Andrea Sands
Edmonton Journal
Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Past articles by Andrea:
Sharp drop in North Saskatchewan River fish numbers sparks calls for independent investigation
A longtime fishing guide says daily catch numbers on the North Saskatchewan River have plummeted by more than half downstream from where a gravel pit west of Edmonton flooded in 2013, flushing sediment and possibly hydrocarbons into the river. → Read More
Cookies from Sherwood Park to sweeten up the Academy Awards bash
Kathy Leskow will check some sweet-smelling extra baggage onto a WestJet flight to California this week. There, she will carefully unpack 75-dozen bubble-wrapped cookies from suitcas... → Read More
'Sighing is good for you,' University of Alberta co-author says of breathtaking new research
Don't take offence to that sighing colleague beside you. Scientists say she's just giving her lungs a workout. A study of deep, augmented breath — better known as sighing — has... → Read More
University of Alberta review makes 46 recommendations to fight sexual violence on campus
The University of Alberta should appoint a sexual-assault prevention and response co-ordinator and implement a total of 46 recommendations to better handle cases of sexual violence, says a report released Monday morning after a two-year review. → Read More
Ravens conspire to make Edmonton home in numbers that puzzle experts
"Ravens are really, really good at problem solving, and they can do things, even using tools to get at resources normally you would think would be pretty raven-proof." → Read More
$40-million expansion puts Edmonton's Telus World of Science on ice
The Telus World of Science will make public ice-inspired designs Monday for a $40-million expansion and renovation project set to start this spring. Radiating lines will extend out from t... → Read More
Alberta food bank use increases drastically over national average, new numbers show
National numbers released Tuesday show food bank use increased 1.3 per cent across Canada compared with a massive 23 per cent increase in Alberta. The Hunger Count 2015 report from Food Banks Canada looked at food bank use in March compared to the same period a year earlier. → Read More
Grade 6 teacher’s ‘bored game’ makes playthings of household basics
It doesn’t bother Thomas Fraser if his Grade 6 students are bored in class. In fact, the teacher encourages it. → Read More
In-school daycare to shut down with a month’s notice to parents
Rising enrolment at Ellerslie School is forcing the on-site daycare to move out with just a month’s notice to parents, and with nowhere to move to, the daycare will close, says the child care centre’s owner. Parents of about 50 children, notified Monday the daycare will shut down June 30, are meeting Monday night at the Ellerslie Daycare and Out of School Care in the hope of fighting… → Read More
New education minister pressing ahead with school-lunch program, full-day kindergarten, school-fee reductions
The NDP government announcement reversing unpopular education cuts is a signal of what’s to come for education in Alberta, says the province’s new education minister. David Eggen said he will work in his new role to give school boards “a sense of security and stability” so they can make longer-term plans that strengthen Alberta’s K-12 education system. → Read More
Notley government reverses cuts, adds $103 million for education
Alberta’s new NDP premier says her government is reversing controversial cuts to education in time for the coming school year. After reviewing Alberta’s finances, cabinet has decided to fund new students coming into schools for 2015-16, and to restore previously announced cuts to numerous education grants, Rachel Notley said Thursday afternoon during a news conference in Calgary. → Read More
Edmonton-area municipalities tell residents to conserve water
Depleted water reserves are prompting municipalities around Edmonton to ask their residents to conserve water. → Read More
Public school board approves fall byelection
Edmonton public school trustees have decided to hold a byelection to replace past board chair and trustee Sarah Hoffman, now a cabinet minister with Alberta’s new NDP government. Trustees voted 6-2 during a board meeting Tuesday to hold a byelection to fill the vacancy in Ward G, which covers about 25 schools on the east side of Edmonton, south of the river. → Read More
Perception of bias on Catholic-heavy francophone school board, parents say
An inadequate response from Edmonton’s francophone school board to overcrowding at its two city public schools is leading to allegations the board is biased because it’s composed mainly of Catholic trustees, say parents of public-school students. However, board chair Kevin Bell, one of the board’s two public trustees, said the francophone board will be restructured in time for… → Read More
Catholic trustee tells Edmonton rally she’s not worried about repercussions in washroom controversy
Catholic school trustee Patricia Grell told supporters rallying outside the Catholic school district office Friday she’s prepared for any consequences for vocally supporting a seven-year-old transgender student who wants to use the girls bathroom at school. “Oh, I’m sure they’ll sanction me for this and rightly so,” Grell said of her fellow trustees. “I did… → Read More
Catholic trustee could face sanctions for speaking against board’s decision on transgendered student
An Edmonton Catholic school trustee who says a transgendered elementary student should be allowed to use the girls bathroom at her school could face sanctions for publicly criticizing school-board colleagues during the controversy. Edmonton Catholic school board chairwoman Debbie Engel said during a news conference Thursday it will be up to the board of trustees to decide whether Patricia Grell… → Read More
Students inspire and promote Edmonton teacher-novelist
English language arts and film studies teacher Dave Madole describes his first novel as a cross between The Giver and Divergent, with a splash of The Hunger Games. It’s called Keep, and it’s the first book in a trilogy Madole has been working on for five years. → Read More
From the archives: School bucks tech trend with unplugged approach
While teachers across the city use netbooks and iPads to teach students, a new school in Edmonton keeps technology out of the classroom. The Waldorf Independent School of Edmonton opened this fall in the Ottewell neighbourhood and stocks its shelves with knitting needles and wool, wooden toys and silk scarves. → Read More
Waldorf alternative school program recommended for suspension
The alternative Waldorf program at Avonmore should be suspended because enrolment is too low, according to a recommendation going to the superintendent of Edmonton Public Schools. But parents hope there’s still time to save the elementary program that fosters students’ critical thinking and imagination through hands-on learning, experiencing nature, painting and drawing, rhythmic… → Read More
On the trail: Outdated voter list could out transgender people, woman says
A transgender woman says she is worried an outdated registered voters list will lead to the inadvertent “outing” of other people in the transgender community. Marni Panas transitioned to a woman and legally adopted a female name last spring, spending the following months updating her information with every government and non-government agency she could think of. → Read More