detail from her mom and grandmother’s immigration story, When they were separated to travel overseas, her grandmother promised to give her young daughter a dollar if she was brave and didn’t cry. Of course there were tears, but when she reached into her pocket to get a tissue she found a dollar there as well, planted in advance by her mother, knowing full well that tears were inevitable, but bravery was still present and rewarded. Ann arranged the song for the group just this last year, and we had the privilege of debuting the arrangement as a surprise for her mom’s birthday. That experience, and the song itself hold even more meaning and relevance now that her health has taken a turn for the worst, which is why I’m doing my best to answer these questions on Ann’s behalf while she focuses on family," Laurelle explains.

McCauley has had a deep influence on AV's music. "McCauley is where the group was formed through Ann's weekly porch concerts. I am aware that many of the families within the community of McCauley are immigrants facing a myriad of struggles including separation from family and loved ones overseas. McCauley and the issues the community faces is a common theme in Ann’s music," Laurelle says.

"Ann and her family are dealing with a lot at the moment, and that the meaning behind this song is hitting home a little harder for us these days," Laurelle continues. "We would love for you to have a listen if you haven’t yet, and also go check out the music video on AV & the Inner City’s YouTube channel. Follow and subscribe while you’re there as well."

You can hear the song and watch the official video here.

Paula E. Kirman is the Editor of Boyle McCauley News.

The second Rockin' Thunder shook the north side on July 11th and 12th at the former Northlands Racetrack.

"I hope there won't be actual thunder," commented one of my friends when I mentioned where I was spending that weekend. Oh, how I wish those words were only a joke and not prophetic. However, the wild weather patterns that have been affecting the city struck once again. Before things could even get started on the Saturday, attendees had to evacuated into the Expo Centre for protection from the sudden flash storm. 

Calling All Captains, a local punk band, was supposed to be the first act on the main stage. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans, although the band did appear twice later in the day at the YEG ROCKS stage.  

Fortunately, the weather lifted for Bif Naked, one of the highlights for me that weekend. She was in fine form dancing around the stage while belting out classics like "Lucky Ones," "I Love Myself Today," and "Spaceman." 

Day one of the festival included Grandson, The Glorious Sons, and Three Days Grace.

Fortunately, the weather held out on Sunday (for the most part). Calgary band Chilio for the afternoon going with youthful energy. 

One of the many reasons many people attended Rockin' Thunder was to experience Paul Langlois, who was introduced as Canadian rock royalty. The Tragically Hip guitaristone of the guitar players in The Tragically Hip. He was introduced as Canadian rock royalty, and that is not an exaggeration. He performed mostly originals with his new band, but also a few Hip classics like "Grace, Too," "Bobcaygeon," and "What Kings."

The rest of the lineup included Buckcherry, Mammoth (featuring Wolfgang Van Halen - yes, the son of the late, great Eddie Van Halen), and Creed. 

Rockin' Thunder was emceed once again by Rick Campanelli, forever in my brain as "Rick the Temp" from his MuchMusic VJ days. 

I look forward to how the next Rockin' Thunder will shake up the north side in 2027.

Paula E. Kirman is the Editor of Boyle McCauley News.

At the Annual General Meeting for the Boyle Street Community League in July, I invited everyone present to chat with each other about what they love about the neighbourhood, what they would love to nourish in Boyle Street, and what they want to nourish in themselves as community members. The conversation was just a small taste of the type of questions I’ll be bringing to Boyle Street over the next few months. 

In that conversation, people expressed their love for the multicultural nature and diversity of the community. They appreciate that the neighbourhood is rich with relationships, and that it is easy to walk to many interesting nearby attractions. 

While some people also mentioned feeling isolated in the community, others celebrated how connected they feel. Some long-time community leaders said they would like to step back from their leadership roles and help to mentor a new generation. 

I will be inviting all interested Boyle Street residents to join us in more of these types of conversations until the fall. To ensure we have as many people as possible involved, in the first phase of the work I will connect with current Community League members, those who respond to the posters and handbills delivered around the neighbourhood, and people other neighbours connect me with. We are looking to connect with anyone who lives in the neighbourhood and cares about it! You can chat with me without committing to any long-term involvement.

Once we have spoken with a good number of neighbours, we will host some fun workshops sharing what we love about the neighbourhood, what we would love to nourish in the neighbourhood, and how to ensure this work supports us as whole humans. We would love to have you involved! 

