EDMONTON — An Edmonton start-up company is getting recognition for its cutting edge technology that can help in emergency situations.

Runwithit Synthetics (RWI) has built hundreds of complex research informed artificial intelligence-based models to help with long-term detailed modelling.

The company’s interconnected AI-driven models can predict how an emergency like a flood or power outage could impact individual residents of a city – even 15 years in advance.

On top of weather or how transportation networks will grow over time, RWI models can also predict human behaviour.

All of this ground-breaking technology and the people building it received recognition Thursday when RWI was recognized as “Most Edmonton Startup” at the YEG Startup Community Awards.

Alex Kozicki, a member of YEG Startup Community Awards, said the company’s innovation deserved recognition.

“We think they’re a very deserving recipient, they value diversity, and they have an international footprint,” Kozicki said.

The virtual awards night was organized by the startup industry in Edmonton for the first time ever.

“It was about time that there was just a celebration of the great talent the companies and individuals that are making this all happen,” Kozicki added.

Myrna Bittner, CEO of RWI told CTV News Edmonton in an interview that the company was honoured to be recognized and will be using the award to further boost their drive to take the company further.

“Here in Edmonton you can be anything you want and you can do anything you want in relative obscurity, if you want,” she said. “And you can still use it as a launching place, a really well supported launching place.”

The company hopes to develop modelling for the next frontier: space.

“Space is one of our final frontiers as we say, and that’s something that we are headed into next,” Bittner said.

Other YEG Startup Community Award winners included Ashlyn Bernier, one of the founding members of the Edmonton Advisory Council on Startups, as the Community Champion of the Year.

DrugBank, a company developing curated pharmaceutical knowledge bases, took the prize for being the best startup workplace in Edmonton.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Jeremy Thompson

EDMONTON — An overtime goal by Paul Stastny Friday evening gave the Jets a 1-0 victory – and more importantly – a 2-0 series lead heading back to Winnipeg.

The Oilers’ have only scored one goal in the series but captain Connor McDavid thinks his team can turn things around.

“We’ve dug ourselves a bit of a hole,” McDavid said. “But many, many teams have found a way to win from the spot we’re in right now,” he said after the game.

McDavid said the team had strong power play performances that just did not get any breaks.

“We had our looks,” he said. “Would’ve been nice to get one, but it’s a tight game out there.”

Oilers coach Dave Tippett said the team just needs to keep pounding away.

“We had some tight opportunities,” Tippett said. “I thought our power play had some opportunities.

“It’s just a tight game. You’ve got a find a way to will one into the net.”

In his view, the Oilers were chasing the Jets in the first period but played better in both the second and third periods.

“We can do better,” Tippet added. “There’s some things in our game we can do better.”

He added that the team will be regrouping and has had a strong record of winning on the road this season.

Edmonton was the best team in the NHL on the road this year with a 19-7-2 record, tying for first in the league with Washington.

Games three and four in the best-of-seven series take place Sunday and Monday in Winnipeg.

EDMONTON — Alberta Health Services (AHS) say three people have died in downtown Edmonton Friday evening.

EMS were called to a park near 96 Street and 103 Avenue around 4 p.m. Friday.

Downtown peace officers arrived on scene and performed compressions. All three people were in cardiac arrest when paramedics arrived, AHS said.

EMS attempted to revive the men but all three died on scene.

AHS told CTV News Edmonton that all three patients received Narcan on scene.

Police say while the deaths are non-criminal, they are still investigating the incident. Officials are waiting for results from toxicology tests.

On Saturday, Edmonton police said all three people were men over the age of 18 but provided no further details as they are still attempting to get in touch with family members.

EDMONTON — Edmontonians have been making cafés modelled off a popular brand with one catch: they are only for dogs and are completely free.

Starbarks Edmonton, on 86 Street and 64 Avenue near Mill Creek Ravine is a pop-up dog café offering treats, water, and a stick library all for dog’s enjoyment.

Sarah Mackey, owner of Starbarks Edmonton, said she first created a stick library outside her home, in the form of a regularly stocked bin full of sticks for dogs to choose from.

