Alexander Dowsey
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alexanderdowsey.bsky.social
Alexander Dowsey
@alexanderdowsey.bsky.social
190 followers 210 following 310 posts
BA in Ancient and Medieval history, Archaeology, MA in Celtic Studies, general nerd, love politics, plants, and books!
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alexanderdowsey.bsky.social
I'll be sad to miss this by just a couple weeks before I'm back in town, but I'm sure it's going to be a fun time! Check it out if you are in the area on Aug 30th! #yeg
A green circle on a white background with writing and a group of celebrating people. The writing reads: 94 street extravaganza, August 30th, 2025 112-114 avenue 94 street NW, Edmonton 11-5.
July 6, 2025 at 3:53 PM
alexanderdowsey.bsky.social
Updated satellite imagery means I can finally update my pet project tracking unoccupied urban space, derelictions, and surface parking lots in inner-city Edmonton! 🟠= Surface parking 🔵= Empty lots ⚫= Derelict properties 🟡= Redevelopments! (reflections and caveats below) #abpoli #yegcc
A screenshot of a map portion covering several neighbourhoods in central Edmonton, Boyle Street, McCauley, Riverdale, and parts of Downtown, Alberta Avenue, and Cromdale. The map is dotted with coloured squares indicating different types of empty land and redevelopment, orange blocks concentrated around Boyle Street and Downtown indicate surface parking lots, blue blocks indicate empty land, and is dispersed across several neighbourhoods. Black blocks indicate derelict buildings which are also dispersed but with particular concentrations around the Western edge of McCauley and Southern Alberta Avenue, and lastly yellow blocks indicate formerly empty/derelict lots which have been redeveloped into new properties.
June 25, 2025 at 10:15 AM
alexanderdowsey.bsky.social
Rhododendrons and little lambs from my walk today!
Two Rhododendron bushes in bloom, one woth bunches of light pink flowers, the others with a more vibrant fuscia colour. A zoom in on a bunch of pink rhododendron flowers with a big bumblebee on it Two small white lambs in a green field, there are lots of sheep in the background, the field slopes up onto a lightly wooded hill.
May 9, 2025 at 4:47 PM
alexanderdowsey.bsky.social
Some particularly lovely views from a walk I took yesterday 😌
A vibrant green field with gently sloping cloud covered mountains in the background and a bright blue sky A dark green flowing river with bushy, lush trees and vegetation on either side, under a bright blue sky with a few white clouds A rocky, algae covered strech lf beach overlooking a tidal plain of beige-brown sand and silt, in the distance is a greet peninsula rising into the horizon under a vibrant, slightly cloudy, blue sky A pebbly beach overlooking dark coloured tidal plains and a small stretch of sea, on the other side of the sea is the rising slopes of an island under a blue sky with clouds
May 4, 2025 at 12:28 PM
alexanderdowsey.bsky.social
"From 2nd to 1st place" not from distant 3rd to 1st place.
May 1, 2025 at 6:09 PM
alexanderdowsey.bsky.social
Post election decompression time 😵‍💫 have I been awake for over 28 hours? Yes. Thus, taking some time to recover in one of my favourite places!
A lush green forest with a small river winding through a dense bed of rushes. A wooden fence with a board identifying local birds is in between the camera and the river view.
