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RE: New Location for Pride Centre: Opinions

blackbunny — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 10:27:00 GMT

it sounds like the perfect place for the pride centre

RE: New Location for Pride Centre: Opinions

blackbunny — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 16:00:21 GMT

i dont know im new here

RE: New Location for Pride Centre: Opinions

Chame — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 03:06:30 GMT

Ok personally..don't much like the area as a basis of where it is..then again I don't like downtown much at all. But trust me..there are far, far worse areas the center could be at and this location is quite nice and easy to get to.(Ok I got lost fidning it the first time but I messed the address in my head >.>) The new building looks to have alot of promise and it's affordable which is kinda the point right? If you want to complain about money..look at the economy and how prices continue to raise while wages stay the same..

Anyways, I think that all those who are complaining about the location should maybe get down to the center and notice the attitude that is around the center. Honestly I felt much more uncomfortable walking into the old center on 109th then I did walking into the new spot on 111th..and trust me, that's a major compliment. A little work, a bit of paint, a few personal touches...it'll be the safe comfortable home away from home that the old center was.

lots of love
Chame

RE: New Location for Pride Centre: Opinions

serena — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 20:31:16 GMT

Neighbourhood Crime Statistics can be obtained from the Edmonton Police Services website. A very preliminary analysis yields the following.

http://www.police.edmonton.ab.ca/Pages/Crime%20Statistics/neighcrime.htm

Citywide
Downtown Division

Both indicate that our current location is in Alberta Avenue, and we have come from the Downtown area, where our old Centre used to be.

***************

http://www.police.edmonton.ab.ca/Pages/Crime%20Statistics/_private/Neighbourhood%20Reports/Neighborhood%20Report%20Quarter%201%202006.pdf

January - March 2006

Alberta Avenue (New Centre): Total Crime = 454

/ 6261 7.3%

Downtown (Old Centre): 850

/ 9027 9.4%

COMMENT: Given whole figures, there has been more crime in the Old Centre area than in the new one.

However, even if one were to take into account the crime per person, as dowtown population is higher, the figures indicate a higher 9.4% as comapred to 7.3% for the new area.

Now lets go back into historical figures:

*****************

http://www.police.edmonton.ab.ca/Pages/Crime%20Statistics/_private/Neighbourhood%20Reports/Neighbourhood%20Report%202005%20Year%20End.pdf

Year end 2005

Alberta Avenue (New Centre): Total Crime = 1959

/ 6261 31.3%

Downtown (Old Centre): 4700

/ 9027 52.1%

*******************

http://www.police.edmonton.ab.ca/Pages/Crime%20Statistics/_private/Neighbourhood%20Reports/Neighbourhood%20Report%202004%20Year-End.pdf

Year end 2004

Alberta Avenue (New Centre): Total Crime = 1860

/ 6877 27%

Downtown (Old Centre): 5657

/ 6249 90.5%

***********************

http://www.police.edmonton.ab.ca/Pages/Crime%20Statistics/_private/Neighbourhood%20Reports/Neighbourhood%20Report%202003%20Year-end.pdf

Year end 2003

Alberta Avenue (New Centre): Total Crime = 1992

/ 6877 29%

Downtown (Old Centre): 5308

/ 6249 84.9%

*********************

Now the figures for total crime indicate a lot about the two areas. However, lets specifically look at figures for violent crimes.

January - March 2006

Alberta Avenue (New Centre): Violent crimes= 46

/ 6261 0.7%

Downtown (Old Centre): 78

/ 9027 0.86%

**********************

Year end 2005

Alberta Avenue (New Centre): Violent Crime = 190

/ 6261 3%

Downtown (Old Centre): 313

/ 9027 3.47%

**********************

Year end 2004

Alberta Avenue (New Centre): Violent Crime = 171

/ 6877 2.5%

Downtown (Old Centre): 392

/ 6249 6.3%

*********************

Year end 2003

Alberta Avenue (New Centre): Violent Crime = 215

/ 6877 3.1%

Downtown (Old Centre): 422

/ 6249 6.8%

***********

CONCLUSION: The figures speak for themselves.

