Reg Rygus

Like clockwork the latest edition of the Mill Woods Mosaic has just been published bringing news of interest to citizens of Millwoods and beyond.

Thanks Arnim & team

• The Audit Committee meets today at 9:30 am, and one of the items on the agenda is the City Auditor's review of how Edmonton runs its parking operations. The Parks and Roads Services Branch oversees about 6,000 parking spaces and collected roughly $13 million in parking revenue in 2025, at hourly rates running from $1.00 to $4.50. The auditor found the Branch has no Council-approved strategic vision and no performance management framework to guide its decisions, and no written guidance on how it sets rates, issues complimentary parking passes, discounts or waives fees during road closures, or restricts residential parking. In the absence of that guidance, the Branch has charged different rates in zones with comparable demand without documenting why, and does not have full oversight of the complimentary, discounted, and waived fees it grants. The auditor did conclude that the Branch is managing its parking payment app contract effectively, and made three recommendations in total.
• City Council holds a public hearing tomorrow at 9:30 am, and one of the 13 bylaws on the agenda would tighten Edmonton's rules for lodging houses, the dwellings where bedrooms are rented out one at a time. Administration wants the threshold lowered so that a dwelling with three or more individually rented bedrooms counts as a lodging house, down from four, and wants features such as individually numbered rooms, locks on bedroom doors, and locked storage in shared areas written into the definition to make enforcement easier. Lodging houses would be barred from row housing and multi-unit housing in the small scale residential zones and from row housing in the small-medium scale transition zone, with bedroom limits applied per lot rather than per site. The City logged 354 lodging house complaints between 2020 and 2025, 74 of them in 2025, and another 50 in the first seven months of this year. Council directed Administration to prepare the amendments on July 7th, and the bylaw can receive all three readings once the hearing closes, though passing it in a single meeting requires unanimous agreement. Community groups and housing non-profits consulted by the City described lodging houses as a vital source of low-cost and transitional housing for students, seniors, people with disabilities, and people moving in and out of supportive housing, while agreeing that enforcement of building codes and community standards is necessary. Renting a whole home to several tenants under one shared tenancy would not be affected.
• The Edmonton Police Commission has barred members of the public from speaking at its meetings for the rest of the year, and the remaining sessions will be held online. Commission Chair Ben Henderson says the decision followed three meetings in which public comment moved beyond criticism of the board and of police oversight into personal attacks, defamation, threats, and intimidation aimed at commissioners, police staff, and other members of the public. Residents can still watch the remaining meetings, set for September 17th, October 22nd, and November 19th, and the Commission will continue to accept written submissions related to its mandate. The Commission calls the suspension temporary and says it will review the decision before next year.
• Council will consider another $114.58 million worth of climate measures in Edmonton's next four-year budget deliberations, as Administration has put forward 27 actions costing $257 million in total. Councillors have also asked Administration to examine a revolving climate fund that would redirect a growing pot of $500,000 in annual energy savings into further projects, and added proposals to spend $5 million on community climate initiatives and $5 million on an Alberta Ecotrust Foundation endowment. Mayor Andrew Knack said it is far more costly to do nothing than to pay for preventative measures.
• Ward 8 (papastew) Councillor Michael Janz plans to bring a motion to Council that would charge developers a fee for every tree cut down while building new neighbourhoods on Edmonton's outskirts. Janz argues that the City currently pays to plant replacement trees elsewhere while developers keep the profit, and that applying the City's existing dollar assessments for removed trees to new development areas would produce millions of dollars worth of habitat value. He says the gap effectively subsidizes sprawl, and that it remains cheaper to build a cul-de-sac on the city's edge than to redevelop vacant downtown parking lots. The motion would not cover trees lost to infill, which a separate proposed bylaw may address. Mayor Andrew Knack has separately put forward a motion to require permits to remove trees from established lots inside the city, in response to concerns raised about infill developments.

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ON THE AGENDA

Mack Male

•   An audit of parking operations found the city lacks a clear council-approved vision and formal guidance for rates, discounts, and residential restrictions. Auditors also found unexplained rate differences between areas with similar demand and inconsistent guest-permit rules. The city manages about 6,000 parking spaces and collected about $13 million in parking revenue in 2025. Administration accepts all three recommendations and plans to address them through its parking program modernization. The parking app contract was generally well managed, but auditors identified gaps in cybersecurity communication, occupancy data, and access to vendor performance data. Enforcement and fines were outside the audit’s scope.
•   Council will consider zoning bylaw amendments that would lower the threshold for a lodging house from four individually rented bedrooms to three. Lodging houses would be prohibited in row and multi-unit housing in the small-scale residential and small-scale flex residential zones, as well as in secondary suites. In the small-medium scale transition residential zone, they would remain allowed in multi-unit housing, with a cap of 12 bedrooms per lot, but not in row housing. Administration says the changes would improve enforcement, though lodging houses can be difficult to identify before occupancy. Since the beginning of 2024, the city has approved 12 permits for new lodging houses with four to eight individually rented bedrooms. Consulted groups said lodging houses can provide affordable, flexible, and culturally relevant housing, while stressing tenant protections and property maintenance. Whole homes rented to multiple tenants under one shared tenancy would remain allowed.
•   Council will consider a rezoning at 11537 University Avenue NW in McKernan, across from the Cross Cancer Institute, to allow a building up to 16 metres tall, or about four storeys. The site is within 400 metres of the Health Sciences/Jubilee LRT station. Administration supports the application because it would allow more housing near transit, employment, and services. All 10 responses to the mailed notice opposed the application, raising concerns that included building scale, loss of sunlight and privacy, traffic, and parking.

