Reg Rygus

• City Council has approved a new reserve fund to chip away at Edmonton's $10-billion infrastructure maintenance deficit, and Edmontonians will pay for it through property tax increases built into future budgets. Money in the fund can only be spent on maintaining existing City infrastructure. Residents will see a property tax increase of 0.5% for the first three years, rising to 0.75% for the following three years, and then 1% every year from 2033 onward, on top of regular budget increases. Ward 6 (Métis) Councillor Ashley Salvador, who championed the fund, said residents want assurance the City is taking care of what it already owns. Administration estimates the reserve will cover nearly $1 billion in maintenance costs per year by 2050, though that would still account for only about a third of Edmonton's total renewal needs.
• Council also voted on Tuesday to change the plan for new protected bike lanes on 50th Street between 102nd Avenue and 109A Avenue, choosing a more expensive design in order to keep street parking. Administration's original plan would have removed curbside parking to install the lanes at a cost of $2.4 million, but a motion from Ward 6 (Métis) Councillor Ashley Salvador directed the City toward a $4.9-million alternative that reallocates part of the 10-metre-wide centre median to retain about half the existing parking. A City memo noted that roughly 30 vehicles currently park along that stretch, most of them served by rear alleys and garages. Councillors Erin Rutherford, Jo-Anne Wright and Jon Morgan voted against the alternative on cost grounds, with Ward 10 (Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi) Councillor Jon Morgan questioning spending an extra $2.5 million for 30 stalls given the City's limited funds. Mayor Andrew Knack described the outcome as a "win-win" that avoids picking one mode of transportation over another. City Manager Eddie Robar said he is hearing growing concerns from councillors about bike lane plans across the city, and that adjustments come at a cost to designs already completed.
• Mayor Andrew Knack put forward a motion at City Council declaring the City's support for Alberta remaining in Canada, ahead of the October vote in which Albertans will decide whether the province should begin the legal process toward a separation referendum. Knack said he wished the motion did not have to happen and that it felt odd to be having the conversation, but argued Council should provide clear direction that national unity matters to the City. He told reporters that any conversation about Alberta separating from Canada is harmful and warned against complacency, saying the City needs to send a clear message to the business community and residents. The motion comes as Elections Alberta officials begin verifying signatures on a pro-independence petition.
• The City says its problem properties initiative has saved millions of dollars while cleaning up derelict sites across Edmonton, three-and-a-half years after the fire-department-led team began proactively targeting properties that pose a risk to their communities. Since 2023, the team has inspected more than 2,300 properties, issued 1,800 tickets, removed nearly 2.5 million pounds of debris and garbage, and secured more than 700 vacant properties considered a fire risk. Ward 6 (Métis) Councillor Ashley Salvador, who has driven the effort since she was first elected five years ago, said owners can be required to board up, fence off, and in some cases pay for 24/7 on-site security, with those costs charged back to the property owner. The City also claims to have influenced nearly 500 demolitions by owners, with many of those lots now redeveloped. Officials say the savings come from collected fines and from fewer calls to bylaw and emergency crews, and that problem properties can be reported through 311.
• Blake Desjarlais is leaving his role as Mayor Andrew Knack's chief of staff just three months after taking the position in April. In a statement shared by a City spokesperson, Desjarlais said the decision to step down followed careful reflection and discussion with the Mayor, calling the move mutual but not specifying a reason or his next steps. Desjarlais served as the Member of Parliament for Edmonton Griesbach between 2021 and 2025 before joining the Mayor's Office. Knack said he was proud of Desjarlais's service and had no doubt he would continue to serve Edmontonians. The City did not indicate who would take over the role.

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Edmonton is recovering after a severe thunderstorm caused power outages and flooding. More than 13,000 customers lost electricity, but power has since been restored to most. EPCOR crews continued clearing debris and repairing damage. Major roads including Yellowhead Trail and 97th Street were temporarily closed but have since mostly reopened. Several recreational facilities, including the TELUS World of Science - Edmonton and Peter Hemingway Aquatic Centre, remain closed due to flood damage. The sudden storm sent organizers of several summer festivals, including the Whyte Avenue Art Walk, scrambling.

The Edmonton Police Service sought an injunction to prevent the screening of a documentary about Mathios Arkangelo’s 2024 shooting, fearing it could identify officers under a publication ban, Postmedia reported. The John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights (JHC) premiered the film on June 28 but re-edited it to blur faces after police concerns. “While some in the community view this rapid legal maneuver as an attempt by police to suppress the film, JHC chose to approach this friction with direct dialogue and immediate accountability,” Renee Vaugeois, the centre’s executive director, told Postmedia. “Chief Driechel reached out to personally clarify that the action was intended to ensure officer safety amid active threats, rather than to censor the documentary.”

North-south vehicle access across 102 Avenue in downtown Edmonton will shift as part of Phase 2 of Valley Line West LRT construction. Starting about July 15, access on 105 Street will close, while 104 Street access will open. Access along 104 Street will be closed on Saturdays for the Downtown Farmers’ Market. The construction is expected to continue until the end of 2026, with north-south access remaining open on 109 Street and 101 Street.

Emergency calls regarding overdoses at Edmonton transit locations more than doubled in 2025 compared to the previous year, amounting to 368 calls, significantly surpassing Calgary’s 146 calls. Churchill LRT Station had the highest number of calls in Edmonton since 2018, with 211 incidents. Despite a dip in 2024, the increase reflects ongoing challenges in the city, especially with carfentanil-related deaths.

The City of Edmonton is inspecting residential waste carts to ensure proper sorting, focusing on compliance with its green bin program. City officials are doing daily checks and are leaving tags on bins to provide feedback on sorting practices. The effort is intended to improve waste management efficiency and educate residents about appropriate disposal methods.

The Edmonton International Street Performers Festival concluded with attendance reaching pre-COVID levels, organizers said, noting it has been “a slow build” to reach these numbers. The 10-day festival featured 38 performers from eight countries.

As concerns mount over Meta’s $13-billion data centre in Sturgeon County, Premier Danielle Smith defended the project and assured Albertans it will not hike utility bills or deplete water resources. She said the centre’s water use will match that of a typical golf course through a closed-loop system. The centre will draw energy from Alberta’s grid, with plans to later use power from the forthcoming Greenlight Electricity Centre.

