Taproot Edmonton
Scream organizer fights for your right to party
Boodang's massively successful Scream dance-music event is sold out for 2026, marking another milestone for a one-time introvert whose love of music brought him from chat rooms to the big tent.
On the agenda: Community court, Belgravia traffic, industrial incentives
This week, councillors will discuss a proposed community court program, potential solutions to traffic in and around Belgravia, and two new incentive programs for industrial development.
A moment in history: Oct. 16, 1918
On this day in 1918, the province was proposing a strict program of inspections to try to keep the Spanish flu away.
Your turn: Art with an urbanist twist
This week's roundup of calls for public engagement includes opportunities to help shape two upcoming plays from Thou Art Here, as well as public hearings on municipal budgets in the region.
In this edition: Scream organizer fights for your right to party; Albertans vote overwhelmingly to remain in Canada; and more headlines and happenings
With news about deep tech at U of A, TransEON, Wyvern, Promise Robotics, Aeternum, Amii, Shawn Kanungo, Nate Glubish's office, EPS, and more.
With news from the Alberta Beer Awards, Ayco Café, Abigail Lopez, Booster Juice, 7 Summits Snacks, Rogue Wave Coffee, North-Central Co-op, and more.
A sovereign Edmonton within a united Alberta
We look at reaction to the Alberta government's directive to roll Edmonton's zoning bylaw back to its pre-2024 rules. Plus, advance voting is open for the referendum, and we examine the impact of agencies, boards and commissions in 2025.
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Calgary energy company revives long-range H2 fuel in Edmonton
Azolla Hydrogen is bringing longer-range hydrogen fuel back to Edmonton after an American company's 700-bar station closed and was sold off during bankruptcy proceedings.
Artists bring new life to Westmount community hall
A fashion designer and a textile artist are turning a former preschool in Westmount into a working studio, gathering place, and showcase for Edmonton's emerging fashion community.
On the agenda: Municipal autonomy, funding outcomes, rezonings
This week, council will discuss its autonomy, look at outcome reports from municipal funding, and consider several rezoning applications.
Your turn: Referendum mail-in ballots due, advance polls open soon
This week's roundup of calls for public engagement begins with a reminder to get your special ballot in the mail or get ready to vote in person in the Alberta referendum.
U of A partners with Silicon Valley deep-tech VC
Edmonton's deep tech sector is getting even more focus as the University of Alberta partners with global deep-tech venture capital firm Celesta Capital with an aim to help commercialize research.
Suds and glory: Edmonton brewers shine at beer awards
Ale Architect nabbed five trophies at the Alberta Beer Awards, the most of any Edmonton company.
Data centre explosion mirrors cannabis boom, event hears
Alberta's current data centre boom bears similarity to what the cannabis industry went through in the late 2010s, a regional economic development summit hosted by CREDA Edmonton Region and the Cities Institute heard.
Playwright invites you into Hedda's world
This week, we're highlighting an event pick by Taproot curator/reporter Stephanie Swensrude. Stephanie recommends Hedda Gabler | by Henrik Ibsen.
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With news from the Alberta Beer Awards, Ayco Café, Abigail Lopez, Booster Juice, 7 Summits Snacks, Rogue Wave Coffee, North-Central Co-op, and more.
With news about deep tech at U of A, TransEON, Wyvern, Promise Robotics, Aeternum, Amii, Shawn Kanungo, Nate Glubish's office, EPS, and more.
Business Roundup: Oct. 16, 2026
With news about data centres, BILD, Alberta's referendum, the Yellowhead Pipeline, Azolla Hydrogen, Edmonton Global, NiaHealth, Jobber, and more.
With a play picked by Taproot curator/reporter Stephanie Swensrude and page-turning literary affairs to attend around Edmonton.
With news from Edmonton Design Week, LitFest, Shout Out Out Out Out, Augusta Fashion + Textiles, Patrick Lennox, NorthwestFEARFest, and more.
Regional Roundup: Oct. 14, 2026
With news about infill policy, ATCO, CFB Edmonton, Muslim Association of St. Albert, Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital, Bill Purdy, and more.
Health Innovation Roundup: Oct. 14, 2026
With news from Colleen Norris, U of A, NiaHealth, My Viva Plan, SenseHuman AI, RISE NeuroProsthetics, Best Hydrate, the Stollery, DiveThru, and more.
The provincial government is forcing Edmonton to amend its zoning bylaw and restore minimum on-site parking requirements to appease infill critics. Plus, a study found that apartment and condo dwellers are only sorting a third of their waste correctly.
Please present your boarding pass
The new owners of Edmonton City Centre proposed strict security measures at each entrance of the downtown mall, and councillors endorsed changing the definition of public space. Plus, an American company has a vision to turn an industrial park in northeast Edmonton into one of the largest data centre campuses in North America.
Stephanie is back! We chat about some of the big and small municipal news you might have missed in the past month. Plus, we hear all about Stephanie's travels and her fresh reflections on cities and how Edmonton stacks up.
This week, heritage advocate Andy Grabia talks about the fight to keep the University of Alberta's Casavant organ in Convocation Hall. We also look at Edmonton's uneasy relationship with its heritage and, a decade after Rogers Place opened, revisit the arena debate and the fate of Rexall Place.
Taproot at 10: Still building after Launch Party 7
On Oct. 20, 2016, Karen and I spent an evening explaining Taproot Edmonton to curious people at Startup Edmonton's Launch Party 7. Ten years later, we look back on that night as a key milestone in our journey.
Taproot wins award for excellence in journalism
We have wonderful news to share: Taproot has received the Dr. Eric Jackman Award for Excellence in Journalism for our 2025 election project.
Taproot at 10: Celebrating the beginning
Ten years ago this week, we took our first step toward finding out whether Taproot was worth building.