Here are some more key items:

•   Council will resume its discussion of public engagement on the 2027-2030 budget and the city services and quality of life survey, after postponing both reports to Sept. 16. The budget engagement report found participants wanted a focus on core services but disagreed on what counts as core.
•   Council services committee will consider three options for the 2027 meeting calendar. One would retain the current structure; another would move executive committee to Mondays and public hearings to mid-week where possible; a third would replace 19 one-day public hearings with 11 two-day hearings. That model would require more Thursday and Friday meetings but create three additional recess days. The final calendar report will go to council’s Oct. 27 organizational meeting.
•   A city audit found that the municipal fleet maintenance program effectively manages maintenance to meet the needs of departments using more than 5,000 vehicles and pieces of equipment. Auditors found one area for improvement: There is no formal process to track feedback on parts suppliers, making recurring problems harder to identify across garages. Administration accepts the recommendation. The program supports vehicles such as snowplows, fire trucks, waste trucks, and DATS buses, but excludes conventional transit buses and LRT vehicles.
•   Audit committee will consider the Office of the City Auditor’s 2027-2030 operating budget, starting at about $3.14 million in 2027, down $111,000 from the adjusted 2026 budget. It would retain 17 full-time-equivalent positions throughout the four years. A separate follow-up report says administration has closed 10 audit recommendations since the last update, leaving 27 outstanding as of Aug. 27, including four that are overdue.
•   Administration will ask council to postpone the report on proposed active transportation network amendments to Dec. 8 to minimize service impacts for applicants at subsequent public hearings. Coun. Ashley Salvador’s motion seeking active transportation funding options and Coun. Thu Parmar’s proposal to examine shifting up to $220 million from neighbourhood renewal to arterial-road renewal remain listed as motions pending on the Sept. 8 selection sheet.
•   Council’s continuation also includes two postponed private discussions: one on public safety involving the Edmonton Police Service and peace officers, and another on an intergovernmental update concerning a provincial pre-budget submission and partnership opportunity.

And here are updates on some of the items we told you about last week:

•   Council gave first reading to the bylaw establishing a tax subclass for derelict non-residential properties. It still requires further readings. Council also passed all three readings of the bylaw expanding the derelict residential subclass citywide, with eligible properties to be included starting with January 2027 assessment notices.
•   Council approved funding for the Valley Line transition management office, supporting the transfer of Valley Line Southeast operations and maintenance from TransEd to the Edmonton Transit Service in 2027. The approved request includes about $7.7 million for the temporary office and $20.5 million for vehicles, tools, equipment, and operating systems for the expanding LRT network, funded from the LRT reserve. It excludes the payment to terminate the TransEd contract.
•   Council approved the updated climate resilience policy and committee recommendations on climate implementation priorities. The policy update adds adaptation targets and a sustainable return-on-investment threshold for new city buildings. New funding for climate actions will be considered through the 2027-2030 budget process.
•   Council approved the updated public art policy and committee recommendations on the heritage places strategy. The art update clarifies the basis for funding, including the collection’s maintenance needs. The heritage update broadens the city’s approach beyond built heritage to include natural, Indigenous, community, and cultural heritage.
•   Council approved committee recommendations on the snow and ice control policy, including requests for 2027-2030 budget options to improve school-zone clearing and continue assisted snow removal.
•   Following its review of the operating and capital financial updates, council voted 12-1 to request options for drawing down the Planning and Development Business Model reserve, along with any recommended changes to the related fiscal policy. Coun. Jon Morgan opposed the motion.
•   Council gave first reading to the municipal tax relief delegation amendment, which would let the city assessor delegate decisions to directors and managers. It also passed the bylaw repealing municipal historic designation for the Arlington Apartments, whose remaining walls were demolished in 2008 after a 2005 fire.

