Posts of Reg Rygus RSSMon, 19 Oct 2026 13:31:00 GMTON THE AGENDAStephanie SwensrudeThis week, councillors will discuss a proposed community court program, potential solutions to traffic in and around Belgravia, and two new incentive programs for industrial development.There is a community and public services committee meeting on Oct. 19, an urban planning committee meeting on Oct. 20, an executive committee meeting on Oct. 21, and a special city council meeting on Oct. 23.Here are some key items on the agenda this week:A community court program, which aims to connect people to supports as an alternative to prosecution, would cost about $1.17 million annually, says a report that will be presented to community and public services committee. Administration has presented the program as a way to mitigate the negative consequences that the public spaces bylaw may have on vulnerable Edmontonians. A community court aims to break the cycle of repeat infractions by addressing the underlying issues that contributed to the disorderly behaviour. Research on existing community court programs in North America suggests they reduce recidivism and court costs while providing a return on investment. David Rivera-Kohr of the Edmonton Coalition on Housing and Homelessness told CBC that such a program would still criminalize poverty. Administration will present a funding package for the program as part of the 2027-2030 operating budget.A traffic study found that drivers attempting to avoid congested roads south of the University of Alberta by shortcutting through Belgravia resulted in delays of five to 25 minutes for those trying to leave the neighbourhood, while some residents told the city that it can take 45 minutes or more to exit. The roadways that surround and bisect Belgravia are considerably congested during rush hour periods because of heavy use from drivers going to and from the University of Alberta and the Groat Road Bridge, as well as those waiting for the LRT on the line running along 114 Street NW. Administration has prese... Read more

]]>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 13:31:00 GMTAn incident that took place at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Wainwright in Alberta on Saturday has resulted in four confirmed deaths and dozens more injuries, as of the time of writing. It appears that an accident during a live-fire training exercise triggered a fire and that the accident and fire have both caused significant casualties, though full details are not yet available. The soldiers training at the base at the time were from one of Canada's main front-line infantry regiments, whose members are based in Edmonton and at CFB Shilo in Manitoba. Premier Danielle Smith convened her Emergency Management Cabinet Coordination Committee, said she was heading to Edmonton to meet with her ministers and federal officials, and said flags at provincial government buildings would be lowered to half-mast.Alberta's referendum, featuring 10 questions, is today. Polls are open from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm and we have information on how to vote below. Over the weekend, both sides held rallies across Alberta. The Alberta Federation of Labour organized 15 rallies across the province but cancelled its Okotoks event at the last minute because of the wind. In Calgary, hundreds gathered outside City Hall to campaign for Canadian unity and protest the United Conservative Party and Premier Danielle Smith, and NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi told the crowd the job now was to get every supporter out to vote for Option 1 and against the other nine questions. In Edmonton, an independence rally organized by Let Alberta Decide outside the Alberta Legislature Building started an hour late because of the weather. Speakers included campaign co-chair Keith Wilson and Pathway to Independence founder Cory Morgan, who said he would continue to advocate for an independent Alberta after the vote. Elections Alberta figures show 703,824 people voted over the first four days of advance polls, and 516,000 special ballots had been processed as of Saturday morning.Prime Minister Mark Carney says Alberta does not need a ... Read more

]]>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 13:05:18 GMTThings to Do This WeekCheck out Galactic Atmosphere, a space-themed light art festivalUntil Oct. 25, Churchill Square in Downtown Edmonton has transformed into a glowing cosmos at Galactic Atmosphere, a space-themed light art festival. The FREE event features space-themed light art installations featuring big glowing planets, immersive visuals and a magical atmosphere.Celebrate the 20th year of LitFest: Canada’s Original Nonfiction FestivalThere are LitFest events running until Oct. 21, including a FREE double book launch featuring Nisha Patel and Kathryn Lennon on Oct. 17 and a Brunch and Learn Panel: Defiance, resistance and breaking the mold on Oct. 18. Catch a triple feature Drive-in Movie Night (Edmonton Valley Zoo)Horizon Drive-In Night is presenting three films on Sunday, Oct. 18. It’s Carload Night so pack everyone into the vehicle and pay one ticket price for screenings of Moana (7 p.m.), Back to the Future (9 p.m.), and Smile (11 p.m.)Mark Vietnamese Women’s Day in Edmonton (Lucky Supermarket South)Chúng Ta Cùng Nhau Vietnamese-Edmonton Cultural Society is hosting a Vietnamese Women’s Day event on Sunday, Oct. 18 from 1-4 p.m. at Lucky Supermarket South Edmonton (2950 Calgary Trail) and everyone is invited! There’s an Ao Dai (Vietnamese gown) market, art vendors, and heritage displays that’s free drop-in, and tickets are just $25 if you’d also like Vietnamese food, a custom Good Good Pal portrait, and a take-home gift. Depending on turnout, you may also be able to get $5 portraits as a standalone ticket on site. Hope to see you there!!Here’s a few Halloween activities taking place around Edmonton: The 15th annual Halloween Spooktacular in Spruce Grove runs Oct. 15-18 and 22-31 with 200+ inflatables and free entry (donate to the Parkland Food Bank). There’s a family-friendly Halloween Haunt in St. Albert from 1-4 p.m. on Oct. 17.Manning Monster Mash at Manning Town Centre features free family Halloween activities from 12-3 p.m. on Oct. 17. There’s a Dinosau... Read more

