Posts of Reg Rygus RSSMon, 03 Aug 2026 12:04:41 GMTToday's edition of Edmonton Minute is a special one: it is our 300th issue. Every week, we read the agendas, reports, and local news coming out of City Hall so that you can stay on top of the decisions that affect your neighbourhood and your wallet in just a few minutes. We want to thank you, our readers, for opening, sharing, and replying to our emails over all these years - your support is what keeps it going. Edmonton Minute is published by Common Sense Edmonton, and our work is funded solely by readers who chip in what they can, so if you find Edmonton Minute valuable, please consider making a donation to help us keep it coming every Monday for the next 300 issues!It is a quiet week at City Hall, with just one meeting on the calendar: the Agenda Review Committee will meet on Tuesday at 8:30 am, and both of the items on the agenda will be discussed in camera (in secret). Council's regular committee lineup resumes next week, with the Community and Public Services Committee meeting on August 10th, the Urban Planning Committee on August 11th, and the Executive Committee on August 12th, each at 9:30 am.A new lobby group calling itself the Infill Action Committee is campaigning for the provincial government to step into municipal policy on infill and zoning in Edmonton. More than 150 people gathered at a northside seniors centre on July 28th to hear about the campaign and sign letters to cabinet ministers, and the group plans to send between 300 and 400 letters per week to the province until October. Organizers say the letters will focus on issues they attribute to the City's blanket zoning policy, which allows dense infill multiplexes of six or eight units in residential neighbourhoods where lots are big enough, pointing to impacts on infrastructure, transportation, public safety, and affordable housing. Co-founder Jesse Watson, who ran for Council last fall in Ward 2 (Anirniq), says thousands of residents are scrutinizing the quality and impact of multiplexes built ... Read more

]]>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 12:04:41 GMTAlbertans can now pay out of pocket for MRIs, CT scans, ultrasounds and X-rays without a doctor's referral, under a new self-referral system that took effect last Friday. Patients pay before receiving the test, either directly or through private insurance, and results go straight to the patient and into their electronic health record. If a test leads to a new cancer diagnosis, the patient can claim reimbursement at publicly funded rates for up to a year from the date of diagnosis. Primary and Preventative Health Services Minister Justin Wright says participating private clinics must maintain the same access to physician-referred, publicly funded services they provided before the change. The provincial government says Alberta is the first province to let patients self-refer, pay, and be reimbursed this way, while Alberta Medical Association President Dr. Brian Wirzba warns the change could add to public-system backlogs through false positives and incidental findings. The president of Canada Diagnostic Centres estimates private diagnostic testing could quadruple to 50,000 or 60,000 tests a year, still a small share of the 7 million exams the system handles annually. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Danielle Smith announced a new Canada-Alberta housing infrastructure agreement in Red Deer last Wednesday. The deal lets Alberta municipalities access more than $510 million in federal funding over eight years through the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund for water and wastewater projects that enable new housing, with the Province contributing at least one third of eligible project costs. Carney claims the agreement will support 750 skilled trades jobs every year. [Editor's Note: Why can't Albertans just pay less to Ottawa in the first place, rather than sending extra money to the federal government and then having to negotiate to get some of it back?]Speaking at the same Red Deer announcement, Premier Danielle Smith also pitched changes to Canada's equalization prog... Read more

]]>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 12:00:57 GMT Woodvale Outdoor Rink UpdateWe are thrilled to share some exciting news—the multi-sport rink is officially re-opening! Over the past weeks, we’ve been working diligently to enhance this space, and we’re pleased to announce that the sport line painting has been completed. Even better, we’ve just installed pickleball nets, responding directly to your feedback from last year’s community survey. Pickleball was at the top of the list for desired improvements, and we’re delighted to deliver on that request. To make the most of our rink, we’ve created a fresh layout: one half is dedicated to hockey and inline skating, while the other half is set up for pickleball. This new arrangement means more ways to play and enjoy the outdoors together. Please remember to bring your own equipment, as we encourage everyone to make the space their own. A friendly reminder—no bikes or scooters, please. The rink’s surface isn’t designed for those activities, and we want to keep the newly painted sport lines in great condition for all users. Thank you for your input and enthusiasm for our community spaces. We hope you enjoy the improved rink and look forward to seeing everyone out there soon! Walk Your Block Photo Challenge! As you participate in Walk Your Block #599, snap a photo of: 🌳 Your favourite green space🐾 A walking companion🌻 A beautiful garden🏡 A unique feature in the neighbourhood☀️ A great summer viewShare your photo in the comments and inspire others to get outside and explore!Learn about the program: Walk Your Block ProgramSubmit your participation: Participation Form📅 Our Community Walker Number is #599📍 Woodvale CommunityLet's see Woodvale through your eyes! 📷💙Green Shack Programs Children are invited to get active and join City Green Shack Leaders this summer for games, sports, crafts, music, drama and special events! The free drop-in program is designed for children ages six to 12, but children of all ages are welcome. Children under six years of age can sti... Read more