• Alberta will ban solar panels from provincial landfills and charge a $14 recycling fee on every new panel supplied in the province beginning October 1st. Environment and Protected Areas Minister Grant Hunter says the program, which the provincial government calls the first of its kind in Canada, will recover valuable materials and build a recycling industry before dead panels start piling up. The fee applies only to panels supplied on or after October 1st, with no charge on panels already installed, and the government estimates it adds $280 to a typical 20-panel residential installation, or less than 1.5% of the cost. By 2045, more than 95% of the solar panels currently installed in Alberta are expected to reach the end of their lives, generating as much as 72,700 tonnes of material. The Business Renewables Centre-Canada, whose members develop and buy renewable power, says it supports a recycling program but describes the fee itself as a "punitive tax", with director Jorden Dye arguing it is more than double the charge in any other jurisdiction the group examined and ignores the salvage value of recovered materials. Dye says the next-highest fee anywhere is Germany's at $5 per panel, and the group estimates the Alberta charge will add about $1 million in upfront costs to an average 38-megawatt solar project.
• The Alberta branch of the Canadian Bar Association has published an analysis warning that many of the proposals Albertans will vote on in the October 19th referendum would face steep constitutional obstacles if a government tried to act on them. The lawyers' group, which takes no position on how people should vote, examined all 10 questions after its members began fielding queries about them. On the separation question, it notes that a province cannot unilaterally leave Canada, though a clear majority on a clear question would oblige the federal government to enter discussions about secession and its possible terms. The four constitutional questions - a provincial role in appointing superior court judges, abolishing the Senate, opting out of certain federal programs, and giving provincial law priority over federal law - would each require constitutional amendments, with Senate abolition needing resolutions from the Senate, the House of Commons, and every province and territory. On the five immigration questions, the analysis says a unilateral provincial cap could run into federal paramountcy problems, charging non-permanent residents for provincially funded supports could conflict with the Canada Health Act, and a new proof-of-citizenship requirement to vote could draw a Charter challenge on equality grounds. The office of Justice Minister Mickey Amery did not address the specific points but said the government has a duty to uphold its citizen-initiated referendum laws and give citizens a voice.
• Saddle Lake Cree Nation says Alberta's restrictions on gender-affirming care violate its Treaty rights, and it plans to write its own health law regulating health care on its lands. Chief Dale Steinhauer says the Nation's responsibility as a rights holder under Treaty No. 6 is to protect the health, dignity, and life of everyone who comes to its territory, and the Nation grounds the new law in the treaty's commitment to keep a medicine chest for the use and benefit of its people. Under the plan, the First Nation would bring in Canadian-trained clinicians to provide gender-affirming care, primary care, and specialist care to members and visitors, and would exempt those clinicians from any sanctions by professional bodies for providing care the Province has banned. Two-Spirit family doctor James Makokis argues that anti-trans laws fail to uphold the spirit and intent of the medicine chest clause. The provincial government maintains that its policies, which include banning puberty blockers for those under 16, are meant to protect children from making life-changing decisions, and it used the Charter's notwithstanding clause in November to shield the legislation after a Court of King's Bench judge granted a temporary injunction on the grounds that the ban was likely to cause irreparable harm. The federal Ministry of Crown-Indigenous Relations said it is committed to the treaty relationship, while Indigenous Relations Minister Rajan Sawhney did not respond to a request for comment.
• Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister Dale Nally says registries will now accept passports that have been expired for less than a year as proof of citizenship for a driver's licence renewal, along with any citizenship certificate recognized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada rather than the short list accepted before. The change follows weeks of complaints about the province's new integrated licences and identification cards, which carry a citizenship marker and a health-care number and have drawn criticism from the Opposition NDP. Nally, however, says demand has been far higher than expected, with renewals up 33% and only about 1% of applicants needing a 60-day interim licence because they could not produce the right documents.
• Alberta has launched an online portal for businesses to tell the provincial government how US tariffs and Canadian counter-tariffs are affecting their operations, jobs, and growth. The province says the information will be used to identify sector-specific effects, including changes to costs, investment decisions, market access, competitiveness, employment, and supply chains, and to shape its response across affected industries. A cabinet committee has been set up to coordinate that response across several ministries, and Premier Danielle Smith and Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration Minister Joseph Schow recently hosted a meeting of the Alberta Trade Advisory Council to hear directly from industry and business leaders. The announcement quotes business groups saying retaliatory measures fall hardest on small and medium-sized enterprises, with 60% of them importing goods against 20% exporting. The province says it will keep pressing for free and fair trade with the United States and wants the dispute settled through negotiation.

What's on in Edmonton this weekend? Catch the return of Rapid Fire Theatre’s Prairie Bowl Theatresports Tournament and witness the region’s finest improvisers to go head-to-head in a Theatresports-style tournament, check out local art and music along the beautiful river valley at the Strathearn Art Walk, discover more than 125 artists across nine stages at the Purple City Music Festival, celebrate Vietnamese Heritage Month with an afternoon of Vietnamese poetry and proverbs at Boa & Hare, enjoy three days of Filipino entertainment and food at the Edmonton Filipino Fiesta 2026, catch a public reading of The Night Travelling Star at Workshop West Playwrights' Theatre, and so much more!