RE: New Location for Pride Centre: Opinions

cijay — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 20:49:12 GMT

I've volunteered at the missions, Norwood school, attended Sacred Heart church and things at the Baha'i centre. I've probably eaten at every little family-run Chinese/Vietnamese restaurant in Norwood and no problems. (And ask Brendan, I hardly carry a 'don't muck with me', countenance/attitude.) On the other hand, I got mugged at gunpoint in the area around the museum and my cousin got knifed at one of the Interac machines somewhere around 109th & Jasper (don't know which). So there is no 'good' or 'bad' area.

RE: New Location for Pride Centre: Opinions

kairos — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 19:57:01 GMT

Well..let's try this again. My two previous posts did not show up. Perhaps there is some censoring going on. One hopes not!

I believe the opinion of everyone counts so let's keep this space a place where anyone interested can express their concerns.

RE: New Location for Pride Centre: Opinions

kairos — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 15:22:56 GMT

The opinion of everyone counts.

RE: New Location for Pride Centre: Opinions

kairos — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 15:20:21 GMT

The opinion of everyone counts. This forum, of all places, is where people should be free to express their opinion, constructive or not. Time will tell the effect the move to 111st will have on centre use. The gay community will always have a home in Oliver with the bars. We can only continue to support them since they were here long before Pride Centre and will still be here long after Pride Centre. Hopefully they will continue to organise events that will attract people who don't feel safe in the 111st location of Pride Centre so everyone has a place to feel safe. Unfortunately youth won't be able to participate in these events since they are underage.

RE: New Location for Pride Centre: Opinions

serena — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 19:19:16 GMT

Kyle (7/6/2006)

I am glad to see an opinion doesn't count. As for when I am in the area...7am, 11 am, 1 pm, 6pm, 9pm, 1 am.
Where are the prostitutes...try across the street on the south side or 2 blocks north. Where are the drunk or drugged out people? anywhere from 86 st to 101 st. in the evenings. It is a mixed area and evenings, when the groups meet, is not a time to be walking in that area.
I was just saying there are better areas to put the centre and be easier access to all.
As for fund raising...what happened to all the backers that were to be purchasing a bldg. for the centre? What do they think of this move? Maybe others are disappointed on the direction the centre has turned as well.

We are in that area from 10 AM to 10 PM. Yesterday an openly trans person walked up and down the street between 7 pm and 9 pm. She is a proud volunteer.

The old centre itself was a mixed place. We had several homelesss people moving around in that area. Heck you can even find some around the Save On Area on Jasper. The old Centre was breached in the wee morning hours and it was on the so called better area. We had the Globe bar nearby and drunk straight men.

On the other hand our neighbours in the new area have been quite cordial. Both the Catholic Community centre and the wedding shop next door personnel have come and welcomed us.

The ISCWR comprises of drag queens, they certainly have no issues. The Empress herself came for a tour and announced holding of the Court's meeting.

As for the backers, I do not know. We had an ultimatum of 30 days to vacate the old area, and we sorely needed help with the packing and moving for that matter. Kudos to our barely half a dozen volunteers who helped pack the whole centre in 2 days time.

RE: New Location for Pride Centre: Opinions

Kyle — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 18:28:03 GMT

RE: New Location for Pride Centre: Opinions

serena — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 17:06:44 GMT

Kyle (7/5/2006)

I think the new location is stupid.
A Gay Community Centre should be with in the Gay community! Not in the Norwood Area....how safe is that for youths questioning their sexuality...when drugged out street people and prostitutes staggering across 111 ave.
The whole idea of the centre was to be central for all to access...now not so much. I drive by that area all the time and even mid day it is slummy and deralect. Very disappointed in the board and saddened for Edmonton's gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered community.

Several members of the gay community live in that area. Two of whom have vocally supported the Centre there. Only yesterday we were helping a homeless gay/bi kid, who walked all the way there, to find a place to lodge. He felt safe.

