A cure for the gloom that’s gripped Edmonton since the oil economy tanked six years ago and was only made worse by more than a full year of COVID lockdown measures? 

Edmonton businessman Rick Peterson has both the perfect message and a solid plan.

“There’s no better place in the world to be than Edmonton in the next 10 years,” Peterson said. “If you have a 25-year-old son or daughter, tell them to stay here because it’s going to cook. There are just so many good things happening.”

Peterson’s optimism flows out of the conventional oil and gas industry, where he sees US$80 per barrel oil on the way, but also because he sees a coming boom in the energy transition economy, in hydrogen production to power big trucks and in lithium extraction to build batteries.

Edmonton’s advantages are low housing costs, a vibrant cultural sector, as well as the University of Alberta’s capacity as an incubator for new technology to drive the energy transition, Peterson said. “There’s no better staging area for all of this stuff than our city, way better than Calgary.”

Edmonton can become a central hub for financing the transitional energy economy, said Peterson, who runs Peterson Capital and has been in the investments sector for 25 years.

When companies call him, he said they’re looking for government connections, which favours Edmonton over Calgary.

One more advantage for Edmonton is that the skills of oil and gas workers and engineers transfer to energy transition projects, such as the waste-to-gas projects being built by companies like Green Impact Partners.

The new company has two projects in Colorado, and two more planned in Alberta and B.C., where high carbon methane manure waste from major dairy and cattle operations is collected, purified and added into natural gas grids.

Albertans have built hundreds of gas plants, said Green Impact chief executive officer Jesse Douglas, and workers can use those skills to manage these methane-conversion plants. “I think they can make us leaders here,” said Douglas of this skilled workforce, “making us leaders on the world scale.”

Right now about 0.6 per cent of North America’s energy is supplied by clean gas, Douglas said, adding that a target of 10 per cent is the goal. If that amount of methane is taken out of emissions and turned into far lower carbon gas, the gas grid will be either carbon neutral or carbon negative, he said.

Alberta investors and government leaders are now moving in the right direction, Douglas said. “There’s an intention to be North America’s leader in how we do this.”

One of Alberta’s biggest business plays will be in lithium extraction by companies like E3 Metals Corp, which has found one of the world’s largest deposits around Red Deer.

This reserve has about seven million tonnes of lithium stored deep in the Earth in brine water. This water is already pumped to the surface in Alberta’s massive oil and gas operations. E3 Metals will take that brine water, purify it through nanotech processes developed in part at the University of Alberta, and sell the lithium to battery makers.

In 2015, when E3 CEO Chris Doornbos, a geologist who worked at Suncor oilsands, first tried to raise money for lithium mining, he was laughed out of Calgary boardrooms. But he realized massive demand for lithium was on its way.

Most of us immediately rush into the kitchen each morning to make a hot cup of coffee, so you may just need a charming coffee bar setup in your life! You deserve to carve out an aesthetically pleasing nook to display all of your coffee-making supplies. DIY coffee bars are a useful way to make your kitchen more cozy and friendly. I am sharing a few of my favorite coffee bar setup tips that may inspire you!

- Clear canisters make it easy to determine when you're running low on coffee-making essentials and also ensure that guests will be able to easily navigate their way around the kitchen.

- Stock up on coffee treats whether they're homemade or store-bought, and display them on a cake stand so guests feel like they're at their favorite cafe.

- Fill oil pourers with your favorite syrups to make custom beverages.

- During the work week, set out a travel mug so you can grab your coffee and go. To help you stay healthy during busy days, set a basket of fruit next to the coffee machine.

- Personalize your coffee station by adding a vase of flowers, coffee-related wall decor, or a small plant!

- Many coffee mugs are decor pieces in their own right and deserve to be displayed. In this case, you might prefer a mug rack. There are freestanding models, as well as wall-mounted units to choose from.

- DIY Coffee Bar Tips from HGTV.com

Garneau is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city of Edmonton. It is named after one of its first inhabitants, Laurent Garneau, a former Manitoba Métis rebel and Hudson's Bay Company employee who, with his wife and family, settled here around 1874.

It is located west of the Strathcona neighborhood and just east of the University of Alberta campus. The neighborhood overlooks the beautiful North Saskatchewan River valley.

The community currently consists of single-family homes primarily in the southwest; and walk-ups, row-housing, and family oriented residential development to the southeast. Transit and LRT development, low-rise apartments, and high-rises are found mostly in the northeast and along the top of the river valley; while high-density apartments and commercial development rise along 112 Street.

Neighborhood Renewal work will resume in Garneau in May 2022. The work will involve road reconstruction and repaving, as well as replacement of street lights and reconstruction of sidewalks, curb and gutter. It also includes the opportunity for 2 local improvements, sidewalk renewal and decorative street lights.

