Spring in Edmonton

Spring is a difficult season in Edmonton, as I'd imagine it is in many other Canadian cities. One day, the promise of summer seems real. The next day, we're right back into winter.

As I walked my usual path from home this morning, across the High Level bridge and onwards to work, I considered how dismal this walk is likely to be in approx. two days' time. Environment Canada forecasts rain and/or snow. And a high of plus 3.

At least the river has cleared of ice. That shows at least the worst is over.

I'm not going to bemoan the current messy state of our city, as the Edmonton Journal does almost on a daily basis. Of course it's covered in trash and looks horrible. What's curious is people are just waking up to Edmonton's ugliness only now. Just since -- well, since Stephen Mandel became mayor -- so far as I can tell.

Mandel is a refreshing change from the idiotic "boosterism" of Bill Smith. Mayor Smith squandered an entire ten years doing exactly nothing for this city. Mandel, even though powerless to make real change, at least acknowledges the very real problems Edmonton faces. Chief among them is this ugliness. How can you feel attachment to a city that seemingly takes no pride in itself? Edmonton: the city that perpetually lurches out of bed every morning with a hangover, dressed in sweats.

It's embarrassing to live somewhere knowing that were you to invite, say, a family member, they would arrive and have to spend their entire stay hiding their disappointment.

"Look, it's the world's biggest shopping mall!"

"Look, we have a river!"

"Look, a statue of Wayne Gretzky!"

"Look, our art gallery just added its 14th painting!" [Excuse the exaggeration.]

To be fair, if I wanted to show someone around town, and reveal Edmonton's livable side, I'd probably walk down into Riverdale on a nice summer day. We'd stop and look at the riverboat, and proceed along the river valley trail, which gives a nice view of the Hotel MacDonald. Maybe we'd wander the quiet streets of Riverdale itself and admire the leafy gardens and comfortable homes. Here, I could say, is one neighbourhood in town that takes pride in itself. Here is one place that you could say it is a genuine pleasure to live. Perhaps a cat would lazily stroll across the street like a pampered aristocrat, saying to itself, "You think this is your neighbourhood, but we all know it's actually mine."

Repeat same experience in Millcreek. Glenora. Maybe somewhere else I have not thought of. And that is the best of Edmonton.