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Lawyer critical of street checks appointed to Provincial Court
October 27, 2016. Three new judges have been appointed to the Provincial Court of Alberta: D’Arcy DePoe, Michelle Doyle and Jasmine Sihra. DePoe, past president of the Criminal Trial Lawyers’ Association, was critical of Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley last year when she said Alberta would not regulate street checks undertaken by the police. Ganley said street checks were “conversations,” but DePoe said there was evidence that the activity, also known as “carding,” discriminated and that the lack of standards governing street checks was a reason for concern. Leaders in the Aboriginal community and some ethnic groups held that their people were being unfairly targeted.
EPS lays manslaughter charge in fentanyl overdose
October 27, 2016. The Edmonton Police Service has laid its first manslaughter charge in relation to a death caused by a fentanyl overdose. Jordan Yarmey, 25, was charged on Oct. 24 with manslaughter in the Jan. 27 death of Szymon Kalich, 33. Autopsy and toxicology results concluded Kalich died from a fentanyl overdose. Homicide detectives undertook an extensive investigation which led to the manslaughter charge. Yarmey is to appear in court Thursday.
Funding available for solar panels on schools
October 27, 2016. As part of its Climate Leadership Plan, the province is making funding available for the installation of solar panels at 36 school projects that are now in the planning or design phase and have not gone to tender. The total investment in these installations will be at least $9 million and there will be more discussion about the projects with school boards. Government will also establish a committee to evaluate the impact of the installations with a goal of expanding the program over time. Putting solar panels on schools was a recommendation made by students as a way to demonstrate leadership on tackling climate change. This is a voluntary initiative. Alberta Education will be contacting school authorities to discuss modifying the scope of their projects to incorporate the panels.
EPS receives Wolf Award
October 27, 2016. The Edmonton Police Service has become the first law enforcement agency to win a national award that honours efforts to improve relations between cultures and races. On Wednesday, EPS Chief Rod Knecht received the Wolf Award on behalf of the police force’s Indigenous Relations Unit for its Oskayak Police Academy. The summer program began three years ago. Participants are trained in leadership development and problem solving, attend educational sessions and traditional cultural activities with diverse speakers and Elders, assist with community outreach in the downtown core, and experience what it is like to be a police recruit. Wolf Project founder Heather Acres said several First Nations leaders nominated the EPS for the award. The Wolf Project was founded in 1995.
River Cree Resort & Casino celebrates 10 years
October 27, 2016. On Wednesday the River Cree Resort & Casino celebrated its 10th anniversary, the first of the five First Nation casinos to open in Alberta. “When I look back on the 25 year journey which my Nation and I have been on to bring us to this day, where we sit as the sole owner and operator of the most successful resort and casino in Western Canada, I take enormous pride in all we have accomplished and look forward to an even brighter future…. Our results and performance show that we are on the right path,” said President and CEO Robert Morin in a statement. In January 2014, River Cree became the first Canadian First Nation-owned business to successfully issue a cross-border bond offering, allowing the Enoch Cree Nation to obtain sole ownership of the River Cree. In 2015, ECN assumed sole management. Improvements and expansion of services and amenities at River Cree will continue in the years to come.