Low oil prices. Job losses. Volatile stock markets. 50+ club over budget.
There is no shortage of headlines these days that might make many feel like getting out of bed and leaving the house every day is just not worth the hassle.
But despite the gloom and doom we are showered with on a regular basis, we only have to look around our fair city to see success is defined by more than what can be found in the business pages of the Edmonton Journal or Globe and Mail.
The inaugural Edmonton International Airshow soared into the Villeneuve Airport last weekend. Economic uncertainty did not stop people from shelling out the modest $25 admission price. More than 19,000 people attended the event – some coming from overseas to attend – just shy of the event’s 20,000-attendance goal. The success will contribute to growing the event next year and will hopefully help it hit its future goal of 50,000 spectators. That can only mean good things for city business owners who help to lodge, feed and entertain the multitudes.
Thanks to a ringing endorsement from an Alberta wedding magazine, those looking to walk the aisle have a reason to cast their gaze on St. Albert. Blush Magazine recently selected the Enjoy Centre as the best venue in the province to get hitched. That is a testament to the work the Hole family has done to make the centre a beautiful place for residents and visitors alike to enjoy.
St. Albertans love their food and yesterday marked another chance for city residents to enjoy some of the best mobile culinary delights the region has to offer. Food trucks are immensely popular in the city as can be seen by the hordes of people who flock to them during special events and the farmers’ market.
The latter is another city success story. Each Saturday throughout the summer and fall, hundreds of people from St. Albert and area flock to the farmers’ market. Some have gone as far as to say it is the largest such event of its kind in Western Canada. From handcrafted furniture and clothing to fresh produce and meats the market has something for everyone. Judging by the crowds, people are not shying away from spending a few extra dollars for the quality offered there.
Our city is also rich in history and the city has made major strides to maintain its link to the past. Grain Elevator Park showcases some of our agricultural heritage and most recently, as reported in the Gazette on Wednesday, to move two restored historical homes onto permanent foundations on the site.
Part of an ongoing $3-million effort by the St. Albert Arts and Heritage Foundation, the site will breathe new life into our city’s past and offer a more complete stroll through historic St. Albert.
In city athletics, city baseball, soccer and rugby are showing their prowess on the field. Some – such as the AAA and AA midget cardinals – finished with medals in provincial and national events. The firsts and thirds are also poised to trample through the upcoming playoffs. Not to mention the success city teams demonstrate in both football and basketball, whose seasons will start up in coming months.
Those are but a few of the success stories our city has boasted in recent months. Despite the hard economic times, we are sure our city will continue to do what it has always done – work hard and persevere.
