Sherwood Park MLS® Blog - August 19/2010

Proposed Bypass in Heartland Brings Out Angry Residents To County Meeting

It seems the provincial government of Alberta has plans to build a four lane highway bypass right through the middle of prime farm land just south of Fort Saskatchewan. Strathcona County residents were out in force on August 9th to protest the move at a meeting at Partridge Hill Community Hall. One of their issues is that residents were not consulted about the plan, other than a brief mention at a May open house that was poorly publicized.

Cathy Olsen, Strathcona County’s Mayor, advised the crowd that the bypass is a provincial issue, not a county government proposal. The road route was proposed only after requested by the Alberta government. The bypass is part of the master transportation plan for the Alberta Industrial Heartland Association. If the provincial government has its way, the road will be built within 10 years. The Capital Region just chose the route that would have the least affect on landowners.

But is the ring road really needed? At one time it was thought that nine upgraders would be built in the Heartland. That was perhaps overly optimistic, with the real numbers being more like two or three. This would generate much less traffic. Upgraders are plants that process oil taken from the oil sands.

Residents were also concerned that the bypass was being built to accommodate construction vehicles while the plants were being built. After that, the bypass would be largely unused, and in reality a waste of money and sacrifice of farmland for nothing. Given the current situation, county officials predict the road wouldn’t be built for 20 to 30 years if at all. Nothing as yet has been approved and that alone will take years.

Sherwood Park MLS® Blog - July 27/2010

Tools for School Aims to Fill 8,500 Backpacks

This summer marks the sixteenth year Tools for School has been helping students in the Edmonton region. The program, developed by The United Way, collects and distributes learning equipment for those whose families are unable to provide school supplies needed.

The United Way reports that one in eight school-aged children live in a family with an annual income below $20,000. Leduc’s Food Bank Executive Director, Gert Reyner, says Tools for School relieves some of the pressure on families, enabling them to refocus their energy on more immediate issues.

Supplies are donated by community members and then distributed to students, both children and adults alike. In 2009, more than 8,300 students in the capital region benefitted from the program.

Karen Sand, Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) spokesperson, said Tools for School is hoping to collect enough supplies to fill the 8,500 backpacks requested this year.

Principals submit the number of backpacks they think will be required, and the United Way collects and distributes the donations. Donations are accepted wherever school supplies are sold, and the items stay in the community they were donated in.

Suggested supplies include backpacks, binders, exercise books, lined paper, pencils, pens, non-toxic markers, geometry sets, erasers, glue sticks and USB sticks.

Backpacks can be requested through local school division offices. Families can contact EIPS at 780-417-8225, and volunteers wanting to pack backpacks can contact Lindsay Herrick at 780-443-8380.

Sherwood Park MLS® Blog - July 2/2010

Residents of Sherwood Park Meet With County Regarding New School On Old Space

Residents of Sherwood Park that lived near the one time Word of Life Tabernacle Church are not particularly delighted that the Aurora Learning Centre will be opening up a school at the same location. They are equally miffed that officials from Strathcona County did nothing to advise them before the new owners of the property started what looked like construction. The residents, not trusting either the County or the people in charge of the proposed school, want their promises in writing, and it looks like they will get them.

In an effort to create understanding between the two sides, county representatives, school representatives and irritated residents met at county Hall about the intended private learning centre, located at 51577 Range Road 225. Former problems were discussed, such as the church, which started out with about 100 members, ended up with more than 600 causing traffic issues. Residents could no longer find parking in front of their homes. The other problem is that the church was in a quiet residential area and had frequent night and weekend events so the traffic issues were not limited to Sunday services.

Dean Skinner, a trustee of the school stated that Aurora Learning Centre is not affiliated with the prior church owners and has no plans to become a place of worship in its own right. Traffic would only be from staff, a maximum of five cars, and from parents dropping off children, estimated at about seven cars a day. Initial enrolment for the school would be 22 students, with a maximum of 30.

Skinner also said the construction equipment currently on the lot is there to test the soil. The previous church was destroyed by fire in 2002 and there was concern about contamination. He also assured residents that the school has no plans for expansion.