After that, we’ll make a plan to do the things we’ve identified and head into the next phase of nurturing Boyle Street as the beautiful place we call home.

I’m excited to meet people in the neighbourhood! If you are a Boyle Street resident and would like to be involved or learn more, contact me at community@boylestreetcl.com, or fill out this form: https://tinyurl.com/5cu5c58h.

Around 40 volunteers from TELUS helped revitalize outdoor community spaces, organize clothing donations, and spent time with seniors supported by Operation Friendship Seniors Society (OFSS) during the TELUS Days of Giving in late May.

“At a time when many community organizations are facing increasing demand and limited resources, volunteer support has never been more important. We’re incredibly grateful to the TELUS team for stepping up and making a meaningful impact through TELUS Days of Giving,” says Jimmy Morrison, Community Relations Manager at Operation Friendship Seniors Society. 

Somewhere Cycles celebrated its first anniversary on June 14th. Celebrations included a group ride, followed by a party in The Piazza outside Paper Birch Books. The bike shop is owned by area resident Kevin Schmidt and located at 10816A 95th Street. 

That is exactly what I experienced at Heart of the City. I spent the afternoon there with my daughter and friends, and it was one of those days that reminded me why community matters so much. The music, art, local vendors, activities, and treats were all so delightful, but events like this do more than entertain. They strengthen relationships, create new connections, and remind us that our public spaces are places where we belong together. In a world that can feel divided or disconnected, these shared moments matter. 

Equally as important as these individual events, so too are the spaces where they take place. It’s been wonderful to see neighbourhood renewal come to Boyle Street and McCauley and I’m keen to see these investments continue. We’ve started conversations about our four-year budget and maintaining our current public spaces has been a big priority. I’m pleased that repairs and maintenance to the Giovanni Caboto Park washroom building was noted in the City’s initial four year capital budget, and I’ll also be advocating for funding for upgrades to existing parks and playgrounds to help keep these community assets in the best shape possible. 

Speaking of important community assets, Council recently gave the go-ahead for further work on the Residential Parking Permit Program. I know last time this was reviewed, many of you had concerns about the one-size fits all approach and missing details at the local level. City staff are going to develop a proposed program that will come to Council for approval in early 2027. This will lay out a process for implementing the Residential Parking Permit Program in individual neighbourhoods, which will involve many opportunities for residents to provide feedback and make sure the program is the right one for the area. I will keep you posted on opportunities to be involved in the future!

Also on the parking front, City Council has taken steps to address surface lots in The Quarters. Many of these parking lots are currently unlicensed, and the City gave property owners a year to obtain the required permits. That grace period has now expired and the City will now start enforcement to ensure these sites are properly maintained and operated. We’ve already seen some positive turnover in these unlicensed lots, with properties being put up for sale that we hope will go to new owners who can get them developed.

Our communities are strongest when we come together. Whether it’s through festivals, parks, housing, or neighbourhood events, every investment in connection helps build a more welcoming and vibrant Ward O-day’min. There are as always a host of great events happening in McCauley and Boyle Street in the coming months - like Felice Café Block Parties, with the next one happening on August 12th. I encourage you to check it out and hope to see many of you there!

Anne Stevenson, City Councillor for Ward O-day’min
Email: anne.stevenson@edmonton.ca
Phone: 780-496-8333

And just like that, it’s August! What a wonderful summer we’ve had so far (even with the very rainy days). I’ve deeply enjoyed spending as much time as possible outdoors in the neighbourhoods I’m so proud to represent in the Alberta Legislature. Whether I’m attending festivals, holding walking meetings with constituents, or knocking on doors, being outside in our beautiful community is so restorative for me, especially when I’m able to connect with so many of you.

As I’ve said a lot, representing Boyle Street and McCauley is such an honour and a privilege, and as we near the start of a new school year, I’ve been reflecting on the commitments that I’ve made in my role as your MLA: 

• My commitment to students, teachers, parents, and school communities; that I’ll keep doing my best to advocate for learning environments that are safe, well-funded, and inclusive.
• My commitment to healthcare workers and public health care; that I’ll show my gratitude for the ceaseless hard work of those on the frontlines by advocating for appropriate funding, respecting their expertise and service, and by doing everything I can to protect our public health care system so it’s there for everyone, no matter who they are or how much money they have.
• My commitment to our constituency, our province, and our country; that I’ll always speak up for you, for your safety, for your human rights, for our democracy, and for our beautiful country of Canada. We are all Treaty people, and this reminder grounds my work every single day.  

