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This is Edmonton

How well do you know our city? Learn about the quintessential, random, and occasionally infuriating things that make Edmonton, Edmonton. One story a week, about the city we love. Hosted by Clare Bonnyman, every Wednesday.

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Episodes

Making the season kind(er)

CBC Edmonton’s Make the Season Kind campaign raises food and funding for food banks while sharing stories of kindness from the community. This year, our stories also focused on food insecurity. It’s an issue being felt across the country and here at home. This is the final episode of This is Edmonton for 2024. Stay tuned in January for more stories about our city. You can always send ideas to us at thisisyeg@cbc.ca

Dec 18, 202415 min

Using involuntary treatment to combat the addiction crisis

Alberta is facing a growing drug crisis and a new idea is on the table. The provincial government calls it compassionate intervention. Legislation set to be tabled this spring would allow the province to detain people involuntarily for addiction treatment. A CBC team travelled to Washington state where an involuntary-treatment law is already in place. Producer Kory Siegers and reporter Julia Wong share what it looks like and what they learned.

Dec 11, 202426 min

Designing the most Edmonton T-shirt

This is the season of Christmas markets and #shoplocal, but why are there so many Edmonton themed T-shirts, and shops that sell them? Does our city have a brand? We meet the designer behind Cosmodemonic Telegraph Company to talk about how we wear Edmonton on our sleeves.

Dec 04, 202415 min

Finding affordable rent in rural Alberta

Rent is high and supply is low, especially in smaller communities surrounding Edmonton. In Alberta in general, finding an affordable place to live is a struggle many are experiencing. CBC producer Pippa Reed shares the story of one Albertan and what she’s had to sacrifice to find a place she can call home.

Nov 27, 202411 min

Having kids, is it still a thing?

Fewer people are having kids in Canada. Right now our country's birthrate is among the lowest in the world, but what’s driving this trend depends on who you ask. CBC Edmonton producer Emily Williams spoke to some women about what drove their own decisions to have kids or not.

Nov 20, 202413 min

Can pay-what-you-will pave a new way forward for theatre?

An Edmonton theatre is letting you set your own price for tickets. Workshop West Playwrights' Theatre is testing a "pay what you will" idea in the hopes of filling theatre seats. This week, host Clare Bonnyman sits down with Workshop West general manager Jake Tkaczyk, to find out how it all works.

Nov 13, 202417 min

Here’s what we know about Alberta’s proposed gender policies

Alberta has introduced three new bills that relate to the health care, educational and recreational rights of transgender Albertans. But what is actually in these bills, and how are groups across the spectrum responding? We break it down with CBC reporter Madeleine Cummings.

Nov 06, 202413 min

A slow start for the Alberta Teaching Profession Commission

When there are concerns about Alberta teachers, people need somewhere to complain. Alberta's UCP government decided teachers should no longer police themselves and introduced the Alberta Teaching Profession Commission in 2023. CBC reporter Janet French tells host Clare Bonnyman how those changes are going, and why this new system isn't getting straight A's.

Oct 23, 202413 min

Finding ice time in Edmonton sucks

Edmonton is facing a very Canadian crisis. We have a serious shortage of ice time in the city at the start of hockey season. CBC producer Emily Williams joins host Clare Bonnyman to break down the issue, and why it matters so much to families. Plus we visit a possible solution, a private rink south of the city that’s offering a premium skate experience.

Oct 16, 202415 min

Edmontonians step up for sport

In hard times, Edmontonians step up, and recently in the city there have been lots of stories of locals helping out kids and youth so they can access sport. Host Clare Bonnyman shares two stories of people making activity accessible for children and teens in the city.

Oct 09, 202412 min

A recipe for representation

What does reconciliation in action look like? And how can we use the way we eat, to fuel it? This week, This is Edmonton explores the soft ways we can take “reconcili-action” with host Clare Bonnyman. She talks to the owners of a new restaurant putting Indigenous representation in the spotlight and receiving recognition from across the country.

Oct 02, 202416 min

Why Edmonton loves its community leagues

Community leagues are a quintessential part of Edmonton. The groups form across the city, advocating for and running events to serve their neighbourhoods. But why did the community league model start? And why has it been such a success here in Edmonton? This week, host Clare Bonnyman aims to answer a listener's question, and sits down with the executive director of the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues.

Sep 25, 202419 min

Jasper students head back to class

The back-to-school season is almost over. But for Jasper students, their studies are just beginning. After wildfire ripped through the community this summer, destroying a third of all buildings in the townsite, there was a big focus on getting the two school buildings back up and running. Provincial affairs reporter Janet French sits down with host Clare Bonnyman to talk about the return to class and some of the big issues facing Alberta and Edmonton students this school year.

Sep 18, 202420 min

YEG-haw, anyone?

The Canadian Country Music Awards are back in Edmonton for the first time in 10 years. While the city isn’t always considered the most countryfied city on the Prairies, our love for country music runs deep. CBC’s Tristan Mottershead joins host Clare Bonnyman to break down the CCMAs and the national country music scene.