]]>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 14:46:06 GMTWhat's on in Edmonton this weekend? Attend an open rehearsal of Voices at Play—collaborative playback theatre designed to amplify the voices of Muslim and racialized actors in Edmonton, check out the opening reception of Camryn Carnell’s solo exhibitionA Scrappy Sensibility at Alberta Craft, explore the world’s largest three-day multiculturalism celebration at the Edmonton Heritage Festival, get a sneak peek of upcoming Fringe plays at Script Salon’s Fringe Script Tease, and so much more!SEE ALL UPCOMING EVENTS

]]>Fri, 31 Jul 2026 00:02:44 GMTA City-Wide Petition to Restore Accountability in Edmonton’s ZoningWe, the undersigned residents, taxpayers, and stakeholders of Edmonton, call on City Council to take immediate action to address the failures of Zoning Bylaw 20001, its district plans, and associated policies.We support responsible urban growth—but blanket rezoning without meaningful public consultation is unacceptable. The current approach undermines neighbourhood character, strains infrastructure, and erodes public trust.This is not opposition to development. It is a stand against poor governance, rushed policies, and irreversible changes made without community consent.We're building a City-Wide Movement.This is not a formal petition under the MGA—this is a collective call for accountability.Our greatest power is the power of many voices joined together. Edmonton Neighbourhoods United is a citizen-led coalition working across communities to amplify those voices into a call for change that cannot be ignored.OUR CALL TO ACTIONWe urge City Council to adopt a two-stage solution:PHASE ONE: Immediate ActionsRescind the newly adopted district plans and associated policies.Amend Zoning Bylaw 20001 to:Reinstate key protections, including provisions from the former Mature Neighbourhood Overlay (MNO).Limit densification to four units per lot in established neighbourhoods.Reduce building heights to reflect community scale.PHASE TWO: Over the Next 2-3 YearsRethink zoning and land use through genuine neighbourhood engagement and independent urban planning expertise.Redo district plans and bylaws with transparency, community-driven solutions, and alignment with infrastructure realities.Review and update the City Plan to reflect current conditions, using targeted Area Redevelopment Plans (ARPs) where appropriate.WHY THIS MATTERSEdmontonians were not properly consulted—major decisions were pushed through during COVID-19.Developer interests were prioritized over citizens’ rights and neighbourhood stability.Blanket d... Read more

]]>Wed, 29 Jul 2026 07:47:42 GMTTHE SONG THAT LETS SORROW TELL THE TRUTHPeter Rosenberger​Last month, another family requested I play "It Is Well with My Soul" for their loved one’s funeral.After nearly 50 years of playing the piano for funeral services, I've lost count of how many times I've played that hymn.Those years at the piano have provided an unusual vantage point. Most people attending a funeral spend the service looking toward the front of the sanctuary or chapel. They see the pastor, the flowers, the family, and the casket. Sitting at the piano, however, I've spent much of my life looking in the opposite direction.I see the faces. I've watched businessmen, ranchers, physicians, pastors, politicians, mechanics, celebrities, schoolteachers, and grieving children. I've seen estranged family members share a pew for an hour. I've seen old wounds temporarily set aside. I've watched tears fall from people who spent a lifetime convincing the world they didn't cry.It's hard to lie during a funeral service. The face and eyes give it away.For a brief moment, the distractions of life are suspended in the face of death. Everyone in the room is confronted with the same reality: Life is fragile, time is limited, and something had the final word over a life that may have loomed very large only days before.When I offer to help select the music, I often ask the family’s favorite hymn. “It Is Well with My Soul” almost invariably stands out.This year marks 150 years since Philip Bliss set Horatio Spafford's words to music. Ever since, grieving families have continued reaching for that hymn.After hearing it and performing it for a lifetime, I've become convinced that something happens in the fifth measure where the word "sorrows" lands on the first minor chord of the hymn.I leave room for that chord.When I play the hymn, I take my time. I've had music ministers try to conduct me faster through it. I politely ignore them. Grief does not benefit from haste.Not because I am trying to showcase the music, but be... Read more