Friends, I know that we have a long way to go towards building an equitable, kind, and supportive province for all Albertans. I will keep advocating and I will keep listening, and I’m so honoured to continue this work together with you.

I hope that you are all finding joy and connection wherever possible. Please remember that I am here to help, so if you need anything, would like to share your thoughts or feedback, or meet with me, please reach out!

And, as always, please continue to take care of yourselves and each other.

Janis Irwin, MLA for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood
Email: Edmonton.HighlandsNorwood@assembly.ab.ca
Phone: 780-414-0682

The McCauley Community League’s AGM in June was a success. We had some folks leaving the board and I would like to recognize their good work and efforts. John Gee was Treasurer for four years. Thank you, John, for your steady work and for putting your love of numbers to the benefit of the community. 

Justine Dyck was a board member who stepped up to be Vice President last year with so much good cheer and practical lovely energy, but has now stepped down. She hopes to become an active community member and volunteer. Justine, we thank you for your good work and will be glad to work with you in the future.  

Corine Demas, who has shepherded the League through a lot over the past four years, stepped down as President but will carry on in her determined and creative way as Events Director. 

There are still opportunities for community volunteers and room on our board for more members. If you would like to work alongside us to make this community better, you are welcome to join. Thank you to the good folks at the Santa Maria Goretti Centre for hosting our meeting. 

Thank you to all who participated in the clothing swap in June. It was a successful and fun event. There were over 40 people who came out to exchange clothing and find a few new things for the season. Thank you for who organized and helped make it a success. 

August and September will be still busy, but I hope that there will be enough time for you to enjoy the gardens and parks of McCauley and meet your neighbours. There will be plenty of opportunities to meet together at the McCauley Community Orchard or the community rink space or at a festival at The Piazza. 

Website: mccauleycl.com
Email: league@mccauleycl.com
Facebook: @mccauleycommunityleague

Ruth Sorochan lives in McCauley with her family and is the Communications Director with the McCauley Community League.

For more than 20 years the Heart of the City Music and Arts Festival has taken place in Giovanni Caboto Park as a free, family-friendly celebration of music and art. Instead of a two-day festival, this year the organizers opted to run a music jam during the afternoon of Saturday, June 5th. Participants and volunteers were given a t-shirt and enjoyed bannock from Tee Pee Treats and Caribbean food from Island Spice Food Truck. A small art tent hosted crafts and kids were encouraged to join the fun with drums, shakers, ukeleles, and whistles. The weather held and not a drop of rain fell from the sky, despite a rainy forecast.

The afternoon began with youth performances hosted by the Well Network, a local social enterprise with a mission to coordinate creative programming. Heart of the City alumnus and McCauley darling Stella Johnson delivered an amazing show while jammers signed up to secure their spot on the lineup. After dinner was served, local band Tiger Coffee performed. 

Next was the sing-along, and songbooks were passed around the crowd. In the booklets were the lyrics to six pre-selected songs. Jammers were invited to sing and play along. During the next half hour, the sweet and joyful sounds coming from the collective voices of the participants filled the park with harmonies. Following the sing-along, the musicians who had signed up for an open mic spot got their chance to perform. Finally, at 10 p.m., Heart of the City wrapped up production after a successful show.

Heart of the City was reduced to a one-day event this summer, but the organizers are planning on delivering more programming throughout the year, and we need your help. If you would like to volunteer with the festival, visit our website at heartcityfest.com.

Rachael Roberts is a board member with the Heart of the City Festival, where she has volunteered since 2013, and recently joined the board of Boyle McCauley News. She is a mother, a teacher, and a lifelong Edmontonian who loves this community. 

Music is universal and can be of any language (even for those deaf and hard of hearing). Different abilities can mean different interpretations when it comes to music.

For those with physical disabilities, barriers are common in performance venues. To address this, Voice of Albertans With Disabilities Society (VAD) is presenting Voices Without Barriers, Alberta’s first fully accessible indoor music festival.

It takes place Saturday, September 26th, 2026, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Westin Downtown Edmonton. From VAD’s website:

This inaugural festival is being built from the ground up with accessibility as its foundation. It will bring together music, community, connection, and belonging in a welcoming indoor environment where Albertans with disabilities, families, artists, advocates, and supporters can gather and celebrate together.

