After years, no decades, of waiting for a non-chain coffee shop to open in the north east, imagine my surprise at discovering two in ward tastawiniyiwak in the last 4 days. I hear there is actually a third, which I haven't visited yet.
When I first moved to Edmonton as teenager in the 90s, my parents wouldn't let me drive south of the Yellowhead. My sister and I scoured the Yellow Pages for any place with "cafe" in it's name, to only find a bar right off Yellowhead Trail.
Then in the early aughts, I remember 3 Starbucks piling up at the intersection of 137 Ave. and 97 St, as if there was a force field of fear preventing any further movement east. There was one great place on 50 St. and 129 Ave. but it has been long closed. If you remember the name of it, let me know. The new cafes have been added to my Hidden Gems map.
From all I can gather, all three new cafes have been opened by immigrants. Is it cliche to quote "Immigrants! They get the job done!"? Yes, it probably is but only because its a truism.
All this to say, I'm voting No to the 9, yes/no questions on the referendum ballot and to remaining in Canada. I think it's safe to say that if you are still reading this newsletter, we are on the same page but with so much at stake, I don't want to leave any vote on the table.
Join me in the coming weeks, to get as much of the vote out as we can, to put this divisive issue to rest, so that we can focus on the things that will actually make life better for us all.