Sherwood Park MLS® Blog - June 14/2010

New School Coming to Pine Grove Acres Will Hopefully Not Bring Old Problems

It seems that residents in a rural neighbourhood south east of Sherwood Park will be getting a new neighbour. A school run by the Aurora Learning Foundation is planning on moving their facility to the corner of Township Road 520 and Range Road 225 from its current location in Edmonton. The site was once occupied by the Word of Life Tabernacle church and gave local residents no end of grief with endless streams of traffic and less than courteous drivers.

The Aurora School will only have a maximum of 30 students and about five staff members, so the traffic issues should not have the same impact. The problem residents are having with the school’s new home is that no one told them about the plan. Residents woke up one day to see construction equipment on the site. They are not happy with Strathcona County’s apparent cover-up of the move.

The Aurora School outgrew its location in Edmonton and chose Strathcona County because most of its students are from the area. This particular bit of land already has the proper zoning for a school. The remainder of the Pine Grove Acres neighbourhood is under country residential zoning.

The purchase of the property was made a year ago and permits filed with the county for building permits. As of yet these permits have not been granted but the appearance of construction equipment suggests an implicit approval. Residents submitted an eight page letter of concern to counsel and also attended a question and answer session about the school’s development. Strathcona County, not the Pine Grove Acres neighbourhood, does have final say on the project.

Sherwood Park MLS® Blog - June 4/2010

Albertans Ready to Fight Bitumen Upgrader

Not everyone is happy with the potential bitumen upgrader in the Fort Saskatchewan area. School buses packed with approximately 80 people toured the area northeast of Edmonton to view the industrial sector’s hold on the Heartland.

Total, a French oil company, wants to build a bitumen upgrader on 364 hectares between Shell Scotford and Dow Chemical upgrader and refinery.

Many businesses and municipalities are in support of the build but many residents, including a large portion of those on the tour, are banding together to stop the project. The upgrader is estimated to contribute approximately $8 billion to Alberta’s economy.

Recalling previous scares and bad experiences with the industrial sector in Alberta’s Heartland, residents are worried about the new bitumen upgrader’s impact on their well-being. Anne Brown recalls an incident in 2008 where a plume was drifting towards her home where her children were by themselves.

Farmer Wayne Groot says his potato farm is surrounded by 4,000 hectares of agricultural land owned by energy companies.

Total is working hard to reassure citizens, but many people are adamant in their concerns and plan to fill the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) hearing to express them. If the residents are successful, it may be the first time ERCB rejects a proposed oilsands project.

The hearing is scheduled for two weeks and a decision is expected by the end of summer.

Sherwood Park MLS® Blog - May 13/2010

Census Shows Rise in Strathcona County Population

Despite enduring many economic problems during the past couple of years, Strathcona County’s population increased by three percent versus 2008. According to information generated in the municipal census of 2009, the county’s population grew to 87,998 versus 85,521 a year ago. Strathcona is officially the fifth-largest municipal area in the province.

Residents of Strathcona County do not seem to have been overly impacted by the recession that began late in 2008. Census data indicate that more than 50 percent of the county’s residents have jobs, and the majority of these people work full time.

Mayor Cathy Olesen said that developments in local industry bolstered the county’s economy. She said that although she is encouraged by progress to date, the recession is not quite over. Olesen noted that as long as problems continue in the United States, Canada will experience the spillover effect.

As evidence of lingering economic woes, some 1,000 residences, including single-family homes and apartments, continue to be vacant. Although she is concerned about this statistic, Mayor Olesen is not overly worried, as she believes that the real estate market is in an ongoing cycle. She commented that the real estate market peaked in 2007, with unrealistically high home prices. After the market hit bottom during the recession, it seems to be coming back with appropriate price corrections.

According to the census information, construction of new homes experienced a 63-percent drop in 2009 versus 2008. Olesen said that during the early months of 2010, construction had increased, exceeding the relatively low number (237) of home starts during the same time last year. She said that last year’s paltry construction was due to uncertainty among many investors.

County residents took advantage of the ability to participate in the census online, with 57 percent of all households providing information via their computers.

Sherwood Park MLS® Blog - April 28/2010

Watch It! Big Box Stores Have Nothing On Us

Boutique stores can also make it big. Darren Bondar has proven that fact. He started with one store specializing in fashion sunglasses, watches and accessories, named Watch It! He opened his first store on Whyte Avenue in Edmonton in 1999 and now has six corporate outlets and 15 franchised stores in Canada from Ottawa to Victoria.