About the Festival

Voices Without Barriers is more than a music festival. It is a first of its kind initiative in Alberta that is redefining what accessibility, inclusion, and community engagement can look like in live events. The festival will prioritize Albertans with disabilities and intentionally uplift Indigenous artists with disabilities, while ensuring fair and equitable compensation for performers.

The event will feature accessibility focused supports and inclusive design elements, including:

• Silent market
• Sensory friendly space
• Tactile features for attendees who are hearing or visually impaired
• Accessible venue design
• Inclusive music and arts experiences

Festival planning also includes supports such as tactile transducers, live captioning, sensory friendly spaces, and other accessibility features that help remove barriers to participation.

For more information, including ticket prices (and how to purchase them) and sponsorship opportunities, visit https://vadsociety.ca.

Ian Young is a columnist and Block Carrier with the paper. He lives in the area. 

The Red Shoe Walk initially kicked off in 2013 when RJ Formanek wanted to start a conversation about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). As an adult who has FASD, he thought educating people and showcasing his diverse skillset and reliance was important. And the Red Shoe Walk was born.

RJ figured he should stand out – red shoes did the trick. With his crimson kicks, RJ took to the street in his Ontario hometown, stopping to talk with anyone willing to learn about FASD. Formanek’s initiative took off and has been adopted across the country, with Red Shoe Walks taking place in major cities across Canada each year. 

Bissell Centre, in partnership with Unlimited Potential - Open Arms, is holding its Red Shoe Walk on Wednesday, September 9th, 2026. It starts at noon, departing from Sir Winston Churchill Square and strolling through downtown Edmonton helping to spark conversations about FASD.

Bissell Centre’s programs and services are largely informed through a strengths-based lens to better support people with FASD. This includes programs specifically catered to people with FASD such as the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum of Services (FASS), the permanent supportive housing site Hope Terrace, and the new supportive recovery house Den of Willows. These programs help work towards Bissell Centre’s vision to eliminate poverty in the community.

“These conversations about FASD are important because of how widespread this condition can be,” says Sophia Mejia, Manager of Specialized Services at Bissell Centre. “Approximately four per cent of people in Canada have FASD — that’s more than autism, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome combined. It’s a highly misunderstood condition and no two people with FASD are alike.”

FASD affects people differently depending on when alcohol was introduced to their fetal development. Alcohol slows down development, both physically and mentally. How FASD affects a person is highly individualized and often requires individualized programs and supports.

“Everyone has unique strengths and our wraparound supports programs help individuals with FASD uncover their strengths and lean on them to find their stability,” says Mejia. “The Red Shoe Walk is meant to spark conversations about FASD and demonstrate how wraparound supportive living can help so many people live with dignity and find  opportunities to play a meaningful role in their communities.”

Join us on September 9th for the Red Shoe Walk and help spread better understanding about FASD. Visit bissellcentre.org to learn more about FASD and Bissell Centre’s supports for people with FASD. 

Information submitted by Bissell Centre.

The Heart and Plate
8157 112 Avenue
825-480-8811
theheartandplate.com

Breakfast restaurants seem to fall into two categories these days: chain operations with long lineups and premium prices, or small neighbourhood spots that quietly go about serving good food without much fuss. The Heart and Plate belongs firmly in the second category, and that’s exactly what makes it such a welcome addition to the area. 

From the moment we walked in, it felt comfortable and inviting. Booth seating lines the large front windows, while tables with polished black granite tops fill the dining room. We were fortunate to grab a spot by the window, making it easy to watch the neighbourhood wake up while enjoying breakfast.

The service set the tone immediately. Rather than simply taking our order, our server carefully asked how we wanted everything prepared, from egg preferences to toast choices. It was a small detail, but one that demonstrated a genuine commitment to getting breakfast right.

Our table sampled a variety of dishes, including the Smoked Salmon Benny, Avocado Toast, Chocolate Dream Pancakes with bacon, and the Canadian Breakfast with ham.

The Smoked Salmon Benny delivered everything one hopes for from a classic eggs Benedict variation. The rich hollandaise, perfectly prepared eggs, and generous portions of smoked salmon were combined into a satisfying breakfast that felt indulgent without being overpowering.

The Avocado Toast showcased the restaurant’s attention to quality ingredients. Fresh, colourful, and thoughtfully prepared, it offered a lighter option that still felt  substantial.

