Latest news with #NorthSaskatchewanRiver
CTV News
4 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
International water ski event will see young rising stars compete in Edmonton
The Junior Canadian Water Ski Open will take place at Shalom Ski Park in Edmonton this weekend. Athletes can be seen practicing ahead of the competition on July 18, 2025. (Sean McClune/CTV News Edmonton) Young athletes from around the world are putting on their skis and hitting the water for an international competition in Edmonton this weekend. The Junior Canadian Water Ski Open returns for its fourth year, which sees rising talent in the sport compete in three skiing events – slalom, trick and jump – from Friday to Sunday. Shalom Ski Park, which has a man-made lake nestled near the North Saskatchewan River, is hosting the event that is open to competitors under 21 years old. 'When I built it, I didn't really expect it to achieve this kind of success but some of the top skiers in the world have considered it to be the best place to ever ski,' Shalom Ski Park owner Ken Nelson told CTV News Edmonton on Friday, as water skiers were training on the lake. International Water Ski event in Edmonton A water skier jumps over a ramp at Shalom Ski Park in Edmonton on July 18, 2025. (Sean McClune/CTV News Edmonton) Nelson said the park is celebrating its 40th anniversary and he originally looked for a site for skiing under controlled elements. 'The size of the lake controls all elements, even on a windy day, (and) it's not very rough,' he added, saying the boats can go up to speeds of 35 miles per hour when skiers are jumping. Evan Kraus, a 20 year-old who has been water skiing since he was three, grew up in Calgary and now lives in Dallas. But he said he comes up every summer to ski in Edmonton. 'A lot of the athletes that are here today are going to be competing at worlds in a few weeks, so it's a really high level event and there's a lot of good skiing,' Kraus said, referencing the U-21 World Championships in Calgary at the end of July. Water skier training in Edmonton A water skier practices at Shalom Ski Park ahead of an international competition this weekend in Edmonton on July 18, 2025. (Sean McClune/CTV News Edmonton) Sixteen-year-old Sophia Zhang from Edmonton started being interested in water sports three years ago and began competing in slalom for the last two years. She said seeing skiers from around the world compete in her hometown is inspiring. 'It's really cool that so many people from around the world are coming here and it's really interesting to watch how everyone skis,' Zhang told CTV News Edmonton. 'I really love the sport and I'll just see where it takes me.' Nelson said hosting young athletes from as far as Germany and Australia is the goal of the event. 'The wonderful thing about working with these young kids is that they develop skills that put them at the point where they can actually get scholarships to go to university.' The event is free to watch and attend. With files from CTV News Edmonton's Sean McClune and Sasha Pietramala
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Plans for Nordic spa in Edmonton's river valley now official, developers say
Edmonton has been selected as the location of a new spa that promises to make a secluded corner of the city's southwest a destination for cold plunges, steam heat and silent relaxation. The city's first Nordic spa is slated for construction in Brander Gardens, overlooking the North Saskatchewan River. Canadian wellness brand Scandinave Group Inc. has been floating plans to construct the facility on property owned by the University of Alberta Properties Trust known as the Soaring lands. Following a pitch to the City of Edmonton and a series of public consultations, councillors voted unanimously to pass a rezoning application for the project in February, clearing the way for construction. In a joint news release Wednesday, officials with Scandinave Group, along with the provincial government and Travel Alberta, announced that those plans are now official. The spa is expected to open in the summer of 2028. Steve Arsenault, the company's president and CEO, said with city approval — along with support from the province and Travel Alberta — the company feels confident moving forward. In an interview with CBC News Wednesday, Arsenault said the project will now move into the design phase as the company works with engineers and architects to draft detailed plans for the facility. He expects construction to get underway by 2027. "It's exciting," he said. "Actually it's the most exciting phase, until we get to open the doors. "And we chose Edmonton because it aligns perfectly with our vision of offering a nature-inspired wellness experience." Nordic spas, known as a Scandinavian spas or thermal spas, are centred around the concept of hydrotherapy where clients gently heat their bodies in saunas or hot tubs before cooling off with a cold bath and repeating the cycle. Scandinave Group Inc. has built similar spas in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia. Arsenault said Edmonton's spa will follow a similar model to their other facilities with a mix of saunas, steam baths, cold plunges and outdoor relaxation areas. "It's a silent experience. It's really to unwind, to relax," he said. "It's not a social experience. Some other spas have that concept. Not ours. We want to replicate what our DNA is in Edmonton, and we feel that's what people are are looking for." Wednesday's announcement was lauded by Andrew Boitchenko, Alberta's tourism minister, who said the provincial government is proud to support the new venture. The project is expected to generate approximately $121 million in total economic impact over its first decade of operation, the ministry said. It's expected to result in 330 temporary jobs during construction and 52 permanent full-time jobs after the spa opens. The project is moving forward with support from Alberta's Investment and Growth Fund. "This landmark project sets the stage for future tourism development, fuelling the growth of our visitor economy by enhancing Edmonton's iconic river valley and promoting Alberta as a premier wellness destination." In an interview, Jon Mamela, Travel Alberta's chief commercial officer, described the project as an incredible win for Alberta tourism sector and a fast-growing wellness tourism industry. He expects the project will attract new visitors to the city, along with new collaborative investments in tourism ventures within Edmonton. "It raises the reputation and allure for other investors and operators to come in," he said. "It definitely will be a game-changer." During consultations with the community some residents questioned how a private venture in the city's beloved river valley would serve Edmonton. Arsenault said the company has done their "homework" to calm those concerns and get residents on board. He said the company is focused on giving Edmontonians and its visitors the chance to relax and unwind, in a new way. The scenic river valley is the perfect place for a silent, electronic-free escape that the company has planned, he said. "We're focused on bringing this exciting project to life now, and we feel the community is going love it," he said.