April 29, 2025 at 9:51 AM
alexanderdowsey.bsky.social
Absolutely immaculate, delicious delicious irony. I am sustained by this, nourished even 😌 #cdnpoli #elxn25
April 29, 2025 at 8:50 AM
alexanderdowsey.bsky.social
Election night supplies 😂 it's going to be midnight here in the UK when polls start to close and I am determined to see every second of the results coming in! #cdnpoli #elxn25
A bottle of prosecco next to two cans of Monster energy drink on a gray wood countertop
April 28, 2025 at 7:02 PM
alexanderdowsey.bsky.social
Campaigning on proportional representation? I love to see it 😊Also love expanding access to voting in Indigenous languages, expanding the voting period, and expanding on-campus voting options for students! #cdnpoli #Elxn25
"Putting an end to unfair elections. We will fix Canada's broken voting system and make every vote count. For too long, our electoral system has distorted results and denied millions of Canadians real representation. In 2025, New Democrats will make sure it's the last election held under this outdated, unfair system-ten years after the Liberals promised change and failed to act. Unlike the Liberals, we will actually deliver. We will establish an independent citizens' assembly to advise on how best to put in place a Mixed-Member proportional system in time for the next federal election. This will ensure that the next parliament truly reflects the choices of voters." "Expanding voting We will change the voting age to allow 16 and 17-year olds to vote. Young people should have a stronger say in choosing their government and addressing the issues that affect them and their futures. Bringing more voices into politics will ensure that better decisions are made, and will ultimately result in a stronger democracy. We were disappointed to see the Liberals and Conservatives vote down this important change. We will make voting more accessible to people living in Inuit, First Nations or Métis communities by ensuring that Indigenous languages are on election ballots in Indigenous territories. This is a concrete step we can take towards meaningful reconciliation, and it will boost participation in democracy as well as contributing towards the revitalization of Indigenous languages. And we will expand voting opportunities by guaranteeing a three-day voting period, in addition to advance voting polls, and strengthening Election Canada's Vote on Campus programming to ensure elections are accessible to university and college students."
April 24, 2025 at 8:22 AM
alexanderdowsey.bsky.social
Got my ballot this morning, filled it out immediately and sent it off across the Atlantic again 😌 I'm hoping and praying that Edmonton-Griesbach makes the right choice (not putting Kerry Diotte back in office) and that we can keep our awesome MP @blakedesjarlais.bsky.social 🧡
#cdnpoli #abpoli
Alexander, wearing an orange sweater and glasses holding an envelope in front of a classic red British mailbox.
April 7, 2025 at 12:21 PM
alexanderdowsey.bsky.social
For Lent this year I decided that I would take at least 2 hours each day to disconnect and read a book! I've just finished an excellent read, What you are Looking for is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama. A very soul restoring book indeed!
A hand holding a book that is titled "What you are looking for is in the Library" by Michiko Aoyama, translated by Alison Watts. The cover depicts a window with black frames looking out onto a blue sky, with houses in the background. On the windowsill sits a small cup of tea in a cup with a white animal on it, behind that is a fern in a terracotta pot, in the centre is a stack of books, and to the right sits a black cat with a purple collar and a fuzzy pillow.
March 25, 2025 at 8:34 PM
alexanderdowsey.bsky.social
Going for a walk in the midst of a migraine probably wasn't the wisest idea, but the views were lovely and I snapped some nice pictures!
A small fluffy white lamb looking over it's shoulder standing next to a grey-brown tree on a field of green grass. A panoramic view of a rocky coastline, a wooded shore is visible on the horizon separated by the sea. The coast is made up of dark black rocks and a grey pebbled beach. Sticking out of the beach are several weathered pieces of wood coated in green algae, most are short planks with one tall branch. A grey stone wall with an archway partially covered by a metal grate that has been pulled back in one corner. The arch is covered in ivy and branches. A small plant, a violet, sprouting from the ground with two purple violet flowers blooming from it.
March 21, 2025 at 8:15 PM
alexanderdowsey.bsky.social
Finally getting around to identifying some of the ceramics and pottery that I find on my beach walks! 🙂 So far, lots of early 20th century stuff, some 19th century pieces as well! #archaeology
Three fragments of off-white porcelain pottery with partial or whole ceramic makers marks on them arranged on a black cloth. The top fragment shows roughly a quarter of a makers mark, and has a lime green tag on it which reads the name of the maker, Grindley, and the date it might have been made between 1936 and 1954. Another is an irregular shaped fragment identified as a piece made by Dunn, Bennet and Co. And has been dated between 1937 and 1968. The last piece shows a blue makers mark featuring a lion and a ribbon crest, and had been labeled as Royal Staffordshire, made 1907. Three fragments of pottery arranged on a black cloth background, two are off-white while one is honey brown. The off white fragments both show partial makers marks on them, while the Brown fragment shows a nearly complete makers mark which reads: "W.P Vitrified Stoneware".