Alberta has experienced a significant rise in tornado activity, with 23 tornadoes already recorded this year, compared to 15 in 2025. Environment Canada meteorologist Brian Proctor highlighted that the tornado season remains active, with six weeks left. The most recent struck Dillberry Lake Provincial Park, injuring three people. David Sills of the Northern Tornadoes Project said that this could be the most active tornado season on the Prairies since the 1980s. Researchers suggest that consistent atmospheric conditions and the interplay of heavy rainfall and fire weather patterns are contributing to the increase.

The Edmonton Oilers have signed St. Albert native Colton Dach to a two-year contract extension worth $1.2 million annually. Dach was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks at the trade deadline last season. The 6-foot-4 forward appeared in eight games for Edmonton after his March debut and played in five playoff games.

• Premier Danielle Smith and Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveiled a proposed 3,300-kilometer pipeline on Monday that would carry western Canadian oil from Hardisty, Alberta, past Regina and Winnipeg to refineries in Sarnia, Ontario. The line, part of what the Premiers call the Northern Shield Energy Corridor, would move an estimated 500,000 barrels a day with possible expansion to 800,000, and would let Ontario stop routing its western oil through pipelines that cross the United States. The project is still in its early stages with no price tag or timeline, and it builds on an earlier energy-corridor agreement among Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan, with an Ontario feasibility study that has cost $11 million so far and is expected to finish by the end of the year. Ford said the Ontario government could own the pipeline and cover construction costs if needed, and Smith said the line could eventually open Alberta oil to European markets. Manitoba has declined to join, with Premier Wab Kinew saying nation-building projects must begin with Indigenous partnership rather than after-the-fact consultation. The proposal comes days after Alberta formally advanced a separate oil pipeline to the British Columbia coast in partnership with Trans Mountain Corp. and Pembina Pipeline Corp.
• Meta announced that the company will spend $13 billion to build a data centre in Sturgeon County, just north of Edmonton, in what the Premier called one of the largest private-sector investments in Canadian history. Meta claims the project will employ 3,000 people at the peak of construction and about 300 full-time staff once operational, and the provincial government says it will generate roughly $250 million a year in royalties, taxes, levies and fees. Meta is also putting about $60 million into local roads and water infrastructure, and the Government says the electricity to power the site will come from a separate $4.6-billion natural gas generation facility that it says will cut the transmission portion of Alberta ratepayers' bills by about 6%. Meta also confirmed that the facility will use a closed-loop water cooling system that draws no water from the surrounding area. Critics remain wary, with environmental activists calling for a moratorium on large data centres until there are legislated environmental protections. Smith said the site was chosen because Alberta's Industrial Heartland has been zoned for heavy industry for four decades.
• The provincial government announced that it is accelerating 41 school projects through its Schools Now program, which it says will deliver more than 39,000 new and upgraded student spaces across the province. Of the 41 projects, 19 are approved for construction funding, and 22 are moving from planning into design, with the Government saying the accelerations cut more than nine months off project timelines. Calgary accounts for 16 of the projects and Edmonton for 11, with the rest spread across communities including Airdrie, Brooks, Chestermere, Red Deer, Sherwood Park, St. Albert, Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie County. Education and Childcare Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said a school in the community lets students learn and grow close to home, while Infrastructure Minister Martin Long said getting schools built faster matters to Alberta families. The $8.6-billion Schools Now program launched in September 2024, and the Government says it will deliver roughly 200,000 new or modernized student spaces by the 2031-32 school year.
• Alberta's new Auditor General, Phil Peters, says he expects his investigation into a health-care contracting scandal to be complete by the end of the year, calling it a top priority for his office. Peters took over in late April after Premier Danielle Smith's government opted not to extend the contract of the previous auditor general, Doug Wylie, who had offered to stay two more years to finish the probe he had worked on for more than a year. The review, announced in February 2025, focuses on deals for private surgical facilities, pain medication from Turkey, and COVID-19 personal protective equipment, and is one of several investigations, including by the RCMP, that followed corruption allegations from the former head of Alberta Health Services. Those allegations have not been proven in court, and a government-commissioned report by retired judge Raymond Wyant found no evidence of wrongful interference by Smith, her ministers or staff. Peters said his mandate lets him dig deeper than that review, with the authority to compel records and subpoena witnesses under oath. The former health executive, Athana Mentzelopoulos, alleges she was fired for investigating questionable contracts, while the Government says she was dismissed for incompetence, and the Opposition NDP has called the matter the biggest government scandal in the province's history.
• The provincial government announced Wednesday that it is committing $50 million over 5 years to the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute to expand the use of artificial intelligence across public services and the wider economy. Premier Danielle Smith said Alberta has spent two decades building a world-class AI sector and is now putting that advantage to work, with Technology and Innovation Minister Nate Glubish saying the Province's early bet on AI research had paid off. The funding is drawn from five ministries, with Technology and Innovation and Advanced Education each contributing $15 million, Assisted Living and Social Services $10 million, and Primary and Preventative Health Services and Education and Childcare $5 million each. The Government says it has invested roughly $100 million in the institute since 2002, and notes it is one of three national AI institutes in Canada alongside Mila and the Vector Institute. Institute CEO Cam Linke described artificial intelligence as one of the defining technologies of our time. The Government says the money will fund AI applications in areas including health care and worker training.

What's on in Edmonton this weekend? Catch the ultimate 1960s party of a play with the return of Cocktails at Pam’s at the Varscona Theatre, browse original works and take home unique pieces at the Whyte Avenue Art Walk, join Latitude 53 for the opening reception of Passing Through by Jason Purcell, learn the basics of traditional hand embroidery in this beginner-friendly workshop with Darcy Hoover, head to O‑day’min Park for a killer lineup of indie music at the Found Festival’s Music Series, and so much more!

