CKEM - Thursday, May 23, 2024 - 01:00 a.m. (ET) - Segment #1

I'm really, really gonna miss him. - [sighs] [sniffles] - We can still go down to HQ and visit him once in a while. - Yeah. [chuckles] He's gonna be the best damn DC this city has ever seen. But what are we gonna do without him here every day holding us together? [sighs heavily] - Well, congrats, Deputy Commissioner. - [laughs] - Nice ring to it. - Uh, we have some things to say as we send you off to the tippy-top of the CFD. - Where you should be. - Uh, thank you, but we are all gonna see each other again. There is no need for a big goodbye. - That's the thing, there are people you say goodbye to and people you can never say goodbye to because they've become too much a part of who you are. They've shaped you, trained you, taught you everything you know, even. - Hmm. - You know, Mouch pulled me off a banister and brought me here. And now I look around sometimes and it kind of feels like I was born here. I didn't really know what being a firefighter was before-- or a brother. - Amen. - Now you get to do that for the whole CFD. And they'll see how lucky we were. - You made 51 a family, Chief, and this fire house a home. - I don't know that I can take much more of this. - That's okay, 'cause there aren't any words for it. - Except, I guess, thank you, Chief... For being the best friend and leader anyone could ask for. - Come on now. - Hey, Lieutenant. You got a sec? - What is it? - I wanted to answer the question that you asked me last shift about why I lost my cool on that call and why I really came to 51. [soft tense music] That guy at the restaurant, the father? He was being mean and he was treating that younger kid like dirt. And I had a father like that too. His name was Benny Severide.

[wolf howls] >> The only thing in this house is a flock of pigeons. We hear from neighbours on the city's response to derelict properties. >> As not fit for any human habitation. >>> People don't realize how much training we bring when you call 911 and how much... >> Reporter: we are given up close look at the tools used by paramedics each and every day on the job. >>> It's your typical alberta spring and you never know what kind of whether you're going to get. Rest assured the green houses say even if there's a chill in the air and it's on is hard to find, still a really good time to get your plants in the ground. >>> Family carving across into a tree, the beginning of a memorial for a teenager found fatally wounded tuesday night in the far northwest corner of edmonton. Homicide detectives say paramedics tried to save the injured 15-year-old near 137th avenue and 184th street just south of saint albert but he died on seen around 9:30 pm. The teens mother witnessed her son's death. She's not ready to speak on camera but telling city news her son died a hero. They had been walking their dog when he was attacked. Edmonton police arrested a man on seen who they say was known to the victim. Meanwhile at saint albert public schools confirming the death of a grade 9 students. Lowering flags at the junior high school wednesday.

>>> It's derelict homes like these that are being taxed even more by the city. Neighbours here tell us the city needs to clean up places like this. >> Reporter: thank mack. >> We've had a few people set up encampments in the front yard. >> He has a shepherd and my shepherd is not a fan. Other than that I kind of keep to myself. >> Reporter: people living around commonwealth stadium they've -- telling me they've had their problems with properties like these adding they are happy to see the city of edmonton now charging the owners of those homes nearly 3 times the normal property tax rates. Neighbours helping them move gets derelict homes cleaned up and back on the market. >> There's a problem with housing and canada right now so ... >> Reporter: officials saying since announcing the tax over 6 months ago, nearly 15 percent of edmonton's 300 ehrlich homes have been cleaned up in addition to a higher property tax rate, they say nearly 700 tickets have gone out to problem property owners as well. Just blocks north of commonwealth stadium, community leaders on alberta avenue say this crackdown on dilapidated properties is something they've been waiting 20 years for. The homes are more than eyesores , they are a safety hazard, particularly for the vulnerable. >> These are not homes or houses that anybody -- it not paper any human habitation. Half the basement is completely gone. Once we call fire took help they said they wouldn't go into the structure because it was so unsafe. >> Reporter: she adds she would like to see the city enforce the same rules on derelict commercial properties next. >>> A busy may long weekend for rcmp in the edmonton region. At strathcona county rcmp handing out over 500 tickets during an enforcement blitz. Including 6 roadside sanctions for impaired driving at a check stop in sherwood park saturday nights. Also saying speeding on the anthony henn day posed a significant risk to the public. Nah front-line workers are using a national paramedic services week as an opportunity to show the tools and equipment ems practitioners use each and every day on the job. Alberta paramedic students spent the day getting hands-on experience, learning what they need to know before heading into a real-life emergency. >> All the equipment here makes everything so much more real and more exciting to get out there working. >> Reporter: from loading a structure into an ambulance to practising their stitching skills. A gives paramedic students a claims that the real world. >> People don't realize how much training we bring when you call 911 and how much we are capable to do. >> Reporter: paramedic so the first to respond to emergency calls and each day on the job can be different. Public education officer and paramedic ian cowie says it's important to be prepared for that. >> They give you a rough idea of what it is you are responding to. Once you get to that event it's your job to effectively create a differential diagnosis and identify what's going on with these patients and develop a treatment plan to manage that event. >> Reporter: she is a paramedic student about to begin her ambulance practicum. She is excited to put her skills to the test in the real world. >> I really hope that I can touch and make a positive impact on as many people as I can. >> Reporter: in emma 10, laura krause, city news.