Woodvale Community League Day: Movie in the RinkJoin us on Saturday, September 19, 2026 for an evening of family fun at Woodvale Community League Day. From 5:00–7:00 PM, enjoy face painters, mascots, games, and food trucks($). Then, grab your chairs and settle into the rink for a family movie under the evening sky.

The movie starts at 7:00 PM, and popcorn will be provided free for everyone attending the movie.

Event DetailsSaturday, September 19, 2026

Activities: 5:00–7:00 PM

Family Movie: 7:00 PM

• Face painters, mascots and games
• Food trucks with a variety of tasty meals available for purchase
• Free popcorn for the movie

Bring your own chairs & blankets

Come spend the evening with neighbours, friends and family for a fun community night at Woodvale.

EDMONTON EXPO Giveaway, September Festivals & September Festivals & Great Food!

Hi everyone! I’ve been a bit MIA with the newsletter (thanks for your patience 🥹).

I’m actually headed to China for work for a few weeks starting this weekend, so the emails will be a bit sporadic for a little bit longer (thanks again for your patience lol). There are plenty of activities happening in the city over the next few weeks (and great food to eat + local businesses to support!) so I hope you find some wonderful things to do while I’m away.

However!! I am popping in to run a newsletter subscriber-only giveaway to the upcoming EDMONTON EXPO returning next weekend Sept. 18-20, and share a few more September event reminders.

The EDMONTON EXPO is a favourite event in our family! I’ve had the pleasure of working with them for years.

The EDMONTON EXPO is Three Days of Fun-Filled, Fan Culture!

If you’re into comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, gaming, or cosplay, you’re invited to share in their playground. Find your fandom family at EDMONTON EXPO. All 40,000 of them!! Guests this year include John Cena, cast members from The Boys, Peggy the Dog (from Deadpool—their appearance includes a little fundraiser for Zoe’s Animal Rescue!), plus anime, gaming, cosplay, artists/vendors, and much more.

I’ll be away next weekend but Mike and our toddler Benjimin are really looking forward to checking out the festivities.

Enter to win a pair of passes to Sunday, Sept. 20’s EDMONTON EXPO, plus two tickets to the John Cena Live experience!

The EDMONTON EXPO has given me a pair of Sunday passes + two tickets to the John Cena Live experience on Sunday, Sept. 20, to give away to newsletter subscribers! Thank you for being a subscriber. 🙏🏻

To enter for a chance to win, simply visit the EDMONTON EXPO website and tell me what guest, activity, programming, etc., you’re most looking forward to! Also let me know if this would be your first time or returning visit to the event.

That’s it! I will select a winner from all email entries received by Monday, Sept. 14. The winner will be notified via email.

Thank you to the EDMONTON EXPO for supporting my small business and newsletter community with this email giveaway! (gifted)

Here’s a few more events you might be interested this September:

• September is Vietnamese Heritage Month in Alberta and my Vietnamese non-profit society has helped coordinate events and activities to celebrate with nearly 20 organizations across Edmonton. Check out all the restaurants + upcoming events and plan your visits. There’s restaurant deals + weekly events in September.
• Strathearn Art Walk & Music Festival returns Sept. 11-13.
• 9th Annual Edmonton Filipino Fiesta runs Sept. 12-13.
• Mosquers Film Festival runs Sept. 17-20.
• Kaleido Family Arts Festival runs Sept 18-20.
• Down by the River Music Festival runs Sept. 18-20.
• Edmonton Gallery Walk runs Sept. 19 & 20.
• 2026 Edmonton Comedy Festival runs Sept. 24-27.
• Edmonton International Film Festival runs Sept. 24-Oct. 3.
• AsiaFest 2026 returns Sept. 25-27.
• September is the final month for Edmonton City As a Museum Project’s free Curiosity Walking Tours!

You can save 15% off your gameplay at Activate in south or west Edmonton with my code LINDORK15. Activate is the world’s first active gaming experience. Book before Oct. 11! #ActivatePartner

I’ve had some tasty bites from a few local spots the last few weeks that you may be interested in trying too, including:

• Tacos from Marlo
• Samosas from Mr. & Mrs. Singh’s Kitchen
• Banh mi and pandan cakes from An Vat Edmonton
• Pesto mac & cheese from Seoul Fried Chicken
• Cookies from Confetti Sweets
• Pork sisig and Sinigang soup from Max’s Restaurant
• Cruellers from Rosewood Foods
• Marinated herb & garlic shrimp from Safeway
• Banh Khot (Vietnamese mini crepes) from Mai Mai Viet Street Kitchen
• Pork chop with egg on rice from Da Kao Bistro
• Ice cream from Yelo’d Ice Cream & Bake Shoppe
• Hot pot lunch from Boiling Hot Pot

Just a few delicious local bites you can try in Edmonton!!