SEE ALL UPCOMING EVENTS

Things to Do This Week

• Check out the Whyte Avenue Art Walk (Old Strathcona/Whyte Ave.)
• The 30th Whyte Avenue Art Walk, Alberta’s oldest and largest non-juried visual arts festival located in the heart of Old Strathcona, runs July 10-12 in Old Strathcona from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. FREE to attend! Featuring hundreds of artists who line the streets to showcase their art (also for sale).
• Experience YEG Greek Fest (10450 116 St.)
• The annual YEG Greek Fest put on by the Hellenic-Canadian Community of Edmonton and Region runs July 11 & 12 at the Edmonton Hellenic Community Centre. All are invited for authentic Greek food, live entertainment, traditional dancing, shopping, and more!
• Take in a FREE Green Shack Show (various locations)
• The Edmonton Arts Council x City of Edmonton Green Shack Shows are back for the summer! These are FREE concerts and performances from talented local musicians that happen daily (morning and afternoon shows) at Green Shack locations across the city through to the end of August.
• Find theatre, music, poetry, visual arts and more at Found Festival
• The Common Ground Arts Found Festival runs July 9-12 in various locations across the city. Found Festival helps you find theatre, music, dance, poetry and visual arts in unexpected places.
• There are a few festivals wrapping up this weekend! Don’t miss:
• The 7th Annual Grindstone Comedy Festival which runs until July 12.
• The FREE Edmonton StreetFest 2026 which runs until July 12.
• The FREE Annual Historic Festival and Doors Open which runs July 12.
• Freewill Shakespeare Festival which runs until July 12.
• You may also be interested in these events:
• The final Edmonton area Wild Rose Shows pop-up carnival is July 9-12 at Sherwood Park Mall! Benjimin and I went when it was at Mill Woods Town Centre last weekend and had a blast. The unlimited rides pass is well worth it if you are intent on going on as many rides as possible (hardly any line-ups when we went!)
• The FREE-to-attend Enoch Cree Nation 32nd Annual Powwow Competition running July 10-12.
• The 3rd Annual Western Canada Steel Bands Showcase is July 11. FREE!
• RSVP for FREE to The Edmonton Arts Council Public Art Walking Tour: ÎNÎW River Lot 11 with Tiffany Shaw running July 11 & 12.
• Rockin’ Thunder Music Festival runs July 11 & 12.
• Family Fishing Weekend is July 11-12, where anyone in Alberta can fish without a license.
• Edgemont Community League presents Dog Days of Edgemont on July 11.
• The World Rugby Nations Cup 2026 is in Edmonton this July 11.
• Disney Morning Movies at the Capitol run every Saturday in July! Grab a movie-only ticket or do the movie then explore Fort Edmonton Park.
• The FREE Edmonton Love & Unity Gospel Festival is on at Louise McKinney Riverfront Park on July 12.
• The family-friendly Mary Burlie Day is on Monday, July 13, a celebration of community, history, culture and connection that honours the legacy of Mary Burlie and her impact.
• This summer you may be interested in participating in the FREE Root for Trees Planting program! Gather a group to plant trees, do drop-in tree planting or special tree events.
• And if you want to do a little day trip!
• The annual Vegreville Medieval Faire & Artisan Market runs July 10-12! Enjoy medieval entertainment, artisan craftsmanship, food, music, and family-friendly fun in the Alberta foothills. Vegreville is just an hour drive east of Edmonton!! I hope to attend this next year!
• In Wetaskiwin, just an hour drive south east of Edmonton, Reynolds-Alberta Museum’s one-day only Ultimate Car Show is on July 11, with more than 650 vehicles! General museum admission includes access to the Ultimate Car Show and this would be a great excuse to try Dirty Water Dogs, the INCREDIBLE museum restaurant.

Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Edmonton Neighbourhoods United newsletter.

Our goal is to keep residents informed about planning decisions, neighbourhood redevelopment, City initiatives, and opportunities to become involved in shaping the future of our communities.

This newsletter will be published approximately every 3–4 months and will focus on education, awareness, community stories, and practical resources for residents.

Sincerely,

Edmonton Neighbourhoods United

www.edmontonneighbourhoodsunited.ca

AT ISSUE

Residential Infill Safety & Development

Edmonton continues to experience increasing concerns related to residential infill construction. According to the City's Infill Compliance Dashboard, resident complaints increased from 196 to 514 in a single year.

Residents have reported concerns including:

• Emergency access being obstructed during construction.
• Excavation and shoring issues affecting neighbouring properties.
• Construction site safety and cleanliness.
• Blocked sidewalks and public right-of-way concerns.
• Questions surrounding the implementation of Edmonton's Blanket Zoning Bylaw and redevelopment in mature neighbourhood.

 Learn more 

KNOW YOUR BYLAW

Each newsletter we'll simplify one section of Edmonton's Zoning Bylaw and explain it in plain language.

We'll answer questions like:

• What does this rule actually mean?
• How does it affect my property?
• Why was it created?
• What should residents know?

Our goal is to make planning information understandable and accessible for everyone.

 Learn More 

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

Redevelopment can be confusing. Knowing your rights and understanding the process can make a significant difference.

Future editions will provide practical guidance on:

• Development permits
• Appeal timelines
• Construction safety concerns
• Reporting bylaw violations
• Who to contact
• Helpful City resources

COMMUNITY STORIES

Neighbourhood experiences matter.

If you have photos, construction concerns, safety issues, or redevelopment stories you'd like to share, we'd love to hear from you.

Community input helps identify recurring issues and strengthens our ability to advocate for practical solutions.

ON THE AGENDA

Mariam Ibrahim

This week, council will debate rezoning applications and a design change for active transportation during its last week before going on summer recess.

There is a public hearing scheduled for July 6 and a council meeting scheduled for July 7 and 8.

Here are some key items on the agenda this week:

• Westrich Pacific has applied to rezone two properties in Wîhkwêntôwin. The developer has proposed rezoning a lot at 10004 112 Street from a direct control zone that allows for a 35-storey building to the mixed use zone, which allows for a 12-storey building. Westrich has also applied to rezone three lots at the corner of 100 Avenue and 111 Street from a direct control zone that allows for an 18-storey building to the medium-scale residential zone, which allows for an eight-storey building.
• Yorkton Equity Group has applied to rezone the Pacific Mall site and an adjacent parking lot in Chinatown to allow for an 18-storey building and a six-storey building, respectively. The current zoning allows for buildings up to 38 storeys high. Administration said it supports the application because the proposed buildings would align with Chinatown’s economic development plans.
• Coun. Ashley Salvador will move to direct administration to pause the current plans for active transportation infrastructure along 50 Street NW through Capilano, Gold Bar, and Fulton Place. The design would remove street parking to make way for a protected bike lane. Salvador said there is an alternative design that would maintain parking.
• Edmonton city council’s infrastructure committee has approved the creation of a Dedicated Renewal Fund to help ensure long-term infrastructure repair work can happen. Mayor Andrew Knack said the city needs to ensure consistent funding instead of relying on fluctuating external sources. The fund will be financed by raising the property tax levy from 0.5% to 1% by 2033. It is intended to address Edmonton’s $2.7 billion annual infrastructure renewal needs by 2046.
• The Edmonton Valley Zoo has reopened its Nocturnal Wing after extensive habitat enhancements for its Jamaican fruit bats. Director Gary Dewar highlighted new features such as a rock wall and specialized lighting that improve bat well-being and visitor experience. “We hope the experience encourages people to learn more about bats and the conservation challenges they face,” Dewar said.
• More than a year after the disappearance of 14-year-old Samuel Bird in west Edmonton, his mother, Alanna, is channeling her grief into a film project to honour his life and shed light on Indigenous youths’ experiences in Canada. Samuel’s mother has partnered with Indigenous filmmaker Corben Bowen on Every Day Gets Closer to Winter, which is still in development and seeking funding. Bryan Farrell is charged with second-degree murder in connection with Samuel’s death, with court proceedings adjourned to November.
• A $4.6-billion power station has received approval to supply energy to a planned data centre near Edmonton, potentially achieving Alberta’s data centre investment goal. The facility is slated for completion by mid-2030. The station will be built in an industrial area owned by Pembina, which is funding the project along with Morgan Stanley and Kineticor. Scott Burrows of Pembina said the project has received all necessary regulatory approvals and that construction will begin soon.
• St. Albert officials are urging residents to avoid the Sturgeon River after high water levels submerged sidewalks, signs, and park areas, after a record 255 millimetres of rain in June. St. Albert has closed several trails, including the Ray Gibbon Drive and Boudreau Road underpasses, and implemented flood mitigation measures.
• Elections Alberta rejected Corb Lund’s ‘Water Not Coal’ petition, which is aimed at banning new coal mining in the Eastern Slopes. Although the petition initially gathered more than 196,000 signatures, only 172,088 were verified, which is below the required 177,732.
• The Edmonton Oilers have extended contracts for defencemen Shakir Mukhamadullin and Spencer Stastney. Mukhamadullin, acquired from San Jose, signed a two-year extension with an average annual value of $1.75 million. Stastney secured a one-year deal with an average annual value of $1.525 million after joining from Nashville.

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• There will be a City Council Public Hearing today at 9:30 am, with eight planning and rezoning bylaws on the agenda. One proposal would rezone a vacant lot at 10004 - 112 Street in Wîhkwêntôwin for mixed use development up to 40 meters, or roughly 11 storeys, with the City hearing concerns during public notification that the proposed height is too tall for an area that already has enough high rises. Other items would allow medium scale housing on 111 Street in Wîhkwêntôwin and in the Prince Rupert neighbourhood, medium and large scale mixed use development in McCauley, and light industrial and small commercial businesses in Pembina. Council will also take up three related Rossdale items postponed from the June 23rd hearing, which would amend the Rossdale Area Redevelopment Plan, add a new River Crossing Special Area to the City's zoning rules, and rezone a set of riverside properties near 102 Street and 96 Avenue for medium and large scale development. Administration supports all eight bylaws, and each could receive final approval at the same meeting.
• City Council will meet tomorrow at 9:30 am, and two of the items on the agenda deal with how the City will pay to fix its aging infrastructure. Council will decide whether to formally create a Dedicated Renewal Fund Reserve, a step the Infrastructure Committee recommended at its June 24th meeting in response to a renewal funding shortfall projected at $2.8 billion over the 2027-2030 budget cycle and $10 billion over the next decade. Even if all available unconstrained funding went to renewal, Administration projects only 30% of the ideal investment in the City's $39.8-billion infrastructure portfolio would be funded over the next ten years. The report also details a proposed "enhancement" that would add a 0.5% tax increase every year from 2029 to 2036 dedicated to renewal - and even then, dedicated tax levies would cover only 60.7% of the projected renewal need in 2048. A companion report lays out Administration's draft priorities for renewing arterial roads, bridges, facilities, open spaces, and transit assets, with renewal of existing infrastructure prioritized over new growth projects in the next budget cycle. The 2027-2030 budget itself will be deliberated by Council in December.
• Ward 2 (Anirniq) Councillor Erin Rutherford is targeting amplified noise in Edmonton's public spaces, with the Community and Public Services Committee passing her motion on June 29th to draft amendments to the City's public spaces bylaw aimed at reducing unnecessary noise from amplification. Committee chair Ward 12 (Sspomitapi) Councillor Jo-Anne Wright said the push stems partly from concerns voiced by downtown businesses, including about an individual who regularly uses a megaphone and amplifier near Churchill Square at lunch time to spread his religious views. City solicitor Michael Gunther cautioned that any such bylaw must be carefully prepared to avoid violating the Charter of Rights and Freedoms' guarantee of free expression, though he noted municipalities may legally regulate amplification to prevent noise pollution. Administration had recommended tailoring noise limits to the distance from a doorway, but the Committee set that idea aside following a private session. Other options under consideration include requiring a permit to use amplification in public, designating specific "speakers corners", and defining disruptive noise in the bylaw itself. Calgary, Vancouver, and Toronto already have rules on where and when amplification is allowed, and the proposed changes will come back for review on September 25th before any public hearing.
• The same June 29th Committee meeting also took up fireworks, where John Adria, the owner of Uncle John's Fireworks, told City Council's Community and Public Services Committee that putting restrictions on fireworks has created far more problems than it has solved. Adria argued there were no issues before the regulations changed in 2019, and that permit conditions are now so tough that community groups have no legal path to holding the displays they safely ran for decades. He pointed to Saskatoon, which allows fireworks use by all adults without restrictions on several days each year, and suggested Edmonton's red tape is contributing to racism against southeast Asian communities, who he says get blamed whenever fireworks are used illegally. Chief bylaw enforcement officer David Jones told the Committee that fireworks complaints to 311 have increased 1,400% since 2020. After a home burned down during Diwali last year, the City is trying to chart a path that allows fireworks during the November holiday while ensuring fire safety, with Administration proposing to contribute $20,000 from the City's anti-racism fund toward one or more community-based celebrations. A representative of the Edmonton Diwali celebration steering committee urged members to proceed with a celebration at Mill Woods Park, which they declined to do, and Committee chair Ward 12 (Sspomitapi) Councillor Jo-Anne Wright said she was disappointed there was no bylaw review - though the Committee will review the City's fireworks rules in September.
• The City of Edmonton has opened a new impound lot near 122nd Street and 124th Avenue to help clear a backlog of hundreds of abandoned vehicles left on streets, alleys, and parking lots. The City and Edmonton police stopped towing cars earlier this year after the main impound lot filled up, and an overflow parcel is unavailable until December because construction crews are using it as a staging area for the Yellowhead Trail freeway conversion. The new lot can handle about 150 vehicles, but almost 400 are on the list to be towed. Ward 2 (Anirniq) Councillor Erin Rutherford says requests for parking enforcement have risen 45% in the last two years, and she doubts the new lot will solve the problem in the long term. As of June 26th, 362 abandoned vehicles were in the towing queue, down from 693 a month earlier, with crews moving 10 to 15 vehicles a day. Rutherford wrote to the Edmonton Police Commission in April urging it to relocate the tow lot to a larger site as a capital project in the next four-year budget, but the Commission says the current lot provides "suitable functionality" for the foreseeable future.