- Neighborhood spotlight from Wikipedia.

You might ask why having a home inspection is important when you’ve already spent a good deal of time looking at the property with your realtor or your family and checking to make sure everything is in good shape. The unknowns can end up affecting you deeply financially, so let’s dive in and discuss the main reasons for having a home inspection.

If you don’t already know an inspector, ask for referrals, check reviews, and look at the company’s website and references. Ask if the inspector who will do the work is certified. You should expect an organized report with plenty of detail and photos. It is important to find one who cares!

If you’re a prospective buyer of the home that’s being inspected, it’s recommended that you walk through with the inspector during the process. Make sure to ask any questions that you think of during the inspection in order to be more knowledgeable about the home you’re buying.

After a home inspection is completed, you can ask your real estate agent to negotiate any necessary repairs with the sellers or ask the sellers to lower the price so you can fix the problems yourself. However, a buyer should be aware that a seller is not obligated to fix anything.

In in the long run, you'll be glad you went with a home inspection. If you are a first-time homebuyer, an inspection can give you a crash course in home maintenance and a checklist of items that need attention to make your home as safe as possible.

There’s plenty to look forward to as a first-time home buyer, buying a home is one of the largest purchases you will ever make and an excellent asset to your future. The experience may be very different based on your location, financial situation and other factors, however, the basic steps, remain the same.

- What can I afford?

This is one of the most important questions to ask. Your mortgage lender will be able to figure out a number based on your income, credit scores, assets, and more. You will also need to take into account costs like property taxes and homeowner’s insurance. All of this will help you determine how much you’re able to pay for your home.

- Which Neighborhoods Are Best for Me?

Finding a neighborhood that suits your lifestyle is an important step of the home buying process. A good walk or a drive through the area can reveal nearby amenities that may be important to you: parks, grocery stores, restaurants, libraries, schools, etc. Commuting to and from work is a part of many people's days, so factoring in access to roads and public transportation may be a good idea. Research whether anything is going to substantially change the area, such as any planned developments or construction. You have to take into consideration all of your needs and wants before making a decision about where to live. 

- Turnkey vs. Fixer-Upper?

A turnkey home is a move-in-ready property. There is no need for any improvements, or major projects. These types of homes let you get right to living your life rather than focusing on renovations. If you want your home to be uniquely your own, you’re still going to have to do some projects as these home generally come with neutral features to attract the broadest clientele. The market value is always higher for these homes, you’re paying a premium for convenience and instant access. Fixer-upper houses tend to need a bit of work. Dependent on how much renovations are needed to be done on the house, the market price will be lower. While doing the renovations, you can add your personal touch and make a house uniquely your own. A home inspection can catch some of the biggest issues, but it’s easy for a small project to uncover more issues. Because these problems have to be addressed, they create a much larger project than you’d planned. Whether you decide to renovate or buy a new home, it’s important to do your research before you proceed.

- Why should I use a real estate agent?

A real estate agent has your back. They have what's known as a "fiduciary" resposibilty to their clients, which means they are legally obligated to put their clients' best interests first and will. A real estate agent will help you find the right home and will offer you advice on what price to offer and any conditions you might want to consider. It’s important to choose an agent who is familiar with the area where you are searching for a home. Your agent will be alert for issues that may not cross your mind, they will recognize the telltale signs of any problems that may arise and know how best to approach them. This experience and knowledge can end up saving you thousands down the road. 

Welcome to 2022!

The real estate market tends to cool down as soon as the winter temperatures hit. This, however, does not mean you cannot sell real estate during winter! You can start by following these winter home staging tips that will make your property cozy and beautiful, even in our coldest -30℃ days!

- One of the simplest tips for winter is to set your thermostat to a temperature that most people will find comfortable. You don’t want your home to feel too cold or too hot. Additionally, now would be a great time to fix air leaks in your home. Windows and exterior doors can create cold spots that will give your guests a chill.

- Winter means shorter days and longer darkness periods. Make your home inviting by adding more light to rooms. Ideally, you should avoid bright white lights as they can tend to highlight small imperfections in your walls, floors, and ceilings. A few carefully placed candles could also make your rooms look cozy and comfortable!

- Winter can encourage nesting - which means more stuff. In any home, storage space matters. Start by clearing your storage areas out. Don't load up closets, basements or garages with bins. Reduce the personal pictures, memorabilia on surfaces and walls so rooms look more expansive.

- Make sure guests’ first impression of your home is a good one, including an accessible entryway. Have a clear pathway for visitors and potential buyers to and from your home. Your driveway and sidewalk should be clear of ice and snow.