>>> New data shines a light on the population growth and alberta. Statistics canada shows the population in the edmonton region growing by over 60,000 last year. The estimate representing a 4 percent growth. The boom more pronounced in and around calgary with a population growth of nearly 100,000. Representing a 6 percent growth. It's estimated 2023 was the largest year on record for population growth in alberta. >>> When it comes to spring weather in edmonton and in alberta it has its ups and downs. Over the weekend a frost warning to now multiple days of rain but this greenhouse and north edmonton says if you are looking to plant a garden this year, now was a good time to get your plants in the ground. >> I have limited my front flowers to things that are more weather resistant. >> Reporter: edmonton gardeners want some sunshine after a number of days where the rainfall and frost warnings. The element are changing constantly, making it difficult to garden. >> We started outputting... We got a real cold interval and that's what we are in right now. >> Reporter: the cold and wet weather isn't stopping some from starting their own gardens. Groceries are expensive and a garden can be a good investment if it works out. >> This is my first time planting step outside so I'm figuring it out and trying to see what I can grow and what I can't. >> Reporter: he says frost warnings shouldn't be an issue for those living in the city. Those in more rural areas need to keep an eye on their plants if they are already in the ground be 1 we benefit from all the heat sink that into the houses during the daytime and it's released at night. The incident of possible night frost is very low. Further out, that may be a different story. >> Reporter: this year also marks the 25th year of front yards and blum. Competition which awards gardeners with the best yards and coleman says he's excited to see what the season blooms. >> Looking forward to a busy time. >> Reporter: from edmonton, adam ziccarelli, city news.

>>> Cooler weather weather means a majority of fire bands in alberta have now been lifted. The bands around fort mcmurray and grand prairie have been downgraded to advisories. Where permits are required for burns outside a fire pits and fireworks are prohibited. Similar restrictions and advisories remain in and around edmonton. >>> 1 of edmonton's oldest hotels showing off a new more modern look. The fairmont hotel mcdonald majority of their rooms 2 years ago. The hotel stood next to the river valley since 1915 says the updated rooms still maintain the hotel's historic touches with each room including an image from the edmonton archives to show the hotels over a century old connection to the region. >>> We could call it a little bit of an update to the ged. >> Reporter: albertans without a high school diploma can soon register for a new adult education credential. Formerly known as a ged. General education development. The new program will be known as the canadian adult education credential or see aec which is a partnership amongst the provinces with consideration of indigenous perspectives and diversity. >> Some of the things we are seeing right now is that there is a greater diversity than we've ever seen in learning needs, in all sorts of different needs for these students. We are seeing teachers that are just struggling to balance all of that and to meet the needs of all of their students. >> We are able to make sure that perspectives from different communities, multicultural communities, first nations, métis, any wet, francophone perspectives and dynamics are thought about in terms of the development of new credentials. It something the team was able to look at specifically and incorporate within the credential as well. >> Reporter: alberta's education minister also stresses that this will also offer post secondary institutions a recognizable credential they can rely on allowing learners to easily apply for higher education. Yet consider calgary ranks fifth in average income with no high school education. Clearly some albertns don't feel they need more schooling. But for those who do. >> They are earning minimum wage but we also know that minimum wage isn't necessarily what we would refer to as living wage right now either. So what are the doors that open for them if they don't have that high school diploma? >> Reporter: those considering can apply online with the option of a paper and pen. This allowing easier accessibility nationwide. >> Having this as a national program I think is going to provide more consistency from province to province, especially when students are moving with this type of... To another province, they know what they are getting. >> Reporter: in calgary, phoenix philip, city news.

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