• The provincial government submitted its application for the West Coast Oil Pipeline to the federal Major Projects Office last Thursday, seeking to have the project listed as being in the national interest. The proposed pipeline would carry more than one million barrels of oil per day from Bruderheim to a deep-water port on BC's southwest coast, largely following the existing Trans Mountain corridor, a southern route the government says is the fastest and most cost-effective option and one that avoids the federal oil tanker ban on BC's north coast. The government says the project would help meet its goal of doubling Alberta's oil production to eight million barrels per day over the next 10 years, and the province will partner with Trans Mountain Corporation and Pembina Pipeline to build it, answering questions about who would construct the project after months with no private proponent identified. Indigenous communities wishing to partner in the project will be offered equity opportunities through the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation and the federal Canadian Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program. Under the memorandum of understanding signed with Ottawa in the fall, the federal government has committed to a timely review, with the goal of a national-interest listing by October 1st and construction receiving permission (though not actually starting) as early as September 1st, 2027. Prime Minister Mark Carney has said Ottawa's support for the pipeline is linked to building the Pathways carbon capture and storage project, and the province says it is finalizing a tripartite agreement with the federal government and the Oil Sands Alliance on regulatory reforms and growth incentives to expand oilsands production, with details expected in the coming days. British Columbia Premier David Eby said the deal does not require BC to support any pipeline proposal from Alberta, but he acknowledged that pipelines are federal jurisdiction and that the province will not go to court to fight a pipeline project.
• Meanwhile, separatist group Stay Free Alberta has secured a partial win at Alberta's top court in its fight to put its own independence question to voters. Last Monday, Court of Appeal Justice Alice Woolley ruled that the chief electoral officer can resume verifying signatures on the group's referendum petition, which the group says gathered more than 300,000 signatures, and can report the results to the public. However, the judge stopped short of allowing the results to be reported to the justice minister and referred to the lieutenant governor, a step that could trigger a constitutional referendum, saying a full stay risked the petition proceeding to a referendum before the appeal is decided. In May, Court of King's Bench Justice Shaina Leonard quashed the petition, finding the provincial government neglected its duty to consult First Nations and the chief electoral officer made an error in law in approving it. Both Stay Free Alberta and the provincial government have appealed that ruling, and Premier Danielle Smith has since announced a different question for the October 19th referendum, asking Albertans whether they want to remain in Canada or hold a second, binding vote on separation in the future. A date for the appeal has not been set, and Woolley declined to order an expedited hearing.
• The provincial government is directing $100 million toward supporting complex classrooms across Alberta by hiring more teachers, educational assistants, and support staff. Much of the funding will go toward creating 221 new classroom complexity teams, including 158 for grades 7-12 and 63 for kindergarten to Grade 6, with every school district in the province receiving at least one new team. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said $75 million will go toward hiring the complexity teams, with the remaining $25 million directed to staff support, including a portion set aside to help rural and remote school divisions bring specialized staff to their communities. The teams for grades 7-12 will include one teacher and one educational assistant, with school boards able to hire two additional specialized staff as needed. The money was earmarked for classroom complexity in Budget 2026 and builds on the Province's commitment to hire more than 1,400 teachers, along with the 476 complexity teams for the younger grades announced in February. Alberta Teachers' Association president Jason Schilling called the funding welcome but long overdue, saying classroom complexity was one of the key issues behind the teachers' strike last October.
• The Legislature committee overseeing the panel redrawing Alberta's electoral boundaries voted last Tuesday to let the panel bring on a political scientist and a pollster to offer expertise on voting behaviour. UCP committee members also approved allowing panel chair Brian O'Ferrall, a retired judge, to enlist a lawyer for legal advice. Opposition NDP committee member Kathleen Ganley argued that drawing the map based on how residents might vote would harm Albertans' right to vote, and said the advice will be kept under "the dome of secrecy" after the UCP shut down NDP efforts to make it public. UCP committee member Garth Rowswell countered that the committee is simply approving the panel's ability to hire the people it wants to consult, and accused the NDP of intruding on the panel's independent work. The dispute follows the government's decision earlier this year to set aside most of a report from a previous independent public commission and restart the boundary process, saying it wants to ensure fair representation for rural areas as the province's population shifts to urban centres. The NDP contends the UCP is using rural representation as cover to redraw ridings in its favour ahead of the next election, set for October 2027.
• Elections Alberta rejected musician Corb Lund's Water Not Coal petition last Friday, saying it failed to meet the requirements for a citizen initiative petition. The petition, which called on the province to ban all new coal mining in the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains, needed 177,732 verified signatures, representing 10% of electors in the last provincial election, and while organizers submitted more than 196,000, Elections Alberta says only 172,088 could be verified. The agency says it found duplicate signatures and others with invalid dates or incomplete information during validation, while some signatories later could not be reached or were unable or unwilling to verify their information. Lund said he had "grave concerns" about the fairness of the process, pointing to provincial changes to electoral legislation that quashed his original petition application last year and forced him to reapply. The premier's office said it respects the integrity of the verification process, and that the government is finalizing a new coal development policy that will require new mining projects in the Eastern Slopes to use underground mining techniques to keep selenium out of rivers and will ban new open-pit mine projects.

Hello KEP Neighbour,

Here’s what’s happening around the community this July! 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.

🌿 Green Shack is Back at KEP This Summer!

The City of Edmonton’s Green Shack Program is back this summer in King Edward Park! Join the fun at the playground behind the Large Hall, where City program leaders host free games, crafts, challenges, and activities to keep kids active and having fun all summer long.

📍 Location: Playground behind the Large Hall - 7708 85 Street

📅 Dates: June 29 – August 21, 2026

🕙 Hours: Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

The Green Shack program is a free, drop-in program designed for children ages 6–12, though all ages are welcome. Please note that this is not a childcare service — children are free to come and go throughout the program, and parents/guardians should determine whether their child can attend independently. Children under 6 are welcome with a parent or guardian.