One of the surprises of the morning was the fruit garnish accompanying several dishes. Every piece tasted perfectly ripe. There were no woody melon chunks, no overripe berries, and none of the disappointing fruit that often appears as an afterthought on breakfast plates. It was clear someone in the kitchen cared about the details and had hand-selected their ingredients.

My brother-in-law’s Chocolate Dream Pancakes quickly became a table favourite. The pancakes themselves were exceptionally fluffy, while the chocolate flavour was present without becoming overly sweet. They struck a balance that would satisfy both children and adults. Alongside them came crisp bacon cooked exactly as bacon should be: crunchy, savoury, and not under or over-salted.

The Canadian Breakfast with ham delivered the kind of hearty, traditional breakfast that remains popular for good reason. It was generous, well prepared, and comforting without trying to reinvent anything. 

What impressed us most about The Heart and Plate was how effortlessly it competes with Edmonton’s more celebrated breakfast destinations. The food quality easily rivals any of the city’s default brunch spots, yet the atmosphere feels relaxed and approachable. There is something refreshing about enjoying an excellent breakfast without navigating crowds, complicated menus, or inflated prices.

Its location also makes it surprisingly convenient. Residents from nearby neighbourhoods will appreciate having a dependable breakfast destination close to home. For commuters coming from Highlands, it would make an easy stop on the way to work, while visitors from other parts of the city can reach it with a short walk from Stadium LRT Station. It’s also directly across from The Yards and Norwood Legion.

Most of all, The Heart and Plate feels like the kind of restaurant every neighbourhood hopes to have: welcoming, comfortable, and consistently good. Sitting by the windows with a cup of coffee and a hearty breakfast, it was easy to forget about the rush of the day outside. In a city increasingly filled with corporate chains and “designed” destination brunch spots, The Heart and Plate proves there is still plenty of room for an “ordinary” restaurant that isn’t ordinary: it simply does everything well. For local residents, that’s a welcome bonus indeed. 

The Heart and Plate serves breakfast until 11:30 a.m. on weekdays and until noon on weekends. After that, the restaurant switches to an extensive menu featuring lunch and diner items including salads, burgers, paninis, Italian dishes, and a variety of other entrees. We can’t wait to go back later in the day and see what their evening dining is like!

Alan Schietzsch lives in McCauley and is a member of the paper’s Board of Directors.

Bissell Centre cut the ribbon on its new supportive recovery housing site, Den of Willows on June 9th. Located in the Delton neighbourhood, Den of Willows features 24/7 wraparound supports for individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder ( FASD) looking to continue their journeys out of addiction. The four individuals calling Den of Willows home officially moved in back in January 2026 and say they are already experiencing the positive benefits of having access to trauma-informed and specifically catered supports.

“Having a culturally safe space allows me to interact with my spiritual path and become a better version of myself,” says Chance Goddard, a Den of Willows resident. “I have found the thing that all us residents say more than anything else is how wonderful it is to have a home that is ours for as long as we want and a small community to belong to.” 

Den of Willows has four main goals in supporting its residents: 

• Supporting them as they come out of recovery. 
• Focusing on their unique needs based on their FASD. 
• Supporting sobriety in a stable living environment. 
• Helping people towards long-term housing retention. 

People living at Den of Willows either have or may have FASD, are in recovery from addiction, and have histories of chronic homelessness. Staff at the supportive recovery housing site support the residents with life skills development, employment readiness, cultural connection, and referrals to health and community services. 

“Den of Willows fills an important gap for people coming out of treatment who may experience homelessness because they don’t have any options for housing that supports their sobriety,” says Candace Noble, Bissell Centre’s Executive Services Officer. “Den of Willows ensures people with FASD who were experiencing addiction are supported in their recovery and can integrate into community.”   

Den of Willows is part of Bissell Centre’s larger housing strategy, a three-year plan to increase housing options through collaborative partnerships with government, funders, and other service providers. Building on experience and expertise from operating Hope Terrace, Bissell Centre is focused on providing sustainable, human-centered housing options that nurture healthy communities by improving people's overall wellbeing and creating additional independent housing opportunities.  

“At Bissell Centre, we believe that access to safe and affordable housing is a vital aspect for ending poverty. Our Housing Development Strategy charts a course for Bissell’s contribution to expanding sustainable housing in Edmonton,” says Johanna Knettig, Co-CEO with Bissell Centre. “Tackling the housing crisis in a sustainable, human-centered way is our shared responsibility. Implementation will require collaboration with all orders of government, community partners, Indigenous Nations, and the private sector. We are grateful to work with partners who share the goal of ensuring healthy communities and are excited to continue this work together.”   