CTV News
09-07-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Edmonton weather: Cooler, with showers and thunderstorms in central Alberta
An aerial image of Edmonton's downtown skyline and North Saskatchewan River valley on June 6, 2025. (Cam Wiebe / CTV News Edmonton) Temperatures should be about 10 degrees cooler than yesterday in Edmonton. After hitting 32 C Tuesday, we'll top out around 23 C this afternoon. That high of 31.9 C Tuesday was just short of the July 8th record high set last year (32.6 C). No shot at record highs in the coming days as we'll hit the low 20s today and Thursday, then the mid to upper 20s for Friday/Saturday. The upper ridge that brought the heat has moved off to the east. An upper low lurks just northwest of Alberta and we have a cold front stretching south-southwest across the province. That cold front will likely help trigger some showers and thunderstorms this afternoon with the possibility for some severe thunderstorms - especially from the Red Deer region east to the Saskatchewan border. As always, not everyone will get hit with a severe storm, but areas that do get hit could see gusts over 100 km/h, large hail and we can't rule out the chance of a tornado. For the Edmonton region, the chance of a severe storm is very low, but we could see some showers or non-severe thunderstorms in the area this afternoon (especially early to mid afternoon). Thursday: Partly cloudy and gusts to around 40 km/h in the Edmonton area. Further south, we'll have some morning rain from Red Deer south to the U.S. border and that precipitation will move southeast through the day. We'll also watch for some isolated thunderstorms in northeastern Alberta tomorrow. Here's the forecast for Edmonton and area: Today - Cloudy with occasional sunny breaks. 40% chance of a shower or thunderstorm this afternoon. High: 23 Tonight - Mostly cloudy in the evening, clearing overnight. 9pm: 17 Thursday - Partly cloudy. Breezy: NW 20 gusting to 40 km/h. Morning Low: 12 Afternoon High: 22 Friday - Sunny with a few clouds. Increasing cloud in the evening. Morning Low: 12 Afternoon High: 26 Saturday - Partly cloudy. Morning Low: 15 Afternoon High: 26 Sunday - Partly cloudy. Breezy. Morning Low: 12 Afternoon High: 23 Monday - Mostly cloudy. 60% chance of late-day showers. Morning Low: 12 Afternoon High: 22
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Lorne Gunter: Who knew Edmonton promotes 'forest bather' program to 'reduce stress and enhance wellness'
Turns out I've been a 'forest bather' all these years and didn't even know it. No, no. That doesn't mean I run starkers into the woods until I find a pond, then leap in for a cleansing dip. According to the City of Edmonton's new 'forest bathing' program (yes, the city actually set up such a program with guides and schedules and everything), bathing in the forest can be as simple as going for an 'exploratory walk' or drinking in all the sensations that surround us in the river valley. Don't you just get all tingly imagining standing in a grove of poplars and chanting a mantra right now? 'Om Mani Pädme Hum!' For a dozen years, since we rescued our beautiful dog Kali with the help of the Edmonton Humane Society, I've been going on long walks down by the North Saskatchewan River three or four times a week. Now that we have a second dog, Cooper, it's a great way to help him burn off energy. (He's a five-year-old border collie–blue heeler cross.) Our frequent walks are a great way to meet other dogs and dog owners. But the dogs and I also know a couple of long trails on which we are unlikely to encounter anyone else. A peaceful hour on one of these paths is very relaxing. I guess that means that all this time I've been a closet forest bather. Who knew? Unbeknownst to me, I've even occasionally used one of the city's approved forest-bathing glades. Twice a week until Sept. 18, the city is offering free 'forest therapy' sessions 'to reduce stress and enhance wellness.' They've hired guides to lead 'silent meditation, mindful sensory exploration and group and individual reflections.' All of this to 'increase connection to nature in our urban forest.' Seriously!? This is an activity that needs to be organized and guided? Isn't that level of formality self-defeating to the simple enjoyment of nature? In his famous 19th-Century book Walden; or, Life in the Woods, a 'reflection on simple living in natural