Edmonton Companies News & Discussion

[David A]

Why couldnt Edmonton be in this conversation? https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/van...-resilience-bank-dsrb-headquarters-bid-canada

Good question, perhaps we should be. Our mayor seems to have some interest in pursuing new defense related stuff, which makes sense because we have a major base here already.

The BC premier seems to be supporting this, it would be nice to see our Premier advocate for our city, for something like this.

 

[scyeg]

Why couldnt Edmonton be in this conversation? https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/van...-resilience-bank-dsrb-headquarters-bid-canada

Interesting part of that story: “If this country is chosen as the location for the headquarters office by NATO countries, the Government of Canada, more specifically Prime Minister Mark Carney, is expected to decide on the host city.”

Maybe our boy Mark could choose Edmonton to go along with his defence spending making Edmonton a key NATO defence post.

Unfortunately, we’d probably also need the weight of our provincial gov’t behind this and we know they don’t give a shit about the capital city of this province.

 

[EdmTrekker]

Interesting part of that story: “If this country is chosen as the location for the headquarters office by NATO countries, the Government of Canada, more specifically Prime Minister Mark Carney, is expected to decide on the host city.”

Maybe our boy Mark could choose Edmonton to go along with his defence spending making Edmonton a key NATO defence post.

Unfortunately, we’d probably also need the weight of our provincial gov’t behind this and we know they don’t give a shit about the capital city of this province.

UCP want independence ... why the f would Carney and the Liberal Party ever put this NATO gem in Alberta!! That and Albertas is far from Europe compared to Toronto or Montreal.

 

[archited]

^ Note: the air distance difference between Edmonton and Moscow compared to Toronto and Moscow is less than 200 km. (about the distance from Edmonton to Innisfail, just a little south of Red Deer). My point -- the difference is negligible. Plus Edmonton is much closer to Canada's vast Arctic NW and Yukon territories, the area required to be defended in any major conflict.

 

[Glenco]

Let's be honest the chances are slim to none but if it were to happen the reaction from other cities would be priceless. Ottawa but but we are the capital. Toronto but but we are the center of the known universe. Calgary but but we have lots of empty office space. Vancouver but but we are beautiful. Montreal but but we are French.

 

[scyeg]

Let's be honest the chances are slim to none but if it were to happen the reaction from other cities would be priceless. Ottawa but but we are the capital. Toronto but but we are the center of the known universe. Calgary but but we have lots of empty office space. Vancouver but but we are beautiful. Montreal but but we are French.

You’re not wrong, but that is exactly how Edmonton needs to start to act as well. Why not us? Instead of, well we weren’t going to get it anyway. It’s been decades of thinking that way and it needs to change.

One area that Edmonton has actually done well with this is events. From CHAMP car races, and Red Bull Crashed Ice, to huge concerts and sporting events—we’ve always punched above our weight. We need to bring that same energy to bringing permanent businesses, corporations, and attractions.

 

[The_Cat]

As long as people think of Edmonton as a place where they want everything for free, we won’t be respected.

 

[Offworld]

Good lord, those cars keep getting bigger and bigger! Where will it stop?!

When they begin to hit the overhead girders?

(Visions of the HLB dance in my head.)

 

[David A]

Let's be honest the chances are slim to none but if it were to happen the reaction from other cities would be priceless. Ottawa but but we are the capital. Toronto but but we are the center of the known universe. Calgary but but we have lots of empty office space. Vancouver but but we are beautiful. Montreal but but we are French.

Interestingly, the Vancouver new article didn't mention Calgary either. I am not surprised we were not mentioned whether or not we are a viable candidate, we are generally the overlooked city in Canada by the media.

Montreal already has a number of international agencies and Vancouver is about as far from NATO as you can get, while we have a connection with northern airspace and a large base, so actually we would be a good choice.

 

[whattheheck]

I love Edmonton, but there's no chance we will get this. We are a city with a bad rep. This all goes back to us being the homeless shelter of the province with the city just rolling out the welcome wagon and not telling other communities to stop sending their problems here, the kid glove approach to safety and social disorder. The lack of cleanliness etc etc. I mean, my goodness, the city can't even properly maintain its overly elaborate landscaping in the summer, letting it overgrow with weeds.

'Hey, set your bank up here! You're employees can take our lovely meth smelling transit system. And if you're missing a shoe, get off at the Quarters stop. You can find some there FOR FREE!!'

City hall does not understand what's needed for a thriving economy. It hasn't for a very long time.

 

[David A]

Oh for goodness sake, there are homeless people in many other cities in Canada and the US too. Have you ever seen the east side of downtown Vancouver? It is way more apocalyptic than what I see here.

 

[whattheheck]

^ok, sure. But which city has the better reputation? Which is a city that people aspire to want to be? And you mention DT east side. YES, that's only one place. In Edmonton, it's seemingly in so many more places. Loving the place we call home doesn't mean giving it a free pass.

*random thoughts now
The irony is that while policies are in place to be more 'urban' and grown up, we seem to be falling further behind. The pictures of the Quarters tram stop in another thread; another example of not following through on maintaining our urban realm. We don't look or even feel sophisticated. Vancouver does. Calgary does. (and it pains me to say that)

I, mean, FFS we don't even have a daily international service to Europe. Is anyone at city hall or the airport doing something about this?

We allow so many crappy looking buildings to go up, years after Mandel called for no more crap. etc etc.

We have this 'the province doesn't care about us complex'. And yes, that's true. So that means we have to have the local leadership to take the reigns. And that has been lacking for a very long time.

And cheerleading does not address the actual challenges that's stopping Edmonton from being a great Canadian city.

 

[archited]

^ What a complete sour puss!

 

[whattheheck]

^no. Just living in reality. When was the last time a major head office moved here? When was the last time a major new non-stop international flight was announced? How about a significant DT development that did not need taxpayer subsidy?

Perhaps, instead of cheerleading, we take a serious sober look about what's not happening and why. Wishing for something does not make it happen.

 

[Gronk!]

Let's get back to talking about Edmonton companies, please.
The endless "woe is Edmonton" bellyaching can go in another thread.