Rick Wilson, Minister of Mental Health and Addiction, says, “Recovery housing is a key part of Alberta’s Recovery Model, helping people transition from treatment into long-term stability. Our government is proud to support initiatives like Den of Willows supportive recovery house, improving outcomes for individuals, and strengthening communities across the province.”

Information submitted by Bissell Centre.

Full photo caption: From left: Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood MLA Janis Irwin; Alberta Minister of Mental Health and Addiction Rick Wilson; Den of Willows residents Sage Fluet, Chance Goddard, and Lexi Whitford; Bissell Centre Co-CEO Johanna Knettig; and Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack cut the ribbon on Den of Willows, Bissell Centre’s new supportive recovery housing site, on June 9th. Photo supplied by Bissell Centre.

Boyle McCauley News takes an active approach to documenting local history. Our content is heavily geared towards coverage of events and news from a uniquely local perspective. 

We also make sure that copies of the paper are accessible to anyone, even if they live outside of the area the paper covers. Every year we send copies of the paper to the City of Edmonton Archives to be added to our collection there. This started around 2009 when we went through our office and donated a copy of each issue of which we had a physical copy.

As well, we have an extensive archive of back issues on our website at bmcnews.org. The older issues are in PDF format, while the ones posted since around 2010 (when our website went live) are in website format   with clickable articles and photos, and also as PDFs that are exactly like the print edition, ads and all. 

We also have an electronic archive of searchable PDFs at Newspapers.com, providing another access point for researchers anywhere.

Our archives are not complete because we simply did not have a copy of every issue of the paper, particularly older editions. However, we have most of them. Hopefully our efforts will bear fruit for researchers of the area.

Speaking of our website, that is the place to go if you want to enjoy more of the paper between issues. At bmcnews.org there is exclusive content, an archive of back issues, the opportunity to sign up for our free e-newsletter, and more. On social media you can follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @bmcnews and Bluesky at @bmcnews.bsky.social.

Do you want to get involved with Boyle McCauley News? Our writers, photographers, proofreaders, and Block Carriers are all volunteers. If you want to learn more about volunteer opportunities, contact me at editor@bmcnews.org. 

Another way to connect with the paper is by becoming a member. Residents of McCauley and Boyle Street (and active volunteers with us anywhere) can apply  for a free membership at our website. Members occasionally receive information and have a vote at our AGM. For more information: bmcnews.org/membership.

By the time you read the next issue, autumn will have arrived. Until then, take care and enjoy the issue!

I first came to McCauley in mid-winter and was ill-equipped for it. To go anywhere, I had to cross through deep snow in Giovanni Caboto Park. I inevitably ended up with cold, wet feet. However, I also ran across my first random act of kindness.

Someone - I never learned who - used a snowblower to make paths through the park. They didn’t simply clear sidewalks - someone took the time to discover the most used foot paths across the park and cleared them. This made the park much easier to navigate. It made me feel at home in a new and unique place.

Giovanni Caboto Park has meant many things to me. The park’s shining star is when the Heart of the City festival happens. When I first became involved in the event, I got to be friends with the then-President, Charity Slobod. We have stayed friends for years now, and I recently visited her on the West Coast. 

Another of my fondest memories was to be the instructor for “Poetry in the Park,” an event e4c encouraged me to facilitate which ran for two summers. It was so relaxing and entertaining to express my love of the English language through poetry in such a beautiful place and to meet others who love poetry as much as I do.

Giovanni Caboto Park has a long and diverse history. For me, the park is all about the wonderful people who live here or love to visit. I have a close friend who would often bring his son all the way from Old Strathcona for gelato at Spinelli’s Bar Italia. Afterwards, the kid would beat me in a game of basketball across the street or act up as only young boys can, while making short iPhone movies to later show his mom. 

Once, I was chasing a pristine butterfly in the park. It stopped for just one moment, and I got the perfect shot of it. I could have made a coffee table book of the squirrels, blackbirds, crows, woodpeckers, bluejays, and insects that abound. But mostly I am happy just to sit among the majestic trees and soothing sounds of the fountain in my favourite park.

Leif Gregersen lives and writes in McCauley.  