Bondar credits the timing for much of the company’s success. He is a hands on owner, commuting from his Calgary home to the Watch It! corporate office in Edmonton regularly. Bondar plans to keep his operation on the small size, between 35 to 40 stores in total so as not to saturate the brand. The newest store just opened in the trendy Bankers Hall shopping mall in Calgary’s downtown core.

Bondar experimented with the store concept making sure it was successful in several retail markets before starting to franchise out his product. His concept appears to be working and Watch It! even weathered the recent recession with a slow but steady growth.

Bondar insists that his franchisees be hands on owners and that they and their staff know the merchandise and offers support on many levels. He has one especially creative mother and son team in Niagara Falls who have successfully tweaked their store to fit in with their casino location. Sort of underlines the fact that customer service, ingenuity and product knowledge are the backbones of successful boutique retail outlets.

Sherwood Park MLS® Blog - April 12/2010

Government Waiting For More Information

As a result of a partial failure of a blower control system, the Strathcona County Suncor plant spewed a yellow-green cloud into the air over the Sherwood Park area on March 15.

The incident lasted 18 minutes beginning at 11:12 am. It occurred while a maintenance technician was checking the system for irregularities that had been noted over the previous weekend. The blower failure resulted in catalyst from the Fluid Catalytic
Cracking Unit (FCCU) coming into contact with with gas oil.

The sulfur and gas cloud was monitored as it drifted eastward from the plant by Suncor's occupational hygienist. The cloud, while ugly, was not a health risk to the public stated Alberta Environment.

Suncor has prepared and presented a report on the incident to the Alberta Government. The report states the event did not “significantly impact” the plant's emissions for that day. It claims the incident added only 0.43 tonnes of SO2 to its daily emissions.

The accident is still being investigated and further reports and updates will be prepared for Alberta environment.

Sherwood Park MLS® Blog - March 22/2010

RONA Opens New Location in Sherwood Park

Canadian home renovation giant RONA opened its new store in Sherwood Park March 10. The $16 million store, situated at 301 Wye Road, contains 52,000 square feet of space and employs 72 people, with 40 of them serving as new hires.

Robert Dutton, RONA’s president and CEO said that Sherwood Park residents have been great supporters of the store. He remarked that the new location, replacing an older outlet on Baseline Road, provides a large product range, bright surroundings and more efficient design. The store is the first RONA location in Alberta to have applied for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Other stores that hope for LEED certification are the RONA location in Saint-Georges, Quebec and the TOTEM store in Strathmore. Dutton noted the new store reflects his company’s commitment to environmental protection.

Several Calgary-area homes were featured on the My RONA television program, and have obtained LEED(R) Canada for Homes certification because they include a number of eco-friendly products.

In addition to its generous selection of home goods, the new location includes a 9,500 square-foot outdoor garden centre, 20,000 square feet of indoor lumberyard space and an outside yard comprising 68,400 square feet. More than 22,000 different items may be purchased at the store, including building and finishing materials, as well as special boutique areas for painting, decorating accessories, kitchen/bath cabinets, flooring and window treatments. The boutiques provide one-stop shopping for customers seeking to renovate their homes.

The Sherwood Park store offers Project Guide services that utilize trained staff to help customers through the various steps involved in a renovation.

Sherwood Park MLS® Blog - March 3/2010

Firefighters Participate in Several Fundraisers to Combat Muscular Dystrophy

Strathcona County firefighters are stepping up their campaign to battle muscular dystrophy.  They started to pump gas and clean windshields at the Wye Road Safeway gas station between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. February 27, and will also do so on March 6.

Mike Nicholson, a lieutenant with Strathcona County Emergency Services, said that firefighters manned the pumps and began asking the public to help defeat the disease.  This event is one of some 12 fundraisers planned by the firefighters for 2010.  The Emergency Services started selling $1 shamrocks March 1, and will continue to sell them through St. Patrick’s Day.  The shamrocks will be displayed on the bay doors of the stations.  Businesses also plan to sell the shamrocks.  Average Joe’s will host a fundraiser with the firefighters on March 17.  The event will feature a number of competitions as well as a silent auction.

Nicholson said that between last year’s shamrock sale and the St. Patrick’s Day party, the firefighters raised around $14,000.  He said he is glad his group has gained strong community support.

