- Council held its final meeting - the next time they convene, it will be after the October 20th election, with a new Mayor and new set of Councillors. In its last meeting, Council voted 9-4 to preserve 20 affordable housing units in Riverdale, marking the final decision of its current term. The motion, introduced by Councillor Anne Stevenson, directs Administration to rezone four parcels of land under a direct control zone requiring at least 20 affordable homes. Tenants, who had campaigned against the potential sale of the townhouses, reacted with tears and applause as the vote passed. The properties, built in the 1980s, had been listed for sale earlier this year to fund new housing projects, raising fears they would be replaced by luxury developments. Residents and community advocates argued the units are vital to keeping lower-income families in the neighbourhood, one of Edmonton’s most desirable areas. The rezoning proposal will go to a public hearing after the October 20th election, leaving the final outcome to the next Council.
- A proposal from Councillor and Mayoral candidate Tim Cartmell was voted down. The proposal sought to pause ongoing and planned bike-lane construction, including projects in Delton and on 132 Avenue. The push for a pause came after local residents expressed opposition and even involved Alberta’s transportation minister, Devin Dreeshen, who has called some lanes “problematic.” City staff warned that pausing projects could increase costs and create delays with contractors. Some Councillors debated what constitutes adequate public consultation, acknowledging resident concerns but emphasizing that the City has already engaged with the public. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi defended the bike lanes, highlighting their growing use and benefits for safe, active transportation. Ultimately, Cartmell was unable to secure enough support and plans to continue advocating for a pause during his Mayoral campaign.
- Council also voted 11-2 to pursue a strategy that would reduce the capacity of two large downtown homeless shelters, the Bruce Reith Centre and the Herb Jamieson Centre, which together house more than 700 people. The motion, brought forward by Councillor Anne Stevenson, calls on the City to work with the Province and Hope Mission, which runs both shelters, to relocate beds into smaller facilities spread across the city. Stevenson argued that large “legacy shelters” do not meet best practice standards, which recommend capping shelter size at 125 beds, and said smaller, specialized facilities - such as Indigenous-led or women-focused shelters - would provide more dignified and effective care. Supporters, including the Chinatown Transformation Collaborative, said reducing the concentration of shelters downtown is long overdue. But critics pointed to challenges, including funding, finding multiple new sites, and community opposition to smaller shelters in residential areas. Hope Mission said it supports smaller capacities in principle but warned that changes could strain resources, complicate permits, and worsen pressures on other facilities. The Alberta government, however, strongly opposed the plan, warning it would leave more people unsheltered and threatened to intervene if necessary. The motion sets the stage for months of negotiations between the City, Province, and service providers, with no clear solution yet in sight.
- Warren Driechel has been appointed as the 24th Chief of the Edmonton Police Service after nearly 30 years with the force. He began his career in 1997 as a patrol officer and has since held leadership roles in intelligence, organized crime investigations, and technology development. The Edmonton Police Commission conducted a nationwide search but ultimately chose Driechel, citing his strong focus on community engagement, innovation, and operational excellence. As deputy chief, he oversaw divisions dealing with community safety, encampment response, crisis intervention, emergency communications, and school resource programs. Driechel had been sharing interim chief duties with deputy chief Devin Laforce since February, following the departure of Dale McFee to a provincial role. His appointment was ratified by Council as required under the Police Act. The Commission emphasized his deep understanding of policing at every level and his commitment to improving public safety for Edmontonians. This leadership change marks the third Chief in just over a decade, continuing a period of transition at the top of the EPS.
- Edmonton is introducing a new numbering system for its extensive pedway network to help emergency responders locate incidents more quickly. The 13-kilometre system, which connects over 40 buildings and parkades, has long posed challenges for first responders who previously had to rely only on building addresses. The new system will feature 500 signs with unique identifiers that 911 callers can reference, allowing dispatchers to see precise locations, entry points, and operating hours. City officials say the program was developed during the pandemic when medical emergencies and disorder in the pedways were increasing. Emergency services leaders praised the system, noting it will prevent delays caused by confusion about locations and reduce the need to search multiple buildings. The signs are already being installed, with downtown LRT stations included and MacEwan University expected to join the network later.