For 48 years, Inner City Pastoral Ministry (ICPM) has been a place where unhoused and low-income people in central Edmonton have come to lay down their burdens. It is a place of Christian worship intermixed with Indigenous traditions.

Nearly two years ago, the ICPM board began searching for a name that better reflects its ministry. Earlier this year, we began operating as Sanctuary of Peace.

A sanctuary is a place where something precious and holy is held. It is a place of safety where people can grow, free of violence and drugs. Together, we sing, pray, smudge, share communion and hear God’s word. Many experience the love of Jesus, and the Spirit slowly transforms their lives.

On Saturday, May 23rd, community members and supporters of Sanctuary of Peace gathered at Bissell Centre to celebrate the “rebranding” of the venerable inner-city institution. About 70 people attended a program, while another 300 enjoyed hamburgers outside the building.

Two members of the worship community spoke during the program.

Jesse told of quitting drinking five years ago. He lost his drinking buddies and his job as a bartender. “The worst thing I lost was karaoke. I was really good,” he said, recounting his act that ended with seven minutes of “Stairway to Heaven.”

“You can’t do that stone cold sober. You look ridiculous; you feel ridiculous.”

One Sunday on the street in Edmonton, a friend encouraged Jesse to attend the ICPM church service. Not only did he get to sing again, but he felt united with his nookum (grandmother) who attended every religious ceremony she could.

“My nookum would have loved this place. I know I make her ghost happy when I come here. I love the community, and I really appreciate the work Pastor Quinn [Strikwerda] has done here and the example he sets for all of us.”

Mike, another community member, said, “We spend all week trying to get through a lot of negative stuff. We see the level of rage and anger in some of the people. They have no way to deal with that level of hurt in a way that helps them and helps lift them up.”

He too came to Sanctuary of Peace. “I arrived here by accident,” but soon felt, “I am supposed to be here; I don’t know why.”

Mike said the messages delivered in the homilies by Pastor Quinn and Maria Kruszewski, the pastoral associate, seem tailored to him and his experiences. He asks, “Did you follow me all week? How were you able to tailor this to me and give me sustenance for my soul, for my head, for my heart?”

Now his life has purpose. Every morning, he rises determined to do what he can to help other people.

Strikwerda, an Anglican priest, has been pastor at Sanctuary for six years. Kruszewski has been pastoral associate for a year and a half.

Sanctuary of Peace is sponsored by the United, Anglican, Lutheran and Roman Catholic churches. Every year, more than 60 churches, synagogues, mosques, and other groups provide the bagged lunches distributed after the 9:15 am weekly Sunday service. 

Sanctuary also hosts men’s and women’s groups, a weekly Bible study, an annual retreat and a street ministry that includes handing out donated clothing on Tuesday mornings.

Glen Argan chairs the Sanctuary of Peace board of directors and is a proofreader for Boyle McCauley News.

Woonson Lam, or Chris as some people know him, has been playing music for most of his life. As a young child in Edmonton and student of music, Woonson dutifully performed piano pieces at recitals, not realizing he was preparing himself for a lifelong vocation in music. “My mom was very old school; she always put me in suits; she always put me in these little competitions,” he recalls. 

As a teen his friend showed him the first riff of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman,” and he soon figured out that the skills he learned reading sheet music and practicing technique would apply to a guitar. Thanks to his sister’s recommendation, he was asked to play bass in a Salsa band. “It was a hard lesson in syncopated rhythm, and it was like having a metronome,” he says. 

He ended up playing with that band for 12 years. He says of his early days of gigging around Edmonton, “I had an original band at that time. I played around the city. I was asked to do a lot of different things musically. I always had multiple projects, always had multiple bands, just always been really busy with music.”

Woonson describes his early years playing in bands and raising a young family. “I was burning the candle at both ends. It was tough, but there were times where the extra money I earned from gigs definitely got me through tough times.” He recalls a local scene at the Crown Pub, a live music venue in McDougall that hosted open mic nights and local bands. “I remember they had a little battle of the bands, my band won, and they named a burger after our band,  The AmazariA Burger.”

His connection to the Boyle Street-McCauley area runs deep. Woonson’s dad was involved with the Chinese Association, Kwan Ying, which no longer exists. “I did a lot of different things in the Chinatown area my whole life. My dad would be spearheading events, dinners; we would volunteer. I also did Lion Dancing.” 

