FAREWELL TO 2019
Chad Huculak offers his illustrated take on Edmonton’s top news events of 2019.
1
Wexit
The Western Canada separatist movement reared up again after the federal election left some Albertans feeling disenfranchised. Wexit Alberta, a group with political aspirations, tapped into the anti-ottawa resentment by holding rallies in Edmonton and across Alberta.
2
Greta Thunberg
The 16-year-old girl from Sweden brought her climate strike to Edmonton in October, drawing thousands to the Alberta legislature grounds to hear Thunberg’s message of the urgent need for action on climate change.
3.
The rise of Jason Kenney
Jason Kenney’s United Conservative Party bounced Rachel Notley’s NDP from provincial power in 2019. Kenney’s journey began in 2017 when he was elected leader of Alberta’s PC party, which soon merged with the Wildrose party. A leadership vote, which is currently under investigation by the RCMP, declared Kenney the winner. As UCP leader, Kenney hit the campaign trail, culminating in his April 16 election win.
4.
Liberals retain power Justin Trudeau’s Liberals managed to eke another win in the federal election, winning enough seats to form a minority government. Albertans’ frustrations over federal policies resulted in the federal Conservatives winning all but one seat in the province, leading Trudeau to create a special representative to the Prairies to listen to concerns.
5.
WWE traffic stop
While wrestler Lacey Evans was in Edmonton for a WWE show at Rogers Place in September, she posted a video on Twitter of her receiving a speeding ticket from an RCMP officer, with her proclaiming “Do you know who I am?” Her berating of the Mountie generated internet traffic, as people seemingly forgot WWE is known for its “sports entertainment” brand of attention-grabbing stunts. Afterwards it was announced the video was rehearsed.
6.
Maas exit
Edmonton Eskimos head coach Jason Maas was fired after the team he shepherded since 2015 lost the East Division final to the Hamilton Tiger-cats in November. The writing was on the wall for Maas for most of the 2019 season as the Esks struggled under his guidance, as well as his outbursts from the sidelines not impressing the powers-that-be. Maas was later picked up by the Saskatchewan Roughriders as offensive co-ordinator.
7.
Edmonton heroes
An April evening along Whyte Avenue turned vicious as a man began setting fire to vehicles with gasoline from a jerry can. In videos posted to social media of the event, two passersby (dubbed “2X4 Guy” and “Hawaiian Shirt Guy”) are seen subduing the arson suspect until police arrived. The two random strangers — eventually revealed to be Jeff Halaby and Bert from Lloydminster — were dubbed heroes for their actions. Malice Sutton was later handed a 15-month sentence after pleading guilty to the arson spree.
8.
Rough ride for e-scooters
This past summer two companies introduced e-scooters to Edmonton streets. While many embraced the scooters, vandals began dunking them into the Alberta legislature grounds wading pool and even setting them on fire.
9.
Tippett named Oilers head coach
It was another revolving-door season for the Edmonton Oilers, as the organization gave coach
Ken Hitchcock the boot and brought in Dave Tippett to helm the 2019/20 season. Hitchcock had replaced Todd Mclellan as bench boss, but was unable to shake the Oilers out of their slump. Under Tippett the Oilers began the season red-hot, placing at the top of the Pacific Division. However the team’s fortunes have since cooled considerably, leaving some Oilers fans wondering if they’ll be missing the playoffs yet again.