]]>Wed, 29 Jul 2026 01:25:39 GMTHEADS UP! Earlier this week, a limited number of pay machines were identified as having a ‘scan to pay’ decal affixed to the ‘tap for payment’ area on the pay machine. If a customer unknowingly scans the QR code, they will be taken to an illegitimate website to enter information and payment to purchase a parking session. Several steps have been taken since the incident was reported. These included: • Corporate Security has worked with the domain providers of the URL for both the illegitimate website and QR code host website to have the links decommissioned. • Calgary Parking has been conducting a sweep of all pay machines to remove unauthorized decals. • Law and Privacy have been engaged with respect to legal and privacy impacts. • Video footage at Calgary Parking lots has been analyzed and a potential suspect has been identified. • Corporate Security has engaged Calgary Police Services on the matter. Calgary Parking will be placing updated information on http://calgaryparking.com and social media channels. If you are worried if you have become a victim of fraud, please make sure to contact your financial institution and report it to the Calgary Police Service non-emergency line (403-266-1234) or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm). Please be sure to reach out to our office at ward14@calgary.ca should you have any questions regarding the above.... Read more

]]>Wed, 29 Jul 2026 01:18:18 GMTThe latest edition of the BOYLE MCCAULEY NEWS is not only right on schedule, its available to read now to find out what's happening the remainder of summer and into early autumn.

]]>Tue, 28 Jul 2026 17:08:12 GMTThe destructive power of climate change hits home for many of us with the incredible storms we’ve recently experienced in Edmonton. One of the ways we can mitigate the damage is to preserve as many mature trees in Edmonton as possible. And one way to do that is to have a robust Private Tree Bylaw to prohibit the wholesale destruction of trees on properties undergoing infill.The City of Edmonton is gathering feedback until August 4 for a new 10-year Urban Forest Management Plan. Here’s the link to a survey that takes 10-15 minutes to complete: https://www.edmonton.ca/residential_neighbourhoods/gardens_lawns_trees/trees-urban-forestryA Private Tree Bylaw is not the focus of this survey, but if it is something that you feel is important, here’s a chance to provide some input on an initiative that Council has the power to make happen. Although City Administration has argued that a Private Tree Bylaw would be costly and complex to enforce, most major cities in Canada now have such bylaws, which limit destruction of trees on private property. Why can’t Edmonton take meaningful (and immediate) action to protect our critical tree canopy?Preserving mature trees:Improves air qualityReduces urban heatManages stormwater runoffHelps maintain biodiversity in our urban environmentEnhances the aesthetic appeal of our neighbourhoodsHere’s the link to more information offered by the Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition in their piece entitled “Edmonton Needs A Private Tree Bylaw” - https://www.ervcc.com/tree-equityThis survey closes on August 4, so if you have time this week to do the survey, great!... Read more

]]>Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:53:07 GMTThe Government of Alberta has announced a $30-million expansion of addiction services in the Edmonton area, the centrepiece of which is a new secure facility inside Edmonton police headquarters where officers will be able to detain intoxicated people for up to 24 hours. Under the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act, police will be able to hold people they believe are high on drugs or alcohol and pose a risk to themselves or the public, in an 18-bed Integrated Stabilization Centre scheduled to open later this summer. The province describes the centre as a secure but non-criminal space, and Edmonton Police Deputy Chief Derek McIntyre says the aim is to divert people away from the justice system and connect them to voluntary treatment once they have been stabilized. The funding also adds more than 400 treatment, housing and stabilization beds across the region, including 25 new beds at the Lakeview Recovery Community in Gunn and new recovery communities at Enoch Cree Nation and the Métis Nation. The province is separately building compassionate intervention facilities in Edmonton and Calgary for involuntary addiction treatment, which are expected to open in about 18 months. Mayor Andrew Knack said he might not have supported the stabilization centre on its own, describing it as one of a host of tools in the announcement.A coalition of downtown business advocates is calling on Edmonton City Council to treat downtown economic stabilization as an immediate priority after more than half a dozen restaurants announced permanent closures this summer. The Downtown Revitalization Coalition, chaired by Cheryll Watson, has put forward a Downtown Economic Stabilization Plan and wants Council to direct the City Manager to act rather than let the issue wait until the fall. Watson argues that construction is necessary but that the way it is being managed is placing an unsustainable burden on businesses already dealing with public safety concerns, reduced foot traffic and rising c... Read more

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