“We realized that stick library is not a very accurate name because the dogs can keep the sticks,” Mackey told CTV News Edmonton. “So it’s more of a stick gift shop with no charge.”

Starbarks was created by Mackey a few months ago, based on how popular the stick library was and inspiration from a similar dog-only café called Star Pups in Toronto.

Mackey also designed sidewalk obstacle courses drawn with chalk for owners to guide their pets through.

According to her, dozens of dogs visit with their owners every day as the café is nestled between a nearby off-leash dog park and a Tim Hortons.

“It’s definitely a popular neighbourhood destination!”

Even people who are not dog owners like to stop by to admire the dogs visiting and enjoying the treats.

“It’s a way to just brighten up everybody’s spirits,” she shared. “It’s fun for everybody to see the dogs and look at the pictures on Instagram and share them.

“It’s been a fun way to connect with people at a time when it’s a lot harder.”

‘WE LOVE IT’: NEIGHBOURS ENJOY CAFÉS AND THEIR COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Vanessa Grabia and her dog Muddy Waters told CTV News Edmonton in an interview that they love the café.

“We do our walk every night and stop on our way home,” she said. “It’s something to look forward to everyday.”

Vanessa Grabia and her dog Muddy Waters visit the cafe Starbarks daily and love the community connection it helps to build (CTV News Edmonton/Evan Klippenstein)

For Mackey, the project allowed her to meet dozens of neighbours that she would not have otherwise talked to.

“We’ve lived here for 10 years,” she said. “I’ve probably talked to more neighbours in the last month than in the entire 10 years previous.”

There are already people asking Mackey if they can franchise her concept for their own neighbourhoods. She’s gladly shared the concept with anyone who asks.

“I can see this turning into a bit more of a thing,” she said. “It’s just a ton of fun.

“It’s nice to see that sense of community,” she added. “I encourage everyone to create their own café. It’s not very expensive, it’s very inexpensive.”

Visitors to Starbarks are asked to snap a photo and share it on social media using the #StarbarksYEG.

Karen Parker created a dog café in the Garneau area along the 83 Avenue bike lane after also being inspired by Star Pups in Toronto. She is friends with Mackey and did not realize at first that the two of them were opening dog cafés.

“Sarah was an early adopter,” she said. “We both took the idea independently… and have been enjoying.”

Karen Parker’s children offer treats to a cafe visitor at Starpups in Edmonton (CTV News Edmonton/Amanda Anderson).

She told CTV News Edmonton that her café, called Starpups, has not only helped build connections within the community, but helped her daughter to get more comfortable around dogs.

“My middle kiddo earlier this year started being very nervous and a little bit scared around dogs,” Parker said. “So this has actually been a really great way for her to interact with them on her terms and be able to stand a little bit further away… and get comfortable.”

“Now she is sometimes even offering to give them a pet,” she added. “It’s been really wonderful to see how this has helped her.”

Parker enjoys viewing the photos people take after visiting the café.

“Neighbours that we’ve never met before post photos on Instagram of their dogs at our café,” she said. “It’s great.”

Both of the cafés have hand sanitizer and tongs for people to use to ensure it is a safe experience.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Amanda Anderson

EDMONTON — The Woodlands Water Play Park in St. Albert is scheduled to open Saturday.

City crews were on site early Friday morning preparing the park for the big opening.

“There is some excitement I think to try to get people active and out in the community,” said Shaun Percival, City of St. Albert Manager of Aquatics Services.

“There’s not a lot people can do right now so my hope is that the response from the community is going to be a positive one.”

As expected, there are COVID-19 restrictions in place, including a maximum of five people per group – unless from a single household.

Groups cannot interact with other groups and the city is asking people to keep their visits to a maximum of two hours.

“One difference that users will see this year from last year’s COVID model is we actually added additional staffing resources onto the park for when we hit our peak times,” Percival explained,

Percival said staff will walk the park and help educate people about COVID-19 rules in place.

“(They’ll help) to just make sure that people are staying safe overall,” Percival added.

The City of St. Albert also suggests dressing for your activity ahead of time as changerooms are not available.

Masks must be worn in the spray park washrooms at all times.