On March 9, several firefighters will live on the roof of Sherwood Park’s Fire Station No. 1 for four days and three nights.  The personnel will only be permitted to go indoors to use the bathroom, and otherwise must remain on the roof. They hope to raise $50,000 in this event, which is being copied in Edmonton and Winnipeg.  Nicholson said that in addition to raising funds for Muscular Dystrophy Canada, the Strathcona County firefighters simply want to do out-do their colleagues in Winnipeg and Edmonton.

Sherwood Park MLS® Blog - February 16/2010

2010 Great Year for Investing

Head of a Canadian growth equity fund for Natcan Investment Management, Mark Jackson is probably one of the most optimistic investors you will find around the stock market.

He says that he thinks the global recovery is in place, and the past recession is behind world economies.  Governments across the world have implemented stimulus plans that have successfully pulled the global economy from the brink.

He sees a year of financial bliss, with record-low interest rates and solid economic growth across the world.  He thinks that it is possible for the consumer can continue to propel economic growth, with their spending creating more jobs.  The more jobs are created, the more spending the world will see.

The first phase of economic growth has been the way economies have reacted to the government's stimulus spending.  His theory is that the U.S. consumer is going to return and spend more than ever before, driving a 3% growth for 2010 alone. Huffington Post website writer Arianna Huffington doesn't agree.  She states that the real unemployment rate is really 17%. Benjamin Tal, economist at CIBC World Markets, who warns that the U.S. is headed for a double-dip housing decline.

Sherwood Park MLS® Blog - February 2/2010

Economic Revival Across North America

There are signs of a North American economic recovery after fears of a deep recession in 2009. The next big variable in the recovery equation is whether corporations believe enough in the recovery to begin hiring the millions of workers that were laid off in 2009.

Many economists warn that it is far too early for any sort of celebration of the recovery thus so far, but the U.S. economy has managed to grow at an annual rate of over 5.5%.

On the other side of the border, the Canadian economy is expected to continue expanding after the country saw a third straight month of growth.  The Bank of Canada reported that it expects the economy will grow at 3.3% through the final three months of 2009.

Economic strategist, Millan Mulraine, says that the level of strength of the economy is a huge surprise among the entire firm, but the figures clearly indicate that economic activity has picked up.

Analysts throughout the financial industry cite the next challenge as repairing all the damage that was caused throughout the recession, such as depressed commercial real estate.  They also warn that the driver for growth in the final quarter of 2009 will not be sustained through the new year.

Chief economist for Wells Fargo, John Silvia, says the bank does not yet feel confident enough to begin hiring future employees.

Sherwood Park MLS® Blog - January 22/2010

Strathcona County Plans to Say No to Transmission Line

The mayor of Strathcona County says he is sad and upset that the officials of the proposed Heartland transmission-line project want the power transferring towers to be built through the county.  AltaLink and Epcor, the corporate giants behind the project want the double-circuit 500 kilo-volt transmission line to be routed through an area east of Edmonton.

The proposed route takes the transmission line from the Ellerslie substation in southeast Edmonton, all the way north through what is called the utility corridor.  The line is then proposed to enter Strathcona County and run for over 45 kilometers.  It also is proposed to run through Sturgeon County and Edmonton.  All three jurisdictions have stated that they want the line buried underground.

The corporations say that they need to have a study conducted by the government to determine if burying the line is feasible and cost-efficient.  The communities do not care about the cost of the project, and they want the line buried.  The final decision will be left up to the county council to make, but it is highly unlikely that they should or will side with the corporations.

Sherwood Park MLS® Blog - January 13/2010

The Olympic Torch Puts the Spotlight on Alberta

As the Olympic Torch winds its way through Swift Current and Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, those in the province of Alberta are getting excited as the flame seen round the world inches towards their border.

The torch will enter the province just west of Lloydminster on Tuesday evening. The Town of St Paul is effectively closing up shop while the torch relay travels through their area. They are expecting quite a crowd to line the relay route for this once in a lifetime opportunity.

The torch will visit a few smaller Alberta communities and then arrive into Edmonton at around 4 pm on Wednesday. It will tour the city on its way to Churchill Square where a festival of music and dance is planned.