March 7, 2025 at 4:58 PM
alexanderdowsey.bsky.social
Did some de-stress beach combing in preparation for tomorrow's #yegcc committee meeting on public spaces bylaws, found some cool things! The bottom of a marmalade crock, a small (almost) intact glass jar, and the neck of a 19th century wine bottle with the cork still in! #beach
A broken green glass bottle neck with a lip, it has a rough scratched surface and a weathered cork is visible at the lip. A small, discolored glass jar with a concentric oval pattern, the jar is missing a large shard from its rim, and has brown discoloration in places. The bottom of a white ceramic marmalade crock, it is stamped with the words "trade mark, Mr Hartley Aintree" and is impressed with the image of a Lighthouse.
February 9, 2025 at 6:45 PM
alexanderdowsey.bsky.social
My letter to the Premier re: refusing to stand with the other provinces against American tariffs. #abpoli #cdnpoli
A picture of a letter from Alexander to the premier of Alberta. It reads: Dear Premier Smith, One of the things I cherish most about being Albertan is our strong sense of community, when things get rough it never ceases to amaze me how many people are willing to step up and do the right thing, to uplift others through natural disasters, the ups and downs of life, even when they barely know each other. I know this letter will go unnoticed, I've grown used to that from your party, but I want to make it known that your recent commitments to inaction in the face of American hostility are truly disappointing. Difficult times are ahead, and when America inevitably follows through on its tariffs on international goods, you will be remembered for making it known to the country that you will do nothing, while Canadian and Albertan families pay the price. The tariffs aren't going to care that you made those statements, they aren't going to care how much you suck up to the American President, but Albertans will care that in a time that they needed someone to be more than radio talking head, you couldn't rise to the challenge. There is still time, you can make the right choice and stand up for our province, and the greater good of the country. Will you? Sincerely, Alexander C.S Dowsey
January 17, 2025 at 4:30 PM
alexanderdowsey.bsky.social
I got some string lights for my room in residence to make the space more cozy, putting them beneath my sea glass collection was definitely the correct choice! 🤩
A collection of sea glass on a white windowsill, string lights have been placed beneath the pieces of green and blue glass and they shine through them creating a soft glow.
November 28, 2024 at 5:02 PM
alexanderdowsey.bsky.social
You can take the inner city activist across the Atlantic Ocean, but you can't stop them from writing letters to the editor of the journal about the UCP and the Edmonton Police Commission 😆 #yegcc #abpoli
November 22, 2024 at 1:53 PM
alexanderdowsey.bsky.social
How much sea glass is too much? 🤔
November 21, 2024 at 3:12 PM
alexanderdowsey.bsky.social
In classic fashion, I can never resist staying away from local politics for long, even when I move across the Atlantic Ocean 😆
November 20, 2024 at 1:04 PM
alexanderdowsey.bsky.social
One of my favourite things to do since moving has been beach combing and finding lovely bits of porcelain wherever I go! This piece is one of my favourites as the way it was broken almost frames the couple on the porcelain! 😌
Alexander is holding a fragment of chinaware which depicts a couple in early modern dress, painted in blue.
November 14, 2024 at 8:59 PM
alexanderdowsey.bsky.social
Well hi! It's me! Figured I might as well give this a go, so here's a picture I took near South Stack Lighthouse to start things off with good vibes 😆
A view over a rocky coastline of a small Lighthouse and the Sea, the sun is shining through the clouds making sunbeams visible.
November 13, 2024 at 5:05 PM