WATCH ABOVE: The Edmonton International Airport pulled a prank of its own today. Emily Mertz has some joke highlights.
EDMONTON — Dance-activated pedestrian crossings? A pipeline to ship wheat? How about a waterslide at the airport? If it all sounds too good to be true, it is. Welcome to April Fool’s Day, when companies, media organizations, politicians and PR companies attempt to outdo one another with silly pranks and tall tales. Here are a few:
International Airport reveals massive waterslide
The Edmonton International Airport sent out a news release revealing a unique expansion: the first airport waterslide in Canada.
Sarah Cox, EIA passenger facilitation manager, said the 10-storey EIA Central Tower Waterslide would be “a prime example of how your vacation can start as soon as you get to the airport.”
In a mock promotional video, the slide is described as an 890-foot long drop, which allows riders to reach speeds of 110 km/h. The slide would start on the 10th floor of the control tower.
“My goal of the slide was to provide an authentically gut-churning experience,” said Ryan Sketch, EIA project architect and engineer.
Sara Aviate with EIA Passenger Experience said the goal was for people to leave the slide “soaked, safe, but slightly traumatized.”
The plan was the take the slide and turn it into a luge track in the winter.
Strathcona County installs dance-activated crosswalks
Strathcona County said it planned to test out dance-activated pedestrian crossings at select Sherwood Park intersections, adding it even “engaged local dance instructors and a resident focus group to program and test the cameras to recognize dance movements.”
“Pedestrians have expressed frustration at waiting so long at lights, and we wanted to come up with a fun solution that fits the Strathcona County vision,” said Joe Kerr, supervisor of pedestrian ingenuity. “We’re known as an energetic community, and believe our residents will jump at the chance to use physical activity to change the crosswalk signal.
“The biggest challenge will be ensuring we don’t have dance-offs at the crosswalks.”
The centennial painting of Lake Louise
Have you ever wondered how Lake Louise got its gorgeous turquoise colour? Well, once every 100 years the lake is drained and the bottom of the lake is painted. April Fool’s!
Travel Alberta partnered with Pantone to pull off the trick Wednesday morning, saying the little-known activity of painting the bottom of the lake was first performed in 1915.
“Lake Louise is one of Canada’s most popular and photographed locations,” said Leslie Bruce, President and CEO of Banff Lake Louise Tourism. “Visitors ask us all the time: ‘How do you get the lake so blue? Is the water dyed?’ I can categorically say: no, we don’t dye the water. We paint the bottom of the lake with non-toxic, environmentally friendly paint.”
The mayor of Banff was even in on the gag.
“Painting the bottom of Lake Louise is really important,” said Karen Sorensen who apparently volunteered at the centennial event. “My grandpa painted the lakebed 100 years ago and here I am now. We all have to do our part to make sure this province stays beautiful.”
READ MORE: April Fool’s Day 2015: The Internet’s best (and worst) pranks
Wildrose calls for creation of Alberta Columbia
In an effort to diversity the economy and solve Alberta’s fiscal crisis, the Wildrose called for Alberta and British Columbia to merge.
“With the conservative culture of balanced budgets in B.C., this annexation makes sense. Albertans are looking for new leadership that provides real solutions to the current economic and fiscal crisis,” new party leader Brian Jean said. “Through diversification, and overtaking a province of 4.6 million people, Alberta Columbia will be able to become a beacon of prosperity for the entire country.”
EnergyYeast pipeline project
Forget about transporting oil, the Canadian Wheat Board and TransCanada Pipe said they had come to an agreement in principle to build a $12-billion pipeline that would see Western Canadian grain piped from Alberta to the east coast. It would then be shipped worldwide through a new world-class port facility, which would be built in Saint John, New Brunswick.
“The EnergyYeast pipeline will transport up to 900,000 bushels of grain a day to the open market, an amount unparalleled anywhere in the world,” a media release read.
The project was touted as the “best thing since sliced bread.”
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