Weekly activities and special events will be posted at the Green Shack throughout the summer.

For full program details, locations, policies, and updates, visit the City of Edmonton Green Shack webpage.

📰 The Southeast Voice is Back

The community newspaper, the Southeast Voice, shut down in January 2026. It was a well-loved source of local news and information for many in Southeast Edmonton, and King Edward Park had only recently become part of its distribution.

If you, or your neighbours, have been missing the community newspaper, there's good news! The publisher of the Southeast Voice, Southeast Edmonton Community League Association (SECLA), is starting up a new publication called the Southeast Edmonton Community Voice with the first issue coming out in September.

We're excited to share updates on King Edward Park programs and events in every issue, helping us reach even more neighbours who may not subscribe to our e-newsletter.

If you know someone who used to read the Southeast Voice, let them know it's coming back—and feel free to share today's newsletter with them!

What’s Being Built on 76th Avenue?

Ever wonder what exactly they're building on 76 Avenue? Local creator Mark Connolly had a tour and shared what it looks like up close. Be sure to check it out.

Got a video showing off something in our community? We're always looking for well-made, community-focused content to share with our neighbours. Send us a link!  

Borrow Tools with Your Community League Membership 🛠️

Edmonton Tool Library

Need a power drill, hedge trimmer, ladder, or specialty tool for your next project? As a King Edward Park Community League member, you now have access to the Edmonton Tool Library—at no additional cost! The League has purchased a community membership so all current KEP members can borrow from their extensive collection of hand, power, and garden tools.

Simply show your virtual Community League membership card in Communal when you visit.

The Edmonton Tool Library is a registered non-profit that makes home improvement, gardening, and DIY projects more affordable by giving members access to hundreds of tools without the cost of buying them.

Opening Hours Summer

• Wednesdays: 6:00–8:00 p.m.
• Saturdays: 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.*
• Closed on Saturdays of statutory holiday weekends.

Before visiting, be sure to check their calendar for any schedule changes.

🔧 Browse the Tool Inventory

Our Neighbourhood in Bloom

Our Neighbourhood in Bloomcelebrates the creativity, care, and community spirit Edmonton residents pour into their front gardens. We invite you to recognize beautiful and inspiring gardens in King Edward Park and the hardworking gardeners behind them. 

• How to nominate a garden: Fill out this form 
• Nomination criteria: 
• Must be a front yard that is visible from the street (not a backyard) 
• Must be located within the boundaries of the King Edward Park community
• Can be a private residence or a business 
• All types of front gardens are welcome, from traditional flower beds to more naturalized yards, container gardens to balconies loaded with flower pots

Our volunteers will deliver recognition cards to gardens that are nominated, to let our neighbours know we appreciate the beauty they cultivate in our community.

Nominations are open until mid-July. Recognition cards will be delivered in late July.

Community Shout-Outs

Looking to stay active, meet new people, or learn a new skill? The South East Edmonton Seniors Association (SEESA) is a welcoming, volunteer-driven non-profit dedicated to helping adults 55+ (under 55 are welcome as well) stay connected, healthy, and engaged in the community.

Choose from a variety of fitness and wellness classes, dance, painting and art workshops, music, pickleball and badminton, technology and lifelong learning, and social clubs—all led by experienced instructors in a friendly, supportive environment.

New to SEESA? Try a class or club!

1. Choose a class you'd like to attend.
2. Call 780-468-1985 to check if there's room for a drop-in.
3. Register by phone or in person.
4. Enjoy your class!

SEESA members receive discounted class fees, but many classes are also open to non-members as drop-ins, space permitting. To view the full class schedule or learn more about membership, visit seesa.ca or call 780-468-1985.

Help Create the Donnan Park Community Garden Mural

This summer, the Donnan Park Naturalization Committee is bringing a beautiful wooden community mural to the back of the Hobbit House in Donnan Park (like a giant jigsaw puzzle) —and you're invited to help!

No artistic or woodworking experience is needed. Volunteers can assist with everything from sanding and wood burning to assembling the mural, with guidance from local artist Dave Cunningham. Come for a few hours or make it a regular summer activity.

The project is proudly supported by the King Edward Park Community League, the City of Edmonton, Right at Home Housing Society, and the Donnan Community Gardening Group.

Workshop Dates: Most Saturdays throughout the summer (10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.)

If you have any woodworking skills or tools you might like to share or would simply like to be a part of building our mural, please contact Kory at korybh@gmail.com.

The Donnan Park Naturalization Committee hosts a variety of neighbourhood events like potluck's, workbees building cool things as well as garden and other neighbourhood get-togethers at Donnan (Arena) Park.

Community Events & Happenings

July is one of the busiest festival months in Edmonton:

• Art Buffet x Community Tapestry Weaving |Until July 29
• Broadway in Hawrelak Park: Something Rotten! | July 1 - 12
• Grindstone Comedy Festival | July 2 - 12
• Edmonton International Street Performers Festival | July 3 - 12
• The Edmonton Open Mic Festival | July 4
• Rugby Canada Fan Fest| July 5
• Ram Architecture and Design Tour for Doors Open Festival| July 5 - 12
• Edmonton Historical Festival & Doors Open Edmonton | July 5 - 12
• Whyte Avenue Art Walk| July 10 - 12
• Taste of Edmonton| July 16 - 26
• KDays| July 17 - 26
• Neon Skies Festival | July 17 - 18
• Great Outdoors Comedy Festival | July 17 - 19
• River Valley Sound: Susan Isaac at Little Brick| July 22
• 2026 Family Nature Nights: Urban Birds | July 22
• Kaleido Fest | Sept 18-20 (want to volunteer? Register here

What's on in Edmonton this weekend? Celebrate Indigenous culture at the 2nd Annual 2 Spirit Pow Wow, join National Magazine Award-winning profile writer Omar Mouallem for an interviewing and profile writing bootcamp, experience Polish culture and performances by talented young artists at Chopin in the Park, attend the opening reception of Rhapsody in Colour: 38th Annual Members’ Exhibition + Art Sale at Harcourt House, enjoy a hilarious celebration of words at the Citadel Theatre’s production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and so much more!

