Hello all,

We hope that everyone is enjoying their break and avoiding getting caught in the frequent rainstorms. Take a look at this weeks pitches and see if anything catches your eye!

Best wishes,

Dylana

News Pitches

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

Patients with neurological disease are likelier to die after COVID 

A U of A study shows higher numbers of new neurological disorder diagnoses among people with pre-existing conditions in the months after they have COVID.

Reimagine stuttering 

A new project in dysfluency studies casts the speech disorder in a new light.

Women are poised for equality in Canadian film — in 200 years

Talk to Deb Verhoeven about how the numbers of women in key creative positions remains low, with no significant improvements.

Five stars? Really?

Consumers inflate overall ratings when asked to rate various aspects of their experience online.

Finding credible pathways to net-zero emissions

A new paper from the U of A’s Energy Transition Lab examines challenges of scaling up new technologies to ensure they save money and energy.

Opinion Pitches

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

Transit rates: Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) is planning to increase transit fares in 2025. Many people are unhappy with this, but ETS says they need to fill a $10 million gap. One of the problems causing this gap is that less people are using transit. Are there other things ETS or the city could do to fill this gap? Or to get more people using transit? What will the effect of raising the fare be?

Compensation for wildland firefighters: Wildfire season is in full swing and wildland firefighters are hard at work trying to keep the fires contained. However, the low wages and lack of benefits for wildland firefighters discourages newcomers and makes it more difficult to retain people with experience. Is there more the province can be doing to attract and retain wildland firefighters? Is it only about wages and benefits, or are there other things that can be done to help?

Price on leadership: Recently, Gil McGowan dropped out of the Alberta New Democratic Party’s (NDP) leadership race due to not being able to pay the entrance fee. The fees NDP leadership candidates must pay to make it to the ballot totals to $60,000. The United Conservative Party’s entrance fees totalled to $175,000. Do these high fees pose unnecessary barriers to leadership candidates? Does this limit who can run to be leader of a political party? Should the entrance fees be lower or should there be other, non-monetary, criteria instead?

Splitting up Alberta Health Services: The province has finally released the bill that will break Alberta Health Services (AHS) up into four organizations. The changes will give the government more authority over operations, including moving workers from one organization to another. What will these changes mean for prospective healthcare workers? Could this scare students away from pursuing a career in healthcare? Or could this cause them to pursue careers in other provinces?

Festivals in Edmonton: Earlier this year, the Edmonton Fringe Festival launched a fundraising campaign to help them cope with rising costs. Now, the Fringe is saying their efforts were a success. But unfortunately, this doesn’t solve the problems the Fringe and many other festivals are facing. It’s becoming more difficult for festivals to cope with the costs of operating and these problems will likely persist. What can be done to support the arts in Edmonton? Is it the City of Edmonton’s responsibility to keep festivals afloat or is it up to individual Edmontonians?

Marble Pedestal --- Farmers’ Markets: Farmers’ Markets are a summer staple and Edmonton has no shortage of them. With locally grown produce, homemade baked goods, and great prices, what’s not to love? Write a column about why you love farmers’ markets!

A&C Pitches

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

Play Wares & Trinkets: Cabinet of Curiosities Night Market

Attend the Cabinet of Curiosities Night Market at the Alberta Aviation Museum (11410 Kingsway NW) on 7 — 11 p.m. on May 31st and write a review.

Play/Performance Review: The Oculist’s Holiday by Stewart Lemoine, directed by Belinda Cornish

“In the lakeside city of Lausanne, a blossoming romance between a Canadian teacher and an American optometrist is complicated by their encounter with a pair of charming yet volatile fellow tourists.”

The Oculist’s Holiday premiered at the 2009 Edmonton Fringe Festival and has not been staged since then. It will run from May 30 — June 16 at the Varscona Theatre.

Interview: Canadian Alternative rock artist Garrett Neiles

“Neiles offers a refreshing blend of self-acceptance, growth, and musical exploration through his masterful take on the early 2000’s era Pop-Rock sound.”

Neiles recently released his first single of 2024, Heaven in My Hands. Speak with Neiles about his work and career.

Album Review: Disenchanted by The Anti-Queens

“This album is a conscious meeting of vulnerability, self reflection, and finding one’s self worth and motivation to attack what life throws at you head-on. As the band says: Nothing is held back and everything is on the table.”

Review the new Pop/Punk/Rock & Roll album by Toronto’s Anti Queens!