Erik Backstrom
@ebackstrom.bsky.social
Urban planner, planning historian, family man and faithful Edmontonian
Stuff you find when you’re picking up garbage downtown: a 1980/81 register of natural gas utility meter readings for the Remand Centre. It must have blown out of the building during its demolition, which can be seen in the background.
June 5, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Stuff you find when you’re picking up garbage downtown: a 1980/81 register of natural gas utility meter readings for the Remand Centre. It must have blown out of the building during its demolition, which can be seen in the background.
Want to share your thoughts about heritage places in Edmonton or suggest a place that's significant to you on our interactive map? Go to this Heritage Places Strategy engagement page. engaged.edmonton.ca/heritage-pla...
Heritage Places Strategy
We invite you to learn about the new Heritage Places Strategy being developed and provide your feedback on what the strategy could consider.
engaged.edmonton.ca
May 21, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Want to share your thoughts about heritage places in Edmonton or suggest a place that's significant to you on our interactive map? Go to this Heritage Places Strategy engagement page. engaged.edmonton.ca/heritage-pla...
The political heavyweights are coming out in the federal campaign.
April 25, 2025 at 2:23 PM
The political heavyweights are coming out in the federal campaign.
Expansion of Toronto's daily public market. www.canadianarchitect.com/st-lawrence-...
St. Lawrence Market to celebrate grand opening of redeveloped North Building
The redeveloped North building will officially open on May 10, 2025.
www.canadianarchitect.com
April 23, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Expansion of Toronto's daily public market. www.canadianarchitect.com/st-lawrence-...
Scenes from Edmonton's buff brick district! To learn more about this collection of mid-century modern buildings and get a tour of one of them, come to my "History Buff" Jane's Walk on May 10. It's free but you need to register. #yegheritage www.showpass.com/history-buff...
April 22, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Scenes from Edmonton's buff brick district! To learn more about this collection of mid-century modern buildings and get a tour of one of them, come to my "History Buff" Jane's Walk on May 10. It's free but you need to register. #yegheritage www.showpass.com/history-buff...
Time to shift from paper receipts to virtual ones. Home Depot has been offering virtual receipts for years and they are really convenient for returns and accounting purposes. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
High levels of toxic chemicals found in paper receipts used by US retailers
Holding the receipts for 10 seconds absorbs enough bisphenol S to break California’s safety rule, research finds
www.theguardian.com
April 22, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Time to shift from paper receipts to virtual ones. Home Depot has been offering virtual receipts for years and they are really convenient for returns and accounting purposes. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
I love naming so today was delighted to learn about the early colonial variation in the naming of the Great Lakes. This screenshot is from the 1720 map of British cartographer Herman Moll. P.S. The "Chat" relates to a feline rather than an AI model! collections.leventhalmap.org/search/commo...
April 14, 2025 at 8:55 PM
I love naming so today was delighted to learn about the early colonial variation in the naming of the Great Lakes. This screenshot is from the 1720 map of British cartographer Herman Moll. P.S. The "Chat" relates to a feline rather than an AI model! collections.leventhalmap.org/search/commo...
Smart thinking: using existing existing rail corridors more effectively for passenger service. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
The Secret Formula for Faster Trains
A new report shows how Amtrak and commuter railroads can reduce “dead time” and increase speeds for less than it would cost to build new high-speed rail lines.
www.bloomberg.com
April 10, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Smart thinking: using existing existing rail corridors more effectively for passenger service. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
It's almost as if there should be laws against this sort of thing.
Tenants scramble as rent skyrockets at Edmonton heritage apartment building
edmontonjournal.com/news/tenants...
edmontonjournal.com/news/tenants...
Tenants scramble as rent skyrockets at Edmonton heritage apartment building
"It was a shock to wake up to a note in my mail slot today that my rent was about to triple," said Annamoe Mansion tenant, Joseph Rockwood.
edmontonjournal.com
April 7, 2025 at 6:25 PM
It's almost as if there should be laws against this sort of thing.
This beautifully-written piece is most fundamentally about family but it's also a love letter to Edmonton and specifically Old Strathcona. katherinemartinko.substack.com/p/im-here-gr...
I'm Here, Grandma!
A whirlwind trip to Edmonton
katherinemartinko.substack.com
April 1, 2025 at 8:51 PM
This beautifully-written piece is most fundamentally about family but it's also a love letter to Edmonton and specifically Old Strathcona. katherinemartinko.substack.com/p/im-here-gr...
Why so much valuable construction material gets wasted and what we could do differently. www.canadianarchitect.com/full-circle/
Full Circle
The demolition of landmarks and culturally significant buildings represents only the most visible and widely spoken examples of a demolition practice that seems endemic in a city like Toronto.
www.canadianarchitect.com
March 26, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Why so much valuable construction material gets wasted and what we could do differently. www.canadianarchitect.com/full-circle/
Reposted by Erik Backstrom
Amarjeet Sohi will run as a Liberal Party of Canada candidate in the upcoming federal election, according to multiple sources familiar with the Edmonton mayor’s immediate plans for his political future. #yeg #yegcc #ableg #cdnpoli #elxn2025 edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
Mayor Amarjeet Sohi seeks federal Liberal seat in Edmonton, sources say
Amarjeet Sohi will run as a Liberal Party of Canada candidate in the upcoming federal election according to multiple sources.
edmontonjournal.com
March 20, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Reposted by Erik Backstrom
Big, BIG news for Edmonton's two elections this year.
