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.
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.
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...
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...
... from the Northwest Resistance to World War II. The roles defy easy categorization and are a great example of the complexity of human life that Walt Whitman expressed through the line "Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.)"
March 19, 2025 at 3:51 PM
... from the Northwest Resistance to World War II. The roles defy easy categorization and are a great example of the complexity of human life that Walt Whitman expressed through the line "Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.)"
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.
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
In 1986 the Urban Design Strategy that the City prepared for an about-to-redevelop Cloverdale called for on-street parking outside the peak hours of traffic. It never happened then but is something that we could try now, at least on a pilot basis, to help sustain neighbourhood retail.
February 6, 2025 at 7:58 PM
In 1986 the Urban Design Strategy that the City prepared for an about-to-redevelop Cloverdale called for on-street parking outside the peak hours of traffic. It never happened then but is something that we could try now, at least on a pilot basis, to help sustain neighbourhood retail.
On roads like 112 Ave, 124 St and 97 St we allow off-peak, on-street parking. This not only gives people driving to the area somewhere to park, but it gives pedestrians a buffer from the traffic, makes the sidewalk a nicer place to be & thus makes people more likely to support adjacent businesses.
February 6, 2025 at 7:58 PM
On roads like 112 Ave, 124 St and 97 St we allow off-peak, on-street parking. This not only gives people driving to the area somewhere to park, but it gives pedestrians a buffer from the traffic, makes the sidewalk a nicer place to be & thus makes people more likely to support adjacent businesses.
The pedestrian environment is very harsh: four lanes of traffic right next to a not-very-wide sidewalk with no street trees. The road carries a lot of traffic during the rush hours but midday and in the evenings, one lane in each direction should be feasible.
February 6, 2025 at 7:58 PM
The pedestrian environment is very harsh: four lanes of traffic right next to a not-very-wide sidewalk with no street trees. The road carries a lot of traffic during the rush hours but midday and in the evenings, one lane in each direction should be feasible.
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...
At the Royal Alberta Museum this weekend, I paused a long time in front of this painting and saw it with new meaning and emotion. Thank you, @apaquette.bsky.social for your art and exemplifying its teachings.
January 6, 2025 at 7:42 PM
At the Royal Alberta Museum this weekend, I paused a long time in front of this painting and saw it with new meaning and emotion. Thank you, @apaquette.bsky.social for your art and exemplifying its teachings.
If you’re in Edmonton and haven’t seen the Angkor exhibition at the Royal Alberta Museum, this is its final week — you have until Sunday. I marvelled to see examples of such ancient, faraway artistry here in Edmonton and learn about the underlying religious and community planning philosophies.
January 6, 2025 at 7:11 PM
If you’re in Edmonton and haven’t seen the Angkor exhibition at the Royal Alberta Museum, this is its final week — you have until Sunday. I marvelled to see examples of such ancient, faraway artistry here in Edmonton and learn about the underlying religious and community planning philosophies.
Edmonton ranks 27 on the Globe and Mail's listing of most livable cities in 2024. I don't know what the methodology was but saying that Edmonton is 12% below the national average on walkability feels reasonable. We have work to do in that regard! www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/ar...
December 13, 2024 at 10:35 PM
Edmonton ranks 27 on the Globe and Mail's listing of most livable cities in 2024. I don't know what the methodology was but saying that Edmonton is 12% below the national average on walkability feels reasonable. We have work to do in that regard! www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/ar...
Some days the University of Alberta’s district energy system reveals itself. www.ualberta.ca/en/universit...
December 8, 2024 at 5:06 PM
Some days the University of Alberta’s district energy system reveals itself. www.ualberta.ca/en/universit...
Edmonton's Coronation Park Sports & Recreation Centre wins award at World Architecture Festival. www.canadianarchitect.com/four-canadia...
November 20, 2024 at 6:10 PM
Edmonton's Coronation Park Sports & Recreation Centre wins award at World Architecture Festival. www.canadianarchitect.com/four-canadia...
A culture, food & recreation centre would work in the former Royal Alberta Museum building in Glenora. It's so close to the densifying West Village & the larger surrounding area would love the day care, cafe, pickleball courts, etc. Plus the building is so high quality. www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...
November 20, 2024 at 4:28 PM
A culture, food & recreation centre would work in the former Royal Alberta Museum building in Glenora. It's so close to the densifying West Village & the larger surrounding area would love the day care, cafe, pickleball courts, etc. Plus the building is so high quality. www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...