SEE ALL UPCOMING EVENTS

• The Community and Public Services Committee meets today at 9:30 am, and one of the items on the agenda is a review of how Edmonton regulates domesticated pigeons. Administration concluded that existing business and zoning rules are sufficient and that no bylaw amendments are needed, after finding that all 94 licensed pigeon owners inspected in 2025 were in compliance and that pigeon complaints made up just 0.15% of all animal-related complaints, 16 out of 11,031. A survey of adjacent property owners found that 91% had no concerns about licensed pigeons, with the small number of complaints citing droppings, cleanliness and pests. Current rules cap pigeons at 75 per residence and require birds to be kept in a loft or aviary acceptable to the City. Administration will add two new licence conditions effective January 2027, requiring owners to join a recognized pigeon association and to fit all birds with official identification leg bands. Association membership runs roughly $30 to $80 a year, which the report acknowledges could weigh on lower-income owners, though no change to the licence fee is recommended beyond a previously approved increase of one dollar per year for three years.
• Also before the Committee today is Administration's plan for fireworks communications and a 2026 Diwali celebration, the first of two reports responding to a Council motion. Administration will reallocate $25,000 a year from existing budgets for an enhanced, multilingual fireworks safety campaign, of which $17,000 would be an ongoing cost, stressing that setting off fireworks without a permit is illegal and unsafe. For 2026, the City will continue hosting its own celebratory Diwali event at City Hall, funded by $20,000 from the existing Anti-Racism budget, while adding a one-time $10,000 to help community groups build toward a larger event in 2027. The community's preferred option, a centralized fireworks show at Mill Woods Park, carries a $110,000 price tag under a cost-sharing model with $90,000 from community partners and $20,000 from the City, but the report notes most of that community funding has not yet been secured. Administration points to a permitted display on a Laurel-area school field that it says cut illegal street-level fireworks complaints by 70%. A separate report on regulatory options to address the unsafe purchase and discharge of fireworks is expected back at Committee in the fall.
• The Committee will also review a report on the legacy outcomes of major sport and cultural events the City helps attract, prepared at Council's request. Administration reports that Edmonton hosted 23 attracted events in 2024 and 2025, with a collective economic impact of $148.2 million in 2024 and $145 million in 2025, and that 12 events are scheduled for 2026 with an estimated combined impact of $222.4 million. Rather than apply Council's $3-million economic-impact threshold for requiring formal legacy plans in funding agreements, Administration recommends raising it to $6 million, arguing larger events are better placed to deliver lasting benefits. Examples of planned 2026 legacies include the CPKC Women's Open's goal of raising more than $3.9 million for the Stollery Children's Hospital and food-rescue efforts tied to the World Juniors. Administration says it will finalize a legacy measurement framework by the end of 2026 and begin implementing it in 2027, funded by reallocating money from an existing events budget rather than new spending. Oversight would be shared among the City, Explore Edmonton, Sport Edmonton and event rights holders.
• City Council voted at a public hearing on Tuesday to reduce the on-site parking required for new neighbourhood daycares, with the change taking effect immediately. Under the old rules, daycares needed two spaces for the first 10 children and one for each additional 10, but providers now need only one space for every 10 children, halved again in areas with unrestricted street parking. The City says that means a 40-child daycare that once needed five parking spaces could now need just two. Administration argued the change removes a regulatory barrier for small operators, pointing to a fall 2024 traffic study that found 17% of daycare trips are made on foot or by bike and that parking demand ran about 20% below the old requirements. Mayor Andrew Knack said the goal is to make daycare drop-offs less car-reliant by letting families walk or bike, while Ward 8 (papastew) Councillor Michael Janz, a longtime supporter, said he would like to go further and allow daycares on mid-block lots. Ward 7 (sipiwiyiniwak) Councillor Thu Parmar and Ward 3 (tastawiyiniwak) Councillor Karen Principe were the only members to vote against. One Cavanagh resident appealing a daycare permit next to her home warned the City must balance adding daycares in residential areas against protecting existing residents' quality of life.
• City Council is wrestling with how to keep up service levels as Edmonton's infrastructure repair backlog widens, with aging swimming pools used to illustrate the scale of the problem. The Infrastructure Committee released previously in-camera projections showing it would cost roughly $1 billion to maintain current aquatic service levels, with eight pools already more than 50 years old and four expected to be in poor condition by 2037. City officials told the Committee that 10.2% of Edmonton's total assets are in poor or very poor condition and that about 60% of city alleys need renewal. Overall, the City projects a $2.8-billion renewal gap between 2027 and 2030, ballooning to $10 billion by 2036, and says it can currently cover only 30.7% of its renewal needs, excluding bridges. Administration is weighing cost-saving measures such as repaving rather than reconstructing roads, deferring some downtown projects, and using boardwalks instead of new concrete sidewalks. Mayor Andrew Knack said the figures reinforce why a dedicated renewal fund is critical, while Deputy City Manager Stacey Padbury cautioned the problem cannot be solved in four years.

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ON THE AGENDA

Stephanie Swensrude

This week, council will discuss its policy for engaging Indigenous groups regarding river valley development, review regulations for megaphones in public spaces, and discuss Diwali celebrations and the use of fireworks.

There is a community and public services committee meeting on June 29, an audit selection committee meeting on June 29, an executive committee meeting on June 30, and an urban planning committee meeting on July 2.

Here are some key items on the agenda this week:

• Urban planning committee will discuss a report on Indigenous engagement regarding redevelopment on River Valley lands, on the heels of a contentious public hearing on June 23 regarding a zoning decision in Rossdale. Council postponed its decision about new zoning regulations for Rossdale in anticipation of future development, citing concerns that Indigenous groups had not been consulted adequately. Mayor Andrew Knack encouraged those concerned about the development to attend the July 2 committee meeting, as well as a July 9 public hearing. The report to committee says municipalities do not have a legal duty to consult Indigenous groups under section 35 of the Canadian Constitution, but Edmonton has established its own framework for Indigenous engagement, and administration said it is endeavouring to follow it, as well as the city’s memoranda of understanding with the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations, Otipemisiwak Métis Government, and Enoch Cree Nation.
• Administration has laid out ways that council can regulate amplification in public spaces. A report that will be presented to community and public services committee said that while noise pollution is a legitimate concern, regulating it is complicated because limiting the use of megaphones or speakers could potentially impact Charter rights. Some Edmontonians said they were against amplification in public spaces, while others said it can be important for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Administration said it could develop a time, duration, place, or volume (TDPV) regulation, which puts a restriction on when, how long, where, or how loud a disruptive sound may occur. It could also prohibit sound amplification unless someone has a permit.
• Administration plans to host an invite-only Diwali celebration at City Hall in 2026, with the possibility of a larger event in 2027, says a report that will be presented to community and public services committee. The report said community members would prefer a large event at Mill Woods Park in 2026, but the city has not confirmed about $90,000 of the event’s funding. The city will also improve communications about the use and sale of fireworks with signage as well as online and print communications in multiple languages. Diwali fireworks were blamed for property damage in 2025.

• Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister Dale Nally announced that the recent hike in the minimum price Alberta bars and restaurants must charge for alcohol has been reversed, effective immediately. The original increase, announced by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis agency on June 9th, had set the minimum price for draft beer at $0.25 per ounce, up from $0.16, which meant a 20-ounce pint would cost at least $5, up from $3.20. The minimum prices of bottled or canned beers, ciders, coolers, spirits and liqueurs were also raised from $2.75 to $4 per can or bottle. The AGLC had said the increase was made in part to reduce alcohol-related harms by encouraging moderation. Nally said the government directed the agency to reverse the decision to give businesses and consumers greater certainty, and Premier Danielle Smith thanked him for the move. The Alberta Hospitality Association, which represents roughly 900 restaurants, said the biggest concern among members was a lack of communication and the effect the higher minimums would have had on pricing incentives such as happy hours and Stampede specials. The AGLC said it understood the concerns and that an updated policy has been posted.
• Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams has announced a new minister's council to study financing options that could change how municipalities pay for roads, water systems, transit and other core infrastructure as communities grow. Announced Tuesday in Jasper, the council is expected to deliver recommendations before the end of the year, and the Province says the goal is to close the municipal infrastructure gap and expand the ability to invest in housing and critical infrastructure without increasing the tax burden on Albertans. Williams pointed to tax-increment financing, municipal bonds, pooled borrowing and public-private partnerships as examples of tools used in other jurisdictions, saying he wants municipalities to have options beyond taxes and off-site levies. The announcement does not include new municipal funding and does not name specific projects, though the Province will provide $50,000 to support research already underway through BILD Alberta and the University of Alberta Cities Institute. The cities of Calgary and Edmonton, Rural Municipalities of Alberta, Alberta Municipalities, the Alberta Mid-sized Cities Mayor's Caucus and BILD Alberta have been invited to take part. Scott Fash, CEO of BILD Alberta, said the way upfront infrastructure is financed can affect the cost and pace of new housing, since higher commercial borrowing costs can be passed on to homebuyers. The Province says its three-year Budget 2026 Capital Plan already includes $7.1 billion to support municipal infrastructure.
• The provincial government is pausing the rollout of its ambulance contract strategy for seven municipalities that run integrated fire and ambulance services, where firefighters are also trained paramedics. Hospital and Surgical Health Services Minister Adriana LaGrange announced the pause on Monday, delaying a new benchmark price that had been set in March and that, for these municipalities, was lower than what they had been receiving from the Province. Under the original plan, Red Deer, St. Albert, Strathcona County, Leduc, Spruce Grove and Lethbridge had until the end of May to choose between accepting less provincial funding and raising taxes to keep their decades-old model, or handing the contract back to the Province. The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo has until 2029 to decide. The benchmark will now be implemented by 2028-29 rather than this fall, though LaGrange said the change was not a shift from the original objective. Municipalities had raised concerns about potential layoffs and slower response times, and several mayors, including Red Deer's Cindy Jefferies, said the initial timeline had felt rushed. The pause follows another recent reversal in which LaGrange halted a rebrand of the Province's paramedic service provider. What happens between the current contracts expiring in September 2026 and the 2028-29 implementation has not yet been determined.
• Prime Minister Mark Carney has vowed to defend Canadian unity ahead of Alberta's separation referendum, warning that a vote to leave would prompt years of uncertainty and put the country's reputation as a trustworthy place to do business on the line. Speaking at an end-of-sitting news conference on Thursday, Carney said he will spend part of the summer convincing Albertans that while Canada is already the best country, it can still improve, pointing to his memorandum of understanding with Premier Danielle Smith on resource development and a possible pipeline to the Pacific as evidence of "co-operative federalism." Drawing on his experience with Brexit, Carney called the referendum question "a dangerous bluff" and cautioned that the fall vote, which is actually a vote on whether to hold a second referendum on leaving, would disrupt the economy and national life. He pointed to weak economic growth in Britain after it left the European Union as a warning. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre urged Carney to get more involved in the campaign, saying the Prime Minister "hasn't spoken to Albertans" and that he is waiting for him to make a direct appeal. Poilievre said he would rather the referendum were not happening but has planned a summer tour of the province as part of the remain campaign. The referendum is set for October 19th.
• A new report from the Calgary Chamber of Commerce claims that separating from Canada could shrink Alberta's economy by as much as $62 billion a year and trigger a business exodus from the province. For the analysis, the Chamber tasked University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe, a member of the federalist group Lead Not Leave, who based his estimate on the measured effect of Brexit and found that an 8% increase in trade costs could cost Alberta 175,000 jobs. The Chamber also surveyed its members and found that just under half said they would be likely to relocate their business if the province votes to begin separating, though only 137 of their 1,600 business members responded to the survey. Keith Wilson, a lawyer and advocate for separation with the third-party advertiser Let Alberta Decide, argued the comparison to Brexit is "fundamentally different" because Alberta independence would move the province closer to its largest market, the United States. Wilson contends the survey measures "fear, not opportunity," noting that the agriculture, oil and gas, and resource sectors that anchor Alberta's economy cannot move. The figures add to a wide range of competing estimates, with Premier Danielle Smith pegging the cost of leaving at up to $400 billion in transition costs and the Alberta Prosperity Project putting it closer to $6 billion. The provincial government has separately commissioned the University of Calgary to study the costs of leaving, with that report expected by the end of the summer.

What's on in Edmonton this weekend? Experiencing street dance culture at One For The City Vol. 6, join Zachary Ayotte in conversation with Gendai Collective as they talk about their work around alternative art economies, learn about traditional moose hide tanning with Jess Sanderson-Barry from Chakastaypasin Band, join Edmonton Vocal Minority for their presentation of unapologetic — being our authentic self at the Westbury Theatre, enjoy the grandeur of gospel music at GospelFest—Edmonton’s first-ever gospel music festival and showcase, and so much more!

SEE ALL UPCOMING EVENTS