surroundings,' I don't recall Henry David Thoreau talking about meeting up with his government guide at the marshalling point near the parking lot for the spiritual walk to Walden Pond. It's galling to think the city is hitting up taxpayers for this exercise. If you want to get together with a bunch of other meditators to explore the river valley, have at 'er. Just don't make me pay for it from a budget city council is always complaining is overstressed. But beyond the notion that 'forest bathing' is a tax-funded activity in Edmonton — and an overthought one at that — what makes this doubly upsetting is that this program was announced the same week council manipulated its agenda so it could cancel a hearing on residents' legitimate concerns about mega-infill projects in the middle of existing residential neighbourhoods. Talk about getting its priorities screwed up. Council also found time to extend the community revitalization levy for Downtown. That will increase taxes through 2044 to fund projects that have very little chance of revitalizing our city core. But council didn't have time to hear from residents concerned that the neighbourhoods they have made their lives in are being ripped apart by enormous developments on tiny lots with all the parking spilling onto the streets in front. Homes that people have pumped their live savings into are being devalued and their quality of life diminished so the city can push ahead with its unbalanced obsession for 'more homes everywhere.' The majority on council couldn't take the time this week to hear those concerns, but it did manage to find time to approve a seven-acre mountain bike park in the river valley (presumably far from the forest bathing sites). Any councillor with priorities as messed up as this deserves to be turfed out. lgunter@ Zoning bylaw debate poses some thorny issues for Edmonton council Lorne Gunter: Trickery at city hall so Edmontonians went home without being heard You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun
CTV News
24-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Edmonton weather: Cool morning but a warming trend starts today
An aerial image of Edmonton's downtown skyline and North Saskatchewan River valley on June 6, 2025. (Cam Wiebe / CTV News Edmonton) We've only been in the 20s once in the past five days in Edmonton but that pattern is about to change. We'll climb into the low to mid 20s for afternoon highs today and through the rest of week, although we're off to a crisp start today with temperatures in the 2 to 5 C range early this morning in the region. Morning sun will give way to a mix of sun and cloud for this afternoon and the wind will start to pick up. We'll have gusts around 30 km/h midday and 30-40 km/h gusts through the afternoon. There's a pocket of showers in NW Alberta that will weaken as it moves ESE. I think any lingering midday showers should be fairly scattered and will probably pass north of the city. So, the best chance for a shower or thunderstorm in Edmonton and area will be this evening or late tonight. Each of the next four days has a least a chance of a shower or thunderstorm, but those should be hit and miss. The most likely timing would be in the afternoon or evening hours Wednesday/Thursday. Friday and Saturday both look like they could feature some showers earlier in the day, but the confidence on precip for those days is still pretty low. Elsewhere around Alberta: fog in east-central AB will burn off quickly this morning. Areas from Red Deer south through Calgary and Lethbridge have a slight chance for some severe thunderstorms later today. Here's the forecast for Edmonton and area: Today - Sunny this morning. Mix of sun & cloud this afternoon. Wind becoming south 20 gusting to 40 km/h midday and this afternoon. High: 23 Tonight - Cloudy periods. 30% chance of a shower or thunderstorm this evening or overnight. Wind easing overnight. 9pm: 20 Wednesday - Mix of sun & cloud. 30% chance of a shower or thunderstorm in the afternoon or evening. Morning Low: 13 Afternoon High: 24 Thursday - Mostly cloudy. 30% chance of late-day showers or thunderstorms. Morning Low: 14 Afternoon High: 24 Friday - Mostly cloudy. 40% chance of showers (especially in the afternoon). Morning Low: 13 Afternoon High: 21 Saturday - Mix of sun & cloud. 30% chance of showers. Morning Low: 12 Afternoon High: 22 Sunday - Partly cloudy. Morning Low: 11 Afternoon High: 24