One of those selected for the honour of carrying the Olympic flame is wheelchair bound Steve Parent-Korbie. He first saw a wheelchair bound torch bearer in the 1988 Olympic Games at the age of 12 and the image was unforgettable. His entry essay, submitted to the Coca-Cola website, likened his struggle with cerebral palsy to the struggle Olympic athletes go through to become the best. Both require massive amounts of determination and a deep desire to succeed.

Sherwood Park MLS® Blog - December 11/2009

Updated Stretch of Highway 21 Opens

The Alberta Transportation finally opened the southbound side of Highway 21 between Wye Road and Highway 16.  Improvements include new traffic signals at Lakeland Drive, and the road quality at the intersections of Wye Road and Baseline Road, Country Club Estates and Highway 628 has been improved.

Mainly, there is a new, state-of-the-art interchange between Highway 21 and Highway 16.  The hybrid design will allow smoother flow of traffic and better safety features, including new guard rails.

Officers from the RCMP were on site to help direct traffic when the update stretch of highway was reopened.  The project cost more than $115 millions, and it was started in 2006.  The project also included paving over 10 kilometres of service roads.

The Alberta Transportation had originally hoped to open the stretch of Highway 21 by October 2009, but horrible weather delayed the progress of the project by a few months. Even with the delay, the project has been successfully completed.

Sherwood Park MLS® Blog - November 25/2009

Momentum Building Behind Alberta Oil Sands Projects

Although Alberta’s large oil sand projects have fallen out of the picture due to the recent downturn in energy prices, there is a buzz in the air about new projects.  It seems that the positive momentum is building for the industry to return to the region for a new phase of ventures.

Remember, the last oil sand boom in the region which led to  miserable material and labor shortages that caused horrid inflation and huge cost overruns.  The disaster of mega-projects saw opposition and criticism from all angles, especially from environmental lobbyists to the former premier.

Luckily, oil prices do not seem to be trending back to the record highs of $147 USD a barrel, and OPEC says that prices in the $70 to $80 price range is optimal for world-wide efficiency.  Because of the disaster that was seen with the first oil sand boom, many are still reluctant to talk about any kind of uptick or positive return to production.

Lately, a few projects have been restarted, and a even a few new deals are being completed.  The business men behind the $15 billion North West Upgrader near Fort Saskatchewan are anxious to get the project online again, but the project would not see any new action until at least 2011.

The Energy Resources Conservation Board recently announced that it would hold a hearing for Total’s new bitumen upgrader.  When complete, the project could supply over 150,000 barrels of crude oil daily.  This hearing is a great sign for a hope that industrial projects will return to the region to prompt economic growth.

Sherwood Park MLS® Blog - November 17/2009

Conservation teams band together

Several environmental agencies are considering purchasing 1500 acres in Strathcona. It seems like a good idea that seven environmental groups in the province are banding together to buy 1509 acres of ranch land. The purchase is a $12 million conservation project.

The Golden family purchased the property, located around Elk Island National Park, in the 1950’s. The Golden’s are now looking to sell. Their property represents the largest working ranch in the county of Strathcona. The property is made up of 13 separate parcels. Each parcel runs 136 acres. Two parcels have been purchased and another two are slotted for purchase by year’s end.

The Golden Ranches are being bought by Beaver Hills Initiative, Edmonton and Area Land Trust, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Strathcona County, Alberta Fish and Game Association, and Alberta Conservation Association.

Alberta Fish and Game Association was contacted by Strathcona County when the ranch owners expressed a desire to subdivide their property. The Alberta Fish and Game Association realized that partitioning off plots of rural land and building roads through it would rob the wildlife of a natural travel corridor. It was a unique opportunity to preserve a huge parcel of land. The area, with eight kilometers of lakeside property, is home to migratory birds and rare avian species, not to mention elk and moose.

The family, who originally wanted to subdivide the property, has been outstanding to work with. They are working with all seven agencies in a hope to complete the sale of the property in May 2010.  A management plan will be adopted to maintain the refuge and return its former agricultural uses back to natural habitat. It is my observation that other conservation agencies in Canada should take note of the successful cooperation of the seven agencies teaming together to rehabilitate the Golden Ranches Area.

Sherwood Park MLS® Blog - November 2/2009

Choosing A Contractor for Home Renovation

The right contractor can be chosen for a home renovation based on at least three estimates. The best method to find the right contractor is through word-of-mouth reference where we can hear it from a satisfied customer. We have to work with several subcontractors if several jobs have to be done; such as a bathroom or a kitchen renovation.