]]>Sat, 17 Oct 2026 08:06:35 GMTWhat's on in Edmonton this weekend? Journey across generations, cultures, and landscapes at the 2026 St. Albert Readers Festival; learn how to make a beautiful beaded poppy in a workshop with Métis artist Joly-Davis; walk through an exhibition of youth-created work at Stories That Echo: The Artivism Cohort Showcase; discover films you may not otherwise have the chance to see, from Canadian voices to international perspectives, at the 2026 Edmonton Short Film Festival; join CIVIQ Labs Society during Edmonton Design Week for Culture as Infrastructure, an afternoon of conversations about the people, places, and partnerships that make Edmonton a creative city, and so much more!SEE ALL UPCOMING EVENTS... Read more

]]>Thu, 15 Oct 2026 18:46:03 GMTBelow is the Ocober issue of THE MILL WOODS MOSAIC. Read on!

]]>Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:43:52 GMTHello KEP Neighbour,Here’s what’s happening around the community this October! Inside you’ll find updates from the King Edward Park Community League - upcoming events and programs, City news, road and construction updates, local resources, and more.Know something happening in the neighbourhood or have an idea for the newsletter? Let us know — we’d love to hear what you’d like to see featured here!Thank you,Your KEP Community League Board  League Membership  Community League News Souper Social Looking for a cozy way to connect with your community? Join us for Souper Social on the last Thursday of every month!Come enjoy a warm bowl of soup, good conversation, and the company of neighbours in a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere. With both vegan and non-vegan options available, there’s something for everyone! When: Thurs, Oct 29 | 6:00–8:00 pm Where: KEP Small Hall, 8008 – 81 Street NWWhat to bring:Your own bowl & spoonA container for any delicious leftoversBring your appetite, invite a neighbour, and stay awhile. We look forward to sharing a bowl of soup and building community together! 💛 Zumba Alert - Big Energy, Big Changes! When: Thursdays, 6:30 - 7:30 PM Where: KEP Large Hall (7708 - 85 Street)💰 Drop-in: $10 🎟️ KEP Community League members: Just $5!💃 Get ready to dance, sweat, and SMILE! 🕺🔥 Shake off the week with Zumba and your King Edward Park neighbours! No experience needed, no perfect moves required, just good music and great energy. All ages and all fitness levels welcome. Girl Guides at KEP 66th Edmonton Guides (9-11 years) has just moved into KEP’s Community League on Tuesday evenings and currently has room for 5 more youth members. Register Today Girl Guides helps girls and youth build confidence, friendships and skills that last a lifetime. From outdoor adventure to STEM and leadership, they explore, try new things and discover what they’re capable of. Give them a space t... Read more

]]>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:14:06 GMT Edmonton’s Zoning Bylaw Never Had Public Legitimacy Edmonton’s new zoning bylaw had many serious failings, none more serious than its lack of public legitimacy. Public engagement on the new zoning bylaw was so poor that even after five years of it, most Edmontonians had never heard of the zoning bylaw. In May 2023, when the city wrapped up the public engagement it began in 2018 and the zoning bylaw was on its way to councillors for approval, only three percent of Edmontonians were familiar with its details. The large majority had never heard of it. Those were the findings of a statistically valid poll undertaken by Pollara Research, one of Canada’s leading polling companies. Though Better Infill warned city council that the public wasn’t on board, in October 2023 council voted 11-2 to approve the zoning bylaw. Only councillors Principe and Rice voted against it. In hindsight, it seems Edmonton’s experiment with zoning was pushed through from the very top of city hall, and the core of the zoning bylaw was determined before public consultation began. A reality check on city claims of engagement. To show how the city’s public engagement on the zoning bylaw failed to engage the public, let’s dig into the records. The city produced five What We Heard reports describing its public consultations on zoning. The first, in October 2020, counted a total of 692 participants over 26 events, an average of 27 people per event. More than 100 of these participants were stakeholders and industry representatives. The second What We Heard report, in January 2021, reported on the next round of engagement. There were 3,084 visits to the engagement website, but of these 3,084 visits, only 228 involved a comment or question. It’s likely some people both made a comment and asked a question, so the number of individuals is probably less than 228. The final round of engagement was held in 2023, when the zoning bylaw was effectively completed. The city’s May 2023 What We Heard report sa... Read more

