What we choose to remember

This week, heritage advocate Andy Grabia talks about the fight to keep the University of Alberta's Casavant organ in Convocation Hall. We also look at Edmonton's uneasy relationship with its heritage and, a decade after Rogers Place opened, revisit the arena debate and the fate of Rexall Place.

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (00:32) - Ad: Life Sciences Week
• (02:58) - Meet Andy Grabia
• (04:33) - The fight to save the U of A’s memorial organ
• (09:03) - A war memorial facing relocation
• (13:44) - What exactly are they trying to preserve?
• (17:53) - Can the province stop the move?
• (20:14) - The university’s rationale—and time running out
• (25:55) - Ad: Edmonton Startup Week
• (26:41) - The state of heritage in Edmonton
• (30:36) - What is worth preserving?
• (36:16) - Rogers Place, ten years later
• (39:18) - The arena’s economic impact and opportunity costs
• (45:14) - The fate of Rexall Place
• (47:06) - A call to action on heritage
• (50:06) - Close

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Andy Grabia

• Unite for the Pipes
• Why Downtown?

Memorial organ

• U of A response to the Summerby-Murray report
• Community members raise concerns about new home for U of A organ

Edmonton heritage

• Heritage Places Strategy
• Architecture bracket exposes history at risk
• Council moves to end seven advisory boards

Rogers Place at 10

• The agreement to build Rogers Place
• Downtown Community Revitalization Levy projects
• Rogers Place celebrates its 10th anniversary

This episode is brought to you by Life Sciences Week. From Sept. 21 to 25, industry leaders, policymakers, researchers, innovators, and students will come together for free, community-led events across Alberta. Explore cutting-edge breakthroughs, meet the people transforming bold ideas into real-world solutions, and help shape the future of Alberta's life sciences sector. Learn more

This episode is also brought to you by Edmonton Startup Week. From Oct. 5 to 9, Edmonton's founders, innovators, investors, students, and big thinkers will come together to learn, connect, and build momentum. Step in for candid panels and lunch-and-learns, step up through hands-on workshops and mentorship, and step forward at community meetups, Startup Crawl, Launch Party, and more. Wherever you are in your startup journey, there's a next step waiting for you. Learn more

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