Always ask the contractor to give a detailed written estimate to make background checks. Check out the materials used and their size. The price is compared with other contractors to check who gives the best service at an affordable price. The following steps must be followed before a contract is signed with any company:

• Ask for recent work photos and check the references. You can also try to visit a site where a recent job has been completed.

• Give a call to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) which keeps complaint records against companies. With this way we can find whether there are any complaints against the company with which we are going to sign a contract with.

• Check with the licensing office to find whether the contractor has a valid license. Check with the trade association if a particular contractor is qualified for a particular job.

• Check with the business licensing office to find whether the company is registered.

When everything is checked the contract can be signed. The contract must have business information and must also include material cost, labor cost, starting and ending date, warranty details. When you are doing large jobs then a lawyer must be considered before signing the contract. The payment must be done only when a certain stage in the job has been reached. You can choose the right contractor with a little legal work.

While making a contract with a company the following things must be known about the company:

• The experience of a company.

• Specialized work did by the company.

• Similar kind of jobs did.

• Check if the company has appropriate license.

• Check if their subcontractors have license.

• Check the price with other companies.

• The garbage disposal is also done by the company.

• Dealing with health hazards such as removing asbestos.

The tips for stopping fraud contractors are as follows:

• The contractor must satisfy at least three estimates.

• Don’t agree to sign the contract if it has cash deals.

• Check with the previous customer and find whether they are satisfied.

• The licensing bodies and BBB must be checked to know the company.

• All the details must be included in contract.

• The legal rights must be known before signing a contract.

• The total fees must be paid only after completing the entire work.

Sherwood Park MLS® Blog - October 15th/2009

New Signs Showing Up Everywhere in Strathcona County

The debate over county sign bylaws in Strathcona County continues. Last Tuesday business owners and residents met with a moderator to discuss the issue. Since the meeting was an open house, there was no way to know what percentage of the 25 to 30 attendees were residents.

It seems that the residents were not in favour of billboards and LED type signs, nor were they approving of building wraps. The public also disapproved of having signs display third-party businesses, but the practice was fine for charities.

There was concern that the administration was concentrating on the creation of new laws rather than enforcing those already in place. It seems that some posters in windows, as well as some murals skirt the advertising issue. Sign businesses would like to see the law for inflatable signs be relaxed. This type of signage can cost thousands of dollars and the current law only allows them to be displayed for a maximum of 90 days.

Sherwood Park MLS® Blog - September 30th/2009

Bike Ride Across Canada in Memory of Slain Daughter

Rodney Stafford’s bike ride across Canada, began on August 5, 2009 and is intended to raise money and awareness for Child Find, a non profit organization dedicated to searching for and preventing missing children. Stafford’s daughter, Victoria, was abducted on April 8, 2009 while walking home from school, and was later found slain. Michael Rafferty, 28, was charged with her murder and abduction.

Before then, like most parents, he believed that child abductions happened to other people. Stafford’s 3500km ride has raised about $22000 for the Child Find charity. He said that the ride has at times been grueling, battling the elements, wind and rain making some days very difficult.

After his journey he will continue on to Jasper, where he and Victoria vacationed last summer. He will climb the mountain they climbed last summer and release a purple balloon from the same spot where she stood, his way of saying goodbye to Victoria.

Sherwood Park MLS® Blog - September 16th/2009

August Home Sales Lower

August Multiple Listing Service sales of homes in Sherwood Park, as well as in the entire Edmonton region, were lower this year. In Sherwood Park, only 62 houses were sold in August, compared to 81 in the same month last year. However, 94 houses were sold in July this year. The average cost of houses sold was higher in August, at $441,433.00, compared to July at $425,644.00 and August of last year at $434,689.00.

Even with fewer houses sold last month in Sherwood Park, the 712 home sales from January through August of this year were more than the 678 sold during the same months last year, and the 586 sold through August in 2007. In the Edmonton region August sales numbered 1,673, compared to July’s 2,277, and 1,541 in August of last year.

With over 6,400 homes listed on the Multiple Listing Service in the Edmonton district, the market is functioning as usual, in moderation and steadiness, with only the usual seasonal variances and no drastic price fluctuations. There is a healthy match of buyers’ and sellers’ desires, and the average number of days between listing and selling a home in August was 48, compared to 46 in July.