]]>Tue, 13 Oct 2026 15:31:52 GMTCity Council will meet on Wednesday at 9:30 am, and one of the items on the agenda is Administration's annual report on the grants, subsidies, rebates, and sponsorships the City gives to outside organizations. In 2025, the City provided $262.8 million to 1,351 recipients, up from $236.4 million in 2024 and $218.2 million in 2021. Of that, $137.0 million went to operating subsidies for 10 agencies, boards, and commissions, including the Edmonton Public Library, Explore Edmonton, and REACH Edmonton. Funding directed by Council outside the City's internal application and review process jumped from $7.4 million in 2024 to $20.1 million, including $10.6 million to Qualico for public spaces at the Station Lands site and $4.0 million to the Edmonton Ski Club for a new lodge. The totals leave out 130 below-market leases of City property to non-profits, which Administration estimates are worth about $40 million a year in rent subsidies, and Administration is recommending that the value of each individual lease stay private. The report also acknowledges that most funding arrangements still lack clearly identified outcome objectives, which limits the City's ability to judge whether the money is achieving its goals.Premier Danielle Smith announced that the Province will force Edmonton to repeal its zoning bylaw and return to the rules on housing types, density, and height that were in place before 2024. The City has three months to make the change and must also restore the minimum on-site parking requirements that were in place before 2020, followed by an 18-month review of its land-use bylaws. Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams said the directive will be formalized through a cabinet order in council and called the pace and scale of high-density infill in the city "too far, too fast." Since the bylaw took effect, the City has permitted 5,187 five- to eight-plexes in mature neighbourhoods, about 13% of all homes permitted. Mayor Andrew Knack argued the directive will make t... Read more

]]>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 16:52:17 GMTPremier Danielle Smith announced that the Government of Alberta is ordering Edmonton to roll back its infill rules, and plans new province-wide limits on infill development. Within three months, Edmonton must revert its rules on housing types, density, and height to those in place before its 2024 zoning changes, and restore the minimum on-site parking requirements it had before 2020. The City will also have 18 months to review its land use bylaws, while Calgary was directed to finish its own ongoing bylaw review next year. Smith cited concerns from residents about utilities, traffic, parking, and property values, and Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams said the changes will be made through a cabinet order in council and described them as a "pause" or "reset". Opposition Leader Naheed Nenshi accused Smith of overriding the democratic will of Edmontonians, saying infill is a municipal responsibility. Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack, who defeated several challengers who backed tougher infill rules in last October's election, warned that the Premier is underestimating the consequences and that the move could cause tremendous chaos.Federal Defence Minister David McGuinty visited Canadian Forces Base Edmonton, alongside Premier Danielle Smith, to highlight $8 billion in ongoing federal military spending in Alberta. The spending includes $550 million to establish the western operating base for the Royal Canadian Air Force's CC-330 Husky fleet, nearly $4 billion to support fighter capabilities at the Cold Lake base, and over $580 million over three years for maintenance and repairs across Alberta's military bases. McGuinty described Confederation as "a bargain of reciprocity" and said Alberta will help lead the way in leaving Canada stronger. Smith said the Province and Ottawa have been working together to use existing military assets in Alberta to help meet the federal target of spending 5% of gross domestic product on defence by 2035. She said she hopes announcements like... Read more

]]>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 16:49:16 GMTWhat's on in Edmonton this weekend? Check out new exhibitions by Raymond Thériault and Wenda Salomons at Harcourt House; explore delightful adventures and Edmonton’s hidden gems at the book launch of The Wonderful Worlds in Edmonton by Mila Bongco-Philipzig; embark on a musical journey across countries, eras, and traditions at Classical Elegance: Soprano and Piano Recital; enjoy a powerful night of live music featuring four dynamic, female-led Alberta acts at Women of Song — A Celebration of Singer-Songwriters at the Arden Theatre, and so much more!SEE ALL UPCOMING EVENTS

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