I have seen no prostitutes at the new Centre, though I have seen one such character in broad daylight at the Big Fresh Place where we had our Pride Picnic. Infact she was there in the presence of Laurie Hawn -the Conservative MP for Edmonton Centre.

There are several prostitutes who frequent the area where a gay activist I know of lives and he is busy cleaning up that mess behind the Grant MacEwan Area.

As for access to the LGBT, well the people who frequented the old Centre have called us to visit the new Centre. The discussion groups like the ISCWR group is supposed to meet today at the new place.

Only yesterday a social group behind us held their social event there. Families with chidlren were there. Today we were visited by a Mom and her little girl.

Let's have constructive criticism.

RE: New Location for Pride Centre: Opinions

Brendan — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 14:10:06 GMT

Kyle (7/5/2006)

I'm not sure when you've been around there, but I've been there almost every day for the last week helping to set things up and I have yet to see any 'drugged out street people' or prostitutes walking around the new centre...

I'd highly recommend coming for a visit and seeing what we've done and what we intend to do before you jump to conclusions

RE: New Location for Pride Centre: Opinions

Kyle — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 23:59:40 GMT

RE: New Location for Pride Centre: Opinions

Brendan — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 18:56:11 GMT

kairos (7/4/2006)

Sorry, I didn't mean my reference to the basement to be taken in a negative context - I actually rather like the basement, it has a unique charm to it - albeit it does need a coat of paint and some minor fixing up before it can be used to it's full potential.

As an added note, the more and more time I spend in the new place the more it grows on me - especially the neighbourhood - yesterday while I was at the centre we had two or three curious neighbours pop in to welcome us to the neighbourhood, which is really nice.

I'm really quite looking forward to when we're a bit more set up and I can start up some youth programs again.

RE: New Location for Pride Centre: Opinions

serena — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 16:58:39 GMT

which is so unfortunate. I mean who ever showed up at the Pot lucks, we had one every month and members from the community never showed up. It was mostly the staff and on some occasions Karen and Pam.

How many members from the community ever showed up to our Centre? Had it not been for the discussion groups, the volunteers would have nothing to do for their hosting nights.

There is so much apathy, which is hardly believable. Do we even have a sense of community as do the Hellenic, Polish, Ukranian, Muslim, Hindu et al people?

If members from the community had taken an active interest in the first place perhaps things would have gone differently. Supply needs demand, basic economics.

RE: New Location for Pride Centre: Opinions

kairos — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 12:56:17 GMT

Creeping basement is a nice way to put it! It is rather slummy if you ask me, with the basement floor leaking water and the overall smell of mold. I can't imagine any group in Edmonton wanting to meet there. Time will tell what effect this move will have on usage by the lgbt groups in town. The gay and lesbian community deserve so much better. Perhaps it is intended for street people who are not necessarily gay but need a place to hang out. Strikes me this is what was happening with the previous space during the day anyway. It became a place for street people to hang out. I heard that there was the odd sleep over at the previous space as well.

RE: New Location for Pride Centre: Opinions

Brendan — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 14:27:56 GMT

I personally really like the new building, it's very open and bright... plus it has a creepy basement, which is always nice

as for the location, I'm pretty neutral on it, Norwood is a nice area once you get to know it a bit better, granted it's not as central as the old centre was...

RE: New Location for Pride Centre: Opinions

Benny — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 04:02:19 GMT

Well, from what i've heard (and don't quote me, I'm not a representative or anything), the lease on the current pride center was ending, and the owner's did not want to renew. So, the Pride Center was given 30 days to find a new location. From what I've heard the building itself is very nice, and much larger than the current center. However, the area of town could be considered less than... perfect. But it is a north of the more troublesome area, Little Italy is not that bad of an area.

Still... we'll just have to wait and see what happens. Think about it positively, maybe the location will be awesome, and it might help the Center alot to move there. Who knows?

New Location for Pride Centre: Opinions

kairos — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 20:28:50 GMT

I am completely shocked with the new location announced for the pride centre on 111 st and 95 avenue. This is not the type of area I would have ever imagined the Pride Centre to end up. The website does not seem up to date. What the heck is going on?