That’s it for me, for now!

I hope you have a wonderful next few weeks and I’ll get back to weekly emails for Things to Do, Eat and Know Each Week in the Edmonton area when I return.

• City Council meets tomorrow at 9:30 am, with debate continuing Wednesday, and one of the first items is Administration's operating financial update for the first half of 2026. The report projects that tax-supported operations would finish the year $50.9 million over budget before the City draws on its Financial Strategies contingency funds, a gap Administration attributes to heavy early-year snow clearing, transit and fire overtime, and higher fuel costs. After pulling $51.4 million from those funds, the City instead projects a slim $0.5 million surplus. The Financial Stabilization Reserve is forecast to end 2026 at $135.0 million, about $15.4 million below its required minimum, and is not expected to recover until 2028. Administration also expects the City to finish the year with roughly $5 billion in outstanding debt. The projections do not yet include the costs of July's flooding or of US tariffs, which Administration says it is still assessing.
• Also on Tuesday's agenda, Council will vote on the money needed to bring the Valley Line Southeast LRT under public operation. In May, Council directed Administration to end the City's contract with private operator TransEd in 2027 and hand operations and maintenance to Edmonton Transit Service. Administration is now asking Council to approve just over $7.6 million in one-time operating costs for a temporary transition office covering staff, consultants, and asset inspections through 2027, plus a $20.5-million capital budget for fleet and equipment. All of it would be drawn from the City's LRT Reserve, which requires a one-time exemption to Council policy. The request does not include the payment owed to TransEd to end the contract, which Administration says will be financed through borrowing and brought back for approval later. Administration notes that moving an operating light rail line from a private to a public operator has few precedents in North America, and rates the workforce, technology, and asset-handover risks as high.
• Council will also give first reading to a bylaw creating a new property tax subclass for derelict commercial and industrial buildings. The measure would let the City assess non-residential properties that have sat unoccupied for at least a year at a higher tax rate, mirroring a derelict residential subclass Council created in 2023. Under Edmonton's City Charter, the higher rate could be set no greater than five times the lowest residential rate. Administration estimates that putting the subclass in place would cost up to $274,000 a year in ongoing funding, plus up to $1 million in one-time spending to reprogram the City's tax system. It projects the higher rate could raise about $400,000 a year from derelict properties if Council set it at the maximum. A funding request would come forward as part of the 2027-2030 budget.
• Two information reports before Council on Tuesday set the table for this fall's 2027-2030 budget debate. The first summarizes public engagement that drew 11,716 responses last spring, in which participants leaned toward finishing existing projects and maintaining current infrastructure rather than starting new ones, and ranked road and pathway maintenance as a top priority. When users of the City's online budget tool were asked to balance the books, 40% chose to raise property taxes, 42% kept them flat, and 18% cut them, for an average increase of about 1%. A companion satisfaction survey found that satisfaction with City services overall slipped to 62% this year from 68% in 2025. The same survey found that agreement Edmonton is an attractive place to expand a business or build a career fell to 53% from 61%. Council will weigh the findings as Administration prepares its proposed four-year budget.
• Ward 8 (papastew) Councillor Michael Janz has a motion pending that would change how the City talks about property taxes. It asks Administration to report tax increases and spending in dollars per $100,000 of assessed property value, rather than using a "typical home" example or percentages, which Janz argues are less transparent for residents. Janz also has motions pending to set a standard three-minute speaking limit for public speakers at committee and Council meetings, and to open each Council meeting with a moment of silence for people killed on Edmonton roads. The motions were introduced with notice at earlier meetings and are listed for debate at this week's Council session.

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ON THE AGENDA

Stephanie Swensrude

This week, council will consider tax subclasses for derelict properties, review public engagement on the 2027-2030 budget, and vote on funding for the Valley Line LRT transition and equipment for the expanding network.

There is a city council meeting on Sept. 8, with a continuation on Sept. 9 if required.

