Combined pitch email - July 4

Hey folks,

Hope everyone is doing well between the spring and summer semesters. We’ve got lots of interesting pitches for ya this week! If you want to take any of these pitches, or have a pitch of your own, message the line editor of that section (through email or The Gateway's Slack), and they'll set you up to write the article.

Have a great week!

Olivia

News Pitches

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

Adding silicon to soil could help protect canola from clubroot: Adding silicon to soil could help battle clubroot, a deadly disease in canola crops, University of Alberta research shows. Treatment may also help crops weather drought and extreme heat, researchers find.

PhD student wins trio of awards for first poetry collection: A University of Alberta doctoral student has won national, provincial and local literary awards for his first published volume of poetry “Whitemud Walking” — all within a single month.

AI researchers harness data to drive health-care innovation: Two recently named Canada CIFAR AI Chairs are honing AI models and systems to benefit everything from delivery of care to patient outcomes and quality of life.

Freshwater ecologist Rolf Vinebrooke shares insights on how to enjoy the lake safely amidst blue-green algae, a yearly concern for Albertans, as the blooms from the algae produce toxins that can be harmful to humans and fatal to pets. He also studies Alberta’s mountain lakes and how the rapid rates of warming at higher elevations impacts the colour and ecology of the water.

Opinion Pitches

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

Still no Valley Line? After two years of delays and cost overruns, the Valley Line LRT still isn’t carrying passengers. It now faces another setback. Some of its cables will be replaced and upgraded to ensure better function over the long run. At this point, is the Valley Line just a pipe dream? Will it ever see the light of day? Dig into this issue, and write a piece about how these delays will impact Edmontonians.

Pushback on overdose prevention site. Drug overdose fatalities have reached an all-time high in Alberta this April, which seems to cast doubt on the UCP’s reluctance to employ harm reduction approaches. Meanwhile in Edmonton, a new proposed safe injection site in Ritchie is facing pushback from community members and business owners. Is this a straightforward case of “not-in-my-backyard” sentiment? Or is the issue more complicated? Take this pitch and write about safe injection sites and the controversy surrounding them.

Conversation shifts surrounding the collection of race-based data and policing. The Edmonton Police Commission (EPC) has backtracked their request for the addition of race on government-issued identification, asking instead that the Alberta government prioritise the collection of race-based data. Citing Police Chief Dale McFee, The Edmonton Journal reported that the police commission may use race-based data in order to tackle “crime outside of the justice system if specific communities are overrepresented.” Take this pitch, and write about the presence of race-based data in policing. Is the EPC’s backtrack a step in the right direction? Should the police even be collecting race-based data in the first place?

NHL Drafts. The 2023 NHL Entry drafts happened mid-last week, giving the hockey community a lot to talk about. Take this pitch, choose a team, and write about their draft picks: did they make the right decision? How could their picks impact the future of their play?

A&C Pitches

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

Interview Opportunity: Desiree Dorion

JUNO nominated Indigenous country artist Desiree Dorian is available for interviews about her album That’s How I Knowthat was released earlier this year. She is celebrated for her storytelling through music and upbeat songs that blend pop melodies with a classic country twang.

Performance Review: Grindstone Comedy Festival

Grindstone Comedy Theatre & Bistro, July 5 to 9

In the mood for some comedy? Check out this event with a lineup of local and national comedians to make you laugh your socks off! The tickets range from $23 to $38 and performances start at 7:00 p.m.. If you are interested in reviewing one or several of the performances, contact me!

Event Coverage: Whyte Avenue Art Walk

On the streets of Old Strathcona, July 7 to 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

If you love art and want to celebrate our local artists, cover the Whyte Avenue Art Walk! More than 400 artists will be selling their work and actively creating at the event, turning District Whyte into a big outdoor gallery.

Exhibition Review: Euphrates Storyteller - Aboud Salman

McMullen Gallery, until July 30

The pieces in this exhibition express the life and experiences of Aboud Salman as a refugee artist. It explores the artist's story of uprooting, beginning with his challenges and experiences in the middle of political unrest and conflict in his hometown of Al Mayadin, Syria, and ending with his search for peace thousands of miles away in Canada.

Photostory: The Works Art & Design Festival and Edmonton International Street Performers Festival

Sir Winston Churchill Square, July 7 to 16

This year for the second time, The Works Art & Design Festival will be collaborating with the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival to showcase visual and performance art in the heart of downtown Edmonton. Contact me if you are interested in taking pictures of the festivities, which will also include workshops and food!

Movie Review: Blue Jean

Metro Cinema, July 7 at 6:45 p.m., July 10 at 9:30 p.m., and July 11 at 9:15 p.m.

Set in 1988 England, this social drama film is the directorial debut of Georgia Oakley and focuses on the story of Jean. Jean is a gym teacher and lesbian who is forced to lead a double life as Margaret Thatcher’s conservative government implements a law that stigmatizes the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Columns:

Double Take: Love spitting fire-hot takes on pop culture? You and a friend (or foe) can team up to write opposing takes on some piece of art/entertainment/media.

Brew Crew/Vino Bitches: As we head into the partying season, write a fun, short review of your favourite (or not-so-favourite) beers, wines, or other alcoholic beverages of choice!