Hey everyone,

I hope everyone had a great week, and that you were able to avoid the smoke. As always we have a variety of pitches for you to choose from. Take a look and see if anything sparks your interest!

Reminder that we have created a new Slack for our volunteers so I encourage you to join. Here’s the link: https://join.slack.com/t/gatewayvolunteers2425/shared_invite/zt-2o5ymc2na-FVlC_BQqvy3maD7Go1~tog

Best,

Brooklyn

News Pitches

You can reach Peris at [email protected] or over Slack!

Small but mighty: why microbes could be part of climate solutions 

Some of the tiniest organisms on Earth could play a big role in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, says U of A researcher.

Unusual mix of blazes sparked 2023 fire season, study shows

Fierce season redefined what is possible under a warming climate, researcher warns.

Family members of pediatric neurosurgery patients experience high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder

Nurse practitioner wants to help after experiencing PTSD symptoms herself as the parent of a young adult who has had 76 brain surgeries since birth.

U of A to run clinical trials for patients with hepatitis C and long COVID

Canadian Institutes of Health Research award $5.4 million for trials of a new vaccine and a potential treatment.

Researchers discover optimum twilight time for plant growth 

Findings could have implications for adapting agriculture and horticulture to a changing climate.

Opinion Pitches

You can pick up a pitch or pitch your own idea to Leah at [email protected] or over Slack!

New federal party: There’s a new federal party coming into play before the next election. The Canadian Future Party hopes to fill the gap between the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party, but it’s not easy for a brand new party to start winning seats. Is there a need for this new party? Will Canadians be receptive to a more moderate political party? How can the Canadian Future Party pick up steam and make an impact going into next year’s federal election?

Addiction recovery centres: The Government of Alberta celebrated the opening of a new addiction recovery centre west of Edmonton. But many still have doubts about the Alberta Recovery Model, which includes involuntary treatment. It also shifts away from harm reduction and towards recovery. Is this new centre and the furthering of the Alberta Recovery Model worth celebrating? Can the recovery centre make an impact on Alberta’s addiction problem alone or is a multi-faceted plan needed?

AI discussion in class: While it makes sense in this day and age to make it clear whether or not AI can be used for course work, the conversation about AI can often go beyond just that. Sometimes in courses that have little to do with AI, there’ll be long conversations about it. Do we spend too much time talking about AI in classes? Is it necessary to discuss its evolution and influence with students or is it a waste of time?

Supporting businesses affected by construction: The city is considering if and how much to support businesses affected by construction. Businesses lose foot-traffic and sometimes revenue because of ongoing construction. Does the city need to support businesses through construction? If so, how much support is enough?

Edmonton Elks new ownership: The Edmonton Elks has recently come under new ownership, the first ever private ownership of the organization. Meanwhile, talks have arisen about returning the Elks to their previous name, which was changed back in 2021. What does the change in ownership mean for the Elks and the city that supports them? Would a reversal of the name change a bad move? Share your thoughts.

Marble Pedestal/Burlap Sack — Return to classes: It’s almost that time of year again when everyone comes back to campus and classes begin. Is it exciting to start new classes and a new year of school? Or do you dread thinking about all the reading and coursework you’ll be stuck doing for the next eight months? Write a Marble Pedestal to rave about returning to classes or write a Burlap Sack to air your grievances.

A&C Pitches

You can reach Brooklyn at [email protected] or over Slack!

Market Review: Boyle Street Artist Market

The Boyle Street Artist Market hosts multiple talented artists from boyle street community services. There are numerous vendors that are selling things from beadwork, dreamcatchers, ribbon skirts, framed drawings, and more.

The market takes place on Wednesday August 21 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the lobby at Epcor Tower. Attend the market and write about what you saw, the vendors you talked to, and what you bought!

Album Review: Poolside Fantasy by Noise Hotel

Noise Hotel is an up-and-coming indie rock band from Ottawa, Ontario. Their debut album Poolside Fantasy is “an indie rock album filled with beachy summer vibes, explosive guitars & saxophone, catchy melodies and unique lyricism about love, life & heartbreak.”

Noise Hotel's debut album is available August 21. Listen to the album and write a review!

Performance Review: Sounds from the Valley — Music and Poetry

“Head down to Edmonton's Snow Valley Ski Club to take in a free concert with music and poetry. Listen to artists from EPL's Capital City Records and Capital City Press as they share their work at the bottom of the ski hill in the beautiful Rainbow Valley.”

This event takes place on August 20 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Snow Valley Ski Club and is free to attend. There will be a music performance from Carrie Day, an Edmonton-based folk/roots singer. There will also be readings from two Capital City Press Authors, Judith Lam Tang, and Caitlin Opdendries. Write a review on the songs and readings!

Exhibition Review: Night Vision

“Inviting yet uncanny, Haylee Fortin's immersive installation, Night Vision, is about acts of watching and being watched. The work embodies her observations of the nuances and complexity of the hunting community in Alberta. But, her knowledge of this world still needs to be completed, gathered as an observer on online hunting forums and social media groups.”

Visit the Art Gallery of St. Albert and review Haylee Fortin’s exhibit, Night Vision.

Book Review: Walking Into God by E.D. Blodgett

“E.D. Blodgett’s final volume of poems, Walking Into God, is the culmination of the poet’s lifelong devotion to a poetry and poetics of the sacred. His mastery of craft, including cadence and sustained musicality, is unsurpassed in Canadian literature. Though this volume is divided into two parts (or sequences), these compressed poems present as a single long poem that explores the processes of walking, moving, changing, and evolving within a unified field.”Review Walking Into God, a poetry book by the late Canadian poet, E.D. Blodgett.

Review Walking Into God, a poetry book by the late Canadian poet, E.D. Blodgett.