Here are some key items on the agenda this week:

• Council will vote on the first reading of a bylaw that would establish a citywide tax subclass for derelict non-residential properties that have been unoccupied for at least a year. Administration estimates implementation would require up to $274,000 in annual operating funding starting in 2027 and up to $1 million in capital funding, with those requests to be considered during the 2027-2030 budget deliberations. Council will also consider all three readings of a bylaw expanding the existing derelict residential subclass from mature neighbourhoods to the entire city. Funding for that expansion is already approved. If the bylaw passes, eligible properties across Edmonton will be included starting with the January 2027 assessment notices.
• Participants in public engagement on the 2027-2030 budget wanted a focus on core services but disagreed on what “core” means, says a report due at council. Of the 1,467 residents who used an online budget tool, 42% kept property tax revenue the same, 40% increased it, and 18% decreased it. More than half of budget-tool participants chose spending cuts for police, environment and climate, and a combined category covering arts, culture, tourism, inclusion, and economic development. Administration will use the feedback to help shape the proposed four-year operating and capital budgets.
• Council will be asked to approve funding for a transition management office to transfer the operations and maintenance of the Valley Line Southeast LRT from TransEd to the Edmonton Transit Service in 2027. Administration is seeking about $7.7 million for the temporary office and $20.5 million for vehicles, tools, equipment, and operating systems for Valley Line Southeast and other LRT expansions, all from the LRT reserve. The request excludes the payment to terminate the TransEd contract

.

Council will be asked to approve about $28.2 million from the LRT reserve for the Valley Line transition office and equipment for the expanding LRT network. (Jon Spencer/Flickr)

Here are some more key items:

• Council will vote on updates to the public art policy and the climate resilience policy, following infrastructure committee’s recommendations. The art update clarifies that funding is based on historical investments and collection maintenance needs. The climate update adds adaptation targets and a sustainable return on investment threshold to guide climate requirements for new city buildings.
• Coun. Ashley Salvador will introduce a motion requesting funding options for active transportation routes awaiting feasibility reviews and funding, plus an unfunded capital profile to continue implementing the Bike Plan, for the 2027-2030 budget deliberations.
• Coun. Thu Parmar will introduce a motion calling for a public hearing and an analysis of shifting up to $220 million from the Neighbourhood Renewal Program tax levy to arterial-road renewal for the 2027-2030 budget cycle.
• Council will consider first reading of a bylaw allowing the city assessor to delegate municipal tax relief decisions to directors and managers. The existing $500,000 annual limit on tax forgiveness by administration would remain unchanged.
• The city’s operating budget is projected to end 2026 with a $500,000 surplus after using $51.4 million that was set aside to manage budget pressures to offset a $50.9-million shortfall. Higher snow-clearing and overtime costs, as well as lower revenues from transit advertising and permits, are among the pressures. The forecast excludes the net effects of tariffs and heavy rainfall in June and July. The Financial Stabilization Reserve is still projected to end the year $15.4 million below its minimum balance of $150.4 million.
• Most significant capital projects are within acceptable tolerances for budget and schedule, administration says. Weighted by approved budgets, about 83% are within an acceptable range in terms of budget, and 94% are within an acceptable range in terms of schedule.
• Council will meet in private to discuss public safety, strategic planning, and intergovernmental matters, including a provincial pre-budget submission and partnership opportunity.

• The provincial government has committed $320 million to expand cardiac care at Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge. The funding, announced Wednesday, will redevelop the hospital's cardiac catheterization lab and expand its intensive care and cardiac care units, raising the facility's total number of beds to 54. Infrastructure Minister Martin Long said design work will begin this month and construction next month, with the project expected to be finished by the end of 2031. Long said the hospital plays a vital role in delivering health care across southern Alberta, while Hospital and Surgical Health Services Minister Adriana LaGrange said Albertans deserve timely access to care close to home.
• Also on the health-care file, Alberta's new dual-practice health system took effect on September 1st, allowing doctors to offer privately paid services while continuing to work in the public system, beginning with elective procedures such as hip and knee replacements. The provincial government says close to 400 specialist physicians have expressed interest in taking part, though a formal application process must still be completed before any privately funded surgeries occur, which the province expects later this fall. Premier Danielle Smith says the change does not violate the Canada Health Act and that she expects Ottawa to respect the province's jurisdiction over health care, arguing that Albertans who choose to pay for eligible elective surgery should be able to do so at home rather than travelling out of province. The provincial and national doctors associations and the Opposition NDP have criticized the model as two-tier care that benefits those who can afford to pay while draining the public system. Opponents rallied at seven locations across the province, with the group Friends of Medicare urging Ottawa to enforce the Act by withholding health transfers, and federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel's office said she is in advanced discussions with her Alberta counterpart.
• On another file, Alberta's Opposition NDP is calling on Premier Danielle Smith to fire Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister Dale Nally over problems with the province's new integrated identification cards, which since July 2nd have combined a resident's driver's licence with their health number and a citizenship marker. Gurinder Brar, the NDP's critic for the department, said constituency offices have been swamped with complaints from residents confused and frustrated by the changes, and cited a Grande Prairie woman who was turned away four times while trying to renew her identification despite presenting several documents. Brar said the party would make a single combined card optional, offer a standalone health card, and remove the citizenship markers, which he called discriminatory, noting that the privacy commissioner has warned that requiring a health number and citizenship on a licence puts privacy at risk. Nally defended the cards, saying driver's licence and identification transactions rose 33% in July compared with a year earlier and that a citizenship marker makes it easier for Albertans to prove eligibility for provincial benefits. He said the change brings Alberta in line with every province except Manitoba in requiring health coverage to be renewed, and that residents needing more time can receive a 60-day grace period.
• The provincial government will remove Water Act approval and wetland replacement requirements this fall for routine farming on private cropland, allowing producers to drain, ditch, and fill certain temporary and seasonal wetlands without first obtaining provincial permission. The exemptions will cover activities such as cultivating, direct seeding, spraying, surface-water drainage, and infilling. Under the current system, a farmer whose work affects a temporary wetland can be required to hire a qualified wetland professional, complete an assessment, wait for a government review, and pay wetland replacement costs. Environment and Protected Areas Minister Grant Hunter said the change restores private property rights and gets government out of the way where it is not needed, saving farmers time and money. Water managed under the exemptions must remain on the farmer's property and cannot adversely affect neighbouring land. The Government also plans to replace the approval process for tile drainage with a code of practice, which it expects to complete in early 2027.
• Alberta drivers paid an average of $1,903 for auto insurance last year as premiums rose 8.7%, according to a new report from the Automobile Insurance Rate Board, the independent agency that approves auto insurance rates in the province. The report found that third-party liability costs, largely legal and litigation expenses, made up 58.2% of the premiums drivers paid, and that insurers still lost about nine cents for every dollar of coverage sold in 2025. The Insurance Bureau of Canada said the figures show the current system is broken and strengthen the case for the province's planned Care-First model, which would shift the emphasis from lawsuits to medical treatment and recovery benefits for people injured in collisions. Aaron Sutherland, the bureau's vice-president for Western and Pacific Canada, said legal costs remain the largest pressure on premiums and that the planned changes cannot arrive soon enough. The report also found the cost of repairing vehicles has risen roughly 27% in recent years.