Sep 11, 202412 min

Podcast deep dive: Upfront with the Archbishop

Podcasts about religion are gaining popularity in Edmonton – faith-based shows that broadcast sermons and dig into subjects that matter to the communities they serve. One of these is Upfront with the Archbishop, a biweekly podcast from the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton. This is Edmonton host Clare Bonnyman sat down with producer Matthew Bodnarek and producer/host Jenny Connelly about creating the show and tackling big conversations.

Aug 28, 202428 min

Podcast deep dive: Speaking Municipally

This summer we’re speaking to other local podcasters about the stories they tell and how they do it. This week Mack Male and Troy Pavlek of Taproot’s Speaking Municipally join us to talk about covering city hall, adding just the right amount of spice — and why they care so deeply about our city.

Aug 14, 202427 min

Podcast deep dive: Haunted Canada

This summer we’re speaking to other local podcasters about the stories they tell and how they do it. This week we speak to Nadine Bailey of Haunted Canada. The Edmonton-based show takes a countrywide view on ghost stories, haunting and mysteries. Nadine shares how her background running Edmonton Ghost Tours pushed her into podcasting.

Jul 31, 202418 min

Podcast deep dive: Canadian History Ehx

This summer we’re speaking to other local podcasters about the stories they tell and how they do it. This week we speak to Craig Baird of Canadian History Ehx, a show with more than 550 episodes exploring Canada’s history. Craig talks about the amount of research that goes into these stories and where his passion for Canadiana got sparked.

Jul 17, 202422 min

Riding along with an Edmonton police team that pairs officers with social workers

Connecting people with basic needs. That’s the goal of the Edmonton police HELP team. The Human-centred Engagement and Liaison Partnership Unit has been around since 2021, pairing police officers and social support workers. CBC’s Pippa Reed went for a ride along with the HELP team and joined host Clare Bonnyman to talk about the role these crews play in our community.

Jul 03, 202422 min

Hockey, the great equalizer

Love or hate sports, nothing has brought a community together quite like the Edmonton Oilers and their 2024 Stanley Cup run. Covering the Cup is itself a journey. This week, host Clare Bonnyman speaks to CBC reporter Sam Samson and producer Kory Siegers about the excitement and challenges that come with traveling between Edmonton and Florida to cover the final. They share what it’s been like to witness the playoffs and see the country rally behind our team.

Jun 26, 202423 min

Preparing for the powwow trail

Indigenous dancers from across the Prairies spend the summer visiting communities for powwows. In Edmonton there are weekly practices to make sure dancers are in tip-top shape. This week, host Clare Bonnyman visits an inner-city powwow practice and speaks with dancer Danni Okemaw about her own dancing journey.

Jun 12, 202413 min

Can the Oilers end Canada's Stanley Cup drought?

Play La Bamba baby. The Oilers are in the Stanley Cup final for the first time in 18 years and could be the first Canadian team in three decades to hoist the cup. But what are the storylines from this season, and how are fans feeling in the city? Host Clare Bonnyman talks to two Oilers faithful as they prepare for the final round of the playoffs this weekend.

Jun 05, 202421 min

Buying into Blatchford

Blatchford was to be the first of its kind — a new, sustainability-focused community in the heart of Edmonton. It’s been 10 years and counting and some say the development is moving way too slowly. But people are choosing to call Blatchford home. This week, host Clare Bonnyman sits down with one resident to talk about living the Blatchford dream.

May 29, 202419 min

The Prairie mustard monopoly

Did you know that Canada is one of the world’s leading producers of mustard? This week we share an episode of Good Question Saskatchewan, where host Leisha Grebinski explores how the Prairies became a top creator for the condiment and why we don’t process as much on our own.

May 22, 202413 min

Edmonton’s big little potatoes

Step aside Prince Edward Island; Alberta wears the Canadian potato crown. This week, host Clare Bonnyman sits down with CBC Edmonton reporter Liam Harrap to hear about a massive potato processing plant just south of the city that’s one of the contributors to Alberta’s potato prowess.

May 15, 202422 min

Don’t count out DVDs just yet

Edmonton is having a DVD resurgence — sort of. A little free library functioning as a neighbourhood Blockbuster is on a lawn on the north side. And if internet popularity is a sign of anything, it’s going to be popular. Host Clare Bonnyman digs into the analog media available in the city, and how locals are using old-school formats today.

May 08, 202419 min

Dogs and dating apps: Will fido get you more likes?

Spring is in the air, and one researcher has a whole new strategy for dating apps: dogs. Host Clare Bonnyman speaks to Maron Demecillo about his research at MacEwan University into “dogfishing”, or the practice of using a cute dog in a dating profile to try and lure a potential partner.

May 01, 202418 min

Digging into Edmonton's food scene

Perogies, green onion cakes and Alberta beef all make the list for top Edmonton foods — but with a food scene that is more and more diverse, what is the most Edmonton dish you can eat? Host Clare Bonnyman sits down with food writers Phil Wilson and Sharon Yeo to talk about the ins and outs of Edmonton’s food culture.

Apr 24, 202423 min

Does Edmonton need an entertainment district?

The city is looking at making downtown more fun. New reports are looking at how to improve our night time economy, and plans are in place to create a formal ‘Entertainment District’ on Rice Howard Way. Host Clare Bonnyman goes to check out the proposed district, and hear from the city and business owners about the difference this new space could make.

Apr 17, 202423 min
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