Woonson credits his mom for his connection to Latin music. “She’s Colombian and associated with a lot of Latin bands, lots of festivals.”

The first time Woonson played at Heart of the City was in 2019 with an original Latin band called Angelitos. He says of that time, “I was going to say yes to everything that comes across my plate, all these opportunities before COVID, and without much effort I got really busy. It was the ‘say yes to everything’ mentality.” 

During the COVID restrictions, Woonson found Ann Vriend’s Porch Concerts in McCauley and was able to keep playing. “It was literally on the porch of her house, people would come and sit outside. It became something for the time.”

Currently, Woonson plays with four bands: Angelitos, Andansas, Curt Young and the Healers, and C-Y-A. He does solo shows and attends jams around the city. “I find the jams always to be a good place to practice making your mistakes while you’re on stage, to play a tune or two and have fun doing it.” 

He says inspiration comes from playing live. “Having fun, trying to make everybody have fun with you. And it’s symbiotic, right? You get it from the crowd, you give it back.” 

Rachael Roberts is a board member with the Heart of the City Festival, where she has volunteered since 2013, and recently joined the board of Boyle McCauley News. She is a mother, a teacher, and a lifelong Edmontonian who loves this community. 

Brenda Gunn’s grandfather Bill Ingram wrote a poem in 1914 to describe his adventures as a settler in the Prairies. Interspersing verses from that poem with her own original work, she elaborates on what life must have been like back then in Reading the Air.

“I first wrote about my grandfather, Bill Ingram, in 2019, in a poetry course I was taking for the Certificate in Creative Writing program through the U of T,” says Brenda, a retired teacher who reads her poetry at various locations across the city. 

“The Ingram/Roark family binder was sitting on the desk in front of me. I’d been immersed in these people’s lives for almost two years by then, and was obsessed with the stories that emerged from the research, some of which I’d already started recording. So, yes, Reading the Air has been about seven years in the making. I think I finished the last poem a few months before sending it off to Wild Skies!”

Brenda got a hold of her grandfather’s poem thanks to her mother. “I have three sisters who will all attest that there were few family stories Mom did not share with us, even as young kids. She then also made sure we had copies of those detailed stories that she wrote for her family histories, and the story of Grandpa Ingram’s poem was one of those,” she explains. 

When Brenda seriously read the poem in 2017 after her retirement, it made her think about what her grandfather was trying to express. "I recall thinking, shortly after finding the poem in Mom’s binder, how it listed places Grandpa had worked and jobs he’s had and accidents and injuries, but was completely devoid of any emotional take-away. So typical, I thought, of men in that generation, particularly a wet-behind-the-ears farm kid who’d left home as a teenager, to make his own way,” she explains.

“He was emotionally distant, later in life, according to mom - suffered depression and many chronic illnesses, no doubt from the many accidents and injuries he sustained. I thought, maybe Grandpa couldn’t express what was in his heart - his fear, loneliness, despair - but I can do that for him. Writers may understand, but Grandpa’s voice came to me often, usually early in the morning, not in specific words, but more a feeling that he wasn’t pleased with something or wanted me to explore something more.”

Although Brenda doesn’t live in the area, she has connections through cultural events and relationships with several artistic current and former community members. Reading the Air is Brenda’s second poetry collection. “I wrote my first poem at the age of 62! I still have to pinch myself that I even have one published poetry book, never mind two. I just want people to appreciate the life my grandfather and men like him lived,” she says.

“I want readers, particularly younger members of my extended family who may not have known Grandpa as I did, to feel they got to know him, and understand how he was shaped by the times he lived in, the attitudes and mores. I want them to feel they took a wild ride and learned some of the history of that part of the world; I think one of my messages is that everyone has a story, even grizzled, taciturn old farmers, and maybe Reading the Air will spur readers to want to pursue their own family history.”

Reading the Air will be published by Wild Skies Press on June 23rd and will be available at Audreys Books, several Chapters/Indigo locations in Edmonton, and online.

Paula E. Kirman is the Editor of Boyle McCauley News.

The 2026 Ben Calf Robe Traditional Pow Wow happened on May 9th. Once again, it took place at the  Commonwealth Recreation Centre’s indoor field house. The theme for this year was Prayers for Peace / nitotamâtan pêyâhtakeyimowin. Here are some photos from the 1 p.m. Grand Entry.

Photos by Dan Hempel and Paula E. Kirman