Community League News

Zumba Alert - Big Energy, Big Changes!

💃 Get ready to dance, sweat, and SMILE! 🕺🔥

Zumba is turning up the heat at the Large Hall (7708 – 81 Street NW) every Thursday from 6:30–7:30 pm, starting September 10th! 🎶

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or brand new to Zumba, this class is all about fun, movement, and feeling amazing.

💰 Drop-in: $10

🎟️ KEP Community League members: Just $5!

Grab your water bottle, lace up your shoes, bring your energy — and let’s dance it out together!

Community League Day - Come Celebrate With Us 🎉

🌭 Hot dogs from Dawg Gone It Food Truck

🍦 Ice cream

⛳ Mini golf

🤝 Community information tables featuring groups including SEESA and Norwood

📅 Saturday | 12:00–3:00 pm

📍 Small Hall & Rink — 8008 81 Street NW

🗳️Special General Meeting

As part of Community League Day, we’ll hold a Special General Meeting from 12:00–12:30 pm to approve the league’s audited financial statements.

Come for the meeting, stay for the fun — and help us celebrate the community that makes King Edward Park such a great place to live! 💚

🍲 Help Bring Community Soup Nights to King Edward Park!

We're looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help launch a recurring Community Soup Night—a cozy potluck where neighbours can gather over a warm bowl of soup, connect, and build community.

Several volunteers have already expressed interest in helping, but we're still looking for someone to take the lead and help turn this idea into reality. If you enjoy organizing events or bringing people together, this is a great opportunity to make a lasting impact in the neighbourhood.

Interested in helping? We'd love to hear from you! Contact programs@kingedwardpark.org to learn more or express your interest.

Let's build something warm, welcoming, and delicious—together!

Community Shout-Outs

• Free Big Bin and Eco Station Events
• Sept 12 - 13 | Mill Woods Town Centre (2331 - 66 Street) from 9
• a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sept 26 - 27 | Strathcona, Kennedale & Ambleside Eco Stations from 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
• Reuse Centre Small Electronics Swap | Sept 19 , 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Get Ready in the Neighbourhood - Last Call for Free Workshops in 2026
• September 17 | 7-9 pm | Virtual Workshop
• October 22 | 7-9 pm |Evansdale Community League

Community Events & Happenings

• Purple City Music Festival 2026 | Sept 11 - 12
• James Ehnes & Andrew Armstrong: Edmonton Chamber Music Society | Sept 10
• Lyle Lovett and his Small Large Band | Sept 10
• Root for Trees - September Events | Sept 10
• Barrel Fest 2026 | Sept 12
• Women In Ninja 2026 | Sept 12
• Mosquers Film Festival | Sept 17 - 20
• Tea and Trees Events | Sept 18
• Kaleido Fest| Sept 18 - 20
• Edmonton Comic Expo | Sept 18 - 20
• Rocktoberfest | Sept 18 - 21
• Fall Gallery Walk | Sept 19 - 20
• Edmonton Terry Fox Run | Sept 20
• Edmonton International Film Festival| Sept 24 - Oct 3
• Free Mid-Autumn Chinatown Walking Tour | Sept 24
• National Tree Day | Sept 24
• AsiaFest YEG | Sept 25 - 27
• Open Cockpit Day | Sept 26
• National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | Sept 30

