River City Writer

It’s late November, and we’ve finally had some flurries.

There were a few snowflakes earlier in the month, but they didn’t stay around for long.

This time, it looks like it might stick.

While this city can get pretty dirty in the winter—sloppy and slushy—it’s also pretty beautiful, especially in the areas that cars don’t touch.

Sure, the roads get messy, but the river valley looks great in the winter.

Residential areas take on a special character in the winter, covered in snow and nostalgia. This is especially true in the early morning, or late at night, when the homes are all asleep, and the world is silent.

Winter is here, Edmonton. Bundle up, stay warm, and don’t forget to take it easy on the roads.

If you’re on Facebook, join River City Writers: The Edmonton Life & Culture Group (Facebook account required). The group is open to anyone, though, like this blog, it’s geared mostly toward Edmontonians.

As much as the group is meant to be a bit of a promotional vehicle for River City Writer, it’s main goal is to create a community within the Edmonton blogging community, and Edmonton’s online population in general.

Creating the group on Facebook, instead of on a web forum, or other social media tool may have been a poor choice, since there are still a few people who haven’t joined Facebook, but the ease of use really makes the Facebook group an ideal way to communicate with the community, and to allow the community to interact online.

Hopefully, a solid community will form, and will enrich the experience of living in Edmonton for all those involved (both through interacting with our community, albeit on the Internet, and through sharing information regarding cultural events happening in and around the city).

If you have a blog about Edmonton, or even if you just want to read the words of Edmonton’s blogging community, check out the River City Writer Facebook Group.

Today’s post is a question for all of you: what do you think about Edmonton’s police service?

That’s it. It’s really that simple. I will update this post with my own opinions later, but I want to give you an opportunity to post your opinions before I bias you with my own views.

I doubt many of your will change your opinions just because you’ve read mine, but I’d rather avoid creating any sort of unintentional bias.

Once again, then, how do you feel about the Edmonton Police Service?

My opinion after the break.

Read the rest of this entry »

It’s been a busy couple of weeks for River City Writer. My grandfather was in town for the first time in years, my cousin got married on the weekend, plus I was hanging out at the Fringe as much as I possibly could while that was happening.

All of this has left me with little time to blog. Rather, it’s left me with little energy to blog. I could have made the time, if I truly wanted to, I just didn’t have to energy or the motivation. I apologize for this.

I’m going to try and post more regularly here. I mean, hell, this isn’t really a blog for me. As much as I enjoy writing it, I’m doing it for my audience. I’m doing it for Edmontonians and tourists alike. I want this blog to become a go-to guide for all things Edmonton. If that’s going to happen, I’ve got to get my act together and stick to a schedule.

Having said that, please note that I will not be posting on Labour Day. It’s a holiday, and I may or may not be in town. Even if I am in town, I might just have had a few too many glasses of rye. That is, after all, the way that an Edmontonian spends a long weekend. (Hell, it’s the way a lot of Canadians spend a long weekend.)