NEW from my @radiocanadainfo.bsky.social colleagues: Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi will run for the Carney Liberals, in a bid to return to federal politics. ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/214...
Amarjeet Sohi devrait être candidat aux élections fédérales
Radio-Canada a appris que le maire d’Edmonton Amarjeet Sohi devrait se présenter sous la bannière libérale aux prochaines élections fédérales
ici.radio-canada.ca
March 20, 2025 at 4:07 AM
Big, BIG news for Edmonton's two elections this year.
What I like best about working with heritage planners is learning about the people who contributed to Edmonton's history. Richard & Esther Hardisty, who built this newly-designated home in Westmount, played roles in important local, national & international events... www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/art...
Westmount home of prominent Edmonton couple latest property to receive city historic designation
The former home of an Edmonton couple who played significant roles in local and national affairs a century ago is being declared a municipal historic resource.
www.ctvnews.ca
March 19, 2025 at 3:51 PM
What I like best about working with heritage planners is learning about the people who contributed to Edmonton's history. Richard & Esther Hardisty, who built this newly-designated home in Westmount, played roles in important local, national & international events... www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/art...
Suburbs AREN'T all alike, the insurance industry explains in this 1950 Edmonton Journal ad.
March 14, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Suburbs AREN'T all alike, the insurance industry explains in this 1950 Edmonton Journal ad.
Electric construction equipment would be a game changer for urban noise. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Electric Construction Equipment Promises a Quiet Revolution
Battery-powered excavators and wheel loaders are still rare on most worksites globally, but cities like Oslo are pioneering a new generation of cleaner machines.
www.bloomberg.com
March 11, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Electric construction equipment would be a game changer for urban noise. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Semiannual reminder that there is a strong scientific consensus on the benefits of permanent standard time rather than the time changes we have now or permanent daylight saving time. www.chronobiocanada.com/official-sta...
March 7, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Semiannual reminder that there is a strong scientific consensus on the benefits of permanent standard time rather than the time changes we have now or permanent daylight saving time. www.chronobiocanada.com/official-sta...
River of ice. The sunlight when I was crossing Dudley Menzies bridge really highlighted the ice’s subtle topography.
March 7, 2025 at 3:56 PM
River of ice. The sunlight when I was crossing Dudley Menzies bridge really highlighted the ice’s subtle topography.
1911 vision of the vicinity of 118 Avenue & 66 Street in Edmonton. #yeghistory
February 7, 2025 at 8:53 PM
1911 vision of the vicinity of 118 Avenue & 66 Street in Edmonton. #yeghistory
I'm excited to see new retail services in Cloverdale but if we want them to be successful, we have to talk about changing how 98 Avenue operates. edmonton.taproot.news/news/2025/02...
Cloverdale Coffee helps add amenities in river valley, proponent says
Jay Downton thinks opening a new coffee shop in the Cloverdale neighbourhood later this month could help increase interest in Edmonton's river valley.
edmonton.taproot.news
February 6, 2025 at 7:58 PM
I'm excited to see new retail services in Cloverdale but if we want them to be successful, we have to talk about changing how 98 Avenue operates. edmonton.taproot.news/news/2025/02...
There was Calgary - Edmonton passenger rail service between 1891 and 1985. Reinstating it would be good economically, socially, and environmentally. edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...
Albertans want rail network built as soon as possible: government survey results
Albertans are looking for a provincial rail network to be prioritized and built as soon as possible, according to the survey results.
edmontonjournal.com
January 30, 2025 at 8:53 PM
There was Calgary - Edmonton passenger rail service between 1891 and 1985. Reinstating it would be good economically, socially, and environmentally. edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...
Pleased to be speaking at the Edmonton & District Historical Society talk on Tuesday. I'll be talking about what heritage is, how we've commemorated it over the years here in Edmonton, & what lies ahead for heritage. It's free but people are asked to register. historicedmonton.ca/edhs-special...
The History of Heritage in Edmonton - Edmonton & District Historical Society
The History of Heritage in Edmonton presented by Erik Backstrom Join EDHS as Erik Backstrom, Sr Planner for the City of Edmonton, provides a historical overview of heritage in Edmonton. Come join us f...
historicedmonton.ca
January 24, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Pleased to be speaking at the Edmonton & District Historical Society talk on Tuesday. I'll be talking about what heritage is, how we've commemorated it over the years here in Edmonton, & what lies ahead for heritage. It's free but people are asked to register. historicedmonton.ca/edhs-special...
Edmonton land use change: Cloverdale / river valley 1978 and 2023.
January 21, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Edmonton land use change: Cloverdale / river valley 1978 and 2023.
From hoseheads to shoeheads.
January 16, 2025 at 5:36 AM
From hoseheads to shoeheads.
Great to see new investment in Manulife Place. This rendering shows the main floor opened up with glazing & a new 102 Ave entrance tying in with streetscape improvements built as part of the Valley LRT. City-building is one good thing leading to another. epicinvestmentservices.com/transformati...
January 10, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Great to see new investment in Manulife Place. This rendering shows the main floor opened up with glazing & a new 102 Ave entrance tying in with streetscape improvements built as part of the Valley LRT. City-building is one good thing leading to another. epicinvestmentservices.com/transformati...