City Info & Updates

• Here To Help for Back to School
• Valley Line West LRT construction update
• Invasive Weed Pull at Edmonton Valley Zoo
• Edmonton Fire Rescue Services Drone Program Soaring, Enhancing Citywide Emergency Response

City & Community Resources

• Edmonton Community Programs
• Contact 311: Issues related to City services, programs or bylaws
• Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Edmonton Community Resources
• HELP Community Resources List
• Edmonton Reuse Directory

Stay Connected

Email: info@kingedwardpark.org

Website: KingEdwardPark.org 

The number of burglaries seems to be on the increase. To help ensure that your home is not one of those watch the video below.

What's on in Edmonton this weekend? Check out the Edmonton Art Crawl for three days of free arts and cultural programming to downtown Edmonton, explore the question “what does it truly mean to belong?” at the Immigrant Council for Arts Innovation’s anniversary panel discussion, celebrate the 100th Anniversary of A PAGE OF MADNESS with a live original score performed by The Nausea, enjoy an afternoon of Indian music filled with soulful songs at Dopehri 2026, and so much more!

SEE ALL UPCOMING EVENTS

Fall Transit Service Adjustments

School Routes and Trips: Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) is looking forward to welcoming students back to transit as part of regular fall service adjustments. Beginning August 30, ETS will implement service adjustments to various bus routes and On Demand Transit, including the resumption of school routes and trips.

There are changes coming to some school specials, including major route adjustments, minor route adjustments (including route 664 in Walker) and school special cancellations due to low ridership and/or changing ridership patterns. You can see a list of all adjustments at edmonton.ca/SchoolSpecialBusRoutes. 

Other changes for Ward Karhiio: ETS will be reassigning the following bus bays at the Mill Woods Transit Centre

• Route 509A will move from Bay O (#3915) to Bay F (#3906)
• Route 509B will move from Bay P (#3916) to Bay E (#3905)
• Route 517 will move from Bay F (#3906) to Bay C (#3903)
• Route 518 will move from Bay E (#3905) to Bay O (#3915)
• Route 521 will move from Bay C (#3903) to Bay P (#3916)
• Routes 509A, 509B, 518, & 521 will also reverse direction in the
• immediate vicinity of Mill Woods Transit Centre

All Fall adjustments are available at edmonton.ca/TransitServiceChanges, through 311 and by accessing trip planning tools (Google Maps, edmonton.ca/transit).

Interested in Serving on the Woodvale Board?

We’re looking for individuals who would like to get involved and help make a difference by serving on the Woodvale Board.

Our next board meeting is Tuesday, September 15 at 7:00 PM at the Millwoods Golf Course. If you’re interested in learning more or would like to get involved, we’d love to have you join us!

Need help setting out your garbage? Try Assisted Waste today

Since 2010, Edmonton’s Assisted Waste Program has helped Edmontonians with limited mobility move their recycling, garbage and food scraps to the curb for collection. Edmontonians with temporary or long-term mobility challenges can apply for the following services:

• Curbside collectionResidents sort their waste into carts and bags. The collector moves them to the curb or alley for collection and returns the carts to their storage location afterward.
• Residents provide their sorted waste to the collector at their home. The collector places the waste in the appropriate carts, sets out the carts and bags for collection and returns the carts to their storage location afterward.
• Apartment and condo collectionCollectors pick up sorted waste from the resident’s door and take it to the property’s collection container for disposal

Learn more about the program and how to sign up at edmonton.ca/AssistedWaste.

Save the Date: Community League Day is Saturday September 19th 

There are 163 community leagues in Edmonton, with 8 in Ward Karhiio. Wherever you live, there’s a league of volunteers giving their time to build a better city. Community League Day on Saturday September 19, is a chance to meet your league and find out what they can do for you. Meet neighbours, get your membership, and learn about programming and volunteer opportunities. 

Many leagues are still in the process of planning their Community League Day events, You can find local events at efcl.org/community-league-day/, or by checking your local leagues website or social media throughout the next month. 

Community Connections

Millwoods Mosaic

Community League Memberships And Renewals Are Now Online

League memberships are still only $25 per household and are available at www.woodvale.org or from the League Office located at the Facility Building on the Mill Woods Golf Course (Call 780-462-2101 ext 3).

View all the benefits and sign up here:

https://www.woodvale.org/membership